He's Thirteen!

Okay- there is an official teenager living in my house!  Markyboy how fast it's gone!

What a year you have had!  How special was it for you to sing a solo with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra at 12-years-old!  We will never forget that night!

You've had fun at all your Boys Choir concerts this year- and at Boys Choir summer camp at Montevallo. 

You got braces this year!

 You are such a sweet big brother.  Everyone relies on you. 

Your best friend is definitely Daddy!

I don't tell you, but the truth is you are extremely intelligent and well read.  You have the most amazing insights and analogies.  I love talking to you!   I get embarrassed sometimes when people ask me how to homeschool.  I want to say, "have a Marky"- that's my secret.  You teach yourself and are naturally a hard worker.  You don't have a lazy bone in your body (you take after Daddy).

You are a reverent altar server.  Not only do you serve at Mass, you have probably served at 15 or more funerals.  It's a beautiful work of mercy. 

You LOVE working outside.  You always help Daddy and Poppy in the yard and on the farm. 

You also help us cook and do dishes.  I always tell BB that you can do just about everything I can do.  You clean the house like I would clean- you are just all about getting a task done.  :)

This year you have grown so tall.  You are over 5'9 now and wear a men's size 12 shoe.  You have extra long arms and help me getting tall things every day.  You enjoyed playing basketball and swim team this year.  You have really enjoyed crew team.  I think that's one you might stick with for the long haul- you seem to love being on the water.  You love Fraternus and go every Wednesday night with Daddy.   You really enjoyed the Fraternus Ranch last summer and are going to go again this summer. 

You play the piano beautifully- you picked it up so quickly.  You are always reading, reading, reading.  You are all into politics and history and government and religion- you can jump right into to our conversations.  You also love sports and keep an eye on teams and recruiting. 

And I think you are adorable.  :)

You are just the best boy.  We love you so much and are so proud of you- thanks for being our Markyboy and leading the pack!  Love, Mommy

She's Eleven!

It's so hard to believe baby girl is eleven.  Julia, you are such a sweet, innocent, playful little girl. 

You are growing up to be such a lovely young lady. 

You are happy-go-lucky and go-with-the-flow- we love that about you!  You are longsuffering with the boys.

You get scared easily, but at the same time you are willing to try new things.  When we went ice skating and roller skating you were willing to try new things with a happy heart.  You are not too self-conscious and therefore you have more fun than some of us!

And you are fearless on your horses- you love going fast and jumping!

You just adore animals.

You always have some little critter in your hand- real or pretend.  You will pick up snakes, snails, frogs, lizards, bugs- here you are holding a preying mantis.  :)

And your whole life you have enjoyed having a little, tiny stuffed animal like a whale or bird or horse in your hands. 

You love little children and babies, especially baby Victoria. 

You always have a book in your hands.  You like to read mainly about animals.  You got money from Aunt Judy and Pawpaw for your birthday and bought Vet Volunteers books with it. 

You love swim team and are great at it.  You are also great at playing the piano- I love to hear you practice.  You remind us all that we need to stop and smell the roses.  You are content and calm and happy right where you are.  Sometimes I feel you get lost in the shuffle because we are all moving so fast, and you prefer a slower pace.  I know you feel misunderstood sometimes, but Sissy please know we all adore you and know you are a gift to our family. 

We love you Sweet girl and are so grateful for your fun, happy, and gentle spirit in our home!

For your birthday our friends Fashionista Holly and her family came up and spent the night.  Holly's daughter H went to horseback riding lessons with you, which you loved.  At horseback riding you got to ride your favorite horse!  When we got home we had a bbq supper, and then we sang happy birthday while you blew out your candles on an Edgar's strawberry cake!!

All you asked for was a Lego set that had an orca whale.  :)  You have carried that orca with you everywhere ever since.  :)

 

You also got this Lego Friends set with a dolphin because Mommy got confused and ordered the wrong thing the first time.  (When it arrived Daddy said, "that's a dolphin- not an orca!")  :)  You loved it though and built it that night!

You got some pink Mad Mattr!

And finally, you received a DVD with Free Willy, Dolphin's Tale and Flipper. 

Happy 11th birthday sweet girl!