Lucky Number 7...

For seven years, our Kael has bee the all-important first page, in the best chapter,

of the story of our lives.

He represents our fight when it would have been easy to give up.  He is our faith when it seemed God was silent.  He is the warmth of the sun after a long gray storm in our lives.  He is hope and courage and love - all perfectly packaged in that toe-headed, sweet-faced, sun-tanned little boy body. 

Our story is different than I expected it to be.  It's what was MEANT to be, and it's far better than I could have ever imagined.  It's a story of miracles and love, and it all started with the birth of Big K seven years ago today. 

For his seventh birthday, Kael requested a "Water Baseball Party".  We held "training camp" and had a slip n' slide for sliding practice, a batting tee with water balloons for batting practice, and a dunk tank for pitching practice. 

And some of our cousins and best friends were in town for the main event to make it even sweeter.

I'll let you look at these pictures below, then give you one guess as to which part of the party was the biggest hit.  ;)

 The rest was just "fluff" as they say.  Still fun, but not the main event.  

There has to be some sort of psychology about the level of fun going up exponentially when you get to inflict pain/cold/surprise attack against your friends.  Especially for little boys.

 We grilled up some hot dogs and served chips and watermelon and punch bags for lunch.   

We sang to the birthday boy as he admired his chocolate-chocolate baseball cake that had been long requested.  'Atta boy, Kael.  Chocolate is always a good idea. 

We are so grateful that Grandma & Grandpa Gardner and all of Ryan's sisters were here to help.

They tended babies and cleaned up itsty bitsy water balloon remnants in 100 degree weather.  And generally kept me from totally losing it as the ratio of boys to adults would have been a sorry number without them!

 And we're especially grateful for this sweet kid, who is the best big brother around.

Thanks for kick starting a tribe of wee gents that seemingly can't be shut down. ;)

Love you, buddy.  More than you will ever know.