This boy.

My oldest-paving the path, all-American {boy}.

He's creative beyond the scope of my imagination. 

He can fix pretty much ANYthing.

He's innovative.

His heart still begs for answers to questions I can't even begin to describe.

He understands from a 'big picture' view that is for me, both refreshing and a great reminder.

He can't be bothered with letter sounds and names because he's simply too busy learning about how cooling lava builds new land and why Americans stormed the beach in Normandy.

He loves planes, trains, and automobiles....and tanks.

He has a difficult time catching a baseball but give him a staple gun or drill and now- there's a tool he can use.

They say you never really understand yourself until you have a kid just like you.  I don't know whose advice that is but as I'm getting deeper into this parenting role, I find that maybe it's a little true.  Ryan is nothing like me.  He's a spitting image of my amazing husband.  I have the most difficult time 'teaching' him because he is absolutely, hands-down, nothing like me. 

Ryan is intelligent.  He's bright.  He's inquisitive and he'll do amazing things.  Sometimes I forget that when we've read the word 'them' for the umpteenMILLIONth time and it's still not sinking in.  "Everyone's different" he'll often remind me and it's so darn true.  So.darn.true.

Cheers to different.

Cheers to bright futures.

Cheers to kids who teach their parents 'stuff'

Cheers to parents who don't give up.

...and what's weighing on my heart today...

Cheers to those who are raising amazing kids.  Cheers to those who are cheering one another on because if there's one thing I've learned on this parenting path, it's that we all need a little more{cheer}.