Will is SIX

Dear Will,

You are now SIX years old and I cannot fathom how that is possible!  You will be starting Kindergarten in August and while you are certainly ready, I am going to miss you so much.  You have matured and gained so much confidence in this last year, and I am so thankful we made the decision to let you repeat Pre-K.  You are such a precious little boy with a sensitive heart, and a curious mind.  You want to know everything about everything and you ask questions non-stop.  You have an incredible memory and you retain information so well.  You LOVE Legos and you love creating things...whether it be traps for lizards, traps for squirrels or building bird houses.  You celebrated your birthday this year with your friend Cavan at the Verner Elementary playground.   Y'all had a joint birthday party/going away party, as Cavan moved to Tennessee shortly after the party.  You had a great time with your friends and we had more celebrating that night as a family.  We just got back from Atlanta where we took you to Legoland as a belated birthday trip.  You loved it, but mostly you loved the indoor pool at the hotel!-as always!
You continue to love your friends from the Environmental Service Department, especially our sweet Isaiah.  It makes me sad that you are starting school and your opportunities to see them will diminish, but I feel confident that you will continue to leave notes and pictures for them, because you have such a thoughtful heart.
Will, you have endured a lot in this past year at such a young age.  You endured the death of Grandmaw, Neeno, and PawPaw.  That is a lot for a 5 year old...to lose 2 grandparents and a great grandparent within 6 months.  I am so sorry for all the sadness of this past year and for the times I felt absent in your life because I was in Birmingham with Neeno.  You have been so tenderhearted towards me and have given me countless hugs when you saw me crying or tearful about Neeno.  As much as I wish you had not had learn so much about death at a young age, I am confident that these past six months will enable you to be more sensitive, empathetic and compassionate as you get older.  We did not try to shield you from the sadness that life sometimes brings, and you handled the hospital visits, the funerals, and the grief you experienced with such maturity to have only been five years old.  I am so proud of you and so proud to be your mommy.
You love riding your scooter (that you got for your birthday), and you love to go fishing with Daddy.  You bought your first tackle box with some of your  birthday money and you are so proud to look at your lures!  You love hot dogs, corn dogs, BLT's, tomatoes, watermelon, squash, fruit, sweet tea (although we don't let you have it much), and you love any and all CANDY!!!!  You are not a huge chocolate eater, which shocks your chocolate loving mom! You love your little sister, and I have loved watching y'all's relationship develop into such a friendship.  You love your daddy's "tall tales" that he tells you at bedtime.  You're not afraid to say the Bible verses at church, or pray in front of the group at church. 
You are a special little boy and your mama and daddy adore you!!!  Happy 6th birthday Will! 
Love, MOM