I seems so unreal that he can be this big, but he definitely acts like a big kid these days. He's such a wonderful son. He is so responsible at home, at play, and at school. He keeps up with his things, his chores, his homework, and is just a very reliable, responsible boy. Dawson is also incredibly patient! I watch him in amazement with the patience he shows his siblings-but especially Clayton. Dawson likes things just-so, and Clayton unapologetically messes with Dawson's things...a lot (although we are working on this), and Dawson is SO SO patient with him.
Dawson is also very loving, thoughtful, and considerate. He's always thinking of others. He loves to find little treasures for me or his siblings-a rock that's a cool shape, a bead, a flower...always thinking of others. He recently went to an end of the year party with his church Breakout group and they got to play arcade games there. He brought home little prizes he won for each of his siblings. Melts my heart.
Dawson loves to help. While he loves to play, I honestly think Dawson enjoys helping with a job more than playing. He likes working on something along side us-working in the garden, in the yard, fixing something, etc. Speaking of working in the yard, Dawson loves planting things and tending to them. He was excited for us to plant a garden again this year, and he is beyond thrilled that his squash that he started from a seed at school looks better than any of our other plants in our garden at this point. He still says he might like to be a farmer one day.
Our big ten year old loves anything and everything outdoors. He likes riding his bike and hoverboard, going on walks, going fishing (he fishes quiet frequently now that we have a lake within walking distance in our neighborhood and he loves it), he likes riding the Rangers, swimming, playing tennis (I've been teaching the big 3 to play, and he likes this), shooting basketball, lately catching frogs, tadpoles, and a turtle have been top favorite outdoor fun things for him too. He's always been an outdoor kind of kid! I remember when Dawson was two thinking I had never spent so much time outdoors in my whole like combined as I had in his first two years of life because he liked it so much. Haha! But now, I've gotten used to it and we are all outside A LOT.
Dawson loves his Daddy so much, and is always thrilled that John takes him and Carter to school almost every day this school year. Even though I rarely drive them in the morning, they always act like it's a special treat for Daddy to take them (instead of me...guess I'm no fun on the way to school haha!)
Dawson has impressed me so much this year with how well he has adjusted to a completely new school, a big school at that! His current school is much bigger than his previous one, and he has adjusted with ease. He's made friends, played on the soccer team, basketball team, and been a part of running club at school. I've been thrilled to see him make this adjustment seemingly so easily. In addition to these sports and new school, he's also been in church choir this year. They just wrapped up the year last Sunday and he even had a speaking part in the play and a "shared solo" in a song-and he wanted to do this! At ten he seems more confident. In addition to choir, he has also been involved with Breakout at church this year. This went September through May and required homework each week and an hour and a half meeting on Sunday evenings. Dawson really enjoyed this! (You can't do it until you're in 2nd grade or older, so Carter absolutely cannot wait to join the fun next school year after watching Dawson do it this year.)
Dawson has done great in third grade this year. His teacher was really good about teaching math in multiple different ways for the kids to understand all of it-and I think this helped him to not dislike math this year! Reading and language arts are still his favorites, but I think he might be starting to like math and science almost as much! He's a GREAT reader! I cannot keep enough books for him. (Between him and Carter, I stay busy running back and forth to the library or used book store trying to keep them in books.) Dawson has gone through lots of series of books this school year from all of the I Survived Books to Dragon Masters to Cabin Creek Mysteries to Box Car Children to Henry Huggins and the list goes on. I've got to find him some new books before summer break rolls around though. What I really need to find is a brand new series for him to get into-he is always excited about something totally new and different to read.
I mentioned Dawson was in running club. He's always loved running, but lately he has gotten SO fast! When we would run together, he and I could usually pace ourselves about the same pace. However, lately he's gotten SO fast! He can definitely run a 5k faster than me (as he proved weekend before last). I've got to keep running to increase my pace to keep up with him. I'm always impressed by his speed! His running club had an end of year Fun Run where the kids could either do a 5k or 1 mile fun run. Of course, Dawson picked the 5k, and was the first one to finish it.
Dawson still loves art! When he's not outside, he is constantly crafting, coloring, making, painting, etc. I know I'm biased as his Mom, but he's good at it too! He was excited to have his art displayed in two art shows for his school system this school year.
Dawson has never been really big into watching tv shows and this holds true at age 10. He got a table for Christmas and he does like playing games on it, but he's never been one to be very glued to any screen. He loves fishing shows on tv, if he's going to watch tv.
Dawson still likes golfing with John. We went to Top Golf on Mother's Day and watching Dawson hit, I was impressed. Dawson picked Golf Camp for his summer camp this year, and he is looking forward to that.
When we don't have anything planned some of Dawson's favorite outings include-fishing, top golf, the space and rocket center, the botanical gardens, and bowling. Bowling was actually what Dawson selected for his birthday party this year. It was definitely a ten year old birthday party-bowling and not nearly as over the top as pretty much every other party he's had his entire life-but it was exactly what he wanted at age ten-bowling, cake, pizza, and some friends. I'll post on his birthday party soon (we had it on Saturday).
Since Dawson's birthday falls on a Tuesday (today!) this year, we had his party Saturday afternoon and tried to make Saturday all about him. Today I will take brownies to his class and eat lunch with him at school and we will do something special for dinner and of course give him his gifts, but we made Saturday all about him! John brought home a Ranger weekend before last and Dawson LOVED IT, and he asked if there was any way John could bring another one home for his birthday weekend. John surprised him and got it all worked out to get another six seater for the weekend! Dawson was thrilled! We took it by the river and got muddy riding Saturday morning-Dawson loved it! Then played outside and got ready for his birthday party that evening. Then we took another ranger ride around the neighborhood and let the kids stay up late watching a movie that night. I think he enjoyed his weekend celebrations, and I can't wait to celebrate him today too as soon as we wake him up for school!
I'm so proud of the ten year old mature, responsible, loving, considerate, thoughtful, loving, big kid that Dawson is becoming. I cannot believe that the sweet like seven pound 13 ounce baby boy we brought home from the hospital as new parents in 2009 that made us a Mommy and Daddy is now a decade old! I really cannot believe it. If time could slow down that would be great, but since it's not slowing down-we are just enjoying the ride!
Happy TENTH Birthday, Dawson!
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