18 Years

I have so many thoughts and emotions that have been swirling around my head this past month. They could never properly be expressed. But to record just a few:

Where has the time gone?

How did this happen?

How could something so amazing come from my parenting? (extreme inadequacies abound!)

Have I enjoyed him enough?

18 years ago I couldn't wait for May to arrive, this year I've been so anxious to stop time!

Have we taught him enough?

Will I still be part of his life even though he is quiet and independent?

His birthday celebration:

We had to celebrate his birthday on the 28th, because his band, The Narwhales, were picked as one of the bands to play at Cavestock on Friday. That made it a fun day for him. He left for school in the morning and we didn't see him at home again until midnight. We did sneak over to watch his performance. That was fun to see him in action. We'd only heard about him being able to play the bass guitar. He was 100% self-taught and learned on a borrowed instrument.

For his birthday, we sent him on a scavenger hunt to friends' homes for his gifts. They were just a bunch of simple things he'll need for college: stapler, scissors, flash drive, towel etc. The clues were definitions from the dictionary that were similar to his friend's names. (Megan's was the definition of 'mega', Brooklyn's was the definition of 'brook', etc.) So he had to figure out what word it was to figure out who to visit next. I think he had fun. Then when he came home we had Lime Cilantro Shrimp for dinner.

Just a few random tidbits for his birthday post:

When he was 3 years old we were driving down the road and he started say, "1, 3, 5, 7, 9. . . " all the way to 19. I was dumbfounded since I had been working on that with my 1st graders and he had figured it out himself. I said to him, "Cache, you just said your odd numbers!" About a week went by and he came to me and said, "A, C, E, G. . . " saying every other letter. Then he said, "I know my odd letters too!" He's always been a thinker.

He is very creative. Just one photo example--His zucchini boat not only floated but it lit up the night too. There's always an added touch added to make things a little different.

He came home with this Utah-shaped trophy the other day. Pretty cool. (By the way, Cache dressed up in a suit and tie the day he took the ACT, he has learned that you are more successful when you are better dressed.)

This is another reason he has been so successful---he is very organized. It is a true gift---definitely not something he learned from me. This is a to do list from a few years ago--now he types them. In one corner (the furthest) is his list for school assignments, the bottom left is a merit badge to-do list and the bottom right are church/family things that need to be done. (I tried to make it big enough to read a little; don't know how successful I was. . . )

He's been a kid who is not easily influenced by peers. When he has decided what he wants or how to live, friends have had little sway on him. A very good trait (mostly, see below).

He's also VERY conservative financially. He often won't eat when he goes out for treats with his friends because he doesn't want to spend the money. He's also extremely conservative with our money. He doesn't want many things and goes without---without any complaint. Presently he is unwilling to let us pay for a gold cord for graduation. (See point above as to why it wouldn't be unwise for me to spend my $10 on a cord---he's decided he won't wear one.)

He wants little attention. Blending into the woodwork is his preference.

I love you, Cache. You are a great young man! Good luck with all your endeavors!