Rock Climbing Birthday
It’s our son’s 11th birthday! I am shocked at how big he has grown from that tiny baby charming his way through the NICU. Today this cutie climbed through year 10 and finally reached 11!
Favorite Color: Orange and Blue
Favorite Book: Hiccuppotamus. No chapter books right now.
Favorite Movie: Mario Bros
Favorite Song: I have too many, I can’t even think of one!
Favorite School Subject: Library
Favorite Thing to Do: Go Outside
When I Grow Up: I don’t know; all the fun ones! Maybe Board games, video games, editor, movie maker
I Am Really Good At: School
My Best Friend is: Saul, Elizar, André, James, Sam, Junior, Kai, Kal
My Goal: Complete school
If I Had a Million Dollars: I’d buy a Nintendo Switch 2
What I Am Looking Forward to This Year: Fifth grade! Playing with friends more often, spending more time with my Dad and Mom.
I Am Thankful For: Family, my neighborhood, that we have enough money for us to have a car
This year we are trying out a “Yes Day” planned in advance with each of the kids for their birthdays. They wanted to do a family experience on the day of, instead of a party. F decided on indoor rock climbing, W chose a Pool day, and L wants to karaoke. Jer stayed home with Baby this time so I could take the kids out (thank you, honey!).
The bouldering section upstairs didn’t have ropes so the kids could free climb.
We rented harnesses for the really tall walls, though—more time climbing and less time making fitting adjustments.
I’m so glad my sister came so that 2 kids could climb simultaneously. She and I got belay certified, and got a good workout on our arms. She was so excited to use her climbing shoes! L was the best person in our group at figuring out how to tie the double figure eight knots we had to start out with.
The boys liked to race up. Coming down all the kids got a bit scared either from looking down into a straight drop or feeling like they were falling, even when we reassured them we had them with our ropes. I’m so proud that they braved it anyway!
Climbing uses up quite a bit of energy, so they were all spent after about an hour of play. F is at that age where his feelings are so strong and can change so quickly. At the start of our adventure he was overly excited, and at the end of it he said he hated mountain climbing lol! Such big feelings.
We got sushi for lunch (Birthday Boy’s choice), and some special ice cream drinks before dropping my sis off at the train station and heading home.
Jer had wrapped F’s presents, one of which was over 4 feet long—it was massive! “I hope Fletcher appreciates abstract art,” he joked about his wrapping job. F was so excited to open it after dinner. He did get to open the smaller gift before then, and was ecstatic about his new basketball. We went to our neighborhood basketball court to shoot some baskets and make practice shots. Jer played Horse with F.
His special dinner was made with an abundance of love from Jer. Dutch oven potatoes and buffalo hot wings. W loved it so much that he decided to switch his birthday dinner to hot wings also.
F’s giant present unwrapped was a basketball hoop! “I had a feeling!” he exclaimed. Jer put it together for hours the next day, and our new basketball hoop attracted all the neighborhood kids. F is now the most popular kid on the block 🤣! It was the perfect gift, given how much he loves socializing and being with people.
The kids celebrated with sorbet before bed, and F requested that he sleep with Jer and I in our bed for his birthday.
