Project 18 to 18: Day 14

Two Boys and a Blanket

We've always had dogs in our home. Many years before the Boy came along, we had pups in the house. So the Boy has never known home without the influence of some mutt or another by his side.

But even with that said, I don't think the Boy knew what having a dog was truly like until Wonder Mutt joined our family! Wonder Mutt is Wonder Boy's dog through and through. He will allow behavior from the Boy (mostly in the form of the Boy picking up the Mutt and carting him to wherever the Boy feels is appropriate) that he would never tolerate from the rest of us.

When the Boy is home, they are together. That is just a given and it has been that way from Day One.


The other element of the equation is the blanket! These two just LOVE to snuggle up under a soft blanket. There doesn't have to be a chill in the air like our flashback photo. We're experiencing way above average temperatures this summer/fall-so-far and still, you will find these two wrapped up like burritos each and every morning!

Their favorite is the grey blankie you will see in today's snap, but any blanket will do in a pinch!

Project 18 to 18: Day 13

Voilà!

OK. It's VIOLA, not voilà, but the Boy likes to play around with his pronunciation when he talks about his instruments and his viola is no different - so we have come to accept that any word that starts with a V and likely ends in an A probably translates to viola.

This is the instrument that really started it all for the Boy. We had tried to tempt him with an electric key board several years prior to his start in the 5th Grade orchestra, but nothing truly took hold until he got his hands on his first viola. I will always remember how after getting in his viola practice minutes one afternoon, he came downstairs and pronounced that he thought he could play his viola music on his keyboard if he knew which notes were which on the piano.

So the viola was the stepping stone to learning the piano. In addition, his time at the piano eventually led him to the guitar. And who knows if the guitar will be just one more link in a chain of musical studies the Boy entertains?

But it STARTED with the viola and I am truly thankful that it did as our house has been full of music ever since and I treasure it beyond measure!


Our picture for today is the Boy's bright and shiny viola. For many years we rented a viola each school year for him. I didn't realize this when he joined the orchestra, but string instruments vary in size based on YOUR size - it's like finding a pair of shoes that fits. And the instruments grow along with the child, up to a point, of course. And that is why for many years it made more sense to rent rather than to buy.

But as the boy started to reach his adult size and remained committed to orchestra and his viola studies, we knew it was time for him to have an instrument that was truly his own. So one Christmas he opened a very small box left under the tree with a coupon for a trip to a string shop near Houston before he was to return to school for the spring semester.

He was very excited and the whole family packed up and made the drive to check out Lisle String Shop. When we left home, Wonder Dad and I were every bit as excited as the Boy. But as we neared the shop, Wonder Boy grew progressively quieter. And by the time we stepped through the doors of the shop, he had retreated completely into some self-conscious shell.

The shop attendant brought out several instruments for the Boy to sample and get a feel for which he liked best, but the more we tried to get him to play, the quieter he became and the more frustrated Wonder Dad and I became. A drive like this is not something we do on a whim. We have to arrange care for the dogs. We have to fight traffic and in this case, had to struggle with directions to an unfamiliar place in a construction area to boot. *sigh*

Tensions rose higher and higher until at last we were able to cajole the Boy to play enough to make an informed decision on which instrument would accompany him home.

The drive home was almost as strained as the time we had spent in the shop, but eventually, everyone relaxed and the concert that we enjoyed in the days remaining in the Christmas holidays almost made the struggle worth it all.

Seriously though, this instrument has a truly wonderful sound at the hands of our favorite musician. It is smooth and warm and inviting and once we were all able to put bruised feelings aside, we have all agreed that we are glad the Boy was able to upgrade his instrument!

Project 18 to 18: Day 12

Bubba's Best Girl

It's been a stressful Saturday here in Wonderlandia. Wonder Boy came home with assignments from six of his seven classes. Granted, some assignments have a distant deadline, but the Boy is not one to procrastinate. So instead of enjoying some decompression time on Friday as is his habit, he put his head down and made a dent in the work. And then, as soon as his guitar lesson was over this morning, he went right back to knocking out some more before Sunday's commitments sneak up on him.

This evening once he felt he was ready for a break, I found him snuggled on the loveseat with his Puppy Princess. In her advancing age, she doesn't tolerate a lot of the play time like the Boy enjoys with Wonder Mutt, but she is almost always ready for a snuggle session and I love to see them finding comfort in one another.


In our look back to 2012, we see the two of them together before the days of Wonder Mutt wiggling his way in between them. Back then, she was the one with the excess energy that rarely stood still long enough for more than a quick hug. She's been a constant in his life for more than half of his days on this planet though. And I have always enjoyed watching them together!

