Morrison hit a home run during the spring/summer baseball season this year, so he was eligible to participate in the Little League home run derby after the championship games. Their team didn’t make the finals, but that didn’t dampen his excitement for the derby at all! The kids and I got home from our Canada trip the very day of the derby, but then it ended up getting rained out and postponed. No big deal, it was just a few evenings later. On one of the hottest nights of the year. 🥵
The kids had the option of choosing who they wanted to pitch for them – parent, coach, friend, etc. – and Morrison chose Ryan. They both needed to warm up in batting practice beforehand that night! Then unfortunately they waited directly in the sweltering sun of the dugout until Morrison was up to bat. We may decide to have his coach pitch to him the next time he’s in the derby, but they both did great. There was a full opening ceremony where each of the kids was introduced, which was so fun to watch. And most importantly, Morrison was SO excited, because he hit a home run that Ryan and I both got to see this time!! I was thrilled! He and a couple other batters hit 1 each, a couple hit 2-3, one kid hit 7, and the winner hit 10! There were only 6 batters in all, so I was SO PROUD that Morrison was one of them and so happy that all of them hit at least one home run. And his team had 3 boys in the derby, the most out of any team – I’d say their coaches did a great job! He still claims that he’s waiting for track to be his breakout sport, but I truly love watching him play ball. His athletic skills are pretty amazing. Incredible job, kiddo!
ETA: We had his annual physical in September, so here are his official 10-year stats:
Height: 4′ 10″ (88%)
Weight: 83 lbs 12.4 oz (76%)
Blood Pressure: 98/60
BMI: 17.35 (60%)
I say it every time, but this kid never ceases to amaze me. He’s brilliant, helpful, kind, caring, empathetic, curious, responsible, respectful, inclusive, and the fastest wheels on his Little League team.
Last sleep of 9!
Every teacher he’s ever had says what an amazing student and classmate he is, and he’s always the one they turn to when they need help with something or need a leader in the classroom. His teacher this year told me multiple times that she’d have no problem leaving the room and letting Morrison just run the class. He’d be in heaven. 😉 He’s both a good friend and a good role model. He’s become Ryan’s apprentice for any and all jobs around here, and I LOVE that. I said these kids will know how to do more stuff by the time they’re teenagers than I do right now. And I could not be more proud of that.
He continues to have the most pure, golden heart and is still happiest when he’s helping others. Sometimes that can turn into policing when it’s trained on his younger brothers, but such is sibling life and love… 😉 The other weekend our neighbors had a 1st birthday party for their little girl, and they asked the girls to help decorate. I said absolutely, and if you have anything you need help moving around, setting up, etc., Morrison would love to get in on the action, too. He (and our neighbors!) were over the moon. He spent all morning over there with his sisters rearranging their backyard, creating a massive balloon arch/banner, decorating tables, setting up food, generally getting everything perfect for what turned out to be a blast of a baby’s birthday party. When he was all done, without prompting or being asked, he came home, showered up, and put on nice party clothes. I was so impressed and proud of him acting like such a little gentleman, I could have burst into tears. The thought he puts into things he does amazes me.
He’s still loving baseball and hit his first out-of-the-park home run this season! I hadn’t gotten to that game in time to see it, but fortunately his coaches had the live replay so they sent that to me. It was so exciting! He’s still dying to start track, though. He told me the other day that he doesn’t even want to try out for the higher-level travel baseball teams, because he really wants to focus on running instead once he gets that chance. You got it, kiddo! I love that he knows what he wants and doesn’t feel like he has to try out for the more exclusive teams just because he can or because his teammates do. To say he’s a natural athlete would be an understatement!
The color green remains his favorite and has been from the start, math is his absolute specialty, he’s made some really cool clay creations in art class this year and loves it, he’s gotten into another new hobby of weaving on a loom, his favorite food is sushi, Snugs and Elli are still tucked in next to him every night along with his other rotating collection of stuffies, and he’s the best little brother his sisters could ask for (except when he annoys them to no end) and the best big brother the twins could ever hope to look up to (except for when that aforementioned policing gets too annoying).
