taking his birthday to new heights

Something happened today.

I was thinking about celebrating this little guy.

october 8, 2009 ~ his third birthday but first at home with us

And then realized just how not so little he is today.

Okay, I guess the height thing has been a while in coming, after all he's been bragging that he's taller than me for weeks now.  But it was just today, on his 14th that we paused to stand back to back. I don't know about taller, but he has caught me.  We took several pictures, some made it look like he had the edge, others that I was still in the lead.  Then Ian settled the matter by getting out the level.  That bubble lined up dead even, so there's that...

Caleb's birthday was also our second M8 "kid quarantine birthday."  We're having to flex our creativity muscles to find fun, unique ways to celebrate each of our kids.  

Balloons covering the floor of your "classroom" are fun.

Right?

Thankfully he seemed to think so. 

Blowing up 120 balloons may have taken a bit longer than we anticipated.  But the look on his face when he walked into the living room, the impromptu "bunting balloon" baseball game during recess time and the balloon drawings totally was worth the effort.

More specific, this kid and his smile are totally worth the effort!  

Which would be why I experimented with individual lava cakes.

As it turns out, apparently my oven runs a bit hotter than the Pioneer Woman's oven.  12 minutes got us a dense, fudgy center but not true lava cakes.

Luckily he was too busy changing his candles to read 41 instead of 14 and licking the homemade ice cream off the edge of his plate to complain.  

he may be bigger, but he's still the same "cake licker" kid at heart...

october 15, 2009, celebrating his third again at grandma's

Not that he would anyway.  Food ~ and the heart that goes behind making it ~ has been and remains the way to this kid's heart.  I accidentally overlooked the noodles for his requested Pad See Ew and he smiled and said they tasted delicious.  He had a fudge center to his cake rather than "molten lava" and commented that it was like what he remembered from Sweet Tomatoes where he was first introduced to lava cakes.  

If only we could all be so forgiving...

In addition to needing to think creatively about ways to celebrate Caleb, we also had to get creative in gifts.  He's just a content kid and didn't have much to offer in ways of suggestions.  (others of the kids start listing off what they want for their next birthday within a week of the big day...not this one).

So we had to take some clues. 

He's gone through about five pairs of earbuds, always complaining that they hurt his ears.

Wireless, noise cancelling headphones for the win.

He tested to see what "water resistant" means by wearing his watch while swimming one day at Mom's and found out it doesn't mean the same as "waterproof."  Later he took apart said watch to see what was inside, but still wore it even though the face was blank.  

New, cool, sporty watch on a para-cord band for the second win.

And have I mentioned that the way to this kids heart is carbs?

Box three with all the types of shrimp crackers Grand Asia had to offer and a Reese's variety pack for the third ~ and perhaps favorite ~ win.

So here we are at 14.  Covid surfer hair, crazy tall and the funniest of the bunch.

Caleb LuTao,

Where are the years going?  Not so long ago you were my tiny little guy and in a waytoshort for me time I'm going to be looking up at you.  Thankfully while your height and age continue to creep up on me, your personality remains much the same.  Our family can always count on you to lighten a situation and bring smiles and laughter.  And while you often come across as aloof, with encouragement you still give the best hugs...thankfully not the tree frog hug you were once famous for ~ I think we'd both end up on the floor if you tried that one again.  Your heart is pure gold and even though we can count on you to tell us everything is boring, I appreciate your willingness to go along with the flow, part of the territory that comes with being part of a big family.  Your natural curiosity often comes close to killing the cat, but thankfully your common sense has always stepped in.  While it sometimes appears you aren't listening, I'm often humbled by your insight during our family devotion times.  And more and more frequently Daddy and I find ourselves being complimented on what a kind, caring and responsible young man you are becoming.  Thanks for making us look good.

I love you more than perfect rice noodles in pad see ew and molten centers in lava cake!

Mama