Airplanes, Rainbows and Things that Matter Most

We celebrated another birthday last week, it was William's and believe or not he is now 9.  We played all day just like we did on the other birthdays and had such a great time I forgot to take more than a few pictures.  Here are two I caught of the boys playing with William's remote control helicopter and testing out new airplane folding techniques:

The helicopter got stuck in a few trees, on top of the van and up top on the roof more than once.  I think the rescue missions were as much fun as the flights.  

As for paper airplanes, I'm about ready to ban them from the inside of the house because no one seems to even attempt any sort of rescue from their scattered landing spots.  Apparently it is just easier to fold another plane. They are everywhere and made out of everything from day old new paper, junk mail, scribbled paper and smaller ones from days past on our word calendar.

William enjoys taking pictures just as much as he loves airplanes so James and I put together a portfolio of his favorite photos on Shutterfly.  We titled it "The Story of the Little Green Camera", that was another favorite gift.

Sometimes William takes pictures of the sky.  Even despite the embedded tick episode he often lays flat and still in the grass, since it was his birthday I joined in.

On that occasion he pointed a rainbow out to me.  So we took a picture.

He also pointed out this lone blossom.  So we took another picture.

William is a great kid and his behavior does not demand much attention.  This last week however he gently suggested he needed "just William and Mommy time".  His chosen activity was walking the dog.  I allowed him to lead the course and as we meandered the neighborhood paths our conversation drifted from North Carolina memories to Utah memories to the colors of the sky and then what types of animals he plans to care for on our future farm.  He informed me that he was a naturalist and that is why he could not bear to witness even a bug being squashed.

Our walk extended into a stop on the neighbors swings.  This gave me a good laugh and I realized I needed "just William and Mommy time" as much as he did.

William is always anxious to hear flight stories from President Uchtdorf so in lieu of scripture study one morning last week we listened to his recent conference address, Of Things that Matter Most.  Later that day I hustled 6 little kids out of the big white van and into Trader Joe's.  I impatiently called for them to follow but William and Maryanna were stopped at the entrance smelling flower bouquets and cinnamon brooms.  I sharply called to them again but William stood tall and responded with, "didn't you hear what President Uchtdorf counseled us, you need to slow down".  

So it is that even little men can be our leaders and what a joy it is when in those moments we get a glimpse of them not so little but of what they may become.  Happy Birthday William, thank you for sharing the world through your eyes, it is refreshing.