Happy 16th to Peter!

Peter turned 16 today! It was a low key day, and we did not even eat his cake today! Grandad and Mimi brought a cake yesterday, and Whitney brought yummy sugar cookies with icing today; so his black and gold ASU chocolate cake will have to wait until tomorrow evening! He enjoyed opening a few gifts and getting some money for running shoes and his bank account. No wrapping paper with polka dots or zoo animals or farm scenes this year for Peter! And while he is working on his driving, he will have his learner's a little longer. He is also saving for a car like Andrew did!

I remember when he was born. I was talking to a resident, and all of the sudden the nurse jerked an oxygen mask from somewhere and put in on my face when Peter's heart rate decreased. He was born by c-section a little while later while his daddy and his Aunt Whitney, suited up in gowns, watched. Finally, Pete came over to me and told me he was a boy and looked just like Andrew. Well, he had the first part right. I tried and tried to slick down his little hair when he was a baby. How was I to know how beautiful that hair was if I would just leave it alone? I finally figured that out, and today we can spot Peter earlier in the race by his hair rather than the color of his uniform!

Peter was so good for Andrew. He taught Andrew to climb up on the couch. He showed Andrew how to make bigger bubbles in the tub. He made Andrew laugh! They were such great buddies and so close! They are still very close though each has his own interests. But they are always there for each other!

Peter was always such a great little preschool person. He included everyone who wanted to be included in what he did. If they were building something, which he was always doing, he would ask they wanted to help with this part or that. He included everyone and showed great leadership potential. He loved to play in one corner next to the driveway at one rental house with his bulldozer and dump truck. As long as no one touched those two toys while he was playing with them, he was fine. He took up for himself but was not an instigator. If a bigger child tried to take Peter's stuff, he would hang on for dear life and not let go. He was not one to be trampled on. We are excited to see what God has in store for him using these characteristics as he gets older!

Happy Birthday to Peter! We love you so much! And we are so proud of your race Saturday ~ setting a course record! We cannot wait to see you run next week!!!!

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Will turned 14 on September 4, and I missed the blog!!!! Will was born while we lived in Davidson ~ though he was born in Bristol, TN ~ long story! He lived in the living room of a little rental house there and then occupied a small space in our bedroom in an apartment when we moved back to Boone! I remember when we moved into an adorable rental house, and he had his own room. He was almost one, and he started sleeping so much better! And so did we!

Will was always building. He was a tiny baby when Pete started renovating the HP house. Then he worked with his daddy on the new house. He loves to hunt, bike, fish, boat, run, ride on anything, and run heavy duty equipment! Will will be something big!

Will is my number one babysitter for Sam ~ even though he does not love the title. He kept him for me in the mornings this summer while I worked. He took great care of him until he graduated from HP last year. Will is one to get things done - if he wants to!

He is running cross country this fall and has done well - running many PR's. He was sick last week, so we will see how he does Saturday on a fast course.

Happy Late 14th Birthday to Will! We love you and thank you for all you do for us!