Gavin is 7!

It seems impossible that 7 years ago we spent today at the hospital watching basketball and waiting for our first little bundle of energy to arrive. What a roller coaster of emotion and unknowns he has been for us. We really had no idea what we were getting into when we decided to become parents. Luckily, Gavin is a loving and determined soul who seems to have done alright putting up with his novice parents. He has taught us so much.

Being the middle child that I am, I always imagine that being the first would be a daunting and hectic experience. Gavin has proven that he is up to any job we have asked of him. He is an amazing big brother and tries to supply all of the information to his brothers that they could ever need. Last weekend, he and Henry headed out to the yard for Gavin to give him karate lessons. Caleb made the comment, "Such a good Cardon. Always ready to teach someone else something that you have no idea how to do yourself." :-)

Gavin loves to be outside running, riding, jumping and setting up the next action adventure. He can be a Ninja or Galactic Hero or even any animal you choose at the drop of a hat. His imagination knows no bounds. He is also my budding little artist. He would choose sketching in a notebook or doing and art project over almost anything, and he is growing those talents everyday.

Gavin is such a good student and I love watching him learn and grow in school. This has been a year of bigger social developments and he learns to deal with all the little things that 1st grade bring, from a kid pushing you down in line, to someone stealing your cheese stick at lunch. He is certainly not the most aggressive kid, and I am grateful that he tries to find the peaceful alternatives to his problems and then just blows off the things that don't matter much in the long run. I know these traits will take him a long way in life.

I am so grateful for Gavin in our lives. He is such a good soul, and while I hope that maybe he will slow down this growing up business just a little bit. It is exciting to watch him head out on new adventures and return a little stronger and a little smarter in the end.