Another birthday partay

So Jack turned 16 and can I tell you I hardly believe I have a kid that age.  But anywho, it was a good day.  The DMV was uncharacteristically well-run and even pleasant that day, and he got his license and insurance and application for a parking pass at high school all taken care of by noon. 

Then in the afternoon, he drove the truck to pick up Grant from his summer class, I already like this!, and then was treated to his birthday meal of choice, beef Manhattan, which he shared with Megan, just the two of them. 

I had never fixed a beef Manhattan before, but I definitely have made my share of mashed potatoes, beef and gravy so it was easy.  I let him take care of the layering so it’d be just like he likes ‘em. 

He definitely liked it!

Here below he’s opening one of his gifts, a case of Diet Ski.  The pricey parking pass was his main gift.  Gary also gave him a vintage box which was a former carburetor kit thing that he picked up and knew Jack would love with its sturdiness, old metal patina, and cool latches.  He was right.  I shoulda taken a picture of that.

No after dinner omelets for this guy, but also no traditional birthday cake.  He wanted a coconut pie.  This was taken after a few hours of sweaty marching band practice and attending a scout committee meeting so we just skipped the candles and got into the pie somewhere after 10 p.m.   

Never too late to celebrate our sweet sixteen.

A license and a smile

Happy 16th, Jack!

Bacon partay and OA

So, now we are full into our run of kid birthdays as we are every summer.  Grant turned 14 on Sunday.  All he asked for was cash and food.  Kinda makes it sound like food is something special.  Poor thing probably never has any, huh?

Yeah, right.  But that is all the kid asked for -- no party with friends, no going somewhere, no other presents, so we did our best to give him what he wanted. 

I started with 3.5 pounds of bacon. He smiled when he was handed that but really beamed once it was cooked.  Add in 6 scrambled eggs and several giant sized pancakes and you have his breakfast. 

 

Then I don’t even know what he had for lunch. I didn’t figure he needed lunch.

Then a large Blizzard for the afternoon snack.

I just looked up this info on caloriecount.com.  Oy!

Oreo Cookies Blizzard Large

Grade:  D+   

Calories: 1,010

I told Gary that with the Blizzard, I was sure I wouldn’t need to start cooking supper until 7pm.  Yep, at 6pm, guess who shows up asking “When is supper?”

!!

I grilled cheeseburgers as requested and put them on Hawaiian buns.  Bacon was there in case anyone wanted to add that, too.  French fries and slaw and corn on the cob also, but all Grant wanted were the bacon cheeseburgers and fries.  I didn’t keep count, but left the table when I started feeling sick from watching how much he was eating. 

And instead of a cake, he said he wanted After Dinner Omelets.  Well, of course.  Who doesn’t?

I refused but Gary cooked them up for him. 

I think he had a very happy birthday. 

And you know what, the kid asks for very little so we indulged.  If a day of gluttonous food consumption is his biggest wish, so be it.  He’s really a pretty fine boy all the other 364 days.  In fact…

Jack and Gary were at scout camp all last week but Grant wasn’t due to having a summer class at the high school.  But Wednesday evening was Family Night and Gary planted a bug that Grant and I should probably come up.  I got Ross to keep the other two kiddos and we took off for Pana. 

This year, Grant was the lone scout out of his troop’s fifty boys to be chosen for Order of the Arrow, an honor society in Boy Scouts determined solely by the vote of his scout peers.  You might remember my excitement the year Jack was selected. 

This one was a solemn ceremony of Native American influence, not quite as intense as Jack’s, but very enjoyable nonetheless.  Darn the modern lights in the top picture, but beyond that, you can see a teepee up a very steep hill lined with torches.  And here in the second picture you can see what became a huge bonfire on that rock structure.  After dark, Grant stood in front of it along with the other boys and men that had been called out from all the different troops.  It was cool!

We are proud of our fourteen year old.

Birthday swim partay

Big day, big fun

Over the bridge downtown

 

is where I drew some blood.  Ha, j/k. Name that tune.

No, finally the kids and I used it, the new I-70 bridge, only four months late since it opened in February.  This was the day we were on a search for size 14 jungle boots for wide feet at a bargain price.  Found them in St. Peters at this place.

From what I’ve heard and now witnessed myself, it’s not a real high traffic bridge.  Good to know for going to the airport, I guess.

