Happy Birthday, Dominic!!

Happy Birthday, Dom!  What a year it has been.  Full of Championships  (The first being the Nationals winning The World Series), Confirmation Prep, Cooking, Comics (Foxtrot), Classwork, and...huh...what is another word I could use to go along with this alliteration I've got going on...Well, whatever, I'll think of it later.

You are 14!!  You (and we) survived your first year as a teenager and signs are pointing to you being a not so bad one!  Just kidding, you are a wonderful teenager and I wouldn't trade you for anyone!  I think it helps a great deal that you stay physically active and busy and therefore don't have too much time to think about how the universe is conspiring against your happiness.  Which is good, because between you and me: The universe does not care about your happiness...that is up to you and you are doing a lot of things right.

We learned (or confirmed?) last fall that you have a gift for running and actually kind of like it!  Especially if you are beating everyone around you including me (let's be honest: not impressive) and your father (pretty impressive...especially the part where you can still have a decent conversation and are smiling immediately after...not a genetic trait)

I have continued my lessons in how to be the biggest Kansas Basketball Fan ever and you have recruited a promising new member to the club.

Though I frequently tell you and Will to separate at the table, I can't stress enough how much I am pleased it is because you are cracking each other up and not annoying one another.  Hearing you laugh at Will's jokes is a highlight of my day, especially when you two are trying to one up each other in being clever with writing assignments or creative ways to keep track of your daily work (The Train of Thought is wiser than us all!).  Not so much when you are distracting one another during Algebra...because teaching Algebra is actually the highlight of my day. 

Last Fall, we got to watch KU play Dayton in a special basketball tournament and it was amazing.  Dayton was LEGIT! (But, KU won, natch) We really weren't torn in our loyalty, but Dayton was a team we all kept tabs on for the rest of the season and even got to watch in person when they came to George Mason. 

I love your smile!  Every time someone speaks disparaging of thumb sucking, I quickly point out your beautiful smile...with no orthodontist bills!  Thumb Suckers Unite!

For posterity's sake, a quick mention of how you regularly start your morning: Two bowls of cereal with too much milk and a quick rundown of the latest sports news...any sports news!  You have recently added reading the Wall Street Journal...with a special interest in anything your favorite columnist, Jason Gay, writes.  This all takes about an hour, so one might suggest you get up before 8:00 if you want to do all of this.  Sometimes you do ...sometimes you get a stern lecture about time management.  These are solid life lessons that I know will serve you well in the future...so thanks for listening and honoring them for at least a few days before I have to give them again...

In January, we all became the biggest Chiefs fans ever as they made their way to the Super Bowl and won in epic fashion!  Championship Number 2!  And Country Roads may never be sung with the correct lyrics ever again.

And a few weeks later, you had your third and most special Championship because it involved your CYO Basketball team!  It had been a rough season where wins were particularly hard to come by.  You played your hardest every game and Dad and I were so proud of you!  Regularly out scoring everyone on the floor and picking up rebounds and steals (and fouls) on the defensive end.  Even while playing after being sick with the flu for a week, you scored over 20 points.  In hindsight, we shouldn't have let you play that game, but you came home, slept for 4 hours, and woke up fine...so...I guess it all worked out?

But, back to the Championship!  I missed it due to a planned trip to Florida with Mitzi and Katie!  I don't regret that trip #MomCation, but I do regret missing these games.  Luckily, Dad kept me well informed via text.  I knew you helped your team claw back in regulation to get to Overtime in the Championship where you shot back to back threes to open the additional time.  You helped motivate everyone to dig deep and play their best game at exactly the right time!  And when time ran out, The Holy Spirit Flames were victorious!  Rock Chalk!!  And Will was as excited anyone to be there to yell for you!

Then, within a week, the whole country shut down due Covid 19.  We dealt with the disappointment of beloved tournaments being cancelled.  The Big 12 went first (no 4th Championship), then the NCAA (no 5th Championship...and these weren't pipe dreams...the Jayhawks had a solid chance!!!)  But, we knew it was the right thing to do at the time.  Priorities got evaluated and discussed.  And our lives changed overnight.

