when he turned nine

andrew turned 10 yesterday, and i never posted on his birthday last year.
it'll really bug me if i don't so, better late then never, right?

here he is with his 3rd grade teacher, mrs. t.
she really loved having andrew in his class, and we really loved her.

i made the mini carmel apples for his class.
they were a real hit.
john and i took them to school and stayed to have lunch with andrew.

ella sat at the bar and made her big brother a sweet birthday card.

we had our big family dinner, and i cannot remember what we ate!
our neighbor made her secret recipe rum cake for dessert.
she won't give out the recipe, but she'll make you one whenever you request it.
we hadn't had it for years, it was a real treat.

he had a last minute sleepover with a couple friends.

andrew wore this necklace almost every day he was in the third grade.
he actually made it in second grade as preparation for reconciliation.
and he kept it and wore it religiously.
he really loved having it on every day.

it made me so happy to see him do this on his own.

i think he was the only on in his class who continued to wear it.

it just made my heart melt to see him putting it on after he got dressed everyday. 

a year late, but there it is...the 9th birthday post.

now i just have to get caught up on the other kids before their next birthday!