Tyce's 15th Birthday

July 3rd was Tyce's birthday! How does it feel to be 15? I have a whole journal devoted to that year, which I will spare you from reading. I wish I had said more about my deep feelings regarding spirituality and life goals, let's put it that way. I wrote so much fluff it's like reading an episode of the Suite Life of Zack and Cody. When I asked him how he feels, Tyce says, "like just another year gone by. No change." Perhaps he is more mature than I was at that age.

Cousin Ben and Aunt Heather visited that week. The day before Tyce's birthday he, Bryce, Ben, Heather, Mary, and Spencer Shapiro went to Skyzone, an indoor trampoline park. They had a blast! Tyce says he liked jumping from the trampolines into the foam pit. It must have been quite the workout because the next day everybody was sore.

In the sea of foam.

The next day was Sunday, his birthday. After church Tyce invited our friends, the Osbornes, to our family party. This family--well, there aren't words to explain how special they are to us. They are angels in our lives, doing things for our children that no one else can. I will write more on that later, but suffice it to say that they are in tune with our kids' needs and rise up, over and over, to really be there for them. Besides that, they are the most fun family you will ever meet, and even the most normal chat with them feels like a little party. So when Tyce invited them over, it was really no surprise that they brought 10 people with them, and came bearing a Texas sheet cake!

The original ice cream cakes. Transformers partyware!

He lit his own candles, of course.

The Osbornes knew just what a 15-year-old boy would like--illegal fireworks!

There was Brother Osborne, son-in-law Tom, Tom's 11-year-old daughter Tayana, Sister Osborne, and friends Tasha with her boyfriend from USU.

Also Ceara (Mary's special friend) and Natalia, who they met on a cruise ship and now lives with the Osbornes. There was also Ceara's husband Kirk and the Osbornes' grandson, Cash.

Heather got him bacon-cheddar popcorn! He also got a lot of cash from family for YASE--he worked hard to earn the money and this helped put him over the top. He loved YASE and was thrilled to be able to go.

After the cake and presents, we moved on to the next event...the toilet paper game! Tyce and Kirk faced off.

Tyce won by a hair, proving that experience counts for a lot in this game.

After several rounds we had a good pile of TP to play with!

Cash and the other kids loved tossing and throwing the toilet paper onto the ceiling fan.

Check out that mess!

Then Tyce and Brother Osborne stuffed their shirts.

In all his shirt-stuffed glory!

Tyce says that his birthday was "church-y, fun, and full of toilet paper." Sounds like a pretty good day to me!

Later he got a special present from a special girl in Colorado, which was basically the coolest gift in the world--a Denver Broncos jersey (his favorite team), with the number 15 (his age) and the name "Fresh Swag" on the back (his nickname). That was an awesome present! Tyce sure is lucky to have an amazing friend like Lauren--she's a super sweet girl who encourages him to do--and be--his best.

Tyce, we love you so much and are grateful you are in our lives. We hope this next year is wonderful and that you reach for the stars in all you do. Always remember that you are a child of God and that you are a blessing to those around you. Have fun, do your best, and shine on!