Happy birthday, Kael!

Happy birthday, Kael! 14! Gosh I just love this kid. 

We had a busy week leading up to a busy day today and Kael was so awesome and patient about waiting to truly celebrate until this evening! We were split up in all different directions today (volleyball tournament, soccer game, coaches meeting...) and I didn't even get to see Kael all day until 2:00! Thankfully Kent was able to spend the morning with him and he got to go out for lunch with my parents too and had lots of phone calls and texts from family and friends!

He's growing up so much. He really appreciated the card Kylee spent a lot of time making for him.

And he actually laughed out loud, for a long time, at the pizza card I got him. I love his sense of humor.

He's catching me, isn't he?!

So, so strong.

We had a great time watching his soccer game today! I was afraid I might miss it if Kylee's volleyball tournament ran long but they got done in enough time and we were all able to watch Kael and his team win this afternoon!

Here are a few of my favorite photos and thoughts on Kael from the last year. 

He really enjoyed our cruise vacation and especially enjoyed the freedom we let him have there. He was very respectful and very very thankful to us for letting him stay out late at the Teen's Club! Kael is the most thankful kid, ever.  He says thank you for everything, always.

Kael's sense of humor is one of my favorite things about him.  He's always up for a cheesy photo and still appreciates (rolls his eyes at) a good pun.

Kael and Kent are pretty good buddies.  As Kael continues to grow up I see a lot of Kent in him.  Their shared interest in sports, music and movies have had them spending a lot of time together lately!

Kael had so much fun at the Vikings game with Kent this year.  I love how much Kael knows about sports, athletes and sports stats. His memory continues to amaze me!

Seeing Kael dressed up just takes my breath away.  His daily outfit choice would be shorts and a t-shirt, but lately I've noticed him complaining less when I ask him to dress up.  He had a few concerts and events this year where he needed to get dressed up and he looks so handsome!

There can't have ever been another kid who complained less about an injury.  Kael never mentioned being annoyed about having a cast, or sad/disappointed/hurt when it happened.  He just took it all in stride and handled it so well.

Kael loves family time.  Spending time with relatives is really important to Kael and he equally loves having family come to events of his.  We're so lucky that so many people can make it to his sporting games, but also to special events like the Veteran's Day breakfast at school.  So many people just love Kael and I'm thankful they are willing to take the time to spend with him!

Kael is really growing up.  You guys, watching him play on our home football field last fall- the same field our high school team plays on and watching him get in on some tackles and call for the huddle- I was just so happy for him and really proud of him.

Kael is the first to admit that he enjoys football practice and he loves being part of the team but games aren't his favorite.  He's not super competitive and just loves the game of football itself.  At the same time, it means so much to him that his family is all there to watch him and he's so appreciative of everyone who comes out to support him. By chance we ended up at the same restaurant as some of his buddies after the game last night and he joined them instead of sitting with us and I could tell he felt like a million bucks being part of the group.

Fast forward to this spring and Kent and I had gone for a walk and told the boys they could go out and shoot baskets.  When Kent and I got home, I walked around the corner and immediately wondered who was at our house.  From a distance it looked like adult men but as we got closer, I realized Kase had gone in the back to play, and the adult men shooting in our driveway turned out to be Kael and his buddies.  I can't believe how much Kael has matured and has really started looking older.  He likes to measure himself back to back against anyone he think he may be *nearly* as tall as! He's hoping to catch and pass Grandpa Keith soon.

Kael really wants to pay for his own things. He likes having his own money and wants to get a job soon. I often send money with him to track meets so he can buy himself a Gatorade between races but every time he tells me, "Mom, it's fine- I have my own money I can spend!" Earlier this year he and a friend were walking home from school and Kael stopped at Smoothie King and quickly texted me asking if it was ok if he bought a smoothie for his friend too, since his friend hadn't bought any money.  He's such a thoughtful kid and would literally give you the shirt off his back.  On vacation one day I was chilly and had only a light jacket on- Kael took his own jacket off and insisted I wear it over my own while he wore only a t-shirt. It's things like this that make me so proud of the young man he's becoming.  Kent and I often say how we only have a few short years left with Kael in the house and we really want to make the most of those years.  We truly enjoy spending time with Kael and the teenage years continue to be more fun than they are challenging.  He's a great big brother- offering to carry Kase anytime we have a long ways to walk and occasionally he even carries Kylee.  He's proud of how strong he is getting and is enjoying lifting weights both at school and at the gym.

I truly feel lucky to be Kael's mom.  He's such a joy to be around.

What a special birthday- 14 years old! We will soon have another driver in the house! Kael has been out practicing a few times with Grandpa Keith.  I have no doubt in my mind that Kael will be a safe, responsible driver. 

We plan to head out for dinner soon and Kael doesn't want to make a big deal of his birthday.  He doesn't want to have anyone sing to him at a restaurant, and he doesn't really want a cake (but I did get him a mini chocolate chip cookie cake that I hope he loves). I can't wait to spend the rest of the night celebrating the awesome kid that he is!