Simply Celebrate

On the morning of Eli's birthday party he got a letter from his big brother across the country.  A long letter with some bark from the native trees and a local rock.  He sat and carefully read that letter.  When asked if I could read it he quickly replied, "No.  It's for ten year old boys."  He added the "boys" to ensure that I wouldn't say that I've been ten before and therefore am authorized to read it.    Also, there was a big box with a super cool, new Lego set.  Can't beat that.  Well, maybe having
  him here would be that.  He did get to talk to him on the phone and as he did he walked around the house kicking a ball.

When I asked Eli what he wanted to do for his birthday he kept answering the same thing, "Hang out with my friends".  I would ask if he wanted to go to the beach, have a fire, go skating or mini-golfing.  Nope.  Just hang out with friends.  So that's what it was.  There was a lot of laughing, tag, running and wrestling.  One of his presents was a big, big box and in the box was another box and another and so on.  All wrapped.  Then in the smallest box was a brick and next to the brick was a beautiful gold envelope and in the envelope was a special season's pass to the local amusement park.  We laughed and laughed.  A rousing game of night tag was followed by sugarless mixed berry pie.  Just as requested.  It was surely delicious!