We enjoyed a quiet birthday for Patrick this year. We had a spy birthday party with just the family and Kyle. He read clues that lead him to his presents.

Then on Monday we went up to Hill Air Force Museum. It was so much fun. Patrick was in awe of everything. David ran around yelling "I just can't believe this!" Auretta and Jessie just ran around. Well, Auretta did "help" Jessie by picking her up and dropping her, giving her a black eye. And I mostly missed my dad. He loves planes and I do too. Made me want to sit by him with a bowl of popcorn and watch Midway.

Patrick is one sweet boy. A week or so ago I asked him to help clean the front room and while the other kids were busy cleaning Patrick and I got in another fight over chores. I told him I didn't feel like he loved me because he doesn't help me like he'd help his teacher (a lecture I would have got from my mom). I sent him down to his room. 10 minutes later I heard him yelling from his room. I went to go check out what was going on and found a spotless room. He said something like, "Mom, I cleaned the room for you so you'd know I love you." We had a great talk about repentance and forgiveness and I was truly touched.

He also asks for 5 more minutes when I wake him up for school, loves "learning" books, and chewing on his shirt. He quietly sits and thinks a lot. He isn't outspoken but pensive. When he receives a gift he loves, he looks at it with a slightly content look. The longer he holds his silence the more I know he loves it. He thinks about what he learns when we talk about the gospel and the way the world works. He tells me all the time he loves me more than I love him. But as all moms know, that just isn't true. But I love to hear it anyways. As he gets older I'm more and more grateful for the times he reaches up and grabs my hand.