Happy 10th Birthday Matt!

It seems like 10 minutes ago Matt was just a week old. (It's possible that is because 10 minutes ago he was throwing a fit - but thats besides the point!) The point is, 10 years has flown by quicker then I could have ever imagined. He's no longer my 2lb 10oz little preemie! He's developed into a handsome young man who's athletic abilities amaze me every single time he takes the field. Which is a good thing because, as I lay in the hospital bed for 5 weeks trying to stop his birth, his father Cody and I didn't have a name for him in the event that he did come early. So when Kathy (my mother in law at the time) suggested "Matthew Cody", my ex-husband quickly agreed because he said it was one of those names that would sound really awesome being announced as the star player over the intercom at a major league baseball game. So low and behold, he came Matthew Cody Howard and while we aren't exactly at the Major Leagues at this point, he's made me pretty proud down in Little league!

Every year I let them pick what kind of cake they want. Most years he wants chocolate Cake with chocolate icing (proving that yes, he does have my DNA!) one year he wanted Pumpkin Pie (again, my DNA) but this year, he wanted Dirt Cake! I was more then happy to provide this for him. How could you go wrong with oreo's and pudding!

I also let them choose their birthday dinner every year. This year, instead of asking for Chuck E Cheese or McDonald's - my 10 year old son chose...

Let the hormones begin.

The Hooters girls surrounded him and sang Happy Birthday to him.


The look on his face was priceless!!!


High five to being 10!


It was also Mothers Day that day, so mothers got dessert for free. You don't argue with free Strawberry Cheesecake!

His birthday was on a Friday so he had to wait all day at school to open his presents. I took cupcakes to school, which he got to eat during his pizza party that his class had for meeting their reading goals. It was the first party Matt was able to attend that year because he had finally met his goal!

Jacqui was so excited about Matt's pitching trainer!!!

They had to go out and put it together right away. (Notice little miss "hands on her hips" in the background. She is something else!!!)

Putting it together was a little tricky but she was bound and determined to figure it out. I'd like to tell you it was because she cares about her brother and wanted to help him put his birthday present together but I'm afraid this was purely for her benefit!

She pretty much put the entire thing together all by herself while Matt stood there and held it up. If she was allowed to swear, I think I would have heard a few colorful words come out of her mouth because of frustration. By the time she got it together, she'd had it with her brothers "help" and told him to just "get away!" They can only be around each other for so long before someone starts yelling.

But she did a great job and Matt was finally able to start practicing his pitches!

You better believe Jacqui was going to take advantage of it too!

Here he is opening his other gift from us!

He wanted a rip stick SOOOO bad! He told me it was the only thing he wanted!

He was so excited and naturally just jumped right on it as if he's always known how to skate on it like a pro!

Unfortunately, someone else was just as excited about this gift too! They fight over who is going to use it. It's like having two 10 year olds in the house! I'm taking bets on who is going to hurt themselves first!

Happy 10th Birthday Matt! Hope you had a great day!