Willie Turns 18

It is hard to imagine that I could have an 18 year old under roof.  It is hard to imagine that this boy who I have loved so dearly for all these years could actually be an 18 year old.  This boy who climbed over the car seat wide eyed the first time we went through the drive through at McDonald's to see where that voice was coming from.  This boy who was blown away the first time he saw an ATM machine, "Wow!  I need to get my mom one of those cards!  Then she doesn't have to worry anymore, nae!"  This miraculously open hearted boy.  Miraculous in that most people, having been through what he has been through, would have a cold and angry heart.

Not Willie.

To this day I see that sparkle in his eye.  I see that excitement that I saw when he was a boy. 

For his birthday this year, Willie wanted to have a bowling party. 

We reserved several lanes and had a great time refreshing our muscular memory to the wonder of hurtling an eight pound ball down the lane.  We ate pizza and chips and drank soda.  It was a fun time.  The next day I was talking to Mema about how weird it is to have one butt cheek in pain.

Everybody Gets in On The Bowling Action!

See, kids even focus on technology when
they are hanging out together!

Even little kids love texting!



Iris Loved Bowling





Iris and Marina know how to bowl strikes!  Iris got a higher score than I did!  Is that a cheese puff in her mouth?



The next day Kaylene and the girls organized a party for him at school.  I brought pizzas and sodas and she brought cake and gifts.  Friends filled the commons at school and they all had a great time. 

Somewhere on Facebook there are photographs of this event, I am quite sure!

That night we made all of his favorite food and had a lovely big meal of sushi and shrimp, broccoli beef and rice.  Because he was all caked up from lunch, we blew out the candles on the pie! 

Look at Iris's little hand going for the pie her mommy made.

Willie requested that Marina sing for him the first song she ever wrote.  This is the abridged version.

Mema cleaned and organized and redecorated Willie's space for his birthday.  She was deemed a hero and a fantastic Mema for that!

He opened his presents, he ate pie and we all sang Happy Birthday.

The older we get the less birthday parties pack the punch that they do when you are 7 or 11.  But for the parents who are watching, the boy may as well be 7 again. 

We love you Willie!