Jonathan is 14!!

We unloaded between 4000 and 5000 pumpkins for the AWANA pumpkin patch fundraiser last night and my camera had dead batteries (so we have to wait for OBM to forward us some that she took). Today we celebrated Jonathan's 14th birthday at EPCOT...where he got a $79 gift card from Disney...and again, forgot to get new batteries (we aren't crazy enough to pay Disney prices for batteries, so I had to take pictures with my phone this afternoon). There is so much that I could say about Jonathan on the anniversary of his birth. He really acclerated us into parenthood with his seizures and stroke at 3 days old. We wouldn't be nearly the parents we are today without our "early days of Jonathan" experiences. This is the first birthday that he is taller than me, he has started shaving, and is talking like a man (most of the time)...we've all come along way. With his free birthday money from Disney, he bought himself a big coke bottle bank and used the rest for birthday and Christmas presents for others. I couldn't ask for a nicer son than that! Two years ago, he had his worst birthday ever when Mike had to be rushed to the hospital and almost died. One year later on Jonathan's 13th birthday, Mike and Jonathan had a great day at the first ever Tampa Bay Rays playoff game. This birthday has been a full one too, we started the day at First Friday Mass as a family (Mike plans to always take October 2nd off), enjoyed the beautiful weather and a Mexican lunch at EPCOT, got back in time for Theatre (where all 50 kids sang Happy Birthday to Jonathan), and now have a housefull of some of the nicest young men you'd ever want to meet. They've played chess, four-square, football, apples to apples, eaten plenty of pizza and cake, and are now relaxing with a movie. On Jonathan's 6th birthday (just a few weeks after the Sept 11, 2001 attacks) Jonathan collected money to donate to the Red Cross. In the 8 years since then Jonathan's heart and compassion for others has only grown stronger. I am so proud of the man he is becoming.




and here are Madi and Jake from EPCOT today...