Happy Birthday to my Teenager

Today this boy becomes a teenager. 13. I've already seen signs of him growing up. Things inching in but today it is official. He is getting taller and yes, he can eat. We celebrated his birthday at Animal Kingdom and it was fun! Can I just say how much I adore this boy?

13 things I love about him to celebrate the big 13:

1) Allan is such a good brother. He adores his sisters and is so good an looking out for them. There have been many, many, many times he has helped with them when I am in a pinch.

2) Allan is a good babysitter. I'm so thankful for that!

3) Allan is a good baker. We love watching Chopped together and seeing how creative and skilled those chefs are.

4) He listens to my counsel. I love that he does come to me and we can really talk.

5) He has his priorities set. Duty to God first and Scouts second. He is doing great in both.

6) He's thankful for the good meals I cook. Allan is usually one of the first kids to thank me for the good food.

7) Allan gets into football and other sports. He loves to watch them with Jacob and will get his work done quickly so he can join him.

8) He is a content child. It was difficult shopping for him this year because he doesn't really want a lot. I love that he does take good care of what he does have.

9) Allan is a hard worker. He mows our lawn like nobody's business and sweats like crazy but willingly does it.

10) He is a smart kid! Allan does well in school and he will figure out what he has to do to do well. He uses his time wisely and does a lot of his homework on the bus and at lunch time. (He does sometimes procastinate and that drives me crazy.)

11) He is a generous and unselfish kid! He took his birthday money and bought Christmas presents for everyone in the family. Has he bought anything for himself? No.

12) He is fun to talk to. I have so much fun talking with Allan at the end of the day because he shares humorous things that happen in Junior High.

13) Allan LOVES to read and is pretty quick. He is always having me get books from the library for him.