A big old 8 year old in the HOUSE!!!

That sweet little red headed boy who first called me Mama is a big lanky 8-year old today!

He is the sweetest kid on the planet, such an easygoing soul, full of happiness and life.  Legos and baseball are still his primary interests and Minecraft is a love as well.  Gnocchi is his favorite food by far followed up by pizza.  Fall baseball starts soon and it will be fun watching him in his element.

His hair, pictured here got EXTREMELY LONG over the summer, Willie made a deal with the guy he is working with that they would not cut their hair until they met a specific milestone and Matthew jumped right on board with them.  I think he secretly enjoyed all the attention I gave to him DAILY....asking is he was ready for a haircut yet??? 
We finally trimmed it a few weeks ago so the crazy hair is gone and my clean cut little man is back! 

Willie has been working an insane amount of hours over the past 3-4 months so we have seen very little of him, so for Matthew's birthday he took the ENTIRE day off.  I am not sure there is any THING we could have gotten Matthew that was a better gift than that.  Riggle U offers your birthday off so we had an easy morning with a few presents and game playing and then Willie took him on a special trip to the shooting range. 

Those that know this little quiet guy well know that he has
become quite adept at his little 22 rifle and having Papa all
to himself for a teaching and practice session was right up his
alley.  He even qualified and got his youth shooter card, which he thought was the icing on the cake.

We ended the day with dinner out at his favorite restaurant, MELLOW MUSHROOM! 

Our last ICE CREAM as a 7-year old!!!!

Moral of the story....DON'T BLINK!