Dylan's Sweet Sixteen Pandemic Birthday

It seems like just yesterday that I was staring down at my firstborn child, who had just arrived in our lives, making us a family of three. I blinked, and sixteen years passed by. Now I'm staring UP at my son, and wondering when he slipped through my fingers and who, exactly, this young man is! I desperately tried to slow down time, but today, he celebrated his SIXTEENTH Birthday!

When I started this blog, Dylan was 3 and Lexie was 1. Now they are both teenagers, and we have three more children. Sometimes it's really hard to wrap my mind around that! It's even more difficult to accept the fact that my first two babies are not babies anymore, and are just a few years away from leaving home. That's the point of raising children, but I don't have to like it one bit!

2020 was a rough year for everyone. We try to make birthdays a big deal in our home, but this year we had 4 major milestone birthdays, and we weren't able to celebrate with parties. Sweet Sixteen is supposed to be a big deal, and we had big plans at the start of the year. Unfortunately, we weren't able to follow through with those big plans, but we made the day as special as we could for Dylan. It may not have been exactly what he expected, but he had a great 16th Birthday!

Why We Started Homeschooling Our Teenager

Although I'm now homeschooling four kids, homeschooling is not a new concept to me. This past Fall, we pulled our then 14 year old son out of the public school he had been attending since Kindergarten, and enrolled him in Cyber School.  It was a bit of an adjustment for us, but it's a method that works well for him at this time. 

I wasn't quite ready to take full responsibility for educating a teenager, so we opted to have him do online schooling after doing our research and reaching out to other parents. Managing his education, making sure he gets PE and outside learning experiences, encouraging hobbies, and allowing him to lead a normal social life (until social distancing happened) is my responsibility. It wasn't a decision we made lightly. We really wished he could continue in our school district, but it just wasn't working for him, and we knew in our hearts that we had to make changes.

There are many factors that led us to this decision, which I will finally share with you. After several months, we are starting to see little steps in the right direction, so we know we made the right decision. Little did we know when we embarked on this path that we would have 3 other kids joining him at home months later!

Dylan's 14th Birthday & Thanksgiving

This year, Thanksgiving was extra special, because it was also Dylan's 14th Birthday! Our Christmas baby decided he wanted to be a Thanksgiving baby instead, so every few years, Dylan's birthday falls on Thanksgiving. When that happens, we try to make his birthday the main focus, so our Thanksgiving was very casual!

On the day before Thanksgiving, my 24/7 morning sickness decided to go back to being severe. With that nasty comeback, it took all my energy to focus on preparing for Thanksgiving and Dylan's birthday, so sadly, my photos are lacking this year. I tried to capture Dylan's special day, but didn't do so well with Thanksgiving memories. Dylan ended up having a great birthday, though, and that's all that matters!

Here's how we celebrated our firstborn's 14th Birthday...

Welcome to the Teenage Years!

Last Wednesday, we celebrated a milestone birthday in our family! Although it feels like we've had a teenager living in our home for the past few months, November 22nd was Dylan's 13th birthday, and our official welcome to the teenage years!

Happy 12th Birthday, Dylan!

This morning, at 8:54 AM, my beautiful firstborn turned 12 years old!

I swear I blinked and my tiny newborn turned into a young man. Time truly does fly.

Last night, as I prepared for his birthday, I questioned whether he would still care about all of our birthday traditions. I hoped so. I hoped that all the special things that we do for birthdays would be fondly remembered and carried over to his own children one day. But I was still doubtful. The answer, however, is yes. These birthday traditions matter very much, even at 12 years old.

Just how does a 12 year old celebrate his birthday?

Well...it begins with asking his parents if he could skip school on his birthday. And said parents just might have agreed considering he maintains good grades despite leaving class 4 times a week for band and orchestra AND playing basketball, and has has never asked for this before.

 

So the newest 12 year old in town got to sleep in until 11, wake up to a bedroom filled with balloons and the "Happy Birthday" banner on the living room wall, and have birthday donuts and smoothies with his mom and baby brother!

