He's 11 Years Old Now.......

Be sure to pause the music on the lower left before playing the video!

....and I just can't believe it. It's not just that his feet are gettin' bigger and his appetite is gettin' bigger; it's just that he's so grown up. I know you've heard the phrase - where did the time go - well I know where it went. Warp Speed I'm tellin' ya.

This kid amazes us and frustrates us everyday. When I was telling his teacher what school district he'd be in next year he said that they had an outstanding debate program. Well now that's convenient considering debating his parents is what he does best.

Above he's reciting the Gettysburg Address. His teacher offered to give anybody extra credit if they memorized it; he was the only one. Of course that was two weeks ago. Momma was a little late getting it on video.

So now on his eleventh birthday here's a little update on our oldest-

Loves the Civil War, Jesus, mashed potatoes and the color blue.

Hates getting a shower, getting up in the morning and Miley Cyrus.

Has a fear of heights and getting fired.

Wants to be a 5 star general , a historian or a 5 star historian.

Can't get enough cheese.

His favorite season is fall and his best friend is Zak.

Happy 11th birthday baby. Mom and dad love you more than anything.

Last Weekend...

...my 10 year old and I traveled many miles to see this lady, his Great Great Aunt going on 97. It was a crazy trip. We flew in to Cleveland and drove an hour and a half to the nursing home.

It was totally worth it.

This is Steve. She calls him "her boy" and according to the other nurses, she will only walk for Steve.

He has the patience of Job, I tell ya- a very compassionate young man. She is to try to walk once a day, but if it's Steve's day off- there ain't gonna be no walkin'.

She may be very old, but she still has her preferences. Especially when I offered to paint her nails.

Four bottles later we found the right shade and she was very pleased. As the visit wore on she offered for me to paint the nails of her roommate and several other residents.

We organized her area for her. She had a lot of stuff packed in a very little space. It was difficult for her to find what she needed and even reach it. This just happens to be her second drawer of favorites that she shares with another resident that wheels down to visit every once in awhile.


A cheap little desk organizer from WalMart now keeps all her treasures handy


And yet her phone and knitting are what she keeps the closest.


My son amazed me with his patience and compassion. He drew pictures for resident's doors, played his trumpet and sat for hours just talking and telling stories.



He made quick friends with Alverta. Having Alzheimer's, she walks the hallway looking for her room and he would escort her back a few times. The night we left she told him she was cold so he walked her back and covered her up with a blanket.


Wow, where'd that come from??

In all we were able to spend about 15 hours together......

....and even though we were bumped off 5 flights and ended up renting a car and driving 13 hours to get home in time for work and school......

It was totally worth it.

Whittling....

....the art of carving shapes out of raw wood with a knife.

Or what I'd like to call a pleasant 50 degree after school activity to bring two brothers together.

They even headed back out after dinner......

With someone to keep'em company