Chase turns 14

Chase turned 14 on September 16th. He REALLY feels like a teenager now. I know he's a good boy, but man, he can be so "teenagery" at times. I've been told that they get hard at age 14 and turn normal again at age 16. I can't wait. But I guess it's not Chase's fault, I mean, Jerel and I can be so "LAME" sometimes. He loves to roll his eyes at me and say in his bored teenager voice, "Whatever."

We had a small little family party for Chase's birthday and then invited family over the following Sunday for dessert (peanut butter cup trifle) and homemade ice cream. Vanilla, of course--Chase's favorite.

Chase told us he didn't want a party with friends this year; he just wanted us to give him what we would have spent on the party instead.

He said, "You know, a lot of kids at school just have their parents pay them what they would have spent on the party."

I said, "You mean like $100."

Chase replies, "Yeah, like $300."

I then said, "So like $100."

Chase answers, like he hasn't even heard my responses, "You know like $300."

I said, "Well maybe like $50."

Jerel likes the $50 amount so we're still in discussions about it. :)

He got some other nice presents like an itunes gift card, Twilight (a book), gum, money, Mindtrap (a game), The Count of Monte Cristo dvd, apple juice juice boxes, a soccer movie, a soccer ball, a $2 bill, etc. Of course, we did our traditional "hot and cold" find the presents game. Trevor was THRILLED when Chase couldn't find the present he hid. He kept saying, "He totally can't find it. I did such a good job." He really was pleased with himself; you would have thought it was his birthday instead. In these pictures you can see Chase STILL looking for his present, and Trevor all pleased with himself.

Let me expound on the juice boxes. This is a total teenage moment. The day before Chase's birthday, Chase asked me if he could have an apple juice juice box. I do appreciate him asking first, but the answer was "no."

He thought this was, you guessed it, "retarded."

I explained, "They are for lunches, and if you drink them as a snack now, then everyone will get into the habit of drinking them as a snack. Then, when I need them for a lunch, they will be all gone."

He replied, "It IS lunch."

I said, "School lunch."

This was still, "retarded."

So I explained, "If you want to take a lunch to school then you can have one for lunch then."

Chase thought I was "so dumb, because NO ONE takes a lunch in Junior High."

"Sorry, Chase, that's the decision."

So that night I went to the store and bought Chase (for his birthday) his own pack of apple juice juice boxes. Then he could drink them whenever he wanted and not just at "school lunch." :)

Here's some pictures of Chase looking for his presents, opening presents, and blowing out his candles. In one picture you can see him looking for one of his new movies. It took him forever to find it since we mixed it in with a bunch of old movies. Hee Hee. We're so sneaky. And just look how happy he is with his very own juice boxes.

Oh, and we can't forget the best of all! Chase was ordained to be a Teacher by his dad on the 23rd. So proud to have more than one righteous priesthood holder in our home.