For weeks now I have been hearing about double digits. It was Liam’s favorite phrase for the last month. It appears double digits are now as popular or maybe more important than being 13 used to be for my generation. Times do change though and so, last Wednesday, November 13th, Liam became double digits. The big 10. Each year goes by faster, each year he grows taller and smarter but still in my heart he remains my Lil Man. Only now he is almost as tall as me. Somedays we actually do stand shoulder to shoulder. What hasn’t changed and hopefully won’t, is his love for still coming to our home and spending time with both Jim and I but in very different ways now. He still cuddles and hugs but also now walks independently on his own. He doesn’t need us anymore for rules or for watching over him like we are used to doing. So as he grows into a tween we are learning to let go of him a bit more. Not holding on as tight as we once did. The other thing that is changing…and this is for you Liam, you are now teaching us lessons. Teaching and helping us in ways we never expected. Double digits are here but still, you remain our joy.

You had the best year once again. Starting with the photo above of you and Uncle Chris. We have to start at last year’s birthday to get to this year’s birthday, for both of you. This year both of you are celebrating special numbers so in a few days, we will celebrate that.

You have kept some of the sports that you love from years past but then also added some new adventures to try. You are creative and outgoing with lots of friends. It is so nice that you have Parker to play with now right across the street from us. Another wonderful thing for Papa and me to watch is how you always let Jaxson tag along for some of the time. You protect him, hug him still and try to help him out, sometimes too much but now he is big enough to let you know that sometimes he likes to try to figure things out on his own. In today’s world, you are a grandson to be proud of. Big smiles, really nice manners and you do try to please those you love as often as you can. Of course, being a tween means you are still learning so many things…big things that are scary for a Nana, not Papa so much. For me, you ride your bike and scooter too fast and too far. I worry when you play sports. I know now that sometimes you need quiet time and your own space. It has been a big year for you but we are all learning your new limits together. Mostly, I’m so happy that we get to see you often and we still take trips with you and Mom and Jaxson. It makes me so happy that you still like to come here whenever you can. We still have you and Jaxson once week after school. That is my favorite day of the week. A few days this year we even had time, just you and me to be together. I love those days now because I know soon you will drift further and further as your world expands and it will, but slowly, we will both get ready for that, just not yet. I think we should be grateful for this past year together. Let’s look back again together at some of the adventures we got to enjoy as we traveled swiftly through the days that you were 9 years old. We had a lot of fun, my friend…

Wow, who would believe that you would still be playing flag football in December. You were and you did a great job, even in the cold weather. Papa and I almost froze but we wouldn’t even think of missing one of your games unless we were out of town. You love football and are really, really good at it. I like the spring season best though…

Christmas eve is such a festive time. You and your family come to Nana and Papa’s for dinner and then we all get to open our special cans. We have cans but some people have stockings. Sometimes I think you and Jaxson like the cans better than some of your gifts. Last year was the first year that you didn’t get your Hess trucks. Don’t worry though, we have packed them away for you and when you are bigger you will get them back for your children. Papa and I love Christmas day at your house. Everything is always so pretty and Mom does a great job cooking and having a nice fire going. Oh my, and so many gifts. Uncle Chris and Julia meet us there and it really is the most wonderful day of the year…I love that each year you receive your Blog post book about all the things you did the year before, you actually stop and read it. That’s why I will always make you and Jaxson your Christmas books…It’s always a very merry Christmas.

In February you started playing basketball. I do think this is one of your favorite sports because you play it all year long. This time though, your team won the Championship… Go Liam. It is my favorite sport to watch and I love seeing you and Jaxson every Saturday for your game.

Early spring, your cousins came to visit. It looks like you are having a great time with them. LOL and then you were back to playing baseball…you do it all Liam and you are such a joy to watch. I love that you and Jaxson like to spend time together and this lovely spring day we went to Patton Park and you both climbed to the top of General Patton’s tank. That was bit scary for me to watch…but you made it and you even came down without a struggle. Then before you new it, summer was here.

Mom got a new boat and you took Papa and I for a ride to Gloucester. What a great beginning to the summer season. You even got a chance to drive it on the way back. You did a nice job Liam. Perhaps that’s because you’ve been driving Papa’s boat in Maine for quite a few years.

Summer in Maine and summer at the Willows…two more traditions that we hold special each year. Two new adventures in Maine…you and Jaxson went though the locks into Sebago lake for the very first time and you tried the wakeboard for the first time. The wakeboard wasn’t easy. You really tried hard and you did get yourself up but not for long. Next summer you will be a pro. And of course we always make it to the Willows where you and Jaxson practice your guitar skills and play all kinds of games and win a million tickets. By the look on your face you take this very seriously…I especially love our Willows time. It so much fun watching you boys do all the things that I did when I was a little girl. Now that’s tradition from generation to generation. BTW Mommy and Uncle Chris always went to the Willows each summer also. I love you sitting on the wall at the beach eating your ice cream . I did that too when I was a bit bigger than you. I love how the sun heated the cement and made my butt nice and warm…

Oh how we love Chicago…Mom always gets us the best hotels. We stayed at the Peninsula and we had a great view of the city. You and Jaxson loved the roof top pool. We walked the Magnificent Mile and stopped in at the Nutella Cafe, do you remember that nutella crepe? Yum. Our favorite though was the Bean…I see you in there. Look at you on the rooftop of Oscars house…

It was a great summer and then we moved back into Fall…Yup, another tradition for every September…Canobie Lake Park. Papa takes us all to the Gillette Picnic each year. Everyone rides all day, we eat way to much and we look forward to it every year. No more kiddie rides for you and Jaxson…you ride them all. Amazing how fast you have grown. I love how you love life though Liam…it’s a joy to watch you move through your own space now, doing your own thing..

More football in the early Fall and your team made it all the way to the playoffs.. You were a great quarterback Liam and I’m so glad Papa and I got to watch you each week. This is important also…you were such a great team mate and played like a true gentleman. You make us proud of you each time you're on the field.

One last thing for now. It was no surprise to me that you wanted to take cooking lessons so this Fall you and Jaxson both cooked every Tuesday. No surprise because you have been baking at my house since you were old enough to hold a spoon and stir. I look at you now and see all the many things that you have been exposed to and wonder, which of these activities will shape your future. You are old enough now to know the difference in what you really love and what you have to tolerate. It’s like Dr. Seuss says “Oh the places you will go”…

The photos in this post were taken with the Fuji XT-2 and the Fuji 50-200 and 18-135. The sports photos were taken with the Canon 7DMk11 and the Tamron 16-300

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