Happy Boys

 After another day of nonstop banging, we have made great progress The roofers are still working on our garage, but our home is now sporting a crisp new roof. While it looks nice, I am more excited about staying dry during rainstorms. I can't remember the last time I was able to watch the weather without anxiety. It will be nice to relax and trust the new roof to do its job properly.

Today our garage should be finished and our new gutters will be installed. It will be more banging but, unlike yesterday, we won't be home all day to hear it. This afternoon we are packing our bags and heading to Pennsylvania. Tonight we will stay at my Mom's house. Tomorrow morning we will kiss Timmy and Friend goodbye before heading to the World War II weekend.

Robby is ecstatic about his favorite weekend of the year. He circles the first weekend in June every time we hang a new calendar in January. He has been busy planning our itinerary for the weekend and evaluating his collections to identify gaps.  Timmy and Robby share many traits, but the love of military history is not one of them. 

We have tried to take Timmy in the past and he was vocal about hating every moment. In Timmy's eyes, "Planes and tanks are boring." This year he begged to stay home.  With my mom's agreement, he will stay with her while we are transported back to the 1940s. Timmy is delighted to have some special time with his cousins and Nana while Robby is content to enjoy his favorite weekend of the year without his complaining little sidekick. 

In a rare situation, it appears that I have made both boys happy!

Roofing

In a few hours our new roof will be installed. This has been needed for a very long time. Scott and I have lamented needing a new roof for several years, with our anxiety deepening with every rain storm. It will be nice to no longer fear precipitation!

The roofers started early (arriving at 6) to beat the heat of the day. Suddenly our weather went from mild to obscenely hot. It would be a miserable day to be on a roof. I don't blame them for starting at sun up, although I do wish we had known to expect such an early morning doorbell. 

My ears are ringing with the constant banging, but I know that we will be happy and relieved when the work is complete. Scott and I have a list of everything that we would like to address before we put the house on the market next year. It looks like this will be the summer of home improvement.

Suddenly 16

I am not sure when it happened, but my sweet little Koopa- my Robby Rotten- turned 16 years old. I know it is cliche, but he really did grow up in a blink. With Robby turning 16, Scott and I enter a new stage of parenting as we introduce driving into the equation. I am not sure I will ever be prepared to see Robby behind a steering wheel, but I know that he is excited about the new adventure.

Looking at Robby, I know that the world sees a "man-teen" at nearly 6 feet tall and the ability to grow a full mustache and beard. In my eyes he is still the little boy pushing trains across the living room floor. I suppose that this disconnect between the brain and the heart impacts every parent as their child grows wings. It is hard watching him leave childhood, but getting the know the gentleman who is slowly emerging has been amazing.

Physically, there is no doubt that Robby has changed over the years. In terms of his personality, he has remained fairly consistent. He remains that sweet little boy who is always quick to help somebody else. He hates bullies with a passion and confronts them with a confident swagger. He is skilled at enlarging his friend circle to include whoever wants to join. 

Robby loves animals and continues to spend hours cuddling Charlie Cat. He complains when we ask him to help around the house, but he is the first to jump up (unsolicited) to lend his Nana a hand. He is funny and smart. He is interesting and complex. He is kind and empathetic.

He makes me proud every single day.  Happy Birthday Robby!