Austen Turns 15!

Fifteen! It seems like so many years ago but then again it seems like just yesterday that we welcomed our first born into the world. The days were sometimes long as they say but the years now seem short especially once they get a bit older. 

Aside from when he was 4 (his most challenging year), Austen has been a pretty easy kid to raise. Doesn't really get into trouble. Works hard at school and sports and helps out a lot when we need him. Of course as the first born he also gets a lot more privileges than the other two but we also expect a lot more from him than the other two as well. 

So for his 15th birthday he was pretty easy. He said he wanted to go to Top Golf for his bday dinner (which we had to do the night before since he and his sister had practices scheduled on his bday). We've gone to Top Golf every year for his bday the last three years (and his party there when he was 9) but this was probably the coldest night of the year at 8 or 9 degrees. He thoroughly enjoyed himself and his bbque wings. 

On his actual birthday, he opened some presents from us and his extended family and got some really cool gifts that he wanted like customized cleats and workout gear. He loved the Stockpile account where he could invest some money given to him in stocks that he was interested in and have a little autonomy over that with our oversight. (He's really interested in investing/business so he was most thrilled with this gift.) He also got a new soccer ball, golf gloves, some clothes and an electric toothbrush (for when his braces come off in a month or two). 

He requested a special dinner (hot ham and cheese on brioche buns) and a cookie skillet for his bday at home. And, he was thrilled that he had soccer practice that night and proclaimed it the best day ever. What kid likes to go to practice on his bday?! Austen! 

He had a tough practice composed of a lot of fitness tests but was pretty happy with his performance at the top of the team. He came home, ate, showered and watched a Pearl Harbor movie before retiring late to bed (today is a day off of school for him as he prepares for finals). 

So far so good for the first day of year 15!