Dear Alden

(photo by the lovely Rebecca Cooper!)
I just wanted to tell you that I am just enjoying you so much. You have always been an easy kid to have. And easy baby. And easy toddler. And easy preschooler. And now an easy grade schooler. You are easy because you are obedient. You want to do what is right. You aren't demanding at all. But more of a go with the flow kind of a kid (I think you get that from your dad.) Most of the time you are just happy to be.
You are doing so good in Grade one. It just makes me so happy and proud. And your dad too. You are learning to read. A few nights ago when we were laying on your bed doing your home reading and we were laughing from something silly you said; it just filled my heart with love for you. It was bursting out of me. I didn't want to say good night to you. I was having fun and enjoying just to two of us being together. It was marvelous. Sometimes it's hard to get moments that are just for me and you around here. Lucy and Eli demand a lot of attention. And often you are left waiting. And you do it so wonderfully. I try to make sure I get some time of just me and you. I need to try harder and I will.
Your testimony is growing of Jesus Christ. I love that you are always willing to share it with our family. That you are attentive and listening when we having Family Home Evening or in church or Primary. Your teachers have told me how good you are at church. That you participate and are often one of the first to raise your hand and answer the questions. There is nothing in the world that could make me or dad more happy than seeing your testimony growing. Because I know that if your testimony is strong, if you know how to talk to your loving Heavenly Father in prayer and receive the answers he sends, then you will be safe. Always.
You are getting so tall and handsome. Sometimes I am amazed that you are getting so tall and big. And oh so handsome. When I was in your classroom the other day helping, one of the girls asked me who's mom I was. I said Alden's. And she said he is CUTE! I said I know :)
I think one of the best things about you is your ability to just be who you are and not care what anyone else says. At your seventh birthday party the boys were talking about girl movies. One of the boys said they had to watch the Barbie musketeer movie with their sister and how they hated it. They were all talking about how silly it was. You spoke loudly and said "I watched it all and i LOVED IT." I love that you are comfortable enough with yourself to say that. You are just you. And you don't care what anyone else says. Oh how I wish I was more like you in that way!
I love that yesterday you came home from school and the first thing you said when you came upstairs was "Mom, wanna snuggle on the couch?" Of course!!!
I just wanted to tell you how much I love you. How proud of you I am. And how happy I am that you are my boy.

All my heart.
Mom.