Winter Formal 2013

One of the things that Ben has most looked forward to this school year is Winter Formal.  He was looking forward to it so much that he asked his date way back in early December.

I was fairly concerned about Ben asking a girl to the dance so early.  A few months in high school is a long time!  Anything could happen in that amount of time!  Drama, drama, drama...  I made a prediction that something would happen; Ben wouldn't want to go with her or he would want to go with someone else.  I was almost certain that he wouldn't end up going with Jaden.

Of course, many things happened over the course of time and Ben really wanted to go to Formal with another girl.  (Emily!)  Thankfully, if teenagers won't listen to their parents, it is nice for them to have a wise friend that can talk some sense into them.  That is exactly what happened.  Ben called his friend and explained his predicament.  Ben's friend told him that he still had an obligation to take the girl that he asked.  He explained that it was ok to go as friends and that he would still have a fun time.  Thank you, Michael!!

Can it be possible that my baby is old enough to be going to a formal dance?  And with a girl, no less!  That's like...a date!  Ugh... There were many deep breaths by this momma!

The big day finally arrived.

 Aren't they adorable?!

Pictures were taken at Emily's house, so Ben and Emily had to at least get a few.

Beautiful!

I just can't believe how fast my baby is growing up!

 

After pictures were finished, Ben and Jaden headed off to Luigi's for dinner and then to Starbucks for dessert.  (Jaden had never been to Starbucks and has wanted to go for a long time!  I am so glad Ben took her there!)

How did Ben and Jaden get around town?  Well, by their chauffeur, of course!  Ben insisted that Jon be their chauffeur for the night.  He insisted that I could NOT be their driver!  He was afraid that I would be too embarrassing.  Seriously?!  Fine.  Be that way.  I will say, that at the end of the night, Ben informed me that Jon is not allowed to be his chauffeur next time!  "Dad was so embarrassing!"  Huh!

All in all, Ben had a really fun night! He danced like crazy and even got one slow dance in with Emily.  He was walking on air when he walked in the door.  I am thankful that Ben was able to make the best out of a less than ideal situation.  I hope he learned a lesson about how to do things next year!

Oh...and now that the dance is over, Ben and Emily are officially boyfriend and girlfriend.  I am SO not ready for this!

Ben's At Band Camp! (And my emotional ramblings...)

Ben has waited for this day for a long time.  

He was counting the days until band camp started.

He's actually not at band camp.  Band camp is here.
(At school.  Everyday.)

It wasn't even a battle to wake him up this morning.

I even got a smile out of him on the way to the school!

My boy is growing up.  ):

I am such a freak...I have to admit that when I went to pick Ben up and saw him marching, I got goosebumps and teary.

Ben is just thrilled to be part of the Brigade this year!

I must be crazy!  There have been so many thoughts going through my head.  Here are a few:

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I was thrilled when Ben decided that he wanted to be in band.  I was elated when he wanted to be in marching band.  I loved marching band so much when I was in high school.  I have so many memories from those days and am so excited for Ben to get to have the whole band experience.  It is one like no other.  These are days that Ben is going to remember forever!

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The fact that Ben is in marching band means that he is in HIGH SCHOOL!  I don't know how it happens, but time is just going by WAY too fast!  How did we get here already?  I can't possibly be old enough to have a freshman in high school!

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Along with Ben being in high school and feeling like I am aging way too fast come the thoughts that in only FOUR short years he will be graduating.  I know, I know, it's four years away, but I know how fast those four years are going to fly by!  I remember how fast my high school year went by.  I also remember how fast Ben's past eight years of school have flown by.  We are down to only half of that!  Ugh...

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Knowing that marching band was coming, we found out early on that Ben's first big band trip was going to be to Ireland.  Yes, DUBLIN, IRELAND!  We have been talking about the Ireland trip for a whole year now.  Initially we talked about me going with Ben.  After going to the meeting and learning more about the trip, I couldn't imagine going without Jon.  How many times is our son going to march in the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin, Ireland?  How could we miss that?  There's no way!  When I picked Ben up from band camp and saw him marching, it made it so real that we are actually going to Ireland!  The trip really isn't that far away!  Now that he is marching, it's one step closer!  (Ha! Literally!!)

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I am so excited for Ben to part of a group that starts out as total strangers, grow to be great friends and grow even closer to be like family.  He is going to be forming relationships that are going to last forever! 

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Ugh...I'm an emotional wreck!

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I am praying that Ben will remember who he is and who lives inside of him.  I know that there are going to be all kinds of temptations and times where he is going to have to make hard choices....all of those hard things that go on during high school.  I want to be able to tell him the choices that he has to make and make sure he always does the right thing, but I know that isn't possible.  I realize that it's all part of life and learning.  I just dread when things are hard!  I am praying that Jesus would be seen in Ben.

I am so excited about Ben's first year of high school!  I am so excited about the next four years of Ben's high school career!  But for now, I am going to just enjoy each day, have fun listening to all of the stories, make the most of everything I can and pray for him like crazy!