Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Billy Baloo - 14 yrs old!

 
Happiest of birthdays Billy! Wow, I cant believe you are 14 years old!  The time is just flying by and its so fun to see your personality continue to develop and your interests expand. You are still a deep thinker and man of few words and we are so so so glad you are part of our family.
 
When we celebrated last night every said 2 good things about you and they were dead on...
Smart, kind, funny, calm, loves animals, caring, a good friend, curious ....
 
I would also add that you …
  • love to know how things work
  • enjoy music (you really like the 2nd seat in violin and I caught you playing guitar for fun the other night)
  • really enjoy your ALM class (a class where its self directed learning and you get to "make" stuff)
  • are a big reader, I love that you always are reading at least 1 book
  • and are a gamer, you play online with friends and they all seem to games where there is a puzzle to be solved
  • are patient
  • see the big picture and don't let too many things bother you
  • are having growing pains (hoping this is the big growth spurt!)
  • are about to turn into a full fledge teenager, I just got my 1st eye roll and getting you to take off your headphones to actually talk to me is a miracle some days
We are so very lucky and blessed that your birth parents and foster parents were loving and had your best interests in mind.  We hope we are living up to their expectations and we KNOW that they'd be proud of you.  You are an amazing human being. 
 
We love you.

 
 
 
You LOVE to dig holes in the sand and can do that for hours (still!)

The 3 musketeers  - you are all such amazing friends and amazing athletes
You are so tough too! Smiling through the 1st bloody nose in sparring at the US Open this year

And smart! You regularly beat Tom and Jimmy at chess (I suspect that's because you actually play with a bit of strategy and they both play with gut instinct)

And funny - you aren't afraid to laugh at yourself too, this  trait will serve you well your whole life. 

Saturday, December 01, 2018

The Gotcha Day that never was....

Kay, damn we've had a hard time celebrating your special day this year!
It was right after Thanksgiving while Daddy was on a pheasant hunting trip. We tried to celebrate when he got home that night but you were zonked out in bed. Then we tried the next night but you went out for treats with your team after practice, came home and went straight to bed (and fell sound asleep). Finally, on Friday we told you to "wait up" for us. Billy had taekwondo and Jimmy's jazz band was playing at the Depot.  You managed to stay up for us but when we tried to celebrate, you shrugged, headed to your room and fell asleep (I will say, you've gotten more sleep this week than you have had in years and I think thats really good but ... are you about to hit another growth spurt or something?!)

You did manage to eat the pie we got for breakfast and maybe we'll attempt to celebrate again during Sunday supper.

But, whether we actually get to celebrate with you or not, we can still celebrate YOU!

You are funny, clever, strong, determined, single minded, confident, gorgeous, a good friend and extremely creative.  We can not imagine our lives without you. When are you are in a good mood, there is honestly no one more fun in the whole world.  I love the friendship that is starting to form with your brothers and I'm excited to see what live has in store for you.  Whatever you put your mind to, I have no doubt that you'll succeed.

We can also be so grateful for your birth family and foster family.  I am sure that they think of you every day and wish that they could see the fierce woman you are turning into.

Kay, I love you.  Even saying that doesnt seem like a good enough description of how I feel. You are my heart. I wish for you a brilliant future and the determination to make it happen for yourself.

Love Mom (& Dad!)

The cousins! Jimmy, Kara, Joey, Lola, Astrid, Georgia, you, Rece and Herbie. Billy is missing ;(

Remember that one time you treated me to a spa day?

Zombie bride

Gorgeous

The best fisher person ever.

Ice fishing with Dad and out fishing all off us

15th bday glamping party

Our 1st photo of you 

Those cheeks!

St Pats pyramid

You have always baited, caught and cleaned your own fish

Korean squat while opening bday gifts

Beach horseback riding in costa rica