11. I don't know. It doesn't seem possible, yet it is. You've always carried yourself with a certain maturity- an old soul you've been called time and again- and, recently the extra inch of growth and meat on your bones :) (55 inches and 73.6 pounds,) means you now look and act very much like tween that you are. Whether I want to believe it or not.
We celebrated your birthday in many fun ways. You went to camp and then after we went to see the opening day premiere of Spiderman Homecoming in the highest audio and video quality possible, thanks to Uncle Rob. (Sidenote: Uncle Rob has a similar passion for both superheroes and technology as Ryder does.) Quinn joined us for this movie as well as dinner. We all loved it. The next day, after sleeping in (it's hard to be 11) and some swimming, we took a small handful of yours and Ryder's friends to Treehouse World, where you played Archery Tag (awesome!); Rock Climbed up very tall trees, and ran through a park filled with tree houses, swinging bridges, and rope swings. It was a fun day. Then, we had the usual suspects spend the night. On Sunday, we celebrated your birthday and Pop-Pop's with the whole family. It was wonderful.
Spiderman: Homecoming
Archery Tag
Since you were an infant, back when your large dimples were bigger than your preemie face, you've had a way of demanding our attention- without ever demanding. An infectious smile, a contagious laugh, and a magnetic charm have always drawn people to you, and still do. You are funny and clever and can be silly when you want to be but you also have a natural ability to carry on intelligent and meaningful conversations with anyone. You can teach and explain to those you know more than and can contribute while learning when talking to adults.You present yourself as well-mannered, beguiling, and sagacious. And, yes it is true, you are all of these things, so it makes us laugh (and sometimes pull our hair out) that you can be rather dense at times. Completely unaware of what is going on around you, or not completely sure where you put your jacket or your shoes. We joke you live in a Chase bubble, and in many ways it is true. But it is not a selfishness that keeps you there, rather it is a sincere hyper-focus on the things that are important to you. Whether it is your school work, your sports, your magic tricks, whatever it is, you want to be the very best at it and will work hard until you find a success with which you are satisfied. At the very top of this list is hockey. Your love for the sport goes beyond the game itself. You want to play all of the time. If you're not playing on the ice then it is on the street. Or on the X-Box. Or, watching others play it. You want to get better. You want to do great. You want to win. And, though you don't always get the W, you have been doing well and getting better each year with the sport. This year, your second year playing on a club team, you were awarded with MVP of the team. This made you so proud, as it did us. But, even more than earning the MVP, your season was a highlight of the year, if not your hockey life, because you had great coaches who taught you the game, and a great team, where you made real friends and formed friendships that will last a lifetime, even if you are not teammates. In addition to hockey, you still play baseball and guest play for your old soccer team any opportunity you have. You love to compete and we love to watch you play.
You have a dynamic personality and are well-liked by your peers. You tend to hold tight to your best friends and keep them close. Ethan tops the list and falls in to the brother category. Connor remains as your best friend since 2nd grade and the friendship you two have fostered is really wonderful. Quinn may have started as a hockey friend but he has also become one of your very best friends and you work to maintain your friendship in spite of not going to school together. As well as Luke, who your bond with hasn't dulled even though you are no longer teammates and go to different schools. I am very proud of the friend that you are. You are smart, and you are funny. You can be silly or clever or witty and are always up for telling or hearing a good joke. You are a good kid who likes to follow the rules (though not always at home) and though you're still learning the ropes of the world it is evident you want to be the best you can be while remaining humble and respectful to all.
Ethan
Connor
Connor and Ethan
Quinn and Luke
In school, as in most places, you have found so much success. Your 5th grade year with Mr. Benson was one of your favorites and Mr. Benson ranks as your favorite teacher. You maintain very good grades and want to do well and most of it seems to come easy for you. I hope you continue to thrive, continue to learn, and continue to succeed. At school, you were chosen by the teachers as part of the Conflict Mediator group (though I have yet to learn what you really do for this) and you were a part of Student Council on the Service team. You were in the 5th grade chorus and in the school play and stay involved with Richboro Elementary. You find many ways to succeed within the school walls.
Beyond sports your interests vary. You like magic, and biking, and fishing. You like to climb trees and play tag and shoot hoops. You like to learn about crimes and solving them and you have a fascination for storms. You scour YouTube for pranks, and for jokes, and for puzzles and riddles and enjoy trying to solve them. Your favorite TV shows are Survivor and America's Got Talent and you are always up for a good comedy like the Goldbergs. You like 21 Pilots and a lot of the pop songs on the radio but music is not your real passion. Instead, you focus on the Flyers! The Eagles, Phillies, and Sixers can hold your interest as well. You like to be connected to things that are going on amongst your peers and you always seem to have one ear listening to the adult conversations around you.
This year we celebrated Delaney's bat mitzvah. This year you had your first camping trips, the first being with Ethan and Ryder and GP, the second two being with our family and some friends. You went on journeys on your bike, through Tyler and the neighborhood, and fishing trips that lasted all day long.
Delaney's Bat Mitzvah
In the tent on the first camping trip
Your tenth year was an overall great year, you've grown and matured and are really becoming quite the gentleman. Our life gets a bit hectic, and we are all trying to manage an abundance of different personalities. Sometimes we disagree and that is ok and,since you are a master negotiator, your point of view often carries a lot of weight. I know we often expect a lot from you but, Chase, we do not expect more than you can handle. In fact, we could probably demand more and get it. Because your capabilities are beyond even what you realize. Your talents are still being uncovered. Chase, I am your biggest supporter. If I am pushing you it is because I know you can do it and I believe in everything you can be. You are kind, you are smart, you are funny, and you're talented. Use your strengths to do good in the world, lead by example, and set forth towards positive things. I am always proud of everything that you are and my belief in you is limitless for everything and anything that you want to do or be. I hope you know that in my moments with you, the conversations that we have, the laughs that we share, the games that we play, along with these same moments with your brothers and daddy, are the most cherished moments in my life. I am so very proud that you're my son. Happy 11th birthday, Chase! I love you so.
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