Henry turns 17

So many digital pictures to share the memories made from birth until now...

From playing little league baseball to high school lacrosse!

A passion for music that began on the sidelines of parades,

and in choirs at church, to performing in a tuxedo and IN the parades!

Henry continues to blow me away with his involvement in activities while trying to maintain balance in work, school and with his friends. Family is almost always last these days.

So I was surprised when Henry said he would join us for an evening

 on the town as his birthday fell on a Saturday.  I may have mom-guilted him into it.

We celebrated with dinner downtown Minneapolis and a Timberwolves game.

Dinner was yummy and the Wolves won!

Cannot believe how quickly you've grown into the young man that you are, my son!

Happy 17th birthday.

I love you,

Mom

Celebrating Grandpa's Birthday

Father | Daughter

Many, many moons ago, my Dad wore plaid.

Still in plaid today!

JP and I took Dad out to celebrate his birthday.  {Mom is in AZ for a few weeks visiting a friend, where the sun shines almost daily and it's warm.}   So, because he's left to fend for himself (and has lost 7 pounds), we decided to take him out on his birthday.  First we stopped for dinner at Willy McCoys and then headed over to his new favorite brew pub, Omni. Everyone got their fill of yummy food and beer (I was the designated driver) and we dropped him back off with some food & beer for the weekend.  It was a nice night for a birthday celebration in Minnesota!

Cheers to Many More!

Oliver | Fifteen

Fifteen and serious.

He didn't want to give me a smile on his birthday.  And then the neighbor hollered happy birthday Oliver across the fence.

And he smiled.

So wise beyond his years.

He came home a couple of weeks ago and said he was thinking about joining the military.  The recruiters at school waved him over to their lunch table asking what he would be doing when he graduated, assuming he was 18.  He was only 14 at the time.

This boy of mine has a generous, compassionate heart.  Someone was standing along the off-ramp with a sign saying he was homeless.  More often than not, these folks have been panhandling for a living, but that didn't deter Oliver.  He pulled all of the money out of his wallet and handed it over to me to hand out the window.

He's growing up in a time and world that is hurting.  He doesn't seem to be phased.  It will not deter him on his mission to love God and make a difference in his lifetime.

I wished him a happy 16th birthday in his card.  He laughed at me, walked back over and said, "did you want to fix this?"  He's always been older than his age in my mind.  Guess I can use that card again next year now?!

He didn't make the school freshman basketball team.  He was crushed inside, I could tell.  He will persevere and use that drive in other ways.  Lacrosse is in the spring and winter league & training throughout the next few months.  There's also intramural basketball to keep them busy and energized.

Music is also one of his passions and while he has been tempted to quit band the last two years, he is loving marching band and looking forward to the Outback Bowl over winter break.  He made Freshman Madrigals too and the concerts in December will have both of my boys playing and singing their hearts out on stage.

This kid makes me smile.  Tough on the outside, soft and beautiful on the inside.

Happy birthday, Oliver.

i love you,
xo  Mom