After that came a drive to the school to pick up his little sister from Kindergarten and a trip to the store to pick out his birthday outfit. Three shirts later, he was all set! After a quick stop at Target, which resulted in free popcorn, we headed to Storytime at the local library. He just might have colored a Thanksgiving picture to pass the time, then make his own fingerprint turkey craft with his little brother and sister!

After a quick lunch, Dylan's MawNaw and Nannie arrived for a visit and brought some gifts!

Dylan spent the rest of the afternoon building a new Lego set, and enjoying the private Instagram account that his parents finally allowed him to have. (With rules. SO MANY RULES.)  He was so thankful that he even willingly posed for a quick birthday photoshoot in the 28 degree weather!

When Grant finally arrived home from work, our entire family piled into the SUV and headed to Taco Bell for Dylan's birthday dinner. Birthday kid always gets to pick the restaurant!

Back at home, Dylan got to open his gifts from his siblings and a small gift from us.

He loved his light-up earbuds, wireless rechargeable speaker, cologne, hair gel and Pokemon cards and is really looking forward to his big gift, which is coming next month!

Dylan spent the evening watching TV episodes with his dad and brother while the girls went to dance. As soon as we were all together again, we ended Dylan's 12th birthday celebration with a homemade cake!

Dylan said he had a great birthday and that it was definitely his best birthday ever!

Dylan's 12 Year Birthday Interview

Age: 12

Grade: 6

Weight: 75 lbs

Height: 5'1"

1. FAVORITE COLOR? Blue!
2. FAVORITE TOY? I really don't have a favorite toy. Video games? (Sadly, toys are nearly a thing of the past.)
3. FAVORITE CHARACTER? The Joker.
4. FAVORITE SUPERHERO? That's a hard one. Can it be a supervillain, too? Deadpool! (Which he has never watched...)
5. FAVORITE FRUIT? Raspberries! Easy. The best. The best fruit EVER.
6. FAVORITE VEGETABLE?  Sweet peppers. (Agreed.)
7. FAVORITE BREAKFAST?  Donuts. All the way!
8. FAVORITE CEREAL? Frosted Flakes.
9. FAVORITE LUNCH?  Soup.
10. FAVORITE DINNER? Steak and mashed potatoes. It's delish.
11. FAVORITE DRINK? That's a hard one. Mountain Dew Kickstart. (Uhhhh...what?)
12. FAVORITE SNACK? I'm going to have to say fruit snacks. I guess.
13. FAVORITE RESTAURANT? Taco Bell. ALL THE WAY.
14. FAVORITE TV SHOW? Bob's Burgers.
15. FAVORITE MOVIE? Suicide Squad. Alllll the way. (All the way is the hot new phrase. Obviously.)
16. FAVORITE ACTOR/ACTRESS? Heath Ledger.
17. FAVORITE SONG? I'm going to have to say Heathens by Twenty One Pilots.
18. FAVORITE SINGER/BAND? Twenty One Pilots.
19. FAVORITE BOOK? Eggs by Jerry Spinelli.
20. FAVORITE BOOK SERIES? Percy Jackson.
21. FAVORITE OUTFIT? I'm going to have to say high tops with joggers, a short sleeve shirt and a hoodie. With a hat!
22. FAVORITE GAME? Life.
23. FAVORITE SPORT? Basketball.
24. FAVORITE ANIMAL? Frogs.
25. FAVORITE PLACE TO GO? The beach!
26. FAVORITE THINGS TO DO? Skateboard, play basketball and play video games.
27. FAVORITE SUBJECT? Science.
28. FAVORITE STUFFED ANIMAL?  UGH! The Dylan bear I got when I was born. The one with the converse and leather jacket. (This was not a favorite question...)
29. FAVORITE DAY OF THE WEEK? Friday!
30. FAVORITE MONTH? November!
31. FAVORITE SEASON? Summer.
32. FAVORITE HOLIDAY? It's a tie between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
33. WHO IS YOUR BEST FRIEND? Jack.
34. WHO DO YOU LIKE TO PLAY WITH? Jack, Dom, Logan, Tyler, Braden, Bre, Sophie, Cole, Tristan, Shane, John and that's it. I think.
35. WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY? Hanging out with friends and family.
36. WHAT SCARES YOU?  Spiders. They're horrifying. I hate them!
37. WHAT MAKES YOU SAD? Seeing other people upset and losing a loved one.
38. WHAT DO YOU WISH FOR? To have a good life. (Amazing answer, buddy!)
39. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY? When I climbed the tree and fell down and cut my leg open. (REALLY?!?)
40. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP? NBA player or an engineer. (Engineer.)
41. DISLIKES? Let's say...boot cut jeans. Freezing weather. And, ummm, hurting myself.

