My baby baby baby - in double digits ...

I have three babies.  So Eli is my baby #3.  Technically I guess he's my real baby since he falls in line last.

He turned 10.  May 20.

What do you want for your birthday son?

80 bucks.

Okay .. why 80?

Cause I want 80 bucks.

Do you have something in mind you want to buy?

Nope.  Just want 80 bucks.

Okay then.

Off to jump street for the day.  Took him, his brother and two friends.  Three hours of bouncing from trampoline to trampoline.  It's a good way to spend your birthday when you can't sit still on any given day.

I tried to get pictures of them while they jumped .. and this is as good as it got...

Then home for cookie (this is my kid .. he picks a cookie every year .. without fail...thank you son)

I didn't give him "80 bucks" on his party day.  Wanted to wait until the day after on his "actual" bday.  I had to think of a clever way to give him "80 bucks" because how boring to open a card and here's your money and the end happy birthday.

So .. I got ten helium balloons from party city.  Put a $10 bill in eight of them .. and then wrapped a little box and attached it to the end of the balloons.  In the box was a needle.

I bring in the balloons.  He's like "oh cool .. balloons" .. I hand them to him and he looks at the little box.  Shakes the little box.  Opens the box very carefully.  Takes the needle out.  Looks at it.  Puts it down beside him.  Takes out the tissue paper.  Shakes the empty box.  Looks again at the box.  Then at me.  Then awkwardly smiles and says "thank you".  I asked what was in the box and he says "a nee.... OHHHHHH" and immediately looks up to the balloons.

The only way I can describe what came next is pure joy.  Only the kind a kid can have.  Hold on to that little Eli ... somehow that innocent pure joy fades as you get older.  For that day I was so grateful for a little boy who calls me mom.  Watching him pop those balloons and seeing the money fly out .. then him looking at me for approval took my breath away.  

Happy Birthday my double digit boy.  There's your "80 bucks".

  

And I love you 80 x's infinity!!