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Skydiving

When our oldest turned 18, we decided to take him skydiving. So..we loaded up and headed out…got on a plane…tried not to die of a heart attack…

and then jumped.

OUT.

OF.

AN.

AIRPLANE.

And LOVED it! So much so, that I was caught screaming, “From now on, on everyone’s 18th birthday, we jump out of a plane!”

And so, when the next one turned 18, his older brother took him up in a plane, while his father and I watched from below.

As they jumped out of an airplane.

Bboo, on the other hand, said she would not. She mentioned shark diving instead.

But this weekend, she kept with family tradition.

Her oldest brother again, went up in an airplane with her….

and jumped out. I sooooo wanted to go each time, but….at least I get to watch them.

I will say, though…when we get to the youngest…we will ALL JUMP OUT OF AN AIRPLANE TOGETHER…well, two planes…cause we’re a rather large family.

My honey put together this video to capture what we’ve been up to…and to celebrate Bboo’s graduation.

Three down…four more to go!

What happened?

Apparently I need to update my blog!

In the past year, we gained two new children and had many changes in our family.

And there are many more to come!

It amazes me that in just a few short weeks, the Good Looking One will be married to this angel!

And that these two are turning 20 and 13 this year!

The Talented One is almost half-way through college studying music….and she’s half way thru middle school!

(And the Drama, oh the Drama!)

And then, there’s the Smart One and Bboo….the Smart One almost finishing his first year of HIGH SCHOOL and Bboo…sniff sniff…finishing up high school forever. She’ll be 18 in just a few days…and he’ll be 16 this year!

I wrote my first blog, four years ago this past week, Whatever in the Whole Wide World. As I sat and read it this morning, I was taken back. It’s amazing how time flies by so fast you can barely keep up. It seems it wasn’t so long ago that I was the one preparing for my wedding to the love of my life, and now we’re getting ready for our son’s wedding. Where did the time go? What happened? I’m not sure, but I do know that it is true;  the older you get the more you remember the past. The Smart One and I sat at lunch the other day and talked about, “Remember When?” I realize I did most of the remembering, but we had some great laughs.

Don’t get me wrong! I am so looking forward to the memories to come. I love the new relationships that we continue to build and look forward to where we are going. I just can’t believe how fast we are getting there!

Boys are Easier…

…to send off to Prom, that is! The boys, we throw them in a tuxedo…that’s is. Sure, we can instruct them to be a gentleman, open the doors, treat them like a lady, ask them if they have enough money, etc., but then we send them off and trust that we’ve taught them well.

But when it’s your daughter….it’s another story! It’ takes weeks of preparation! There’s shopping for the dress; then the shoes; then accessories…and the list goes on and on.

Until it’s finally the day…and in it, there are not one, two, or even three trips to Sally’s…but FOUR! Half a bottle of fingernail polish is used before the nails are just right. Then there’s the bobby pins, glue gun to make the hairpiece, make-up for “smokey eyes” and so much more!

And when you’re all done…you remember the dress has to go over the head….yeah, that was fun!

And the finished product?

 

 

 

 

 

And then, there’s that smile!

 

 

And a moment with her father…

 

And her oldest, very protective brother…

Big brother on the front porch with a Samurai Sword...waiting to greet her lucky Prom Date!

And finally, we’re about done with pictures…..

And they’re off!

Another Year Older

Today was my oldest son's 23rd birthday. I cannot believe I have an adult son. Twenty-three…wow!

And I wonder…when did we go from this…

Ruben-help

Ruben--1990
Rubenpinata
(This is my absolute favorite picture of him!)

To this full grown, about to graduate from college, young man?

Ruben's 23rd Birthday
(Notice the crazy sister in the background!)

I look at him, and I walk through memory lane.

I remember when he first looked at me.

I remember the heart failure when his face hit gravel as we tried to get him across the monkey bars…and how angry he was at me for not keeping him from falling.

I remember his first step.

His first day of kindergarten…and his last day of kindergarten.

I remember every birthday.

And "All Dogs Go to Heaven"

and the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.

I remember giving him a brother…and him automatically expecting his sister.

I remember how he loved each of the moments when his four younger siblings joined our family.

I remember his mission trips and playing the guitar.

And I remember our special moments together…and A&W rootbeer in Boulder City.

I remember the first time he rode his bicycle and the first time he drove in his new jeep.

I remember how proud I felt when he graduated from high school….and how proud I feel that he is so close to graduating college.

My boy has grown into a man.

And made his mama, proud.

Happy Birthday, son!