This is a day late. I sat down to do my blog post like I do every Saturday night but I realized if I didn’t wait I wouldn’t have pictures of this…

Or the before and afters of this monster cake. (Monster Cake = Chocolate cake layer, Peanut Butter cake layer, Chocolate layer. In between those layers was peanut butter buttercream frosting. Slathered all over the outside was a classic coconut pecan German chocolate cake frosting. It was decadent and delicious. It also had LEGO candles because I am a rockstar mom.)

I also wouldn’t have pictures of the presents either…

I told him if he could just muddle through with the books we have (even though he’s read them all multiple times) after his birthday he’d maybe have enough reading material to make it to school starting. He got books 4-8 of a series he loves and Neil is convinced it might make it until the end of this week.
Earlier last week we celebrated on his actual birthday. Corra and Layna were dying to give him their presents first thing which led to early morning LEGO building. After breakfast, he and his dad went to get his learners permit. Then he drove his sisters and me to the library for new books. In the late afternoon we headed up to Raleigh for a trip to the LEGO store, followed by dinner at The Cheesecake Factory. All involved declared the day a rousing success. Including the birthday boy, which is really all that matters.

Corra was shocked when Neil reminded them that on July 27th we celebrate something other than Garyn’s birthday. On his birthday, 15 years ago, I became a mother…so it was also my 15 year mom-iversary. I wasn’t sure what to make of our news that we were having a boy. I helped raise three girls so I must have been expecting a girl. I’m glad he was him and that he came to us. He’s been teaching me new things every single one of these past 15 years…some awesome, some really hard, and some painfully not my thing. Have I mentioned how grateful I am that Neil both understands and loves electronics and math and machines as much as our son? Well…I am very grateful!

I’m pretty sure this sweet faced boy is going to teach me plenty in the next 15 years and I’m so excited.