Deevs Is 17!!!!

In all the chaos of the nuptials, Deevs' 17th birthday may SEEM like it got lost in the shuffle, but it didn't. He had a party at our house when we got back from Virginia in between the wedding and the California Reception.

He had a bunch of friends over. We were going to use a projector to show a movie in the backyard, but it didn't work out, so Deevs & Tyler came up with a game to play. They wrote names on name tags to put on peoples' backs and they would have to guess who they were. It was HILARIOUS the names they chose. They picked Ghengis Kahn and Kurt Vonnegut (how many 16 year olds know who they are??). They even picked one of the girl's moms. Then, until waiting until they had a group, they made it more of an Individual thing with each guest getting their sticker upon entering and having to work at it in front of the whole group until they got it. I just butted out and let them run it. Hysterical!

After making it through the gauntlet, they ate pizza and roasted marshmallows

and hung out,

played Monopoly Deal (a card game that is QUITE the rage in their friend group),
ate candy,

enjoyed older & newer friendships

wrestled,

then a bunch of the guys spent the night.

It seemed like a fun night over all.

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Seventeen. Seventeen! Seventeen????

Can our little Bub Bear really be old enough to not only drive himself but now drive others??? (California driving law doesn't let teens drive anyone else for the first YEAR!) He is tall and handsome, funny and spazzy, smart and diligent. He has a tender heart. He is learning a lot about himself and stretching out of his comfort zone. It is so bittersweet to watch. He is growing into such a fine young man (I know that sounds like a stereotype, but it he is the epitome of that!... he is who that saying was created for!). And yet... and yet... he is growing up a little too fast for his mommy.

He was SUCH a snuggler... and now he is not so into that... from me (ahem!). His little furrowed, worried brow... we do not see that as often any more. Speaking of "seeing any more" - we see little of HIM any more! Now that he drives, he is just off and about. He has great friend and makes wise choices, but we MISS him. He is SOOOOO eager to leave Cali for college in another state. He can hardly WAIT to move out and leave us.

Oh Deevs, don't rush it... it goes way to fast any way. (Anyone remember the 80's lyrics "Hold on to sixteen as long as you can, changes come around real soon make us women and men"?). You are our little Bub Bear and you always will be. Don't hustle out of here too quick... and as you DO leave the nest and stretch your wings (which we are PROUD of and WANT you to do), just don't be in a super rush to close the door on THIS part of your life, you silly goose!

Sheesh!