Ben, despite his reluctance is growing up before our eyes.  We celebrated his 16th birthday last month.  He is a special young man, and is being a wonderful example to his friends and little brothers.  He still likes to be with them downstairs or in their rooms, playing with and making up games, and imaginary play.  I worried that as he started high school, that he wouldn't want to do that anymore, finding more grown up activities to occupy his time, which he has, but he still likes to be a little kids too sometimes.

 This is Hannah Jacobs, who is an exchange student from The Netherlands that is living with us for the school year.  The first family she was living with wasn't working out, and the school councilor was trying to find another home for her.  They asked us if we would be interested, and after about 4 days of thinking about it, decided to have her in our home and be apart of our family.  Also Bret was excited to have someone to speak Dutch too.  She's a Junior, and is a very sweet girl.  Amber couldn't be more excited to have a younger sister even if it's just for a little while.

 This is proof that Ben isn't willing to grow up to fast.  One of his favorite presents was a shark piggy bank. 

 But his feet have grown faster than the rest of him.  He wears an 11 now, and his new hunting boots, I thought looked ridiculously huge on him!

 Keaton had to try them on too.  Following in his brothers footsteps so to speak.

 The 16 year old and his cake.  Waiting while we sung the birthday song, and not very well I might add.

 Moving forward a month, Ben got his drivers license last week, so he could take his date to the homecoming dance last night.  I must say I was more than a bit nervous for him, but excited at the same time.  This is before he left to pick up Nichole, and her friend Marisa, and her date Nick.

 This was Nichole's first date as well. I could really tell she was very nervous.  She was so funny. I asked Ben if after picking up the others, he would come back to the house so I could get some pictures.  So we kind of re-staged everything so I wouldn't miss out on anything.  It's really different being the mother of the boy!

 They probably thought it was lame, but I don't care!

 It's my prerogative!

The whole group before they left for the dance!