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.
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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.
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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...
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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!
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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.
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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.
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Dom comforting John due to a lack of Hot Chocolate...
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Token Picture of Dom and Will from 11 years ago
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Non-fiction continues to be a favorite genre for light beach reading
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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.
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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.
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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 ;).
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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.
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| Not since Benny the Space Guy and Metal Beard have I enjoyed a Halloween Costume this much. |
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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
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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!
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And he continues to do well in school. What can I say? His teacher is amazing.
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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