Any final thoughts? I like answering these questions. Well. Most of them.

I can't believe my beautiful son is 12 years old! 

 

He entered this world a month early and I fell in love the moment I first laid eyes on him. Dylan truly is a special boy. Yes, we deal with tween moments now, but this kid is filled with love and kindness beyond compare. 

 

Last week, when we had to say an unexpected goodbye to our horse, he sat with me on the cold ground and held my hand the entire 2 hours. It was 30 degrees and horribly sad, but never once did he complain or leave my side. I told him to sit in the car but he said he wasn't going to let me deal with it alone. That's just the person he is. He loves fiercely and is kind to everyone he encounters. I have no doubt that he will be an amazing husband and father one day. 

 

But time needs to slow down just a bit. The teenage years are just 1 year away. He will be able to drive in 4 years. In 6 years, he will leave home for college. And every single time I look at him, I picture that tiny, beautiful newborn, and the fact that 12 years passed by in the blink of an eye takes my breath away. I just want to hold on to him as tightly as I possibly can and never let him go. 

 

Happy Birthday, my sweet boy. You are so loved!!!

Let's Be Friends!

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A Letter To My Tween Son

When Dylan was born all the experienced mothers told me to enjoy every moment because he was going to grow up so fast. I smiled politely but I simply couldn't understand. His childhood stretched endlessly ahead of us. Time was on our side.

But I blinked. I blinked and I suddenly have a son who is almost as tall as me and wearing the same shoe size as I wear. In 14 months he will officially be a teenager. In 4 years he will be able to drive. And in 6 years he will be leaving home. The mere thought of him leaving us brings tears to my eyes. Mamas, time is NOT on your side. Time speeds up the moment you have your baby and there's no going back.

I'm not going to sugar coat it. The tween years are tough. There are days when I would rather deal with 20 newborns who aren't sleeping through the night than 1 tween with a major attitude. But there are just as many days when my son does something so amazing and mature that it takes my breath away. Too many people only focus on the negative aspects of the tween years. That's why I'm thrilled to partner with Yoplait Go Big to share why having a tween is actually pretty amazing!

Dear Dylan,

You have been in my life for nearly 12 years now. I loved you fiercely from the moment I knew you existed and I couldn't wait to meet the newest love of my life. And you couldn't wait to race out into the world and leave an impact before it was time. You arrived a month early and we immediately knew you were something special.

Those first two years with you were amazing. It was just you and us and we became a family. You taught us how to be parents and we taught you how to be a kind, loving, responsible human being.  Those years with you were simple and so sweet. Motherhood was simply amazing thanks to you.

You were an only child for just 2 short years before we added to our family. You became a big brother not once...not twice...but three times. Each time you transitioned seamlessly and I truly can't think of a better brother for your siblings. You may bicker at times (quite often these days) but your underlying love for them is just as fierce as the love I have for you. That fact is evident every single day.

You were always an amazingly kind and loving boy. Even as you grew and became "cooler" that side of you never changed. You simply touch the lives of each person you meet and you always treat others with respect. Your kindness and love for your fellow human beings shines brightly. It's always the first thing that every single person who meets you notices.

I was so worried that you would lose that part of you as you moved into the tween years but your love for others never went away. You may worry incessantly about your hair and your clothing style but you never hesitate to give one of your teachers or friends' moms a hug and you always make conversation with everyone you come in contact with.  You treat everyone you meet, even strangers, with a level of kindness and respect that most adults don't even possess.

