1. His sense of humor. Sometimes his jokes make sense...and sometimes they don't. But one thing's for sure, he's always trying to get a laugh. (Sometimes I think kids should come with disclaimers...I never said his jokes were always appropriate.)
2. His obsession with Legos. Some kids play sports, some kids ride bikes, some kids learn karate or read. For Garrett, there is nothing he would rather do than build Legos. You name it, he can build it. It's his favorite hobby, his passion and his first choice when he has free time. And when he's not building them, he's on the website learning how to do everything from make stop-motion animation movies out of them to how the pros build new prototypes. I have to say that I find it refreshing that there is a still a toy that is not virtual, that is creatively limitless and reinforces useful skills (like math, symmetry, fine motor). If only they offered "Legos" as a major in college...
3. His memory. From almost the time Garrett learned to talk (and he was an early talker), it was evident that he had a remarkable memory. To this day, as I try to recycle toys from the older boys to the twins, many of the toys are met with protest by Garrett, followed by the background of the toy ("No, Grandma gave this to me on my third birthday at Chuck E. Cheese", or something similar). This is a blessing and a curse (see #4).
4. His negotiating skills. I guess it helps that he has the memory of an elephant, but when it comes to negotiating, Garrett has mastered the skill. I'm not sure he even realizes he does it; it's his way of being persistent to get what he wants. It would be much easier if his points weren't reasonable, thought-out and opportunistic. Just watch what you say and what you promise, because he WILL remember (see #3).
5. His love of animals. Garrett has always felt connected to dogs, cats, birds and animals in general. He loves to talk with them (if you ask him, he'll tell you he speaks "duck"), share affection and take care of them. He was devastated when we lost our sweet Sequoia and has been begging for another dog- or any animal he could train, tarantulas included (see #4...)- but we settled on a 2.5 gallon fish tank and a few fish. Something tells me, however, that this negotiation isn't over.
6. His art. There is no question he's creative, but Garrett is also a talented artist. Some of the pictures he has drawn have blown me away. And he'll draw everything from comic books to landscape sketches to instructions on how to build a satellite. He has discovered one of the greatest gifts of drawing- the he can draw anything he can imagine (and what interesting insight into his seven- year-old mind...).
7. His heart. No matter how Garrett chooses to express himself, there is always passion behind it (desirable or not). I still (and probably always will) think of him as a puppy- big for his age, a little uncoordinated, but full of love and affection and just wanting some attention. He is loyal, compassionate, honest, hard-working, and at the end of the day, loves to be cuddled and feel special. But don't we all?
4. His negotiating skills. I guess it helps that he has the memory of an elephant, but when it comes to negotiating, Garrett has mastered the skill. I'm not sure he even realizes he does it; it's his way of being persistent to get what he wants. It would be much easier if his points weren't reasonable, thought-out and opportunistic. Just watch what you say and what you promise, because he WILL remember (see #3).
5. His love of animals. Garrett has always felt connected to dogs, cats, birds and animals in general. He loves to talk with them (if you ask him, he'll tell you he speaks "duck"), share affection and take care of them. He was devastated when we lost our sweet Sequoia and has been begging for another dog- or any animal he could train, tarantulas included (see #4...)- but we settled on a 2.5 gallon fish tank and a few fish. Something tells me, however, that this negotiation isn't over.
6. His art. There is no question he's creative, but Garrett is also a talented artist. Some of the pictures he has drawn have blown me away. And he'll draw everything from comic books to landscape sketches to instructions on how to build a satellite. He has discovered one of the greatest gifts of drawing- the he can draw anything he can imagine (and what interesting insight into his seven- year-old mind...).
7. His heart. No matter how Garrett chooses to express himself, there is always passion behind it (desirable or not). I still (and probably always will) think of him as a puppy- big for his age, a little uncoordinated, but full of love and affection and just wanting some attention. He is loyal, compassionate, honest, hard-working, and at the end of the day, loves to be cuddled and feel special. But don't we all?
Whether he grows up to be an engineer, a vet, a lawyer or an artist, what a privilege it is to watch him grow up.
Happy 7th Birthday, Garrett! We love you!
Happy 7th Birthday, Garrett! We love you!
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