14

Yesterday my baby officially turned 14 years old. The nerve! How did this happen? Where did that time go? Why wasn't I consulted? Who does he think he is?

Well, he is my precious Matthew - better known to everyone as the Mouse - and apparently, he is very excited about this event. Which means I have just as much growing up to do as he does. I've eluded to this before in other posts, but it still never ceases to amaze me how you think it will never happen to you. This is the 3rd time one of my boys has turned 14. I've always been so thrilled for their milestones, right along with them. But I have to admit it. There really is a difference when it happens to the last one - the "baby". It gets you right in the pit of your stomach.
So here he is after school on Friday. I asked where he got that cool bracelet in all those shades of green and black. He said his friend Kendra made it for him for his birthday because she knew green was his favorite color. Remember his dance partner Kendra? Wow, that was really nice! Yep, it's girl time too. Whenever his cell phone rings, I know it's usually a female on the other end... (and does his ring tone have to be "Fat Bottomed Girls" by Queen???)
So I'm pretty sure that gone are the days when he'd sneak into my bed and go to sleep all snuggly and cozy-like. Just look at that fuzzy little Mouse, so sound asleep :) I miss those sweet days a lot.

And gone are the boo-boo faces that he perfected and executed with great skill. Sigh.

Okay... shake it off Megan, and get back to reality! Sheesh! Back to the big day! We cruised down to City Walk outside of Universal Studios. See Matthew there under the ginormous Hard Rock Cafe guitar? We ate there a little later on - it's one of our favorite places. Yum!

We went and visited Spidey in the video store :)

But here's the REAL reason we were there: so Matthew could FLY in the wind tunnel to simulate sky diving! He's wanted to do this for a long time, so we took him to iFly and he finally got his chance to FLY! It was SO COOL! He did GREAT! And he had an absolute BLAST! I'll let the following pics speak for themselves!

Way to go Matthew - you did such an awesome job!

Now if you know the Mouse, you know his life wouldn't be complete without a new airsoft gun. I know, I know... but I've completely given up. Yeah, Mother of the Year - whatever. He has wanted this particular gun for a long time. It's one sweet airsoft gun, I have to admit. And you can tell he's just slightly excited to finally have it.
We also found out it was about 10 times louder than we thought it would be. Our neighbors will love us even more than they already do. Great. And of course, after the gun was tried out and there were holes in our entire back yard, we had to have pumpkin pie. Because Matthew would rather have pumpkin pie than a birthday cake - so every year, we chow down on pumpkin pie! HAPPY 14th BIRTHDAY MATTHEW!!! You are a terrific guy at any age! I am so proud of you! I know you'll make the world a better place, and I love you with all my heart.

Even though I'll probably always see you like this ❤

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Happy 18th Birthday Davy!

Happy birthday, you precious, sweet, sensitive, loving, funny, talented, smart, beautiful, happy boy! From the moment you entered this world, with your fuzzy little neck and your husky little cry, your precious little face and your little peanut head... you entered my heart forever. 

Kindergarten

Happy-go-lucky, busy, fearless, always on the go. You were determined to keep up with your older brother - and you did! You could skateboard, you could rollerblade... swim, flip on the trampoline, ski! You taught yourself how to ride a two-wheel bike in preschool! Preschool! You were something else, for sure (that's one way to put it).

T-Ball

You loved to play and oh, you were so funny. SO FUNNY. But you had a sensitive side too. Not a day went by that you didn't bring me a flower - for years and years. Sometimes a crumpled flower you had saved in your pocket. Sometimes a lovely flower snatched from someone's garden. Sometimes you brought half the garden and I worried just a little... But you'll never know how much I treasured each and every flower from my Davy. 

5th Grade

Time goes so fast, so fast. Best buddies, homework, teachers you love, teachers you don't. Perhaps a little mischief here and there ;) Busy lives, girls, Cotillion! Movies, MASH, family games, your hysterical character impersonations :) Little worries that creep in at night and turn to big worries as you try to go to sleep. So much to think about. Sigh. Such fun times, such hard times. All part of growing up.  

9th Grade

Hard years. Ugh. Especially for sensitive ones. Self doubt, self consciousness, fears, wanting to fit in, wanting to be happy, hormones complicating everything. Friends choosing different paths. Lots of kids turning to lots of things. I think this is the year that the Guardian Angel Program kicks in :) I am really grateful for that program. And even when you were hard to love Davy, I loved you. 

11th Grade

Davy, you are every bit the precious boy you always were. You just had to see it for yourself. And you rose out of the ashes yourself too - it was no easy feat, because I watched you do it. With a lot of support, and a lot of love. But you did all the work. You found your inner music, you found your creative voice. Your inner strength and your faith were still there after all. You listened to your conscience, and to your heart of gold. Such a heart of gold. 

Senior

So happy birthday!!! How you got to be 18 already, I don't know. But I am so proud of you. We are all proud of you. And now you are ready to write the rest of your story. Do not doubt - you have everything you need for this wonderful adventure. Your creative voice will touch the world, and make it a better place. I know this to be true. 

Love Always,

Mom