Happy 10th birthday, Morrison John!!! You’re the one who kicked off all the boys in our family, and for that I can’t thank you enough. You are such an extraordinary kid, and I can’t wait to see where that incredible brain takes you. It’s going to be somewhere amazing, I just know it! We love you so much and are so, SO proud of you!
Morrison turned 9 last month, and this kid is the epitome of 9 is fine!
He remains one of the happiest-go-lucky kids I’ve ever met, meeting every day and opportunity with an open mind and happy heart. Except when he’s bugging and fighting with his siblings, of course. Ahem.
Last night of 8!Last sleep as an 8 year old
He’s still an absolute whiz at math, scoring 99% (the highest possible score) on all his standardized tests this year, as well as 100% on almost every math test and assignment in his own class. He’s already looking forward to learning harder math next year in 4th grade, and I remember distinctly the thing he wrote as what he was most looking forward to at meet and greet for this year in 3rd grade – multiplication!
His favorite color is and always has been green, he loves playing baseball now until he can get into track and sprint his heart out and is amassing quite the collection of bats, his favorite food is sushi, he loves to play chess and board games and card games, he has become obssessed with Roblox since they were all FINALLY allowed to get it on their tablets the other day, he still loves to help out whenever and with whatever he can, and he will talk to you nonstop for hours on end when he’s with you one on one with zero sibling interruptions. He still always turns to wave and blow kisses whenever I drop him off somewhere, too, which I absolutely love and soak up as much as I possibly can while they’re still coming my way.
He is becoming an amazing athlete, starting with the aforementioned baseball. He’s taking a one-week baseball skills camp next week that I think he’s going to love, and I gave in and signed him up for flag football this fall. No real football, though! I want to keep his brain permanently intact. He runs faster then anyone I know, and one of the 4 things on his summer bucket list is to learn to ride his bike no handed for more than just a second. (the other 3 things are fishing at a local park, taking a family bike ride, and earning enough chores points to take his mini shopping trip. i’m confident all will be accomplished.)
Birthday game win!
Happy 9th birthday, Morrison John!! We love you so much, and proud doesn’t even begin to describe how we feel about you. You are and always have been an incredible ray of sunshine in our family. You’re the exact middle of the Rau kids, and you play your role perfectly. Here’s to a googolplex more wonderful memories with you, my sweet, sweet boy!
As always, the best part – year-by-year comparison photos and posts!
Morrison’s Minors team won the Fall Ball playoffs! I couldn’t believe it! He was on the Dodgers this fall after starting his Little League career on the Marauders in Pee Wees this spring/summer.
Minors started off so much different than Pee Wees, it was almost disheartening. Kids on the team made fun of his stuff, the coaches were far less engaged than the ones in Pee Wees were, and I was afraid it was going to turn him off from baseball completely. I came to find out this unfortunately isn’t unusual in Minors so it wasn’t just Morrison, but that’s still stupid – it’s kids’ baseball! But in typical Morrison fashion, his kind heart and sweet attitude triumphed and he did awesome. When he told me about the dumb comments, I told him how sorry I was that it happened and that generally when kids make fun of other kids, it’s because they’re actually jealous so don’t even listen to them. And that turned out to ring so true. He said he didn’t let their comments bother him, he just ignored them and focused on the game, and all he wanted was to have fun. I about cried when he said that, because that was all him. A heart of gold and spirit of pure joy this one has, and my pride is endless.
He is SUCH a natural athlete, it’s incredible. His Pee Wees coach said he was by far the most improved from the beginning of that season to the end on their team, and he just kept getting better and better this fall. His confidence was through the roof, and when his teammates realized that the new kid was ready to kick their butts, they quickly shut the F up. Go Morrison!
