The Day You Turned 14

Gosh, we have been doing these birthday blog posts for a WHILE now. I started this blog about a month before Calen’s 3rd birthday. Which means, this blog has been active (more or less, there are some missing chunks in there where I abandoned it for a few years) for THIRTEEN YEARS. And as much as I hate to do it some days, I’m so thankful to look back into these little windows of my life. Especially when they were little.

Today is Camden’s 14th birthday. Fourteen. FOURTEEN-UHHHH!!!

Can you effing believe it because I can’t.

I feel like birthdays were so much more exciting when we lived in the Lower 48, because it was. We always went out to dinner of their choice, and then had a family fun day adventure, like mini golf or a baseball game or something. But there’s certainly no such entertainment at our doorstep here on this island in the middle of the Bering Sea. So, we make it as fun and exciting as we can, even though there isn’t much to do.

Birthday breakfast has been the one tradition that hasn’t changed over the course of the last fourteen years - Dad’s pancakes! I have no shame: I suck at making pancakes. I know how to make them, but they never turn out round, or unlumpy, or weird. The kids never say anything, but we all know Dad makes better pancakes. No hate. I’ll just sit and drink my coffee in peace. Cam requested chocolate chips in his pancakes this year. And then of course traditional whipped cream, sprinkles, and number candles. The best way to start your birthday.

After that, Cam was in charge of the day. And much as I predicted he would, he elected to play video games all. Day. Long. Fine by me, that’s easy entertainment, and let’s face it, I’m EXHAUSTED after Cake Day yesterday. So I just hung out while he and Calen gamed all morning.

Cam’s lunch of choice was Tostitos pizza bites in the air fryer to go with the snack board of his snacks of choice - Nerds gummy clusters, Whopper eggs (since Easter was two days ago), red vines, and Sweet/Spicy Doritos, with Orange Crush to drink. Easy, easy, easy.

Brad came home for lunch hour, which means it was time for the scavenger hunt for presents! The last couple years we’ve done as many clues (and presents) as their age, since we aren’t spending that money on fun events or doing out to eat. So, 14 (smaller) gifts for the 14 year old! To go with his cake and current enthusiasm for Dungeons and Dragons, we made the hunt/clues DND themed. Gifts included a lot of DND figures (many that I had painted over the last couple months), two new video games, two video game controllers, a new shirt, and some dinosaur figures that he collects.

Then, back to video games! I didn’t mind because by that point I was so tired I just wanted to lay on my bed and watch true crime (and so I did). His best friend Gibson came over for a bit too to join in the fun.

Dinner of choice was the same as Calen’s - spam masubi, made by dad. It’s a labor of love, and it takes a long time to make, but it’s soooo worth it. With dinner we watched Camden’s all time favorite movie - Wall-E. And how fitting is it that the Earth Day Birthday boy, who wants to be a garbage man when he grows up, loves nothing more than a Disney movie about a trash compacting robot that saves the earth? I love it.

Gibson came back over for cake and ice cream, and then they played Roblox until bed while I walked a quick 2.5 miles around the neighborhood to round off my daily 5 mile goal.

Yes, I was so busy today, I clocked 2.5 miles worth of steps before even trying.

As for Cam, I think he had a great day. He said it was “the best birthday ever.” That’s all I wanted to hear.

Day 310: Hockey Saturdays

 It was freakishly cold this morning. 

With the wind chill, it was a balmy 18 degrees. 

I found Camden outside, hanging out on the back deck. Upon asking "what in the world are you doing out there in the cold?!" to which Camden said:

"It feels AMAZING out here. It's too hot in the house and I was ROASTING."

If he isn't a true hockey player, I don't know what is. 

Day 309: A Lovely Cheese Pizza Just For Me

 We declared tonight Home Alone night!

Luckily the boys still fit in their Home Alone shirts from last year, and, paired with new pajama pants, made for "newish" Christmas pajamas for the occassion. 

Calen had a moment and launched himself off the couch as soon as the scene from his shirt came up. 

Day 308: Sliding Into Thursday

 It was cold today. 

Finally, because usually by now we have snow on the ground or something, and it's been unseasonably warm as of late. 

For biology today we were talking about photosynthesis and today's "lab" was to go outside and find a leaf on a tree in the sunshine. 

This of course caused an impromptu "ice skating session" on the sidewalk. 

