Jack is SEVEN!

Happy happy birthday to everyone's favorite scallywag:

Jack Q. Izatt (as he prefers to be addressed) is seven years old! If this feels sudden... like, maybe you remember just reading about him turning six... that's because you did haha. The only real thing that bugs me about being this behind on my blog is birthday posts... I feel like they aren't as genuine when they're six... nine... twelve... months after the fact ;). SO, until I catch up on the blog (aka never) I figure I'll jump in and do birthday posts on time!

SO, here's Jack as a seven year old: He's a total babe at school. Loves first grade. Loves Miss Overcast. Loves the rules and the schedule and the consistency and the work and specials and lunch and recess. I subbed in his classroom for two days recently and Jack was amazing - he listened well and interacted so positively with his classmates and did his work adorably. Jack also loves piano. Like LOVES piano. He started in August and never looked back - he doesn't fight us at all about practicing and has a couple songs memorized to whip out at random family or church events haha. Jack also loves Pokemon. Grandma Pam introduced the kids to a Pokemon club at the Boise Library and after watching his older brothers play for a few weeks, Jack was permitted to sneak into official play early despite being younger than the 'age 8' cutoff they use. Over the last few months, Jack has become a complete and total football aficionado, much to Chuck's delight. Jack is obsessed with the rules and with the records of various NFL teams, and has studiously selected BYU as his favorite collegiate team (much not to Chuck's delight haha). Praise the heavens for youtube - we don't get most games on TV so every morning following a big game, Jack wakes me up at 5:59 with a whispered, "Mom? Do you know who won last night? Can I go watch highlights from the game?" haha. He loves his primary teachers and class and recently requested a suit be purchased for him to wear each Sunday - a slight upgrade from the crocs/shorts/polo look he previously sported for church functions. Blessedly a suit jacket and pants were procured from the Boise Savers for a grand total of $4 and Jack looks dashing and debonair in them!

Jack is a pretty typical third child: he really really loves and thrives on one-on-one attention. And he really really does not thrive on being interrupted. Or almost being interrupted. Or there being a slight chance that someone is not paying attention while he's talking. He LOVES reading scriptures aloud when we study them together in the evenings as a family but has very strict rules about who can help him if he stumbles on a word... and also the time frame for that - i.e. he prefers to ponder the word alone for a bit before requiring assistance. But you have to read his mind to know when it's acceptable to offer help. It's really special ;). Jack and Carma are the cutest little buddies. Jack and his older brothers either got along fabulously or NOT AT ALL. Jack and Will were having some issues as roommates so Chuck and I prayed, pondered, and ultimately decided that adding another brother into the mix would help, so Clyde packed up his belongings and moved down the hallway into their bedroom too! The boys have dubbed their space 'HQ' and 88% of the time it's fantastic. The other 12% involves Jack's beloved privacy being invaded. Jack requires the room to be completely empty when he changes any article of clothing at all. Like, even socks. Is this the same child that occasionally drops his towel and streaks through the house after a bath? Why yes, yes, it is. I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT EITHER (insert alllll the crying emojis....)

Chuck and I have so much love for and pride in our Jackers. He definitely tries our patience... about every thirty eight seconds... but we remind ourselves of his sweet, tender side and forge on with great hopes and expectations for how he'll entertain and surprise and infuriate us in days to come haha. Happy birthday Jack!!