Over the past few years I've had the privilege of watching you grow from just a brother to a lifelong protector. When your baby brother was born with special needs I worried about how it would impact your life. Instead of having the negative impact I first expected the personal growth was incredible. When I see you with your brother I have absolutely no doubt that you will be best friends for life and that you will be an amazing father one day.

Despite all the great things I have to say about you, life isn't perfect or amazing. It's not supposed to be. You and I butt heads these days. You are very mature which makes it hard for you to accept the fact that I'm still 100% in charge and a lot more knowledgeable than you. You often roll your eyes and become annoyed by the things I tell you to do.

I get it. I really do. I was once in your shoes. The tween years are TOUGH. School is harder, you have more responsibilities, life is busier, the hormones are kicking in, other kids are growing up into not so kind human beings and girls are now on your radar.  Each day you juggle sports, homework, hobbies, music and life in a big family. It really is a lot of responsibility!

 You have a lot on your plate which is why I try so hard to remember what a great kid you are during those moments when the tween attitude takes over. Life can be so overwhelming at times and it's really easy to lose control of your emotions. You really are a wonderful kid and I know that I'm incredibly lucky to have you in my life.

Dylan, you're an amazing human being and I am so proud to be your mother. I have absolutely no doubt that you are going to accomplish great things. Even though I may drive you crazy at times (and vice versa) I just want you to know that I will always love you. I will always be on your side. And I will always be here for you with open arms when you need me. Nothing will ever change that. No matter how big you get you will ALWAYS be my baby boy.

You are growing up way too quickly for my liking and I can't do anything to slow it down. I can't bring back the tiny preterm baby that once fit in the crook of my arm. I can't bring back the cheeky toddler with the adorable grin. I can only embrace the person you are right now and take the advice that was so often given to me: Enjoy every moment. I am honored to spend these moments with you.

Love, Mom

{Excuse me while I wipe the tears out of my eyes before I move on! Where did my baby go?!?}

Now that I have a tween, life is busier AND he's hungrier! He needs an on the go snack that is every bit as big and amazing as he is. Enter Yoplait Go Big! 

 

New from Yoplait is this large yogurt pouch that is perfectly sized for a tween or a teen! (Or an adult...just saying.) The design isn't the least bit babyish so they won't mind tossing one into their lunchbox or snacking on one in front of their friends. The Go Big grip-and-rip pouch is easily portable and opens quickly by tearing up and back. Plus it's made with real fruit!

I recently bought two boxes of Go Big in the refrigerated section at our local Giant Eagle store and they were an instant hit with Dylan! He puts one in his lunch box each day and he also enjoys them as a snack on the go. Go Big comes in boxes of 8 pouches in these flavors:

• Peach Mango/Cherry
• Strawberry/Mixed Berry

Although the fact that they are made with real fruit is my favorite aspect of Go Big here are a few other reasons why they are perfect for your growing tween:

• Good source of calcium
• No artificial colors
• Gluten Free
• No High Fructose Corn Syrup
• Low Fat
• Just the right amount of sweetness

Go Big fits in perfectly with Dylan's on the go lifestyle. It's a healthy, filling snack choice that  provides energy for my busy tween and satisfies his growing appetite!

I shared all the reasons why I think my tween is amazing and now it's your turn! Head over to Yoplait Go Big's Facebook page and share why you think your tween (or teen) is amazing.

There's one thing that's certain: I am one lucky mama! 

Thank you to Yoplait Go Big for sponsoring today's post. My tween is now a big fan of #YoplaitGoBig!

The Christmas Spirit

I have a confession.  I'm a total Grinch this year.  I'm just not enjoying the holiday season as much as I typically do.

I'm not sure if it's the constant busyness, the unseasonably warm weather, or the fact that I've been sick since before Thanksgiving. It's hard to rest and get better when you literally can't stop! There are just so many activities and obligations for my 4 kids right now! I feel like I'm just going through the motions for my favorite holiday.

