Happy Birthday, Dom!

 Happy Sweet 16, Dom!!

I briefly thought about doing a bracket of 16 favorite traits of yours and seeing which one came out on top...but, as I came up with that just a couple of days ago, it didn't happen.  However!  You do have wonderful characteristics that these pictures show.  For example, your willingness to ride Thomas the Tank Engine one more time for your sentimental mom!  Go Train Go!

I'm not sure how many times Axis and Allies has been played this year.  And I'm pretty sure you are rarely on the winning side...yet, you are never upset.  You are a rare individual that loves competition for competition's sake.  Of course, you would prefer to win, but you are never particularly down if you lose.  There is always another competition around the corner. 

This year you have advanced to the rank of Life Scout...next stop Eagle! You continue to be a positive leader in scouts and Dad and I are proud that you continue to be sought out by younger scouts. 

There are many activities you love, but on occasion, we push you outside of your comfort zone.  This year, it was skiing.  You clearly didn't 'love it', yet you didn't complain and gave it a great shot.  And, even put the skis back on towards the end to give it another try.  For the record, I didn't love skiing the first time I went either and I had a much shorter distance to fall...

Now, an activity you do love continues being a sports fan...and WHAT A YEAR!!!  The emotional roller coaster of an NFL playoff game, 

                                             

NCAA Tournament CHAMPIONSHIP (The bracket finally worked the way it was suppose to!! )

                                                     

 And KU Football!!  What an exciting 12 months, Sports Fans!!  And the World Cup is only a few weeks away...Man Oh Man!

Along with skiing, you also gave skating (not pictured...it wasn't pretty), and sledding a go this year.  Sledding was by far the favorite winter activity.  Unless drinking Hot Chocolate was an option...in which case, that clearly wins.  But, maybe I'm projecting a bit.

Fact Check: Mostly True, but lacks context.  Opening gifts on Christmas Morning (a winter activity), is absolutely the favorite activity.  Unless that gift is from the Thrift Store.

Dom comforting John due to a lack of Hot Chocolate...

Token Picture of Dom and Will from 11 years ago

Non-fiction continues to be a favorite genre for light beach reading

He is also nearly always up for a game.  There have been a couple of times I've mentioned I wanted to play something and I come downstairs to discover Dominic has set it up.  Perhaps it is a ploy to get out of schoolwork, but I am totally fine with it.

This year was a tough year with a move from a wonderful group of friends.  However, as is true of really great friends, they have all stayed in touch and when we go back for visits, it is like we have never left. 

I give a lot of credit to the fact these friendships have a foundation of faith.  And I pray and am pretty confident the friendships will last.  As William pointed out, homeschooling Altar boys are pretty much the best ;).

Getting back to traits that Dom has, his ability to laugh at the silliness of situations makes him so easy to be around!  He and his friend completely failed at a three-legged race...but, all you saw was the smile.

Not since Benny the Space Guy and Metal Beard have I enjoyed a Halloween Costume this much. 

We moved back to Ohio in June and Cousin Peter came for a week.  We live within walking distance of a disc golf course (Dom is really not close to driving...but, we live within walking distance or at least biking distance of most activities).  The three left and I expected a call to come pick them up due to the heat.  It never came, but a knock on the front door made my heart beat a little faster.  No one knocks on the door.  Dom was standing there and I was waiting to hear of some accident that would take us to the emergency room...turned out the concern was the giant mess (literally) they had gotten into.  Mud covered the bottom half of the legs of all three boys...Thank goodness for working hoses!  The boys had an adventure...but, that is a story for another day.  And I didn't even have to put on shoes to help them...#winning

Cross Country is a new activity, but Dom and Will have both enjoyed it and are excelling.  Dom's PR is an 18'09" 5K...we'll see what it is next year!

And he continues to do well in school.  What can I say? His teacher is amazing.

Happy Birthday, Dominic Joseph!  It doesn't seem possible it has been 16 years since we met you.  Or 16 years since we brought you home and looked at each other with a "What Now?".  We are so very proud of the wonderful man you are becoming.  Your enthusiasm and joy are contagious.  You have incredible energy that keeps you on the basketball court or soccer field for entire games...yet, you are also able to enjoy an afternoon in the recliner reading a good book.  One of these I can completely relate to...the other must be from your father.

Today we Thank God for your life and pray that it will always be a life well lived.  Continue to strive to do the right thing and surround yourself with good friends that provide positive examples.  And please, please, please, when the time comes: Be a defensive driver!!  There are some real nuts on the road.

