Nolan Turns Eleven

Another year around the sun.  Nolan is 11 and every bit the pre-teen but we still get glimpses of his sweet, funny personality when he lets his guard down.  Eleven was a bit of a shock for me as he doesn't have any more birthdays to count on his fingers and only has seven more years at home.  SEVEN.  That will go by in a blink of an eye and I'm not ready.  However, he is, and I guess that is a good thing.  

He is wrapping up his elementary career and moving into middle school in the fall and I see so many changes in him lately.  His interests are shifting and he is starting to want to do more on his own and isn't as interested in all of the fun "little kid" activities that we all used to enjoy together.  It's the next stage in life for him and he's going to be the one to help us learn about and navigate these pre-teen years.

His birthday was on a Friday this year (just like the day he was born) but this year he got to celebrate it at school.  With Covid, he hasn't had the chance to do so since 2nd grade.  However, Eric and I were given strict instructions to stay far away from the school building.  We were not allowed to bring him lunch or look at him so I packed a cookie with the number 11 on it in his lunch box and followed his rules.  After school, he came home to open his gifts and spend time with Darby, Finley and the Shears for some pizza and cake. 

                       

                       

Nolan got new golf clubs and after I wrapped them up, it looked like I had wrapped up a toddler.  It was pretty creepy and comical.  

                       

                      

The day after his birthday, Nolan had his party with his friends at a paintball field in Grove City.  The weather was terrible but the boys didn't seem to mind and had a blast chasing each other around the muddy fields for a couple of hours.  The girls and I sat in the warm car the majority of the time.

                       

Everyone was a muddy mess but their smiles say it all.