I'm trying desperately to get out of my funk.  Thankfully, my cough finally seems to be improving, and we've had a few events over the past week that helped give me a glimpse of that Christmas Spirit that has been missing all month!

First up was the warmest Christmas Parade we've ever experienced! We go to our town parade/light up night every single year.  It's ridiculously short, but the kids love it, and they get to visit with Santa after the parade.

The parade was on Saturday and it was in the high sixties. That's so unusual for Pittsburgh this time of year.  We were stripping off layers of clothing as we waited for the parade to begin!

Grant's mom and Nannie met us for the parade, and our some of our friends joined us, too.  It just so happened to be Nannie's 91st Birthday!  She's the coolest 91 year old around.  She's still sharp as a tack, perfectly put together, and she races around town in her orange Camaro adorned with her initials!

The kids grabbed some drinks, cupcakes, and hot cocoa, then Dylan wandered off with some friends from school.  The girls and Liam are still happy to stay with their family and friends! They had plenty of fun while we waited for the parade to start!

It seemed like it took a long time, but we finally heard the parade heading our way! Everyone rejoined our group and the kids got ready to catch some candy!

I must have bumped my camera just before the parade began, and the dial shifted out of manual.  I didn't even realize it until I got home, but all my pictures after that were "off."  I was bummed, but they still turned out cute!

Liam was a HUGE fan of the parade! He clapped his way through it!

The parade only lasted about 5 minutes, but the kids enjoyed it!  The highlight, of course, was Santa arriving at the very end of the parade!

We watched Santa light up the town, then got in line to visit with Santa.  Even though we were near the front of the line, people filtered in on all sides, and we ended up waiting a long time! It was worth it, though!

Liam had no fear of Santa.  By the end of their visit, he was grinning and clapping along with Santa's elves! Santa told us he was a big fan of Liam!

We said our goodbyes to Santa, and Liam took off down empty Main Street. We took that as our cue to pack up our things and head to our next destination!

That evening, we had a Christmas party with our friends, and I didn't even take a single picture.  Oops!

Lily had her snack day at Pre-K on Wednesday.  I let her pick something festive, and she ended up choosing a very time-consuming treat.  I did it, though, because after Pre-K, snack days are over!  The only free time I had was at 12:30 AM on Wednesday. One hour and 20 snowmen later, I headed to bed!

After I picked Lily up from school on Wednesday, we headed to the park.  It was 60 degrees, so we had to take advantage of the unseasonably warm weather while we had the chance!

That evening, our entire family attended Dylan's 5th grade band/chorus winter concert!

Fifth Grade is the first year the students can join band, and I'm really glad Dylan opted to join.  I think sports AND music is very important! Dylan chose the trumpet, but wants to switch to strings next year.  Dylan was in the choir club last year, which was optional, but in 5th Grade, choir is mandatory.

My parents and Grant's mom and Nannie came to the concert, too. Dylan was very happy they came to see him.

Although I didn't get many pictures, the concert was great!  The band played 6 songs and each song was just 30 seconds long. They were surprisingly good considering they have only been playing together for one month and only 3 days with their new band teacher (their regular teacher is on maternity leave)!

I honestly couldn't even spot Dylan in band, but I did capture a few videos.  I can't wait to see how they sound in the Spring after several more months of learning!

The chorus did a great job, too!  (Dylan is in the front row, far right.)

Lily and Liam were really well behaved through the entire concert, so I was actually able to relax and enjoy it!  I'm thankful for that!

I'm proud of myself.  I only cried two or three times. (Maybe more, but who's judging?) I just can't believe I have an 11 year old.  He grew up in the blink of an eye, and he didn't even need my help getting ready.  He chose his outfit, put on his crooked tie, gelled his hair, and put on cologne.  I can't handle this!

We had a great evening cheering on our sweet boy!   We're so proud of him!!! (And our end of the concert family photo is about as real as it gets. Two sleepy kids and two sleepy parents!)

It was a fun week!  We have a LOT of shopping and Christmas activities ahead of us over the next week.  I'm not quite sure how we're going to fit it all in before Christmas, but we'll do our best! 

How are you celebrating the holiday season?


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