Here is an excerpt from his journal:
What a year you’ve had Dane! You are so mature and so grown up. You are growing tall and have almost reached my height! You are funny and thoughtful and sensitive. You love downtime at home with your family and also adore spending time with your friends! You enjoy living life within your comfort zone, but you are clever enough to realize that you need to push yourself and try new, hard things. This year you started at a new school, you began attending a new ward at church. You moved to Boy Scouts, switched soccer clubs and played futsal and rugby. You are trying out for track and working on your basketball skills. You are responsible with your homework and helpful beyond measure! You are quick to get jobs done and always clean your room. You like to surprise me by cleaning Anna’s room as well! You are a kind and wonderful big brother to Anna and Grant. They both love you so much. You have a good relationship with Evelyn most of the time as well. You look up to her and enjoy when she pays you attention. You are polar opposites in most ways, but you both have an awesome sense of humor and strongly connect on that level. I’ve been so proud of the way you’ve made so many friends this year both at school, church and on the field. You are very social and enjoy people very much. You love to play board games and watch nature TV. You love watching Chopped Junior and Animal Planet. This year you’ve been really interested in Harry Potter. We’ve listened to three books already and watched the correlating movies. You loved visiting Harry Potter World at Universal Studios. You love reading Diary of A Wimpy Kid as well. You are interested in playing games on your phone if allowed. You enjoy art and like to draw. You are very good at math and science. You are a wonderful writer. Your teacher, Mrs. Dutcher, thinks the world of you and you love her as well. You won the character trait of responsibility the first month of school for your class.
Dane, you love Chinese/Japanese food! You love gyoza, teriyaki chicken and noodles! This is hands-down your favorite meal. You love chocolate croissants, mint chocolate chip ice cream, bagels with cream cheese, jelly beans and pancakes. You love Risk, Life, Battleship, War, Slap Jack and almost any other card game. You continue to be an awesome soccer player and this is your favorite sport by a long shot. You were the leading scorer again on your team this past season. Your best friend is Braxton Jones and you two spend almost every weekend together since you don’t go to the same school. You also enjoy spending time with our neighbor- Luke Jorgenson and Aidan Miller, from our old ward. You love going on adventures to hike, beach, explore, etc. You are always up for anything! You try very hard to choose the right and obey your parents. You try to be kind to kids at school and to your siblings. You love to be left home alone here and there when Mom is picking up siblings. You love “alone” time in your room. You are organized and eager to collect hats, sweatshirt and shoes. You don’t play with toys anymore— occasionally you race cars with friends- but rarely play legos anymore. You are more interested in playing outside. You love spending time with your parents and your grandparents and have a very special bond with each one. Your cousins love you and think you are the cat’s meow. Dane, You are one in a million and we are so grateful for the blessing it is to raise you and be your parents. We love you!