That was the excitement of the day, but at least it got us out of the house for a moment. 

Day 307: Dinner at 3:45pm

 Mondays and Wednesdays are suddenly absolutely ridiculous. 

Swim team for Calen is from 5:15 until 6:30.

Hockey for Camden is from 6:30 to 8. 

I mean, it's outrageous. 

My mom sent the boys a Subway gift card in their Halloween card, and we cashed in today!

So, we declared dinner at 3:45pm for both boys today, before we ran an errand or two before dropping the kids off at all their practices. 

Footlongs are the best for such nights. Half a sub now, half a sub after. 

Day 306: You Can't Take Him Anywhere

 Before hockey practice tonight, Cam and I stepped into Walmart to grab a few more boxes of red lights, because you can never have enough Christmas lights, you know. Cam didn't really want to go in, but reluctantly agreed. 

And good thing he did, because he spent the next twenty minutes showing me literally every single Christmas decoration and how we need this, no we really really need this. And pretty soon it was me dragging him along, telling him it was time to go. 

When you take a young Griswold into Walmart, can you expect anything less?

Day 305: A Boy Called Christmas

 I'm on borrowed time and I know this. 

The boys are still delighted (or at least pretend to be) that I read a chapter of a story of some sort most nights. Obviously earlier in the fall we finished the extensive 7-book Harry Potter series, and I kind of thought that was that, to be honest. 

But, as the Christmas season has come around and the amount of chapter books available for the young adults is neverending, I thought maybe I could convince them to read another. 

And they were, surprisingly, very enthusiastic about it. 

So this evening we put on Christmas pajamas, sat around the tree and started a new book: A Boy Called Christmas. 

This is one of my favorite newer Christmas movies on Netflix, and the book, so far, is just as good, and the boys are loving it. 

Borrowed time, I'm telling you. I'm appreciating every moment. 

Day 304: A New Generation of Griswolds

 Today was all about the outside of the house. Brad employed the boys, thus officially training a new generation of Griswolds. It was freezing cold, the wind was blowing, and it rained here and there, but that's all part of the experience. 

Builds character, and all that. 

After that, it was time for Sunday family night, which, since the kids were too exhausted to play a board game, we made Grinch pancakes and rice krispie treat trees instead, and watched The Grinch (Jim Carrey version). 

Totally counts as family night. And to all a goodnight!

Day 303: Decking The Halls and Short People Jobs

 Cam had the early morning game today, which is good, because it left the entire day to do other things. Important things. Like, decorating Christmas trees. 

Yes, it's that most cherished day when the Christmas tree is chopped down from it's hanging place in the garage rafters, put in it's designated corner, and ceremoniously plugged in (because it's prelit, of course). 

For the last couple of years I've relented my OCD tendencies with the tree (well, relented by about 80%) and (after putting up my five or six favorite ornaments in very specific places), have let the kids have at it, decorating the tree on their own while I may or may not come from behind them and rearrange and "fix" various holes, while Brad sat on his chair and supervised. 

This year, since Calen is officially 5'7" (last we measured), I had him do a lot of the higher parts of the tree, announcing that it was a "tall person job" and for once, not needing to bring out the step stool. 

Camden, clearly offended at his being NOT tall, asked if there were any "short person jobs" for him to do. 

As a matter of fact, yes there are. 

So, Cam was in charge crawling under the tree and fixing the tree skirt, and then climbing out to the corner where none of us can reach and filling the back of the tree with ornaments. He was delighted, and I'm glad I could conjure up a short person's job. 

I know I'm biased, but I really, really love my tree. 

But does your tree have a Disney monorail going around it??

Of course to celebrate we had to have hot chocolate, put on their new Christmas robes and watch Polar Express!

Day 302: Date Night

 I give Brad one official military fancy function a year. 

Only one. 

Not because I don't want to go out and do something with him, because I do, but I really despise dog and pony shows of military to dos. 

But, tonight was the one, and honestly, one a year is fun. And, prime rib dinner was $25. Come on. 

So, Brad and I dressed up to the Nines and left the kids with a frozen pizza and the Nintendo Switch and went to base for the semi-annual Chiefs Call To Initiation graduation dinner. We sat with friends, had a great meal and some laughs, and then promptly went home at 9pm (with the party still going) to put on pajamas and watch a Christmas movie together. 

I'm glad we agree on basically everything. 

Also, I really like a guy in uniform.