Well Riley's 16th birthday has come and gone and its been a very busy weekend. The birthday festivities started on Friday when Riley's friends Bri, Jeremy, Jackson and Grayson with Bri in charge decided that Riley must have a surprise birthday party. Riley's birthday celebrations actually started a week previous when we sent him to Cancun as his gift but his friends just felt he needed to celebrate this event in style. About 100 text messages later and many many suggestions evaluated and thrown out, they decided on a surprise dinner at one of his favourite restaurants, "Moxies" and then a "land yacht" 2 hour sail around Victoria. (translated is a party bus that fits 20, loud music, suspect drinks out of paper cups).
While all the planning was done by the kids, I got to peek in at the festivities now and again as they needed a chauffeur to the restaurant and at the bus pick up. Hearing 20 kids cheer "Surprise" gave me a little chill. The kids all looked so good - girls dressed up and boys cleaned up. Not a pimple among them - something sure has changed since my day!
I was quite unsure about these party buses but they seem to be very popular. After the 1 am pick up I am now a believer. No wrecked house, all very civilized and the kids were in great shape at pick up.
Riley's real birthday on Saturday was a bit of a non event for him as we attended the wedding of our best friend Wendy's first born son Mitch. Yikes - now attending weddings of our friends kids!!! I wish I could say we all had a great time but Riley was overtired from the night before and he was the first to want to leave the reception! Should have left him at home.
Sunday, Riley and I drove to Penticton where I dropped him off to spend the last few days of summer with some friends. I was eagerly anticipating the four hours I had him trapped in the car to have some quality all about life chats but we mostly listened to his bad music and discussed the construction of the Coquihalla Highway. An ah - ha moment was realizing while Riley has travelled the world, he hasn't seen much of BC. Must fix that soon!
The Penticton Ironman was on when we arrived - very exciting and emotional to watch athletes of all shapes, sizes, ages and fitness levels challenge themselves to the ultimate. Really overwhelming to know one who has done it. Riley loved it all and has declared he wants to do an Ironman one day. Perhaps he will and I'd love to be there cheering him on. The family and friends support of the Ironman is a very powerful thing to observe. (ok maybe I should consider trying to do one myself ... hmmm)
So saving the best for last - today is Monday and the first day since Riley turned 16 that the motor vehicle licensing branch was open. Drove back from Osoyoos where I'm staying to pick Riley up and at the office when it opened at 8:30. My boy is now the proud owner of an "L" and I'm relgated to the passenger seat for the end of time. It was cool.
While all the planning was done by the kids, I got to peek in at the festivities now and again as they needed a chauffeur to the restaurant and at the bus pick up. Hearing 20 kids cheer "Surprise" gave me a little chill. The kids all looked so good - girls dressed up and boys cleaned up. Not a pimple among them - something sure has changed since my day!
I was quite unsure about these party buses but they seem to be very popular. After the 1 am pick up I am now a believer. No wrecked house, all very civilized and the kids were in great shape at pick up.
Riley's real birthday on Saturday was a bit of a non event for him as we attended the wedding of our best friend Wendy's first born son Mitch. Yikes - now attending weddings of our friends kids!!! I wish I could say we all had a great time but Riley was overtired from the night before and he was the first to want to leave the reception! Should have left him at home.Sunday, Riley and I drove to Penticton where I dropped him off to spend the last few days of summer with some friends. I was eagerly anticipating the four hours I had him trapped in the car to have some quality all about life chats but we mostly listened to his bad music and discussed the construction of the Coquihalla Highway. An ah - ha moment was realizing while Riley has travelled the world, he hasn't seen much of BC. Must fix that soon!
The Penticton Ironman was on when we arrived - very exciting and emotional to watch athletes of all shapes, sizes, ages and fitness levels challenge themselves to the ultimate. Really overwhelming to know one who has done it. Riley loved it all and has declared he wants to do an Ironman one day. Perhaps he will and I'd love to be there cheering him on. The family and friends support of the Ironman is a very powerful thing to observe. (ok maybe I should consider trying to do one myself ... hmmm)
So saving the best for last - today is Monday and the first day since Riley turned 16 that the motor vehicle licensing branch was open. Drove back from Osoyoos where I'm staying to pick Riley up and at the office when it opened at 8:30. My boy is now the proud owner of an "L" and I'm relgated to the passenger seat for the end of time. It was cool.
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