It's GREAT to be EIGHT

It is really hard to believe that I now have an 8 year old. Ayden turned 8 today but yesterday we surprised him with his birthday present. For such a special birthday we didn't want to just get him toys and such so Ryan and I decided to do something WITH Ayden that he loves and that he might possibly remember doing for sometime in the future!! We decided we would take him to a Seattle Mariner's game. This wouldn't be his first time going to a major league game (it was mine though), but he got to go with just mom and dad. No sisters allowed. We got a babysitter to watch the girls and Grandma Margaret came too. We didn't tell him where we were going but about the time we passed the airport he mentioned that he thought we were going to Seattle and that the Mariner's had a game. Smarty Marty!! It was so much fun!! He was so excited and told Ryan and I in about the 3rd or 4th inning that this was a really good birthday present!! Ryan and the boys just outside the right field gate. It was a nice day for a game. Overcast but warm!! The Heitmann Boys!Ayden was so hungry when we got to the ball park. He was waiting patiently on the bleachers for us to decide where we were going to get some food. It was just too cool of a shot to pass up!!Yup we got a shot with the Mariner's Moose.You would think after how long Ryan and I have been together and how long Ryan has played baseball that I would have been to a major league baseball game before. But surprisingly I hadn't. This was my first MLB game and it was a lot of fun, just as a knew it would be. The seats were a major upgrade from the hard metal bleachers that I sat on through all those college games!!Wyatt did pretty well once he finally passed out after a few innings. He was sorely overdue for a nap. Thanks Grandma Margaret for getting him to sleep!!Which of these pitchers is not like the others? I bet you can't guess which one is the Rookie!! Ken Griffey Jr. was the DH and he ended up hitting the game winning double in the eighth inning to put the Mariner's up by one!!And we can't forget about Ichiro!! He is one of Ayden's favorite players!!The boys with their rally hats on. Me and my boys. I feel so blessed to have them!!Go Mariner's!!!Wyatt didn't know what to think of the strawberry slushy at first but eventually took a real liking to it!!The Mariner's won 2-1 over the Minnesota Twins!! As you can tell Ayden was really happy about it. He was so much fun to watch during this game. He knew what was going on and was keeping track of runs and hits, balls and strikes. He really enjoys baseball!!! I am so glad we chose to do this for Ayden's birthday instead of toys or material things. It will be a happy memory that will last a long, long time.

8 things that we love about Ayden are:

1. He has a vivid imagination. He pretends constantly and makes all his own sound effects...pretty good at them too!!

2. He is determined.

3. He is a good big brother...when he wants to be. No really he does love his sisters and brother.

4. He is a good athlete. He is really a natural, which he did not get from me!!

5. He is smart and does really well in school. Math is easy for him.

6. He wants to do what is right and loves learning about the heroes in the scriptures.

7. He is a good friend and loves spending time with his buddies. Of course Star Wars and baseball are always played.

8. He is so easy to love and he easily gives his love to everyone!!

-I'll be posting more pics from the cake and ice cream portion of his birthday when I get them from my mother-in-law.