fifteen

Life has been crazy in this house lately, hence the lack of posting. I have not had a chance to sit and think all week. I could fill an entire blog post with tales of colds, of going to the brand new super hospital, of other mishaps and misfortunes but today seems not the time and place. To add to the general November exhaustion, Richard and I had two social nights this weekend. Party animals that we are! I am trying to remember my name. It may come back to me after a good night's sleep.

Sam turned 15 on Friday. He only just was a cute little boy with a twinkle in his eye and now he is a fully grown young man. It is astonishing. Every morning he seems a little more grown up. Birthdays have taken on a different meaning for Sam but there is some of the younger years Birthday magic left: the opening of of gifts in our bed and the Birthday cake breakfast remain important. 

Birthday parties are uncool (for now). Sam invited a friend for a sleepover instead. This translates in to a all night gaming event with very little sleep, plenty of junk food and a whiff of teenage musk all over the house. He wanted a Chinese take-away for the event and he definitely didn't want to have a Birthday dinner with us. Fair enough we thought and gave him money. Richard and I went out for a quiz night and left the younger ones with our capable babysitter. Sam and his pal were not seen until the next morning just before seven, when Sam started throwing up quite impressively. My first thought was secret booze but no, it wasn't. Sam and his friend kept the leftover Chinese take-away warm from about 7:30 pm. In case they got peckish, you know. Sam got peckish at 2 am. In the intervening time the Chinese take-away microbiome happily multiplied. I am glad his friend was not peckish. Teenagers are not ruffled easily and once the mess was cleared (thank you Richard), the teenagers went back to sleep. The next time I saw Sam at around 2 pm, he was heating up strawberry pop tarts in the microwave. I am told these are the pinnacle of culinary delights. The boys briefly emerged at dinner time (bleary eyed and a little spaced out) to wolf down a plateful of toad in the hole and spent the rest of the evening gaming some more. 

Today, Sunday, Sam is still recovering from his celebrations. Only teenagers can sleep all day and still be tired. I haven't spoken to him all day but all the evidence suggests that he's had a great Birthday weekend. 

I like my oldest. He is fun, caring and thoughtful, except when he is not of course. You know how it is with teenagers. 

Happy Birthday Sam!