We spent all of our new found free time trying to stay active.  We started running as a family.  And by that I mean, we all started at about the same time and ended not at all at the same time while covering the same distance!  This lasted into May, and then fizzled out...because running is hard!  But, it did lead to daily walks which I enjoy taking with anyone who wants to come.  The discussions on these walks are wonderful.  And I get the sneaky feeling you all enjoy having the house to yourself when I go out solo...

You kept playing basketball and even had Will and John playing with you since no one else could.

We learned to pray as a family with Mass in the Back Room and nightly Rosaries in the Front Room.

We learned that wearing masks is just a new way to show our Jayhawk Spirit!  Thanks Grandma!

We learned to spend more time as a family and enjoy each others company (for better or worse...but, mostly better)

To make up for the lack of NCAA tournament and because of all the time we had in the evenings and because of all the games in our home, you helped set up, organize, and were the heart and soul behind our family game tournament.  You always got games ready and were up for playing no matter what.  And then you helped put together the video commemorating the two months of game playing:

We learned to adapt to the new way of taking part in activities.  One of which was virtual camping with the Boy Scouts.  If virtual camping means I don't have to cook or clean up the kitchen:  Bring it On!!  (though I do appreciate this is not ideal)

Another adaptation was using Zoom and other forms of video to keep in touch with family and friends.  This also included having Dad's promotion to Lieutenant Colonel virtually. And you impressed everyone as the Emcee.  Who knows? Maybe this can be the start of a new tradition?  Plus, loads of family got to witness the promotion who normally wouldn't have, and we never had to leave our house.  Complete net win!

In May, we broke out the ping pong table for the first time in two years.  This was your idea, and it was a top 5 one.  It was the perfect way to enter the summer.

Even if John disagreed and preferred Bey Blades...which you were also happy to play.

We played loads of games and Dom beat me twice...and he gave me the biggest hug and told everyone he knew.  I have never been happier to lose.

Another benefit of life as we knew it coming to a halt...we now regularly have fresh baked Baguettes!  And they are amazing! 

And so, we adapted and thrived during the shut down of our activities.  You would learn something was cancelled, be understandably disappointed, and then look for the positive.  Which is the way you have always approached life.  Nothing keeps you down for long.  Especially if there are cinnamon rolls in the fridge.

Or a new game to be played.

Or a day trip to be taken with the family*

*As long as there is the promise of ice cream (he is a teenager...not a saint...yet!)

And then, after months of cancellations, The Tour de France actually happened!!  It was different than any other year, but we took whatever they were able to provide.  We watched mountain stages from the start (and by we, I mean Dom and Will got up before 6 AM to watch them), exciting sprint finishes ("Mom! 5K left!"), masked podium presentations, and the same commercials over and over and over again...and LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT!!!  Loved it so much, in fact, that you haven't stopped looking for people to race with since.

You have found a new activity that you love and it won't be cancelled because you are racing against your brother and your self.  Life is Good!!

Happy Birthday, Dominic Joseph!  You are one special kid (or should I say young man?  Nah, you are and will always be our kid, even if you are a solid 4 inches taller than me and gaining on Dad).  I am constantly grateful for your amiable disposition.  I love how you are working on being clever...not in a middle school humor kind of way...but, really clever!  Though, I know the middle school stuff comes out when I'm not around, and that is cool, too.  Just as long as I don't have to hear it.  I relish (side note: Inside joke, the boys frequently use 'relish' as a synonym for 'love' in their writing, I will use it now) how much you relish (I used it again...too much?) books, particularly about history.  You are constantly learning and interested in how events came about.  You want to know 'why', and I hope you never lose that.  And though I shouldn't be, I am very proud at your reverence during our family Rosaries, Holy Hours, and Mass.  You and Will have never once balked as we added new devotions to our family routine and that has been a gift for all of us.

We love you so very much, Dom!  This is my 10th Birthday post for you as I started them when you turned 5.   This was a year like none other, but you have made it a wonderful one and I look forward to whatever the next year holds for our family.  I know it will be great as long as we are all in it together!  And now, I'm going to go give you a big hug!  Because I can!

Mom