Project 18 to 18: Day 11

Chasing Perfection

“Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence” - Vince Lombardi Jr.

Wonder Boy has been chasing perfection since a very early age. I can still vividly recall how frustrated and upset he would get with himself when he struggled to complete something to his very exacting standards. This goes for simple motor skills like learning to use scissors to the very high standard he sets for himself when it comes to his academic pursuits.

But as the quote above states, while perfection is never truly attainable, as long as you endeavor to chase that dream, the shortfall still leaves excellence within your reach.

In our look back to 2011 we see the Boy with the principal of his elementary school moments after the end of the annual spelling bee. You will note that there is not some huge smile on his face that should go with the medal slung around his neck. He was disappointed to not be in the top handful of students. He had worked hard and expected so much from himself so despite being one of the top students in his elementary school, he was still chasing something higher.


Wonder Boy has not slowed down on his relentless chase of perfection in the years since that first photo. In fact, I would say he has redoubled his efforts each and every year of his academic career to date!

I often marvel at his work ethic and I cannot state this strongly enough. While other students were laying pool side this summer, the Boy completed six college applications as well as a number of scholarship and university honors programs applications. Now that school is back in session, he loaded himself up with honors and AP classes while some friends decided to enjoy a respite for their senior year. With that stacked load of classes, he comes home every single day with hours of homework, projects, and research topics. And he made the decision to push himself in this manner all on his own. We do not have to remind him to complete his assignments. We do not have to drag him from bed in the mornings. We do not have to organize his materials or routinely check the parent portal to make certain that he is not only completing his assignments, but also performing to his best ability. He does all of this ON. HIS. OWN.!

It's a life lesson we could only have prayed that he would pick up before leaving home for college. He is well versed in setting priorities and giving himself a schedule so that he can complete extended assignments on time, even on subjects and assignments in which he does not excel and has little innate motivation to jump into. He just gets it done!

In our photo-of-the-day, we see our sweet Boy enjoying the rewards for some of his hard work. He was just named a National Hispanic Scholar by the College Board and one of the universities to which he has applied sent him a box of swag as their way of congratulations for his hard work. His smile is small because, truth be told, he was hoping to do even better. But he has once again caught excellence while furthering his chase of perfection.

I do hope that as he dives into the deeper waters of university life that he will continue his charge on perfection, but also that he will take at least a breath here and there to enjoy the successes his achieves while on his chase. Hard work pays off - Wonder Boy is starting to see some of the fruits of his labors and I hope that it will continue to bloom throughout this season!

Project 18 to 18: Day 10

Movie Madness: the numbers game

I had a different idea for today's photo theme, but it didn't come to pass. BUT ... as luck would have it, when waiting for Wonder Dad to get off of work yesterday, the Boy and I struck up a round of what is currently his favorite "game" to play. We call it "The Numbers Game."

Over the past couple of years, the Boy has become a big fan of Anime. He keeps a numbered list of all of the titles he has seen. So, at random, I will give him a number and he will pull FROM MEMORY all of the details about that particular series or movie. He tells me the plot line and gives a brief critique of the animation, story line, musical score, and anything else that has stood out to him.

There are literally hundreds of titles on his list so far and he still manages to keep a mental account of them all!


Looking back, we see our Wonder Boy adorned with 3-D specs. This was so he could enjoy his favorite movie of the day: Spy Kids 3 (3-D).

I always enjoyed watching him watch the movie. I'm not a fan of 3D productions in general, but Wonder Boy was enthralled with the whole Spy Kids franchise and his favorite was Spy Kids 3. I suspect that this was due at least in part to the fact that the subject matter was concerned with a video game - an evil game, but a game none the less.

While the Boy's taste in entertainment has evolved over the years, I am thankful that he doesn't mind sharing it with his family!

Project 18 to 18: Day 9

Canción Bonita

I highlight it every year because it is truly an integral part of Wonder Boy's life and this year is no different. Today we're talking about music, of course!

From the very earliest of days, long before he even realized he was listening to music, the Boy was instinctively drawn to a catchy tune. We would catch him bouncing along to some melody coming from the television while he played with his toys. I recall a day when the Boy was still barely a toddler; we were looking at speakers in an audio-video store and the Boy put on a one-man dance show while we sampled the various options in the shop, completely oblivious to all of the adults in the room. He was in his own world, engulfed by the music used for the demos!

