Ezekiel turns 7

As I sit down to type this out, I can look up and see Zeke outside jumping and dancing, singing to himself and throwing his toy cars across the porch.  In the time it took me to type that sentence I looked up again and could see his hands now two inches deep in dirt seemingly unaware of the 33mph wind gust kicking the dirt up in his face.   I could pretty much be done typing about Zeke now, I feel like that pretty adequately sums him up.  This kid is in it to have a good time.

I have never met a child so easily entertained or content, quick to forgive and move on, to give affection, and try to make you laugh.   He will do whatever it takes to avoid boredom, which is almost always how he finds himself in trouble.  He is completely confident in just being himself, and has no problem incorporating his imaginative world into the real world. 

He tends to try to avoid negative emotions and conflict, he doesn't mind having a show down with his sister or neighbor about who is the strongest or has the most magical powers, but he is often the one to give in first.  If the conflict doesn't involve him, he runs away from it.  A few days ago I watched him straight up just cover his ears when his sister made a bad decision in an effort to avoid experiencing whatever would come from her actions.
The other day I handed him his soccer ball that he was told several times to pick up the day before, he didn't and subsequently his ball got ran over and was ruined.   He sat looking very disappointed for awhile, he was disappointed through breakfast, and then we went out to run errands.  Upon returning his dad was holding the ball and asked him "so you didn't pick up the ball like mom asked you to yesterday did you?" to which Zeke replied "I know, but I was already disappointed all morning."   I laughed at realizing he was NOT interested in dwelling in those negative emotions or learning any more from it, he was done, lesson learned, moving on.

Zeke is incredibly goofy, energetic, and crazy, but don't be fooled, the kid knows how to focus and work hard.   There is a focused quiet side to him that often goes unnoticed if he is around people.  But on his own he may disappear for an hour just to look through book after book.   He is still learning to read but the boy LOVES looking at books.   He also is often focused with his creative play.   He will build entire cities and living areas with his blocks for his toy animals.   

He works hard to learn new things in karate.   He wanted to try to go from a 2nd stripe blue belt to a green belt this last semester and asked to go to kata class.   I have seen him sometimes being too silly in class and wasn't sure he had the focus required, but he proved me extremely wrong.   With each belt there is a kata to be learned and each belt level increases in difficulty.  Kata is a Japanese word meaning literally "form" referring to a detailed choreographed pattern of movements.   I watched him week after week focus on the instructor and the steps, working hard to memorize each movement and practice on his own initiative to show us what he could remember.   In the end he nailed his kata and got his green belt.  

He has an ability to make friends wherever we go.  I think it's part of his being laid back, but he doesn't care if kids are big or small, friendly or shy, well behaved or naughty, he will go right up to anyone and get them to play.  At the playground this week we showed up and there were 6 kids already there.  His sister stood back and said they were "too crazy", it seemed like they were mostly playing in pairs, but within 5 minutes Zeke had the entire playground (including his sister) involved in a massive game of 'tag'.  

While his middle name is Gambit and we like the idea of speaking "calculated risk" over him....he definitely lives up the risk...he is working on the calculated.   We hope that comes in time.  He loves adventure and going at it full speed.   There are often times we see him crash or wipe out and he either gets back up or run screaming as loudly as possible like he is probably dying, but ALWAYS is quick to go back to play.

His joy in contagious, and we are so thankful that we get to have him be part of our family.  I wouldn't trade that mischievous, rascal of a boy for anything.