45 years for me!

 Happy birthday to me! I am 45!  Wow!  How time goes so quickly when you are having fun.  AND this year has been so fun.  I have loved so much of my 45th year on this earth.  We had a few ups and downs, but I will say mostly ups!!  Stephen and I flew to Phoenix to surprise Blair for her 40th birthday.  We stayed with Chelsea and had so much fun.  We got massages and went golfing.   She moved into a new house and it was the perfect place to stay.   Saturday we drove up to Phoenix and watched Nate Bargatze the comedian, perform.  Craig bought us really good seats and it was fun to be so close to all the action.  

Chelsea threw me a birthday party at her house!  She invited a ton of people and we all got in the pool and swam.  It was so fun!  She really is the best!!  I am so grateful to have her in my life.  We flew home early Monday morning to begin preparing for our big move to San Francisco this summer.  I can not believe we are actually doing it.  It will be crazy!!

 

 

Edward's 17th Birthday

 

 My sweet, kind, day dreamer is 17.  Edward is 17.  How has it been 17 years?  How has this much time gone by?  Did I blink?  I think for sure time sped up after 2020.  I have been saying for the last few years that time seems to speed up and I heard recently that in our brains time does actually speed up for adults because we are no long experiencing new experiences.  Our brain doesn't have to process our every day hum drum lives and therefore nothing really makes an impact on our brain.  BUT for kids, everything is new so every experience feels like it lasts forever because your brain is trying to take in every single detail.  Maybe this is why I crave traveling because it slows time down just a little bit.  

Edward had to go to school on his birthday this year.  He can mostly avoid attending school on his birthday because it occasionally lands on presidents day.  He doesn't like breakfast, so I just packed his lunch and he headed out the door to school.  I had to work because I had moved some of my students for the Havasupi hike.  So when he arrived home from school I was working.  Edward had going to McDonald's after school with some of his friends and I saw a balloon in the back of his car, so someone remembered his birthday at school.  

Once I finished teaching, I grabbed Edward and we snapped a few photos to encapsulate his birthday.  I measured Edward and he is 5'9"!!!  He has grown an inch for the last three years.  He had a huge growth spurt from 12 to 15 and then things slowed down a bit.  After I took his photos we ordered sushi and ate ice cream.  Stephen made brownies because I didn't think we could put candles in ice cream.  Edward opened his gifts then went off to his room to play online games with his friends.  

I love this boy of mine.  He is incredible.  He loves airsoft and his job.  I think he really enjoys driving and owning a car.  He has been so responsible.  I love that he is good at his job and has maintained the job for the last 8 months.  I know he really enjoys making money.  Edward is into jujustu kaejan which is a Japanese manga.  I bought him a few things that I hope he will use and love.  

Edward is growing up and pushing away which is hard but normal. I miss my time with him.  I know I will grieve his childhood next year.  It is hard knowing it is over.  Friday, Edward had his friends Titus Carnahan and Ben Elder over to hang out.  I was able to snap one photo of the boys together.  Then on Saturday, Edward took his new airsoft gun up to play airsoft with all of his friends.  I love him.  I love him.  I love him.

  

Happy Golden Birthday, Nolen!

 Happy birthday, Nolen!  This week, Nolen started drivers ed.  It has been pretty painful because it is 4:00-7:00 every night.  Nolen gets out of school at 3:40 then has to drive straight over to class.  He has complained every day, but this will be the best birthday gift.  His freedom behind the wheel will be a huge treat.  I have prayed long and hard about Nolen being able to drive.  When he was diagnosed with autism, I worried that he wouldn't be able to drive or have many of the normal experiences that most people experience.  

Nolen is truly kind.  He loves so deeply.  He has been getting more and more into the bible and has found a new sense of purpose in allowing Jesus in to his life.  He has been very successful at creating roblox games for other kids.  He has made more than $3000 this year.  It is pretty amazing.  I am extremely proud of his hard work.  He also started school at Early College Academy.  It was a rocky start but he has finally got his legs underneath him.  He is doing really well and has made friends.  

Today, we just went and got his permit and then got menchies frozen yogurt. Nolen wanted to eat at Panera Bread so we all met there for dinner and enjoyed yummy food.  It was a nice and quiet birthday.  I love this sweet boy of mine.  I am so lucky to be his mom.