Fan's a Teen

Well, it's official.  Half of my kids are teenagers.  Nathanael turned 13!!!  His birthday landed on a Sunday and also the day before Columbus Day.  It made planning his party bizarrely uncomplicated.

We started the day with a big family breakfast, cards, and gifts.  As did the older two in front of him, he got a gift certificate for his Passport 2 Purity golf trip to Newport with Dad!  Welcome to the teen years, Bud!

  

Then we rounded up his buds and went up to Springfield for his hockey game.  An extra bonus to skate on the big ice at the Mass Mutual Center.

Back at home it was flag football in the rain, pizza, more presents, apple pie, and a little Air Soft in the dark.

They had fun in the basement and had settled down there for the night until Nathanael came up around 12:30 complaining of a smell.  Come to find out, the bottle of ammonia Colombo had bought to fumigate the squirrels had tipped over in the laundry room and leaked through the floor and dripped from the basement ceiling.  Evacuation, cleanup, and the boys slept in Fan's room.

Sean had to leave first thing the next morning, but the rest of us went to Buell's and then came back to the house for soccer and trampoline.  The party (really just a sleepover) was a success and nice to do it on his special day.

So...three teenagers.  Still getting my head around that!  Can't believe that beautiful baby- my biggest- is 13!  He's a great kid- attentive, courteous, thoughtful, helpful, gentle, smart, inquisitive, athletic, handsome.  He's a gift, for sure.  He came at just the right time and has been a sweet part of our family.  God's going to use him BIG.

From his birthday book:

What was your favorite gift you received throughout the year?
My Whip-tide.

What's the last thing you were sad about?
Hearing about Brian. (Brian A. diagnosed with cancer)

What makes you happy?  Vacation.

Are you scared of anything?
I'm scared that something could happen to you and Dad.

What do you want to be when you grow up?  Pastor.

Who's the last person you kissed?
Renna- just on the cheek.

What does Dad do at work all day?
He's a sales agent for telecommunications.

What is something you dislike about yourself?
That I don't act the best way.

What is something you do well?  Play hockey.

What is something that really bugs you?  School.

What is your favorite holiday and why?
Christmas because our entire family comes together.

What makes you feel sad?  School.

What is the best advice you've ever received?
If you don't manage your own time, someone else will manage it for you.

What is your favorite day of the week?  Saturday.

What makes a happy family?  Lots of love.

What makes a good friend?  Trust.

What makes you laugh?  Trevor's dancing.

What do you think the world needs now?
Courageous men.

Which is your favorite room?  My bedroom.

What do you like to do?
Work on my magic, play hockey, read.

What's your favorite...
ice cream?  mint Oreo.  ~  character?  Gambit.
thing to eat?  Moe's  ~  thing to drink?  root beer
candy?  Twizzlers  ~  movie?  Treasure Planet
color?  blue  ~  snack?  cookies
song?  "Be Calm"  ~  artist? Fun.

What's your favorite memory from the past year?
Watching the Olympics at Cape Cod.

What are your hopes and plans for this upcoming year?
Get a paycheck.

Who are your best friends?
Josh, Sean, Izaya, Renna, Jordan

If I were 5, I would...
...start hockey.

If I were 40, I would...
...be on my boat.

I wish I never...
...lied.

I'm happiest when...
...it's summer.

Tell me what you think of when I say these words:
Home: love  ~  Love: warm
Bedtime: dark  ~  School: books

Give me 3 words to describe yourself.
adventurous, smart, handsome

Week 41

Monday, Oct. 3rd

The Eye Saga.  Colombo and I took Renna to the specialist that was recommended to us.  He was wonderful!  He pretty much confirmed what we knew, except he did not feel that the functional loss (15%) would really affect her at this point.  In the end, he was 50/50 on whether to repair.  IF we repair it, it would solve both the cosmetic and functionality components.  That left us in a tough spot. Our choice- do we fix it or not?  So, we decided to get a second opinion just for confirmation.  

The girls cleaned their room.  Oh man! That is a crazy thing!!!  A teen girl that I choose not to battle room-cleanliness with (think 6 cups, 2 bowls, and 1 DQ cup) sharing with a 4 year old who hasn't mastered organization and personal responsibility yet.  Oh- and just throw in girls' clothes times two and the junk toys of a little girl.  It's overwhelming!