We love you and look forward to seeing you grow over the next year.  Even if it will inevitably go too fast.  Just like these last 16!

Love,

Mom

Happy Birthday, Will!

 Happy Birthday, Will!  Due to our move, scout camp, my tendency to procrastinate, and the computer programmers conspiring against me, this is a bit over a week late.  But, as we are homeschoolers, there will be no docking of points for missing a deadline!  (Right?...I mean you use that excuse regularly)

However, that does not take away from the wonderful year (+1 week) you had.  We knew it was going to be a last one in Virginia and tried to make the most of it with loads of time spent with friends, trips to the beach, trips to the mountains, a epic trip to Gettysburg, and to...Missouri.  Where you played a lot of chess with Peter. 

As a result of our move, people booked trips to visit us all spring.  And I got to see you with Timothy.

Who you watched over like a hawk.  Which was good, because John did not.  7 year olds...amiright?

Last October you received the Sacrament of Confirmation and it was a beautiful day.  And completed Deacon Tom's quest to take pictures with our kids on a sacrament day.  Mission Complete! *

It was a beautiful day and we were so thrilled for you to enter the church fully as an adult. 

Only one thing could have come close to topping our happiness that day:

                                                                    Rock Chalk Forever!

 

 With Confirmation came the Black Cassock and you wore it beautifully.  We have come such a long way from when I use to hold my breath watching you serve hoping you wouldn't forget something. Now you are holding the bucket and chasing priests around the sanctuary.  Well done, Will!

Scouting has continued to offer experiences that allow you to thrive.  Not the least of which that you are a leader and younger scouts seek you out to get requirements signed off.  I am sure the patience you showed with Timothy comes through as you work with these kids.  You also remember being in their shoes not so long ago and try to help them be comfortable.  This empathy is a wonderful character trait in you, Will!  And I see it frequently.

Scout camp has also provided a new budget goal: Sailboat

You are a wonderful brother to Dominic and John.  Playing along when they are doing something you find ridiculous.  I appreciated it.  They can always count on you for a "yes." 

This year was a year of firsts, again.  We went to Virginia Beach in August and headed to Bryce Resort in February for a day of icy skiing.  It was much harder than any of us expected, but you kept at it all day and grew in confidence and even went down the mountain a couple of times by the end. 

(I can't exactly tell if this is you or Dom...I'm pretty sure it is you...let's just go with that)

This is definitely you

We have played loads of games this year.  Loads of strategy games.  To be honest, I thought this was a picture of Ticket to Ride Germany, but it is actually Medieval Risk...which is not nearly as bad as I originally thought.  I still prefer Ticket to Ride...or even Catan Seafarers.  But, I always love playing with you as you cackle your way to victory.  Unless Dom somehow pulls out the victory.  Which he does far more frequently than he should...I mean, he barely contemplates his moves for a few minutes...we are thinking about our strategy for hours, if not days before the game commences!

I made you and Dom serve with John at the 6:30 AM Mass when you technically didn't need to as you had been Confirmed.  And you never complained!  We didn't even really have to wake you up.  Those breakfast burritos helped, though.

A Top 5 of favorite spur of the moment Halloween Costumes. 

And now some of his favorite things (not running...though he will do it)

He loves school

And digging holes

And Kale Salad

And Creating Balloon Animals

And Birthday Cake

Happy 14th Birthday, William Thomas!!  I truly cherish every day I get to spend with you.  I can count on you to help when I need it, or at least to avoid my line of sight so I don't know you aren't helping.  Which...really is better than flat out not helping.  You are a loving brother to your siblings and I see you swallow your pride and impatience as you work to be a better one for peace in the home.  You are always up for learning new things (even if it is a delaying tactic from working on schoolwork...though, if the schoolwork is interesting that counts as new things and you will tell anyone who will listen about it).  I love watching you play games with John as you laugh at his antics and hearing your conversations with Molly and Dominic about the most recent social gathering or book you are reading and listening to your plans for World Domination in Axis and Allies even if I have no idea what you are talking about.  But, the Germans are still bad..right?

Dad and I also love seeing the reverence you have when you attend Mass, Adoration, and say the family Rosary.  Thank you for the example you set for others (John).

It has been a wonderful year and we made the most of it.  Even if your favorite days are the ones where there is nothing to do and all day to do it.  I pray that the next year will be equally wonderful as we settle into our new life in Ohio.  I know with you under our roof, the odds are greatly in our favor.  We love you and Thank God you are in our family!

Love,

Mom

                                                            *Pictures with Deacon Tom