Jesse 18th birthday

We just got back from an amazing week in paradise!  
(.....more to come from the island of Maui)

...............just in time to celebrate 
Jess's 18th birthday today OCT. 21st.

I snapped a quick shot as he walked in from Home Teaching this afternoon.   

He has grown up so much in the last year.  Isn't that what every parent says?  No seriously, he has changed so much and it's passing so quickly!  

Our church just announced that 18 yr. old boys can leave for their missions!  This is a whole year earlier than we had anticipated.  It speeds up his time table just a few months but it still brings it much closer than expected.  

He will need to graduate.  So we do have at least 7-8 more months till he leaves us.  But wow oh wow is it hitting home......

My first baby has grown up.  

We love the person he is and love being around him.  

He is one of the most no fuss kind of kids you could have.  We just have to make sure we have enough food and he's pretty happy.  

Have I mentioned Jack's love for Jess lately?  
He and Jess are pretty close.
Jack idolizes him.  Thinks everything Jess does is pretty cool.
Jack also doesn't hide his affections.

Jesse LOVES his daily ice cream fixes.  
So the order of the day was ice cream and chocolate chip cookies.  

Loved this gift bag.   It had Jess all over it.

Things we love about Jess:

super laid back
he arrives precisely as he planned to arrive (not early, just on time)
good friend
enjoys telling jokes
big BIG bowls of ice cream
low quality LARGE volume food diet
in depth stories usually involving a skateboard trick
the wave in his hair
long long showers
his favorite phrase...."Wwwwhaaat".    (long and drawn out)


This picture captures that phrase.

Happy Birthday JESS!

We love you!!!