Chris' 12th Birthday!!!

So my eldest boy turned 12 last June. Wow. He is such a neat boy. I am truly amazed by him and his tender heart. He probably won't appreciate me saying that, but it's true. Here are some of my favorite things that you may or may not know about Chris:

1- He L-O-V-E-S football. I think his love of the game rivals even Scott. And he's good at it. He's always been athletic, but he has a drive and intensity when he's playing that is inspiring to watch.

2- He is a natural born leader. He doesn't know it, and he doesn't consciously use it. But people trust and respect him and will follow him and his example. Now we just have to wait and see if he uses his powers for good or evil.... =)

3- He has huge feet. He wears the same size shoes as Scott. And he's still growing. I'm a little afraid.

4- Parent/Teacher Conferences are never dull. Chris' teachers love him. However, he tends to be a little chatty. He gets bored really quickly and likes to talk. So while his grades are never a source of worry, his citizenship is. Every year, the teacher looks at me with a smile and says, "Chris is a great student and a joy to have in class. And his sense of humor is.... well, hilarious and surprisingly mature. It's just not always appropriately timed." Hmmmmm.... wry humor that's not always appropriately timed? Welcome to the Thompson's Chris!

5- Chris is funny. Not just a little funny. A LOT. He is so quick-witted that sometimes I think he lies awake at night coming up with zingers for any possible conversation he may find himself in. And while body noise humor is still funny to him, his sense of humor is smart enough that he could write for Pixar films.

6- Chris loves to read. He's impossible to buy books for because he goes through them so quickly. So he is relearning how to use the public library. He'll read almost anything. He asked for The Odyssey for Christmas. I was surprised. I love to read too, but I'll settle for seeing that movie!

7- He plays the violin. And apparently he's pretty good at it. He's first chair in the middle school orchestra. I like to think that it's because he's THAT good. He says it's because everyone else is THAT bad. And you can't necessarily tell which one of us is right by listening to them play.

8- He looks forward to Ultimate Frisbee every week. His 6th grade teacher plays Ultimate every Friday with select kids from current and past classes, and he keeps inviting Chris back. He's pretty good at it too.

9- He has found a great mentor in his 6th grade teacher. I was so pleased when I found out who he got for his final elementary year. Mr. Sanderson is a great, tough teacher who expects a lot from the kids- which is JUST what Chris needed. They play games online and still communicate through email and his teacher invites kids to play strategy games and Ultimate Frisbee at the school. He has expected much from Chris and never hesitates to let Chris know if he's disappointed with him. Sounds harsh, but it's just what Chris needs.

10- He's a great big brother. It feels like hunting snipes at our house to catch these elusive moments, but in those brief glimpses I get, I can see what a great young man and brother he's turning into.

I was blessed to be there when Chris received the Priesthood and it is a continuous blessing to see him worthily pass the Sacrament each week. I love you Chris. Happy (super late) birthday!