DJ, age seven

This has been a big year for DJ! He started at a new school and has learned lots of important new things--he learned how to ride a bike, read, tie his shoes, and swim. DJ has really come into his own as a thoughtful, independent kid. He hasn't had the easiest year, but he's coming through more confident and aware of who he is and what he stands for.

How do you feel about being seven?  

Good.

What kinds of new things do seven-year-olds do?   
They can build bigger Lego sets and build robots, and help Dad build fires.

What are you most looking forward to in the next year?
The trip to Florida.

Who are your best friends?

I don't know...[How can you type and stuff so fast, Mom? You've been practicing?]...Bennett, Charlie, Alexa, Otto, and Eddie.

Who are your favorite people to play with?
Otto, Eddie, and Bennett.

What kinds of things are you good at?

Legos, swinging, tricks like a flip on the bar or going across the balance beam sideways or backwards.

What do you want to be when you grow up?
Either a policeman or an astronaut.

Why do you want to be a policeman or an astronaut?
I want to be a policeman because in the movies they look really, really cool and I want to be an astronaut because I just kind of want to see what it looks like inside of a real spaceship.

What’s your favorite song?   
The Weekend Whip [by The Fold--it's the Ninjago theme song]

What's your favorite food?
Macaroni and cheese

Favorite movie?
The Lego Ninjago movie

Favorite book?   

Mo Willems books

Favorite color?   
My favorite colors are blue and green.

Favorite place to be?

Meijer, because you can get fun stuff.

What are your favorite things to do?   
Go to Impression 5, play in the basement--Ultimate Beastmaster--and play Ninjago with Otto outside.

What is your favorite birthday present that you received?
My 200-piece Lego set.

And a cool video to show off his climbing moves: