I blinked

and my baby is ten.



My baby.



TEN.

That’s like, a decade.



It happened so fast.





There’s a tradition in my family, that on your tenth birthday you get to go out ALONE with Mom and Dad to a restaurant of your choice.

Being in a family of twelve kids, you were never alone.

So it was very special.


And we have decided to carry on the tradition.


And even though Quin is only one of four, it’s still pretty special to go somewhere with Mom and Dad alone.

Before we left, we had cake and singing with the other kids.
’Cause it’s not really a birthday till you share it with your family.

It’s also in rule in this family that on your birthday you get to choose the meals.
Quin chose pancakes for breakfast.
I never asked him what he wanted for lunch, I just made him what I new he liked.
They were outside playing when I called them in for lunch, and when he came in the door and saw what I had made, he exclaimed,
“Perfect!!  That was just what I was going to ask for!!!”

What was this lunch that made me a hero?


Salad with bacon bits.



Crispy bacon bits.

Happy boy.

The others.

This is what Ava did if I turned the camera her way.
Something outside was awfully interesting.

Quin also got a card from Grandma and Grandpa Ryan.

Here he’s listening to teasing about what may be inside it.

He was very happy with what was inside it.

Blowing out the candles….

With Ava checking out his technique.

This, Ava informed us, was her “Party Hat.”

Then, we got ready, and headed out!




We stopped at Zellers, and Quin picked out a new Bionicle.

Then it was off to Swiss Chalet!!
Which, incidentally, is just about the only place Quin and I can eat out.
Allergies are a pain in the butt.

While waiting for dinner, we talked with Quin about his hopes and dreams.

He would love to be an NHL player, or an Brick Layer, or an Architect.  And he wants to be a Farmer.



When asked what he wants to do with his life, he said, “Glorify God and live for him.  Be a strong Christian.”



It’s amazing to me that he has grown so much in his faith, and that he has his own relationship with God,
apart from me.  And he LOVES God.



We asked about his chores, which are a favourite.  He doesn’t have one. 
His least favourite is hanging clothes on the line.




We told him how proud we were of him….



he has matured so much in the past year.

He really is my right hand man. 
If I ask him to do something, he does it.
And usually without a complaint.
Usually he’s quite a willing helper.


So, both he and Daddy got teary-eyed over the mushy stuff…



And then we ate!!




He’s full.

Our server came over freakin’ out a bit, ‘cause she had found out it was his birthday,
and she wanted to bring him a treat. 
But, she also new about the allergies, and couldn’t find a single thing to bring him!!


I told her it really was okay, but she felt very bad.




But she did round up a bunch of other servers, and they came and sang “Happy Birthday” to him.

After a quick stop at Zehrs to get him some coconut milk icecream (YUM!), we headed to the movie theater.

There wasn’t a line, like we thought there might be, so Quin sat outside and ate his icecream.

The theater marquis..
in this picture you can’t see the movie we were there to see.

Here it is.

After the movie,(which wasn’t as good as I thought it would be),
we headed home to bed.




Quinlan said it was an awesome birthday.

And I said he is an awesome kid.

And he is.




I love you Quinlan.




Happy Birthday.