Happy 12th Birthday, Caspian!

Dear Caspian,

Happy 12th birthday buddy! I can’t believe how fast you are growing up and that you are now in 6th grade. Here are some things I would like to remember about you when you turned 12 years old and some things that you might like to know about your 12 year old self……

You love soccer. You play travel soccer and you worked really hard this last year and you made the Elite team for the 2023/2024 season (the highest level team for your age group at our club).
You are super smart. You are a grade above in math and in accelerated ELA classes as well.
You love video games. You got a gaming PC last Christmas and you love to play games online with your friends.
You are really into fashion. You are more into brand name clothes than any of your three sisters (and definitely more than your father!). Let’s just say you have very expensive taste, but I still love taking you shopping.
You are not having a birthday party this year since you had a soccer tournament the weekend before your birthday and you have another soccer tournament the weekend after your birthday.
You run cross country at school. Last year you tried it and you absolutely love it. You are really fast and have great endurance.
On your birthday this year, Daddy and I are picking you up from school to take you to lunch. You chose to go to Freddy’s. It’s your favorite. You love the burgers and the shoestring french fries.
You love to sing and dance around the house. You know lots of song lyrics and sing in the car when I’m driving you places. You are so much fun!
You still like to have others do things for you, if possible. You’re definitely not as independent as your sisters.
Some of your favorite foods are cheeseburgers, mac and cheese, taquitos, hot pockets, Jimmy Dean breakfast sandwiches, cheese tortellini and meat (lots and lots of meat!)
You have lots of friends. Everyone seems to know you and like you.
For your birthday this year you are getting wireless earbuds, cell service added to your phone, soccer grip socks, a soccer necklace and a Kevin De Bruyne soccer jersey. And you’re also getting a new Messi jersey that’s on order for you from Grandma Jane and Pepo.
You love the drink Prime. The advertisers of this drink should win some type of award because they have totally sold you on their product. We only let you have the hydration version, but you could list every reason why Prime is better than Gatorade.
You love reading Manga books. You originally started watching some Japanese Anime series on television, but now you are into the books. You like all different series and have checked out tons and tons of those books from the library this past summer.
You got a new haircut before school started and I have to use a flat iron on your hair to make it stick up the way you want it. I never thought I would be flat ironing my son’s hair before school in the mornings. But here we are…..
You love fancy shoes. I think you are starting a Nike collection and even paid some of your own money in order to buy new Jordan Retro 6’s.
This last year we finally transitioned your room from the cute little boy nautical theme to a more cool video game themed bedroom.
You still love to give me hugs and snuggles. You always make sure to hug me before bedtime.
You work really hard at the things you enjoy or are passionate about……if you set your mind to something, you can make it happen.
You do not like doing things that involve a lot of fine motor skills. You always say ‘I don’t like doing things with my hands’ and you definitely do NOT like arts and crafts.

Caspian Finn Wilkes, as I write this letter to you, I can’t help but smile when I think of you. You are seriously the most fun, entertaining, sweet and kind kid. I say this every year, but you bring this exciting boy energy to our home and you help us all to not take life too seriously. You are the absolute best son I could ever ask for and I’m so proud that I’m your Mama.