13...

This boy....

 Stole our hearts 13 years ago today...

He has a smile and enthusiasm for life that is contagious...

 He is curious about everything and loves to ask questions....

He won't go to bed without saying "goodnight" and "I love you"...

He tells Travis and I that we are the perfect couple...

 He writes thank you notes and makes phone calls just to say hi to those he loves...

He still likes to snuggle and hug...

He likes his toys and stuffed animals, and doesn't care that it may not be "cool" for 13...

He loves Texas and Dr.Pepper...

He isn't afraid to try new things...

He gives us so much and has completed our family of six in a way that I never could have imagined...

Last night he came back into our room for "just one more hug while I am still 12 years old".  Melt. My. Heart.
Happy 13th birthday, Bear.  We love you to the moon and back, all around the stars and planets, and back again.  Infinity.

Love,
Mom & Dad

Happy birthday Bear...

Our youngest kiddo turned 12 years old this week.  So hard to believe it's been 12 years, but honestly cannot remember what life was like before he arrived!  This kid is so full of character and such a ham :)

Also, a HUGE flying buff.  There was never any Barney or Sesame Street for this kid.  Instead there was the Battle of Britain and Tora, Tora, Tora.

So for his 12th birthday we decided to give him the ride of his life....in a helicopter over Canyon Lake.

We packed up Tuesday morning and hit the road at 7am.  Arriving at Canyon Lake by 11 on the dot.  Hunter was beyond excited.  This is a kid who reads up on helicopters and tells everyone how he is going to go into the Army and fly helicopters- and you know what?  I think he will.

I know giving a 12 year old a helicopter ride for his birthday might seem extravagant, but really for the cost of a party, bounce house & toys he would only enjoy for a short time, we gave him an experience he will never forget.  I am more into that these days than I am the parties and gifts.  I want to leave my kids with a lot of "remember whens" rather than "remember whats".

Flight instructions and safety information...

Pilot Harry and Co-Pilot Hunter

It was a perfect day for flying.  A birthday that this little guy big 12 year old will never forget :)

Bear in Air...

Hunter is coming home today after being gone for a week and a half with his grandparents in Dallas.  I've missed him so much!  He is my sidekick here at home and when the teens are all out doing their thing, it's Hunter and I that hang together.  I can't wait to get one of his Bear hugs today : o )

Birthday Bear...

It's official: the Bear is ten years old.  Double digits.  The baby of the family and he's double digits.  Happy Birthday to the most loving, creative, witty and wise ten year old I know.
I am proud to be your Momma Bear.

How to entertain yourself...

This is how Hunter kept himself entertained during the great Lice Outbread of 2009.

I wish they were all so easy to keep happy.

Got your front...

Hunter and I made a bathroom agreement when we were home alone Saturday night. Since we had watched Ghost Whisperer, Hunter was a bit spooked to be alone. So if he had to use the restroom we agreed to go together.

This is the conversation we had while walking down the hall together:

Me- "Don't worry, I got your back kiddo."

Hunter- "I'd really rather that you had my front, Mom."

I think I keep him around for the entertainment value.

Leftover pieces...

Hunter and I built the Indiana Jones Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Lego set this afternoon. Now I am not the mechanical one in our tribe, in fact I can barely tie my own shoes because there are just too many steps involved. Anyway, we managed to get the thing built with a lot of under the breath swearing...on my part.

Finally it was finished. I felt so pleased with myself- it was a huge accomplishment for me who would normally hand it over to builder dad and let him complete it. Just as I was feeling smug in my ability to rebuild our bathroom single-handedly this weekend, I peered over the "kingdom" and discovered some leftover pieces.

Me-"Huh. It didn't say anything about leftover pieces."

Bear-"I'm sure it's OK. They probably put extras in for when the Mom's do the building."

Me-"So in other words when dad does the building there are no left over pieces?"

Bear-"Right."

Roger that Travis.

My little Bear...

Y'all know how I am about my youngest son, Bear. I know it's not right to have favourites, and I really don't, but Hunter and I have something so unique and special. Our relationship is just different than the relationship I have with my other three children. Funny how the kid that started out as the "last one" and "my husband's shot at raising a baby" turned out to be something completely different. A closeness that is just impossible to describe.

Tuesday morning was our long awaited (one and a half years on a waiting list) appointment with a developmental pediatrician. She was intelligent and really knew her stuff, but more importantly she spent over two hours helping us to figure out what was going on with Bear.

We've had him tested twice for dyslexia. Dad is dyslexic, and older sister Annie is too. It runs in our family. Hunter presents as dyslexic and has since he was five. All of his tests show low phonemic awareness and short memory. Classic dyslexia. However TEA's guidelines for getting into the dyslexia program are very different than the medical professions guidelines, and Hunter never qualified. He needs the comprehensive reading program, in other words dyslexia class. Formal diagnosis: Expressive and Receptive Language Disorder, Dyslexia, Anxiety, ADHD and fine and gross motor coordination issues.

I left the hospital with a sense of relief: I was right, there was something going on this whole time. I also left with a sense of dread: How in the world am I going to have the energy/time to fight for what this kid needs?

That night as I tucked him into bed I felt tears welling up in my eyes and an overwhelming feeling of love. I just wanted to wrap my arms around him and never let him go. I wanted to keep him protected from all the hardships and struggles that await him as a kid with all of his issues.

I want the impossible.