A Teenager in the House!

As of yesterday, we have a teenager living in our house. I'm trying decide which birthday was harder to except: My baby turning 5 or my oldest turning 13. I think it is a toss up!

We aren't big birthday party throwers but we felt like 13 deserved a bit more attention, so we planned a surprise party for Ethan last Sunday. He returned home from swim practice to 6 of his best buddies and a 29 gallon fish tank!!

Here they are waiting for Ethan to get home. (We cracked up at how the girls were just hanging out in the midst of all these boys!)

The boys all gifted $5 toward Ethan's fish tank fund. (They wrote their name on a fish and attached their gift.) He has been asking for a big tank with cabinet for a while now. You can imagine my excitement when about 2 months ago my neighbor mentioned that her father, who lives locally, was getting rid of his. SCORE!!

He was definitely surprised!! and extremely happy, too!!

Now, to yesterday, his actual birthday: Good Morning, Teenager!

Ethan brings so much adventure to our family. He is always looking for the next outdoorsy thing to do. I have come to be very thankful that he is home for school, giving me many more hours with him than I would have if he wasn't home schooled. They really do grow up fast and I am realizing what a privilege, all be it hard sometimes, to spend so much time together. I've come to appreciate his maturing conversation skills and sense of humor!