So that was a fun and very unexpected end to his first Fall Ball season. The playoffs were a one-day, three one-hour-games event. They won their first one and I was like oh fun, we’ll just stay up here and I’ll get him a cheeseburger for lunch from the ballpark grill (which he’d been wanting all year!), then we’ll see what happens in game #2. Then they won that one, too! By this time I saw his Pee Wees coach and told him how they were doing and he came over to cheer Morrison on during his at bat, which totally made Morrison’s day. Then they tapped a keg of local beer for all the parents, so that was awesome, too. And then they won the second game! I was giving Ryan the play-by-play the whole time, and he got too superstitious so said he’d better not come up to the park so he didn’t jinx it. But by the end of game #3, when it looked like they might actually win the thing, he hopped on his ebike and got up there as fast as he could. He arrived just in time to see them win it all! I don’t think we’ve ever seen Morrison smile so big and so hard. They got medals, they got ice cream, and his young life was made.
This kid fills my heart, and everyone who knows him can feel the happiness he carries through life. Great job, my love! We are SO proud of you and can’t wait to see the greatness that lies ahead of you on the baseball field and off.
Morrison turned 8 a few weeks ago, and he was so excited that his birthday was on a school day so he could take little favors in for his classmates. It was also Spring Sing day at school, their big, year-end outdoor concert – doubly fun!
ETA – Here are his official 8-year-old stats:
Height: 4′ 6″ (94%)
Weight: 64 lbs. 6.4 oz. (77%)
BMI: 15.53 (44%)
Blood Pressure: 112/60
He is so ridiculously smart; loves math, reading, and all his intricate Minecraft builds; has loved starting baseball this spring and is improving by the day; is looking forward to taking his first coding class later this summer; loves riding his bike; and still gets the most satisfaction possible by helping. His kind heart remains front and center, and he constantly asks, “Can I have a hug?” My reply? “Always.”
Last night of 7!Last sleep as a 7 year old!
As has become an annual tradition, we celebrated his and his cousin’s birthday down at Grandma and Grandpa’s house over Memorial Day weekend, which is always a fantastic family occasion. Then the weekend after his birthday, Grandpa Frank came up for a visit, another fun time. You can’t beat multiple birthday celebrations!
Another exciting thing is happening for him this summer – he gets to participate in the track and field program through the Rec Department with his sisters! They opened it up to incoming 3rd graders this year, and he couldn’t be happier. He still loves running, sprinting everywhere any chance he gets. I can’t wait to see how much he enjoys it, because he loves running even more than he loves playing baseball. And gritty-ing. He loves gritty-ing, one of the dumbest “dances” ever invented. 😉
Happy 8th birthday, Morrison John! We love you so very much, with your giant heart, caring spirit, neverending questions, and fast feet. Have an absolutely wonderful year, my sweet boy, and here’s to so many more!
For a fun look back, here are his past birthday photos and posts, as well as his sisters’ 8-year old pictures. Always my favorites:
Morrison turned 7 last month, and I swear to you, every time I think of it, I keep thinking he just turned 5. WTF?! Seriously, my brain is swiss cheese.
Last sleep as a 6 year old!He held up 6 fingers in his 7-year-old birthday picture. See, even he doesn’t remember how old he is! 😀
But anyway, he’s 7! This kid is the biggest goofball with the biggest heart I’ve ever known. He is ridiculously athletic, and his dream is to be a track runner. I’m pretty sure we’ll make that one happen. He sprints like no kid I’ve ever seen, with his straight-hand arms going and everything. He’s currently in tennis lessons and doing great, and he passed level 2 of swim lessons just a few weeks ago. I wanted to get him into lacrosse with one of his best friends from school, but it was full. Hopefully we’ll be able to get him to run off a lot of his energy doing something or other this summer. If there was a parkour course near us, he’d be there constantly. Maybe he can just do his armpit farts and burps on demand for months on end. 😀
ETA: We had his 7-year well check on August 17, and here are his stats:
He is constantly wanting to help, often doing things to clean up or put away or tidy unprompted. One of his favorite things in the world is helping his big sisters and winning their approval, and my heart about explodes out of my chest when I watch the 3 of them doing something together, each excited and happy to be working/playing with the others. Until someone starts bickering, then it can quickly go downhill, ha!
