If that's how it's gotta be

Amy asked for an Instagram account. Then she changed her mind. Then she changed her mind again a few weeks later. So she's now officially on social media of at least one type. She said she only wanted it so she can share her own art and comment on other people's art.

So this means that the only way we get to see the things Amy draws is to wait until she posts it for the world to see. I guess that's better than not getting to see it at all, which was the way it's been for quite a while now.

*Sniff* don't say that! *sniff*

A couple of weeks ago we were on our way home from the corn maze and passed by the spot where we've been waiting and waiting (and waiting) for a movie theater to be built in our neighborhood. He asked what the status was and we said it's super slow going and would probably be a couple of years at best before it opens. Reed said "With my luck, the theater won't be built until after I'm gone."

Guess things are getting closer to real, huh? Less than three years and Reed may be off at college, on his own.

Not even close to ready for that at this point. Others have said by the time their kids are ready to head off to college, they're really ready to see them go because they've become giant pains. I guess time will tell if that applies to us. Right now I'm just going to appreciate and enjoy our last few years having him at home.

Sixteen!

Today's the big day – Reed is 16!

Reed is a good kid with a kind heart. He still doesn't love school, but he does what he needs to do and gets mostly A's on his report cards without a ton of effort – he's like his Dad in that way. I didn't try much in high school and was a slightly above average student. He's got a great group of pals that he does online gaming with and hangs out in person with from time to time. He's really good with the little kids in our family and they just love him. He has a great sense of humor and makes us laugh all the time. He drives his sister batty, he is so skilled at pressing her buttons, it's crazy-making. He has gotten so much better about doing the chores he's assigned and thank goodness hasn't fought with us over them in a long time. He may grumble about it (especially on those back-to-back odd days that are his dishes day, or when it turns out that he's got to unload the dishwasher two times in a row) but he does it, and also does a pretty good job. 

He still won't get a haircut, which is totally fine by me. However his failure to comb his hair regularly led to me spending an hour plus a couple months ago un-ratting his hair which had become impossibly matted (NOT going to do that again, I've made that clear). I think he likes being a little different, having long hair, and long curly hair at that. He still doesn't care much about being "fashionable" and just sticks with blue jeans and comfy shirts – has no interest in brand names or what's "cool." Sometimes he doesn't match at all but he doesn't care. 

During the summer he made dinner for us pretty regularly (he was bored!) but now that's school's back in, not as much. I'm always grateful when he helps (in turn, we do the dishes if he's made dinner). He isn't much interested in getting his driver's license – he hasn't practiced in more than a month. When you prefer staying home, having a way to get out isn't top priority. Hopefully we can get back on track pretty soon so he can get his license when he's eligible in a few months.

Happiest surprise of all – he wanted books for his birthday! A big, boxed set of Stephen King Dark Tower books, to be specific. It's been years since he actually asked for any books so this made me incredibly happy.

Last month he decided, without asking, to host a big sleepover. Kinda told us about it after he'd already invited 8 people. He said he'd looked at our family schedule wall calendar and there was nothing on it so he figured it was okay. (I cleared that up for him...you gotta ask first next time!) Turns out six friends could make it (Robbie was there but didn't make it in this picture) and they had a great time, eating pizza and ice cream, staying up way too late....breaking our TV (oops). In the morning we had a big waffle breakfast too.

His annual birthday movie outing is this weekend – for the first time, I'll be the one taking him and five friends to see "Bohemian Rhapsody" at the Alamo Drafthouse (Tod will be out of town for school). Ought to be interesting!

Happy 16th, baby boy!