Where was I?  Oh, yes.  The girls cleaned their room.  Renna was so proud to show me her area that she had done all by herself.

Tuesday, Oct. 4th

Synchronized chewing.

I had this kind of day of school.  Points for honesty, deductions for laziness.

The landscape of our cul-de-sac has changed.  Our new neighbors have anywhere from 4-10 cars parked all.the.time.  Sigh.

I probably shouldn't share this, but I got such a kick out of this text from Maddy.  She was feeling my pain as I was answering emails after our info meeting for the Christmas show.  Though the kids have seen some of the challenging components to running a show with 200 people, hopefully they've also learned some good communication, diplomacy, discretion, compassion, speaking in love, tact...

Throwing this in here because it will be outdated by the time I do my next meme installment.

Wednesday, October 5th

Tami and I took the truck down to Clinton High to pick up some curtains they were getting rid of.  The school was brand new and gorgeous!!!!  Tami and I had a fun ride down and enjoyed seeing all the changing trees.

Madison teaches Renna's arco class, but I'm sure you won't be shocked to know that the 'explaining' of things goes both ways.

The Chronicles of Squirrel Hunting.  C4 texted that while he was doing homework in the office, he saw a squirrel.  Obviously, this got Colombo's attention.

Lucky for us, Colombo's squirrel trap had just come in.

Suckah!!!!

Thursday, Oct. 6th
C4 was off from school.  I love the days when he's around and involved.

I took C4 to get his yearbook pictures (the cheesy school ones) done.  It's all very surreal.  I tear up now even typing this.  How did we get here?  I'm trying so hard to focus on the triumph and excitement that comes with this stage.  I really am.  But I just cannot comprehend where 18 years went.  And the times that he's not around, missing events, pulling away makes me so, so sad.  Change is hard for me.  He's such a great kid.  And he's sensitive to the fact that this is hard for me.  I thank him all the time for making our job of parenting him so easy and delightful and for setting such a good example for the five coming up behind him.  He's a treasure.

After texting Lisa, she sent me this one she'd just come across.  See!!!!  How did we get here??

Thursdays are tap days.

Friday, Oct. 7th

We got Little Liam for the morning.  He's one of our Crossfit coach's guy.  I see him a couple times a week when Heidi brings him to the gym.  His disposition and tiny-ness reminds me of baby C4.  He's happy all.the.time.  I was thrilled to have a little baby fix.

Flag football.

Double date in Woonsocket, RI for dinner and Tim Hawkins.  We had soooo much fun with Tim and Elizabeth and the show was outrageous!  He is so hilarious.  We laughed for two straight hours.  My cheeks were still sore the next day.  He's incredibly talented!  I'd seen everything youtube has to offer and two of his DVD's, but I still only recognized two of his bits the whole night.

Saturday, Oct. 8th
Maddy and I went into Hartford to see Lisa run her half marathon.  It'd been two years since she'd run that far and was very much a comeback run.  Redemption and a kick in cancer's rear end.  It didn't just happen though.  Lisa battled for her comeback.  The once marathon runner almost collapsed when she ran one mile a couple months ago.  But that didn't stop her. She struggled and persevered and overcame.

There she goes at the two mile mark!

Maddy and I had so much fun together.  Chatting, watching, cheering, looking for people we knew.  I loved the one-on-one time with her and it melted my heart that she got up early to go support Auntie.

Dad and Christina eventually came to and helped us at the finish line.  Looking, cheering, crying.

There she is.  About 25 feet from crossing over.

Then we held each other- one with pride, one in exhaustion.  Both with cleansing, healing tears.  And gratitude.  So much gratitude.  She's amazing!  (So glad Maddy snagged my phone from my jacket and captured this.)

One husband, three kids, two dogs, one mountain, one wedgie.

His idea.

Sunday, Oct. 9th
Happy birthday, Nathanael!!!  More on that to come.

He got to play on the big ice at the Mass Mutual Center in Springfield.

Oh, and more squirrel hunting!

Also Trevor's idea.

Ninny and Papa were away in Florida (during Hurricane Matthew!!) and getting recognized for a new level in their business.  Congrats!!!