Happy Birthday, Son!

Today is my son's birthday!

My "baby" is thirteen now and my daughter got her learner's permit to drive while I was home on leave. I am now the father of two teenage children - how did that happen?! In addition to the other presents I sent home, I also told him this would be the last birthday I'd miss (I've been gone for two of the last three years in addition to other deployments). While nothing in the military is 100%, I'm pretty confident this will be the last time I have to call home from deployment and sing the out-of-tune birthday song over the phone.

He seemed pretty excited about the gifts he's received so far. As is the custom at our house, he got one present this morning with his breakfast (pancakes with festive sprinkles) and will get the others tonight with his cake and lousy singing. Well, I know there'll be cake; I don't think my wife and daughter will do the off-key "Happy Birthday" but that's okay because he got it from me this morning and I'm sure he got it at the large family gathering over at my dad's.

So, a good day all around. My son is growing into a fine young man and the sun came out here for the first time in a couple of days to begin drying the mud from yesterday's rain (segue to my next post).

Happy birthday, Little Big Man - Love, Dad!

Cheers, Pearl