Tryfan turns 9

Today is Tryfan's 9th birthday.
The big present that we got him, and which he had asked for several times was a .... wait for it.... a ... an electric blanket! He said he really wanted one to go on his bed so that his bed would be all cozy when he got into it at night. We thought it was hilarious that he wanted this, but because he kept talking about it of course we had to get it for him. But then today when he actually unwrapped this prize gift, he said that he had been joking and he didn't actually want it! So that was sad and weird, but anyway he got other lovely gifts like the board game Parcheesi, a couple of books he had been wanting, and most of all the Liverpool Football Club away kit. Here he is sporting the new lime green and grey uniform.

Anyway, at a full 9 years of age, Tryfan is:
- a very good listener, often a stealthy listener who we don't realize is actually there listening because he is so quiet.
- very chatty, sometimes annoyingly so! He seems to have a comment or opinion about everything these days
- quite literal and enjoys playing with words
- really into sports, especially football (soccer) and rugby
- always leaving at least one of his items whenever he goes somewhere. He has misplaced 5 school jumpers already this year, and its only October!
- really into reading (still), though now he has started reading the Sports section of the newspapers every chance he gets
- a stickler for abiding by rules. He gets really upset when people do illegal things (esp during sports) and can get quite emotional at the unfairness of a referee's call, for example. But he is working on that...
- still very cuddly, and sleeps with at least 20 cuddly animal toys, including Kitty, Baby Kitty, Mama Kitty, and Blanks (his baby blanket)
- very sensitive and caring towards other people. When someone is hurt or down, he can comfort that person in a genuinely caring way, which is lovely to see.

We are so grateful to have Tryfan in our lives!