In our look back to 2009, we see our Boy getting into the swing of things as part of his elementary school's sing-along program! We found a cowboy hat at Goodwill that fit, a western-themed bandana, and a snap-up plaid shirt in his favorite color (blue!) and sent him off to school. I was so thrilled to see him with a paper guitar for the show! He and his classmates strummed out some good, ole fashioned country tunes that afternoon and put on a show I am not likely to forget any time soon.


Catching up to today, we see the Boy picking out a tune before school to the delight of myself and the dogs! His guitar is rarely far from hand when he is at home. It has become his go-to instrument and I have noticed that he puts not only more time into honing his skills on this instrument, but more of himself into each piece when he practices his guitar.

A few months ago, we spent a lovely Friday evening listening to the Boy practice. And at the end of his session, he allowed me to take a short video of one of the pieces he had been working on for his instructor. It's truly a lovely piece and I am glad he let me capture it!

Project 18 to 18: Day 8

PKS: A public service announcement ...

Most folks probably have never heard of PKS, or Photographer's Kid Syndrome. I'm not really a photographer, but I am a very proud MWAC (Mom With A Camera) - I have a camera and I'm not afraid to SHOOT YOU!

Seriously though, I've had a camera in my hand pretty much since the day Wonder Boy come into this world and I can't imagine doing things any other way. So ... for almost 18 years he has had to endure countless snaps from mom. It started off well enough ... of course, he was too small to protest, but at least 4 days of out each 7 for the first two to three years of his life, I had camera in hand to capture every smile, every grimace, every milestone, and every precious moment I could capture.

I was able to keep up my photo-journalist tendencies through the preschool and even into elementary school. But by the time we hit the mid-way point of preschool, I started having to get creative with my bribes or the Boy would run and hide (or at least refuse to look in my direction) every time I pulled the camera out of my bag. One bribe (that didn't involve high quantities of sugar) that often sealed the deal was to allow him a few moments of silly time. Snaps of him sticking out his tongue, crossing his eyes, bending over to look through his legs ... well ... let's just say I have more than my fair share of these images! But it worked! Often he would crack up at his own antics and then I was able to snap away until I was able to capture that perfect natural smile!


There came a point where even silly snaps were not enough and I was lucky if I could get him to agree to let me pull out the camera. But there were two exceptions: (1) I was allowed to take as many pictures as I wanted at events like soccer, orchestra, and judo, but I could not as him to look at me. I was generally only allowed to capture action photos at these events. But at least he didn't mind me and my camera on the sidelines. and (2) pictures with the dogs were allowed on occasion as long as I didn't go overboard and ask for it 4+ days a week.

Again, this fell somewhat to the wayside. Once his judo and soccer days were done, opportunities for action shots evaporated too. And even the suggestion of a snap with one of the dogs was met with eye rolls and protests.

BUT ... every now and then, I am able to catch Wonder Boy in a moment where he is willing to let me grab a quick snap or two. Generally, I have to agree to keep photo taking to a very limited time span - and it still doesn't hurt to involve the dogs and allow a little silly time!

This morning before school, Wonder Boy was cuddling with his Puppy Princess when Wonder Mutt got jealous and tried to worm his way in between them. The Princess was not impressed and went from cuddles to fussing in the blink of an eye and Wonder Boy couldn't resist joining in. I'm just glad he didn't object to me trying to capture the moment so we can all look back and laugh about it in years to come!

Project 18 to 18: Day 7

School days, school days
Dear old golden rule days ...

Once again, as the sands in the hour glass race toward the bottom of the Boy's time in high school, I find myself looking back to those early days of elementary school.

Only for one little minute on the morning of his very first day of school, did the Boy show any trepidation at being at school. Since then, he's claimed his spot on campus and made his way through the halls of four different campuses around town for elementary school, intermediate school, middle school, and now high school.


In each case, he's waded his way through the murky waters until he was the big fish in the pond. But now, he's headed for an ocean disguised as a college campus! And he is comping at the bit to get his chance to leap off the diving board right into the deep end!

I, on the other hand, am shaking in my shoes a lot more than the Boy did on that first day of Kindergarten. I ask myself if we've taught him what he needs to know. I wonder if he will choose some place far from home. I wonder how empty the house will feel once he no longer lives there full time.

But none of my concerns truly matter. And honestly, I know that he's been preparing for that day for some time. And regardless of which campus he will call home, I know he will make his mark and find his path, just like he has in every other school he's experienced thus far.

Project 18 to 18: Day 6

Curiosity is the engine of achievement. ~Ken Robinson

Wonder Boy has a mind that is only very rarely quiet, which may account for why he often holds his tongue.

An ever inquisitive mind has always been a hallmark of the Boy's character. When he was young, like in the flashback photo for today, he had to be almost physically restrained to keep from exploring. He wanted to know everything about everything. And he seemed to just soak it up like a sponge! I enjoyed our days of science experiments and grand adventures to see what the world held in store for us!


