Caleb's 13th Birthday

I know I say this often, but, Wow... where does the time go?  Caleb is now officially a "teen"!  I know, crazy, right? 

 

Normally we have simple birthday parties with family, but we had decided that on each of the kid's 13th birthdays, we would make it a big deal.  They could have a "friends" party and decide what "fun thing" they want to do.  Caleb wanted to have a backyard campout and play airsoft.  Airsoft guns are like BB guns, but the BB's are plastic so, although they sting and can produce welts when they hit, they are not life threatening. It's similar to paintball, I guess, but cheaper and doesn't splat paint all over. 

Grandma and Grandpa Larson had just bought him an airsoft rifle for his birthday. He was excited to give it some good use at the party.

 

Caleb, his brothers and Elijah Baffa

Paul and Nathan, ready for the party

The guys and dads.  Most were decked out in cammo for the "airsoft wars".  They all set up tents in the front yard for the campout.  Though it was a "no girls allowed outside" party, they were all happy to come in for a huge pancake and sausage breakfast in the morning.  Funny, now that I think about it, there were very few bathroom users... inside, anyhow... One of the benefits of being a guy, I guess.  Since it was Labor Day weekend, we invited the rest of the families to join us for a Labor Day cookout around noon.  It ended up being a big, fun party and I'm sure it made his "coming of age" 13th birthday pretty memorable.

On his actual birthday, he got to pick what we had for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  I thought he was kidding when he said what he wanted for breakfast... chocolate chip pancakes, bagel with cream cheese, scrambled eggs and sausage links...  Normally, he's not THAT big of an eater, but he ate it all!  Practically licked the plate clean.  From what other experienced moms have told me, I'm guessing that it's only a small taste of what's to come...