From AZ to NY and back again: 12 years and counting!

It was 12 years ago that this little boy came into our lives and made me a mom for the first time. It was seriously one of the best moments, EVER! It truly is difficult to remember this one as a baby since he now towers over me by an inch and keeps growing.

I can still remember the day he was born, the moments that led up to his birth and the many moments after. Every day has been a joy to have this boy in my life and bless me by calling me mom.

This kid never ceases to amaze me with his determination to accomplish anything when he puts his mind to it. For the past year, he decided to give up soda and candy in exchange for $100. He was allowed 2 days during the year to break and have soda and candy. He chose his birthday and the day after Halloween (so he could enjoy his spoils). But when it came down to it, he only used his birthday day to have an IBC rootbeer and the rest of the year he was soda and candy free. Even in church, when his teacher would hand out treats, he would just take the candy and either give it to one of his siblings or tuck it away in his candy box until the year was up.

It was such a rewarding moment to hand him his crisp $100 bill.

So the next question was...what do you spend it on? His IPOD Touch! He saved all his babysitting and birthday money and with the money he earned from his abstinence from candy/soda, he had enough to buy himself an Ipod touch. Something he has been asking for for the past year. Everyone else his age seems to have one, at least that is what he tells us, and so this was such a treat for him to purchase on his own. So one night, after scouts, Cole and I headed to Walmart to purchase the beloved Ipod. It was cute to see how excited he was to pay the gentleman behind the counter his money and acquire this hot little commodity. You can see how happy he is holding his little joy in his hand.

this Ipod went everywhere with him...and I mean everywhere!

He would take it with him to play hockey in the street, just to have it in his pocket. He was so cute. Alas, the happiness only lasted 2 weeks, when I accidentally put it in the washing machine. I thought I was doing him a great favor by taking care of his laundry when he was in the shower, but unfortunately, it was a sad mistake and the beloved ipod took a spin in the washing machine. Despite our efforts to revive it, it was dead, dead, dead. It was a sad day in the Parker Household.

A few weeks later, this boy turned 12 and even though he was crushed about the Ipod, he forfeited part of his birthday party to earn money for a new Ipod.

That didn't stop us from celebrating this cute boy, though!

It started with a favorite breakfast....egg mcmuffins - Yum! (Here he is showing off his cool football bruises...)

A Lunch date with mom at school...In-N-Out. Oh yes, a lunch for a king.

And a family Sunday dinner of Spaghetti and Meatballs, ceasar salad and homemade breadsticks. This kid loves his mom's cooking.

It was fun to have all of my 3 siblings and their families over for dinner and to celebrate this boy turning 12 and receiving the priesthood. Grandpa Dunyon even made a special trip to come and be part of the ordination. It was such a sweet and special moment for me, as a mom, to see what a change he has gone through this past year and to recognize what a special young man he is becoming.