Rated PG-13

Hard to believe that it's been 13 years already since this little angel entered our lives! Yes, we are now the proud parents of a teenager. And yes, we've been warned about what happens next! For now, let's focus on the positive...

As far as birthdays go, it is harder each year to really surprise Carter for his birthday. He tends to get what he wants and clearly remembers what he asked for. This year was no different. He wanted a bike and even test-drove a few with me. But that's not what he opened this morning.

We had a yummy butter braid for breakfast and he wanted to open the gift bag on the table. So we let him open some baseball stuff he bought with Dad at Wal-Mart yesterday and then opened his Polito's t-shirt he picked out last night. That was it. He was clearly disappointed but we did not indicate at all that he was getting anything more. Poor kid.

Went to late church since he had to acolyte today. No break for your birthday. Then stopped to pick up the pizza for his party later. His afternoon was blessed with phone calls from aunts, babysitters and the entire middle school basketball team -- girls team, that is. They were apparently out to eat and wanted to give a shout. Yes, there is definitely a teenager in the house.

At one point, we had Carter go to the next-door neighbors for something just so we could get his new bicycle out of from hiding in the Scrap Cave and up into our bedroom on the main floor -- just so it would be easier to access later.

Jim's parents and sister came mid-afternoon, along with our friends Mike and Christine. Had pizza for supper, then it was onto some gifts.

He was wearing his new Polito's t-shirt so at least we know that was a nice gift. When Daddy rolled out the bike, though, he was completely surprised.

And pretty happy about it, too! This is an adult-size bike so the last one we'll be buying for him, anyway.

Didn't take him long to get his shoes on and take if for a test drive. This is his first bike with gears so this will take a bit getting used to. Frankly, it was just too darn cold and windy today for me to stand out there and show him. Another time when it feels more like May!

After the gift opening, he got a phone call from a friend to go batting practice so it didn't take him long to blow out candles (all but one!) and ditch the party. We couldn't blame him, really. There were no kids at our party and there looked to be at least one "teenage" girl playing ball.

I guess we better get used to this!