Happy Birthday Leo!

1.  Last night the boys had eaten early and Ernie and I were trying out a new recipe (even mostly following the directions!) when the phone rang.  It was our friend Matt saying that he and Beth were on the way to Fries and Peanuts and wondered if we were free.  We looked at each and threw the food back into refrigerator!  We adore Matt and Beth and don't see them as much as we would like....now that our kids are getting older we just may be able to once in awhile.  We had probably one too many drinks and laughed incredibly hard.  Thanks guys.

We got home and found that Leo had already gone up to bed as he was trying to make the last evening of being 11 go by quickly.  Owen was industriously wrapping the other presents.  He made tags as well.  The biggest present said, "this is yours.  sincerely, Owen."  Two of the others said, "from Mom and Dad, for Leo" and "Here you go.  sincerely,  Mom and Dad" respectively.  He snuck in on the other one that we were giving Leo as well as the tag read, "from us."  He tied the whole stack up in ribbon and even decorated the scissors (complete with a tag that said "for opening") so that Leo could cut them free.  He was so happy looking at them all that he was beside himself.

I felt Ernie stirring and starting to get up while it was still dark out this morning and I cursed him as I knew the boys would soon follow.  Oh well.  He went down and started coffee while I gave my 12 year old more hugs and kisses than he probably wanted.  Owen raced downstairs to turn on lights and ready everything and we assembled for the present opening.  Leo was VERY happy....we got a "sweet" for the first three presents and an "awesome" for the last.  He even.....hugged......his brother and thanked all of us.

Later, after the birthday biscuit, he came and found me and gave me the sweetest smile and said, "thanks for getting me all those things" and kissed me.  That boy just glows when he's happy and he makes my heart almost hurt.  I'm so proud of him, of his strong sense of self, his quick mind and his sweetness.  ....and the smiles and big brown eyes don't hurt either.....

Happy Birthday Leo.