Fifteen?!?

On May 17th, the teenager turned 15. Fifteen?!? How is that possible?




Each year we have brought him to the zoo on his birthday and taken his picture here.




Here's one with the siblings (except the little man...who was too busy running around like a crazy man)




This has always been a family event but...all good things must change with time. This year, he brought his girlfriend.

Aren't they cute?

After the zoo, we came back home and BBQ'd (at the birthday teen's request) and then had a backyard bonfire and roasted marshmallows.

The highlight of the day for this mother? Seeing him smile...a lot. Those smiles are few and far between now-a-days so that made the concession worth it. I am slowly learning to let go...and realizing that maybe someday, all of my children will be bringing new people to be a part of our family traditions...learning to embrace this and welcome them if they make my kids happy. That is, after all, what is all about, right?