Ryan - Fourteen

Happy 14th Birthday Ryan James Nullmeyer! I can't believe I just typed the number 14.

You have changed SO much this past year. You've grown a ton and look more like a young man than a big kid. You are almost as tall as me, and your feet are officially bigger. You've grown your hair out a bit into a different style. You now shop in the men's section and wear your Dad's hand-me-down clothes. I just feel like your mind and body are going through so many changes right now and you're developing into a new person right before my eyes! 

Here you are at 13 vs 14.

I wrote this last year on your birthday and it is still 100% you: Your personality is a combination of super serious and moody, with a strong desire for fun thrown in. You enjoy listening to adults talk and will often hang out with them at a social gathering, rather than do anything silly with younger kids. You come across as very "cool" and aloof to people who don't know you. At the same time, you love all things fun and seek it out whenever possible. Doing anything mundane or routine is like torture for you.

You still love soccer and sports just come naturally to you. After your outdoor rec season ended in November, you signed up for an indoor team and were able to play for a few months (with Lucas on your team!) (You are so much taller than Lucas now!)

You are: mechanical, clever, messy, self-aware, argumentative, hands-on, athletic, impulsive, strong, sensitive, moody, competitive. You love: cars, friends, RC cars, junk food, Garfield, music, watching hockey, playing soccer. You hate: healthy food, cleaning your room, being bored, being told no, having your picture taken.

You still love all things car related. In particular, you are obsessed with RC cars. You love driving them, fixing them, and researching them. You remind me so much of your Daddy when I met him.

Favorites:

Food - Big Greasy Cheeseburgers

Drink - Root Beer

Color - Teal

Subject - Math

Friend - David

Sport - Soccer

Place - Our House

Lucas is still your main buddy (despite the constant fighting and competition and picking on each other). When he isn't around, you seem a bit lost without him.

However, you've developed pretty strong friendships with a couple boys at the place where you take classes. 

Despite not loving school or anything academic, you've really come a long way this year as an 8th grader. You infuse your writing with a special humor that makes me laugh out loud.  Your history notes are full of weird cartoon drawings because you will take any opportunity to turn a lesson into something funny. You often do your independent work up in your room while listening to loud music. It's hard to believe I'm in the middle of planning your high school classes!

Your physical strength really developed this year, and I will sadly admit that you now beat me in arm wrestling. There's a lot of arm wrestling in our house! You are becoming more and more helpful with bigger projects with Dad, whether it's lifting heavy things, using electric tools, or car maintenance. I know he appreciates your helpfulness!

I love you so much Ryan. My prayer for you is that you would continue to mature into the special man God created you to be. That you would be strong and confident in your skills, work to your potential, and still be humble and kind. Happy Birthday my handsome son Ryan!

Andrew - SEVEN

 Happy 7th Birthday Andrew John Nullmeyer! 

I am seeing your personality shift a little bit as you get older, and I love getting glimpses of the big kid you're becoming. You've become much more self-aware, and absolutely do not like to look silly in front of others. You are easily embarrassed and seem to take yourself pretty seriously. However, you're also incredibly goofy at home and have the BEST laugh. 

I think your big brothers influence you a lot!

(I just love your little turned-up-nose profile)

Words to describe you right now: confident, athletic, car-lover, sweaty, serious, musical, self-aware, determined, math-minded, speedy, moody, know-it-all, fearless.

You're confident in many of your abilities, and if someone tries to tell you how to do something, your typical answer is "I already know". I love your confidence but I'm trying not to let you get a giant ego!

You have a serious need for speed, and you are the most determined athlete out of all your siblings. You are currently playing baseball and you just finished your 2nd soccer season, where you were an absolute star on the field. You play hard and do not give up! I am constantly asking your siblings "Where's Andrew?" and I almost always find you outside doing something physical. Kicking or throwing a ball, setting up a bike ramp, climbing the tree, etc.

The other day I took you and your sister to the local school on your bikes, and after 10 minutes she was cold and ready to go home. You? You were gleefully riding through all the puddles, getting as wet and muddy and sweaty as possible.

Despite your differences, you and Jenna do play together a lot. You are quite stubborn and won't typically back down, so this obviously leads to arguments. But sometimes you are best friends, making up all sorts of imaginary games.

You are easily embarrassed, so when you tell me "I did my own hair! Do you like it?" I just have to smile and say yes. I have to do the same thing when you come downstairs wearing cologne for baseball practice, because you would burst into tears if I teased you about it. (Here's a recent example of an Andrew hairstyle)

You are always humming or singing, to the point where it annoys your siblings. I'm thinking some sort of music lessons will be in your future. You love turning on rock music in your brothers' rooms.  

You love to eat! You wake up at 7am on the dot every day, and you're almost immediately starving. Your favorite breakfast is a fried egg on toast, and then you're ready for a snack an hour or two later, followed by a 2nd snack, and then lunch. I'm just happy that I finally have a child who will try most things I cook!

Favorites: 

Color: Teal

Food: Pizza

Drink: Root Beer

Place To Go: Disneyland

Toy: RC Cars

Best Friend: Noah

What Want to be When Grows up: Hotel Owner w/ Jenna

School Subject: History

This morning you woke up on your birthday, pinched your own cheeks, and told me "I've lost some of my chub". Stop growing up so fast!

I love you so much Andrew and I'm in shock that you're already 7. You certainly don't act like the baby of the family, but of course you are my baby. Happy Birthday Drewski!