You are 4

Hi, I wanted to write to you and tell you what we think of you. I wanted you to know you are loved & appreciated by us, by God and by so many people!

You are amazing. Mum and me have been through it a bit over the last 3 years. Mum has had cancer and a bone marrow transplant & we haven't always had the patience we wish we could have had but you have turned out to be something we can be so proud of. This year you have been obsessed with being the next Tom Daily. So much so that we take you to gymnastics and swimming lessons every week so you can do it. In the summer you ran round in your pants pretending to be him which is awesome!! We went to the water polo at the olympics too although your favourite part was the seats that flicked up!

We have had a  lot of Pavey discos although Beau usually ends them by wanting to dance with all of us! We went to Cornwall at Easter and to France in the summer with Uncle Dave, Auntie Jen, Naomi, Jonah, Granny & Grandpa B where we had a great time but the pool was freezing & you wanted to jump in all the time!! 

You've watched a fair amount of tele (too much?? - maybe!) but at the moment it's all about hero squad. You also love making gingerbread men & bread with me which makes me really happy!
Since my plan is to write to you at least every birthday I want you to know I think a lot about you & I think you are great. You make me laugh & you make me smile. Even when you're a monkey I am so proud! I love quotes, writings & poetry too & so I want to include some in my letters.

This is a great poem by Dr Suess (I have shrunk it a bit but not much!)

Congratulations!
Today is your day,
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You're on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.

You'll look up and down streets. Look 'em over with care.
About some you will say, "I don't choose to go there."
With your head full of brains, and your shoes full of feet,
you're too smart to go down any not-so-good street.

And you may not find any
you'll want to go down.
In that case, of course,
you'll head straight out of town.

It's opener there
in the wide open air.

Out there things can happen
and frequently do 
to people as brainy
and footsy as you.

And when things start to happen,
don't worry. Don't stew.
Just go right along.
You'll start happening too.

OH!
THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!

You'll be on your way up!
You'll be seeing great sites! 
You'll join the high fliers!
who soar to high heights.

You won't lag behind, because you'll have the speed.
You'll pass the whole gang and you'll soon take the lead.
Wherever you fly, you'll be best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

Except when you don't.
Because, sometimes, you won't.

I'm sorry to says so
but, sadly, it's true
that Bang-ups
and Hang-ups
can happen to you

You can get all hung up
in a prickle-ly perch.
And your gang will fly on.
You'll be left in a Lurch.

You'll come down from the Lunch
wuth an unpleasant bump.
And the chances are, then,
that you'll be in a Slump.

And when you're in a Slump,
you're not in for much fun.
Un-slumping yourself 
is not easily done.

NO!
That's not for you!

Somehow you'll escape
all that waiting and staying.
You'll find the bright places
where boom bands are playing.

Oh, the places you'll go! There is fun to be done!
There are points to be scored. There are games to be won.
And the magical things you can do with that ball
will make you the winning-est winner of all.
Fame! You'll be famous as famous can be,
with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.

You'll get mixed up of course,
as you already know.
You'll get mixed up
with many stray birds as you go.
So be sure when you step.
Step with care and great tact
and remember that Life's
a Great Balancing Act.
Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your right foot with you left.

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent garanteed!)

KID YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

So...
be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Alenn O'Shea
you're off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So... get on your way


I have so many hopes for you for today, for tomorrow and for the future. I want you to reach for the stars but I want you to be satisfied wherever you get to. If you get the stars thats great and I'm really proud but if you miss them by miles that's just as great and I'm just as proud. BE content and happy rather than trying to make yourself so, it turns out you its a decision rather than a reality. Anyhow this is a pretty long first letter so I am off. You will doubtless be waking me up in a few hours with a 'Dadeeeeeey' on your birthday xx

lots of love

Dad x