Funny boys

One might think this looks like a set-up picture with Ross in the Snuggie next to a walker.  But no, he actually owns the walker and was cold sitting out in our driveway one evening.

And then he got much hipper and cooler the next day standing here with his new wheels.

Our Six Flags day 

Not everyone wears their goggles all day long on every ride.  But some do.

 

Caroline stuff

Girl’s had some excitement lately. 

DARE graduation

Her teacher in the background gave her an awesome French braid almost as good as Aunt Debra’s

5th grade Ultimate Recess Day

Last day of school, last day at Cassens forever

 

A few of her faves: 

  

Going out to eat and bringing home leftovers

Bob the cat wearing a tuxedo bow tie

Is it called a photobomb when you don’t even try?

  

Ugly face contest --  WINNER!!

Working hard at dance class

 

Dance recital   Ross’ new ride

Curls from her new curling iron

Her 11th birthday spent at SixFlags with Paris and

 

her loving brothers  (ha?)

 

Her birthday coconut pie (which actually tasted good)

Happy Birthday, Miss Sis!

Diane does Disney

So Jack had an opportunity to go on the high school band’s trip to Disney this year.  He wasn’t sure if he wanted to go and asked our opinions.  We both said it needed to be his decision; we wouldn’t tell him what to do (this time—haha).  The morning came that a commitment had to be made and I just figured he had decided not to go since nothing had been mentioned.  With about ten minutes to go before walking out the door for school, he says that yeah, he did want to go.  I looked at Gary and Gary looked at me.  Gary said, “Well, if he’s going, then either you or I are going.”  And I said, “Oh! Are you willing to go then?” (He is Mr. Anti-Disney).  And he said, “No.” 

I see how this works.

Ok, well, then!  Guess I'm going to Disney for my first time ever so I too signed up as a chaperone that morning.  We both made a down payment on the total cost and paid the rest at intervals that made it a little less painful.  Jack even sought out a job so he could help with the payments.  The months of the school year passed by so quickly and then it was time to go, the day after school ended.  By that time, I’d talked to enough people that I was not looking forward to this trip at all.  Managing a group of teenagers, travelling on a bus for 19 hours one way, arranging for the family to survive without me, spending all this money, the crowds, the heat, the sun.  It seemed like I was paying to be miserable for a week.  What had I done?!

But you know what?  It turned out to be an awesome time with my awesome son and I wouldn't have missed it for anything now. 

Day 1—On the bus

(Internet photos)

Now add 45 kids!  Times two busses!

And about 12 adults

Did I mention 19 hours?

 

Day 2—Blizzard Beach and Downtown Disney

Brisket sandwich, yum

Card game while waiting for the La Nouba by Cirque du Soleile show.  As of the evening of this pic, we are on 34 hours without any real sleep other than a couple minutes shutting our eyes on a very uncomfortable bus.  The show was incredible though!

Day 3—Animal Kingdom and Universal Studios

Safari

It was Star Wars weekend. Let’s just say there are some real fanatic SW fans out there.

Day 3—Magic Kingdom

The reason for the trip, a parade performance

 

Jack there in the center p

 

I didn’t always ride the craziest extreme rides (old lady neck) but still had a ball. Saw bunches of shows and loved all the walking around.  We went to all the Disney parks except one water park.  It’s amazing to see this huge operation in person and how successful it is.

Day 4—Epcot

Me taking his picture, him catching me taking his picture

The best kids in the world, I swear

Other chaperone moms

 

A couple days it was sunny but mostly we had cloudy days which was perfect, not even humid.  A short rain some afternoons but not on this day even when the sky looked like this. 

Therefore I can’t explain this hair.  ?

Jack in Germany and our one splurge meal, the Beirgarten buffet

Let me tell you, I LOVE band kids!

Probably my favorite ride.  Unlike The Simpsons ride that almost made me lose my lunch.  And it wasn’t even a real rollercoaster.

Day 5— Universal Studios

  

I am not even a Harry Potter fan but, man, this was a cool place. 

 

For Grandma Betty  : )

Our last night there, supper at Bubba Gumps, having a ball with the group

Day 7—Bus ride headed home, tired girl, and taken before our bus died on Interstate 64, luckily just 25 minutes from home

 

But see that smile above me?  Made it all worth it.