Oh, Maxwell

Max, holding up a mini Butterfinger candy bar, "Mom, do these kind of candies make you laugh a lot?"

"There is more in you of good than you know, child of the kindly West." - J.R.R. Tolkien

Aaron posted this a few days ago and I wanted to save it here.

 

Today I took the boys over to Toys R Us. Liam had some birthday money to spend, and Max had a little bit of Halloween money to spend. After spending some time looking at Lego sets and Nintendo DS games, Liam decided that saving his money would be a better option. Max, on the other hand, kept asking to go back and look at some Schleich knight toys that he had seen. He had enough money to buy on...e, but he couldn't decide which one he wanted. He asked if he could get two, but I reminded him that he only had enough for one. Liam quietly asked me if he could give money to Max so that he could have two of them. I told him that was sweet, but that his money was a gift that he should hang on to. Max became so flustered trying to decide between the knights that he started to cry. Liam looked at him and said, "Max, I'm going to buy one of the knights for you. Which one do you want?" Needless to say, I was a little overwhelmed. My seven year old son found more importance in making someone else happy than in holding on to his money for himself. More importantly, he felt so strongly about it that he was willing to risk getting in trouble for not listening to me in order to follow through with his convictions. I learned today not to get in the way of someone else's generosity, and that my children are (quickly) growing into the kind of people I feel the world is lacking.

 

Here are some more pictures from Liam's big day. So proud of this kid, every day.

 

Happy Birthday, Liam James!

 

Max chose a ninja turtle figure for Liam's gift. He agonized over all the toys at Target before choosing what he thought Liam would like the most!

 

Liam wanted a Hobbit birthday party, so mom and dad got him a shirt to wear on the big day!

 

Liam and his "Elvish" birthday bunting!

 

Striking a pose! Crazy kids.

These two were so cute all day. Max didn't cry or whine that he didn't get the same things Liam did (which I half anticipated he would), and Liam let Max help and look at all of his gifts. Such good brothers.

 

 

Liam's "Hobbit Hole" cake. I fashioned the door, windows and ground out of fondant after baking the cake in a pyrex bowl to make it round.

 

It turned out super cute, and only took three hours! :)

 

There were various "Hobbit" themed foods like "The One Ring" Funyuns...

 

The "Elven Council" E.L. Fudge cookies...

 

...and "Smaug's Fireballs" were actually cheese balls!

 

A favorite gift - arrows for his bow and a target from Grandpa Howie and Grandma Pammy! Target practice commenced soon after gift opening!

 

Mines of Moria Lego set from aunties!

 

I will never get tired of listening to him read his cards!

 

The Civil War book he has checked out of the library three times! He now has his own copy!

 

Grandma Karen couldn't come because Grandpa Richie was sick, but she sent her gift along!

 

Phineas and Ferb DS game and pj's!

 

Love my 7 year old!

Happy Birthday, Liam!