SEVEN!!!

Ignacio was up at 5:40am for his 7th birthday.  I think he was a little excited.  We started the day off right with pancakes and bacon (his special request).  I'm glad he decided NOT to eat seven pieces of bacon, but rather just two.  He immediately got to work on his Lego set from us and negotiated for about a half an hour with Emilio about what his little brother could and could not help with.  They eventually figured it out.  Ignacio kept saying that he "didn't feel any different" through out the day, meaning he thought when he turned seven he would experience some earth shattering change.  No such luck.  We all jumped into the van and headed to Super Moon, the Chinese buffet.  He ate his favorite Asian noodles, wonton soup, broccoli, and even got to have Sprite.  Then he was off to the cool skateboard shop with Tia Casey to get his own custom made skateboard.  Apparently there was a group of five 12 to 14 year olds there that helped him out and called him, "little dude" making him feel especially special.  He came home with a great board that even had stickers that the "teenagers" had put on for him.  Cool.  All his cousins came over for a crazy two hours filled with remote control monster trucks and hanging from the bunk beds.  His cake this year was him fishing and catching a muskie and Papi made him his Venezuelan quesillo dessert that is a "must have" at Venezuelan birthday parties.  I just stared at his face as the glow of the candles lit it up.  Seven years old.  He might not have felt different, but at that moment I saw him differently.  A boy, not so little anymore.  Wide eyes and figuring it all out.  Emilio struggled a little bit...okay, a lot bit, with the fact it wasn't his special day.  We worked it out.  After presents and cake it was time for the movies.  Angel took the boys to see something at the theater and treated them to Icees and popcorn.  They came back at 9pm and were TIRED.  I could see it in Ignacio's eyes.  As I tucked him in and looked at the clock it was 9:18pm.  I snuggled his head with mine and reminded him that seven years ago we were together at the hospital, just getting to know each other.  But, maybe we knew each other all along.  Seven years ago he was only two hours old, wide eyed like an owl, already curious and open to the world.  I gave him a kiss and wished him good night.  The adventures of being seven were only beginning.