The Kid Is A Big Fibber



 

Today is The Kid's birthday.  He is 12.  TWELVE!!  Enough about that.  Let's talk about how adorable of a baby he was.  Look at us.  (What happened to me?)  The Kid is not very old in this picture.  He already owned most of my heart.  He could be found in my arms whenever I could steal him away from his Mother. 

 

Here is The Kid on one of our many adventures.  This is Starved Rock.  Look at that cute face.  So young.  Still loving adventures.

Or this one.  Another adventure.  This one to Green Lake, WI.  Grammy and her sweeties took this adventure.  We were on a yacht trip around the lake.  The Kid was loving all the history. 

This adventure was great.  I would do it again!  We went to Niagara Falls.  In this shot The Kid is looking at Lake Erie.  We want to see all the Great Lakes together.  Still have two left.

Here we are at the falls.  I'm holding tight so he does not fall into the water.  (I might be a tiny bit afraid of heights.)  Look at that adorable little face.  Still loving his adventures.

Here he is looking at Lake Ontario.  Same adventure.  Two Great Lakes.  We like to multi-task on our adventures.

This adventure took us to quite a few states.  The Kid is looking at Mount Rushmore here.  We had such an amazing time.  Saw so many places. 

This is a local adventure.  Several years in a row we went to Gebhardt Woods and hiked along the canal.  Easy adventure.  One we all enjoy.  (Did not happen this year.)

This adventure included his Mom, sisters, and cousins, no Popop.  This is our surprise trip down south.  The Kid playing in the Atlantic Ocean. 

Same trip.  The Kid at Fort Tybee.  We have been to a few forts on our adventures.  The Kid and Popop share the love of history.  I go along.

I think this picture was on our last big adventure.  We went to Arkansas and stopped in Branson to see the Titanic Museum.  Big smile on The Kid's face.  He loves the Titanic.

That was our last adventure.  This past summer was spent getting my shop open, watching The Kid grow.  TWELVE.
The Kid is taller than me now.  No surprise.  Not a major deal.  We all saw it coming.  I'll be impressed when he becomes taller than his Mom.  Thrilled if he outgrows his Uncle.  Loving it if he becomes taller than his Popop.  He has the looooong arms like his Popop and Uncle. 
This year The Kid became so handsome.  It takes my breath away. 
It was the year I lost my twin.  No more Friday nights side by side on the chair reading books.  No more Friday nights having The Kid spend the night.  Listening to him talk about whatever his latest obsession is.  Listening to him plan where he wanted our next adventure to be. 
I have always known what to buy him for his birthday.  I mean, he was my twin.  We spent so much time together.  I always knew well in advance what he wanted me to buy him.  Now I rarely see him.  I get to stand on the sidelines watching him live his life.  Running track.  Playing baseball and basketball.  Giving amazing speeches.  He would rather stay home with his electronic devices than hang with Grammy at the shop.  The Kid is 12.  He is out there living his life.  Too busy to hang with a Grammy.  Does it make me sad?  No.  I want him out there having a great time.  Do I miss him?  Like crazy.  Friday nights are not the same.  Sure I can have a little girl on my lap.  Not a twin.  Now The Kid has his adventures with his friends.  That is how it should be.  Does not change the fact that promises were broken.  The Kid promised to stay 4.  He promised he would stay 6.  Now he is 12.  Sounds old.  He is growing up too fast.  Hope we can get a few more adventures out of him!
Happy Birthday Kid!  Love You More!!  (Slow down!)