Birthday Boy in the House!

Today was my boy's 11th birthday and one of his most memorable to date. Coming off yesterday's fishing trip, I wasn't sure we could meet the bar we already set. Somehow we managed though and it turned out to be a wonderful day for everyone.  

Waking up early from sheer excitement, my boy came in and snuggled me as we watched Matt and Savannah banter during our daily ritual of the Today Show.  It was so nice to spend that time with him since he's growing up so fast.  Daddy got up and made everyone a special pancake breakfast with fresh fruit and cool whip toppings.  

Lauryl was almost more excited than Camden to start the present giving. As much as they pick on each other, she really enjoys a party and making other people happy, so today it was all about Cam!  She bought him a Nerf football he really wanted and I was blessed with a priceless moment between them that typically only happens during birthdays and Christmas.

In the true spirit of Grace, she insisted on giving her brother books.  He was truly excited because he loves learning about anything WWII and that's what the books were about.  I so wish he would have had more time with my Pappy Good because, like a sponge, he absorbed the stories of my pap's days in the service.  I'm sure that's where the seed was first planted and that part of my pap now lives on in Cam.  Dave and I got him an Army hat and Lauryl got him a Blue Angel plane.  My boy love and respects our military and I really admire that in him.

After a break in the gift giving, we decided to take the kids up to the beach to enjoy the growing waves.  As Dave unloaded the surfboards from the car, he handed Cam his next birthday present...his very own surfboard!  The boy could not wipe the smile off his face.  Even with the growing clouds, Camden and Grace were in the water with their boards.  I've got to say, this is the most dedicated I've seen my boy to any sport.  He fought wind and rain, today, to keep surfing.  I finally had to call him out of the water because he looked exhausted.  I've got to admit, I love seeing my boy happy.

We came home from the beach and got cleaned up to go out for a birthday lunch.  We found an all you can eat chinese and sushi buffet.  The food was good and we all found stuff we liked.  Our splurge item was a donut like honey biscuit rolled in sugar.  We don't eat near the sweets we use to so this was a nice treat.

Following lunch, we came home and relaxed.  We played some games and watched t.v. as it poured outside.  Prior to dinner, Cam got to Face Time and Skype with his cousins and Gammy and Pappy.  We had a cool cake and he opened more presents including a brand new micron kite from Gammy and Pappy.  All in all, my boy had a wonderful 11th birthday.  He is growing into an amazing young man and I am so blessed to be his momma.

This year, each of the kids got to celebrate their birthday's in our little camper we call home.  Lauryl had her prom in March, Grace enjoyed her birthday at Rainbow Springs, and Camden got to surf and skype.  It has been an unconventional year full of many blessings and moments we will never forget.  I pray they take these experiences with them always and remember how to live each day as an adventure.