How lucky are we to have Jake!

Today my little boy turns 15! I love that I can still call him my little boy.

I guess he is taller than me. I guess his voice is deep like his dad's. I guess he does drive us home from church. I guess he is starting high school this fall.

So how come I still feel like he's my little boy?

I guess it's because he still gives me a hug and a kiss every morning when he gets up and each night when he goes to bed. I guess it's because he doesn't mind snuggling with his mom on the couch every once in a while. I guess it's because he loves to play all day (sorry, I mean "hang out"). I guess it's because he loves to tell me all about his adventures and enjoys life like a two year old at the park for the first time!

For the 2nd year in a row, Jake is at scout camp during his birthday so it makes me even more sentimental toward him. I can hear his infectious laugh in my head as I imagine him having the time of his life with friends.

I don't know how we have raised three children who are so completely different from each other. Each so unique. Each so special. Each making our family whole.

So many reasons why I adore my Jakers:

---I admire Jake's love and loyalty to his family and friends.

---I'm in awe of Jake's fearlessness in adventures of any kind. He's definitely the bravest of our kids.

---I'm so proud of Jake's high level of integrity in everything that he does.

---Jake is extremely competitive. He relishes a win to the fullest, but it doesn't get in the way of his being gracious to another he knows outperformed him.

---Jake's dimples KILL me every time!!

---Jake is one of the hardest workers that I know. Whether it's practicing in a sport, studying for school, working alongside his dad in the yard, doesn't matter. He puts 110% effort all the time!

---Jake's devotion to the gospel and doing what is right humbles me everyday.

---Everything about Jake reminds me of Brendan. They are so much alike in so many ways, which is yet another reason why I love him so much.

It's hard to not sit down and count my blessings each day. Jake is at the very top of my list for today!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAKE!

THANK YOU FOR COMING

INTO OUR LIVES AND FOR

MAKING OUR FAMILY BETTER

THAN WE COULD HAVE EVER

IMAGINED!

All Done

It happened.....nothing I could do about it......I am the mother of an official adult! So weird!!! Graduation wasn't as sad as I had anticipated. The days and weeks building up to it were much worse. Either that, or I had run out of tears by that night.

Seminary Graduation May 17, 2009.
There were so many students that a separate graduation was held by each Stake.

I just had to post the photos of Jordan's get-up. This is what he wore as his evening wear for Mr. Lehi the week before. He borrowed it from a friend who seems to have a costume closet in his house. He insisted on wearing it to church and to seminary graduation. I figured he might as well get it out of his system now. Seriousness takes over soon enough

Jordan and Savana
Kari and I have been best of friends since 5th grade. Our kids have been friends (more like cousins) since we took 6 month old Jordan to meet newborn Savana at the hospital. We lived by each other in Orem and shortly after we moved to Lehi, they moved to Eagle Mountain. Jordan and Savana have gone to school with each other their whole lives, but did not have a single class together until the last semester of their senior year. They both graduated with honors and in the top 10% of their class!

Jordan and Eythan Barney, his soon to be BYU dorm roommate.
I see "party all night" written all over their faces...oh boy!.

Our whole family is growing up! I have heels on and Allison is still almost as tall as me! We celebrated together by going to dinner at Tucanos with Grandma and Grandpa Howard and Brian and Lauren, Jack and little Miss Kate.

Then it was the all night Graduation Party at the Legacy Center. I was on the committee for that and helped out with the "So You Think You Can Dance" competition and other prize giveaways. I stayed until 4 am! It went till 6.

Jordan decided that he and his friends needed to go to IHOP for breakfast and watch the sun come up. Then it was time to watch Star Wars. Are you kidding me? He came dragging in just after 12 noon the next day!!! He showered and went to work at the carwash from 2 to 7 and then to another party. I guess you only live once, but I'm surprised he's still alive after all that.

Jordan's life has had so many life altering events happen in the last few weeks that we're still trying to adapt to them all. As if graduating from seminary and high school weren't big enough.....

1. He decided that being "single" was the right thing to do as he prepares to go on a mission. Mom had to have a little therapy to make it through that one. By now she had become a part of our family and my daughter.

2. Two days before graduation he was offered a full time job working as a teller at Western Community Bank. He'll go part time once school starts. Great hours, great pay, great experience (especially since he plans on majoring in Finance), great practice wearing a shirt and tie everyday :)

3. We'll be one short on Sundays as he is planning to attend our Stake's Young Single Adult ward.

4. Already had his interviews with the Bishop and Stake President to be sustained and ordained and Elder. An ELDER!!! That will happen later this month and then he'll start on his mission papers before he leaves for BYU at the end of August.

I need to go stock up on my year's supply of tissues!!