Hellooooo!! I am still alive, yes. WHEW these last few weeks though!!! I’ve been kind of “drowning in fun”, if that were a thing. hahaha.
Between vacation prep, THE CRUISE(!!!!), then going immediately into 4th of July festivities (got home from vacay on 7/1 and then turned around on 7/3 to be away overnight in Milwaukee for a couple days), then my sister + family + parents all staying with us for 4 nights until yesterday, I kind of don’t know what day it is or what I’m doing!! It has been a total whirlwind of good stuff– primarily soaking up lots of time with my adorable nieces and nephew. But, it has not left much time for “other stuff” like blogging or pretty much anything else! 🙂
However, I lied- I actually DO know what day it is: It is July 12, which is Ethan’s 15th Birthday!!!!!!!!!
I am about to head out to pick him up from his strength training class and head directly to the DMV to get his learner’s driving permit (aka his “temps”). LORD help me. He is so.excited.he.cannot.stand.it. Haha. I have been thinking about this for a while now, so I have grown slightly more “comfortable” with the idea than I was a few months ago. Key word being “slightly”. 😬
I’m excited to celebrate him today, though. All he really wants for his birthday is to spend some time DRIVING AROUND today, lol. I kept Ivan’s car today and he took my van to work today so that Ethan and I can find a quiet place to do an immediate driving lesson after our DMV stop. (The plan is for Ivan’s car to become Ethan’s car next year. Also, side note- I just bought a brand new van this past weekend, so there is basically no way in heck Ethan is driving that for his first time out on the roads. 😂😂😂 Besides, it’s way easier to drive a 4 door sedan vs. a big minivan.)
Cheers to 15!! This kid is something special. ❤❤
Be back hopefully tomorrow (or soon) with a proper update of what else has been happening around here!! 🙂
Daily Gratitude:
I am grateful for 15 years of Ethan! So cliche, I know, but time really is just going too fast. I can’t really fathom how it’s possible that I have a 15 year old.
GRATEFUL KAE 
Happy Birthday to Ethan!! I hope the driver’s test goes well? I assume he has to take a written exam? That is how it works here in Minnesota. I hope he has a great day. I feel like Phil will for sure be teaching our kids to drive. Although I do seem to have more patience than he does for kids? He is by far the more patient person but he was not around young kids much so he’s not “conditioned” for their crazy antics like I am with all my nephews/nieces and younger cousins, etc. But by the time the boys are 15, the vibe in the house will be different and I *think* he’ll be better at teaching them to drive.
You have had a really really really busy stretch. Hopefully you have a quiet period ahead? I haven’t been as busy as you, but this week has been weird. On Monday, I found out I have to go to St. Louis for a meeting on Thursday and then I’m in the Bay Area next week Mon-Thur and then we go to the lake the following Monday and then my new hire starts around that time (hopefully? Need the background check to come back quickly in order for them to start before my Banff trip in August). I feel like I have a lot of balls in the air right now and look forward to a quieter period, if such a thing exists?
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So exciting! Happy Birthday to Ethan and what a huge life milestone. In retrospect, getting a driver’s license is…huge. I didn’t realize it was such a big deal at the time, but I know some adults that can’t drive and – wow. It provides so much freedom and independence which I largely take for granted. Go Ethan! We recently got a new (to us – it’s a 2018) SUV and I joked with my husband that our daughter could end up using it to learn to drive and that was met with a very firm “No!” Hopefully our 2011 Hyundai sedan will still be kicking in 3.5 years when she gets her license!!
What a busy stretch for you. I hope you get a breather, but it all sounds very fun and festive and so much great family time!
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Happy birthday to Ethan! What an exciting age and stage of life!
What a busy period for you! Like you things seem out of control hectic lately, but it’s all good things so I feel guilty for being stressed. I am grateful, I just wish things would slow down a little! I hope you have some lulls in all the nonstop excitement ahead of you. It’s just nice to have time to process and breathe.
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Happy birthday to Ethan! You’re going to have another driver in the house! How exciting and hopefully convenient for you!
I didn’t get my license until I was almost 18 and I HAD to get it if I wanted a car when I was in college. I think it’s funny when kids are excited to get their licenses because I thought it was So Stressful and So Scary and didn’t want to drive!
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I knew you are having fun, hahaha… same here. it feels summer to be busy with fun and not having to “worried” about blogging. happy birthday to Ethan, 15 sounds like a big number. driving around sounds fun, really adult thing to do.
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Oh wow, you really are drowning in fun! Happy Birthday to Ethan- that’s exciting. And terrifying, of course. Driving with a teenager is not my favorite- they tend to be, er, unpredictable. Do you have a sign for your car?
When my son was learning, I had a magnetic sign for the back of the car that said “Please be patient, student driver.” Maybe it’s not bad where you are, but the drivers around here are really aggressive. I didn’t want people honking at him all the time. Anyway I hope it all goes well!
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Happy birthday! Fifteen is a very fun age – and driving, yay! The first little while is unnerving (LANE CHANGES) but now I’m at the point where I’d rather my kids drive and I just kick back in the passenger seat!
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Wow, happy birthday to Ethan! I know I am going to sound like an old lady here, but…15 seems so young!! I remember the joy of first getting my license though and I know he is a responsible young man and will do great. I actually drove my parents minivan from time to time when I first started driving (manual transmission Dodge Voyager) and was happy to have any way to get around, but a sedan is definitely easier at first. I hope that you can get some time to breathe soon!
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Happy birthday, Ethan! He’s growing up before our eyes!
It does sound like you had a few busy, but exciting weeks. So much time with family. I love it.
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