He is extraordinarily smart, especially when it comes to numbers. The nickname “stats” came to him a few years ago for his ability to recount scores, player stats, etc., with ease. He cherishes being part of whatever conversation is happening at the time so sometimes his information is a little off the mark, but I love that he still tries nonetheless. He really got into reading this year at school, too, and was in the top reading group in his class. He blew through chapter books like a pro. He loves Lego sets, video games, playing chess and other board games, and watching trick-shot stunts on his tablet. I started calling him “trick-shot boy,” because he’s constantly imitating all their moves, but he hated that. 😉
Grandpa and his mini-me
Happy 7th birthday, Morrison John! I can’t believe our first little boy is 7 already, but we could absolutely not be prouder. You are a friend to all, my sweetest sidekick, and I hope your desire to live right next door to me when you grow up never fades. Here’s to many, many more happy birthdays for you, my sweet boy!
Here are his past years’ posts, as well as his year-by-year pictures.
Morrison turned 6 a few months ago, and, for some reason, I cannot get it out of my head that he isn’t 5 anymore. I even titled this post “He’s five!” not 10 seconds ago.
We had his 6-year well check on July 27, so here are his official 6-year-old stats:
Height: 49.25″ (96%)
Weight: 53.9 lbs. (84%)
BMI: 15.6 kg/m2 (56%)
Blood pressure: 103/57
He is still the absolute sweetest boy I’ve ever known, and I feel so lucky and proud that he’s our firstborn son. His heart is pure gold, he loves his siblings like nothing I’ve ever seen and would follow them to the ends of the earth, and he would do anything for his friends. These past 2 years his teachers have all told me about his genuine care and concern for and kindness toward all the friends in his classes, and it makes my heart just about explode with pride. They tell me to keep doing such a good job raising him, but that’s all him and his beautiful little soul.
He is truly one of the smartest kids I’ve met, too. His sisters have always been smart cookies, but Morrison’s brain completely amazes me. He easily learned how to read early on this year in K5, even through fully virtual school. His math skills are insane, and the different ways and speed with which he solves problems puts my old brain to utter shame. I can’t wait to see where those smarts take him in life.
One of my uncles taught him to play chess this summer, and he took to it instantly. He loved it so much and got so into it, that my uncle even gave him the travel chess board he brought to that family gathering. Morrison was thrilled! He and the girls played it for the rest of that trip and all the way home in the car.
He is very athletic, always running, nay, sprinting, everywhere! I don’t think I’ve ever stood up and felt the need to literally sprint to my next destination, but he does. Constantly. I keep saying he needs to be a runner of some sort for his sport. He loves anything with a ball, too, and Ryan just got him a pair of sticky catching gloves that he immediately fell in love with. He’s also gotten really good at this track ball catching set Ryan got the kids, as well as lacrosse. He certainly didn’t get those genes from me. However, he did just move up to level 2 of swim lessons after only 1 round in level 1, so I’ll claim that one, ha! He was so proud of himself after leveling up, though, which made me so happy to see.
His current loves include Super Mario everything, Crafting and Building (the Android version of Minecraft we let them play), the color green, the Packers, riding his scooter, swimming, making movies and projects with his sisters, showing the twins how to do pretty much anything, and sushi.
This post has so many more pictures than words, because that’s just Morrison. His adorable, goofy little smile just sums him up. One of my friends calls him a gentle giant because he’s so much bigger than her son who’s only a few months younger, and that description couldn’t be any more true. Happy 6th birthday, my incredible Morrison John!! We love you so very, very much; we are prouder of you than you could even imagine; and we can’t wait to see all the wonderful things you’re going to do with this lifetime. As you and your siblings love to sing… and many moooooorrre!!!