These days, the Boy has discovered that there is a world beyond the physical to explore and conquer! I sit in awe as he explains the math proofs on his whiteboards to me. I so admire that he doesn't just want to know how to DO math, but instead strives to fully understand and grasp the concepts behind the mechanics of solving a problem. And the best part is, that he doesn't take a single thing for granted, nothing at face value. He has to prove to himself that something is the way some textbook might claim it to be. THIS is how discoveries are made!

I suspect this is a skill that will serve him well in the years to come as he heads off to college and beyond. I know, in the depths of my being, that this guy is meant for great things!

Project 18 to 18: Day 5

A Time for Everything

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens - Ecclesiastes 3

Verse one of chapter 3 of the book of Ecclesiastes tells us that there is a "season for every activity under the heavens" including, in verse 7 a time to tear and a time to mend.

This verse strongly reminds me of these first few weeks of school for Wonder Boy. The first month of school, at least since he started high school, has always been this way, but as it has done every year, the workload has yet again increased. And as such, the Boy has found himself with hours of homework every night of the week.

Unexpectedly, this weekend marks a start departure from that pattern! He has a few small assignments, but nothing taxing and so today is a day of rest and renewal - in other words, a time to mend.

For the Boy, that means some alone time surrounded by a few of his favorite things: his guitar, his phone, his PlayStation, and his laptop along with some snacks and a Gatorade for refreshment.


Back in 2005 he was ALL ABOUT play time! In fact, most of his day was play time. Of course, in 2005, play time was also his time to learn and discover. Wonder Boy always gravitated to building toys most often. He liked to create, to tear things down and figure out how best to put them back together and then how to make something entirely new by combining old ideas and materials.

Today is a day of rest. A time to turn off his brain or at the very least to engage it in a completely different manner than what happens with the demands of academic life. And that is A-OK with us! We know that this time of rest is what prepares him for the next onslaught of assignments!

Project 18 to 18: Day 4

The heart of a father is the masterpiece of nature. ~Antoine-François, Abbé Prévost d’Exiles


I think perhaps the toughest job on the planet is that of a father. Wonder Boy is so blessed to have had this guy to provide safe haven for him for the last almost 18 years. Wonder Dad jumped into the father job with gusto from day one! In fact, while I was out of it in the hours after delivery, he took charge of the first diaper and never looked back.

One day it may change, but parenthood hasn't gotten any easier from those early days filled with diapers. These days the duties involve fewer objectionable odors, but it is no less exhausting. Since home is our safe space, we get to see the Boy at his absolutely finest, but also at his lowest.

Since school started about a month ago, the Boy's stress level is at an all time high. And I'm afraid Wonder Dad often has to bear the brunt of the Boy's frustrations. But as you can see, the Boy still knows where to find his biggest supporter (one of them anyway) once all is said and done.

Project 18 to 18: Day 3

La Bendición

I like to say that I've always been a "hands on" mom, but it's probably more accurate to call me a Helicopter. And while I may hover about more than he would like, I hope that I've done so with enough space for Wonder Boy to grow and flourish.

Seeing him behind the wheel of a car is one of those moments where, even if I wanted to embrace my Helicopter title, there is little that can be done, but let go and let God, as they say.

So, every day when the Boy pulls out of the driveway without me, I say some variation of the following prayer:

May God bless and keep you.
May He guide your steps and guard your heart.
May He deliver you to school and return you home again safely at the end of the day.
May He open your mind to help you take advantages of the learning opportunities of the day and to perform to your fullest potential in every situation.
May He shroud you in His peace, love, and understanding in order to make you a good friend, a good classmate, and a good student.
May He help you to make good decisions and to show respect for those that are there to teach and support you.
May He reassure you that you are loved beyond measure.
In Christ's name,
Amen.

Looking back to 2003 and the Boy's first set of wheels, I'll admit that I felt obligated to hover near by to handle any technical difficulties he might encounter. Like today, he didn't really want me to hang around so much, but at that age he had little to no say in the matter.

Wonder Boy, then and now, is confident behind the wheel but not terribly adventurous. And I'm OK with that. He can get where he needs to go and when called for, he is more than capable of traveling outside of his comfort zone.

Back then, like today, whenever he ventured beyond my sphere of immediate influence, all I could do was say a prayer and hope for the best. His track record so far is pretty good. And I'll just keep praying that it stays that way!

Project 18 to 18: Day 2

The More Things Change ...

The more they stay the same!

This old adage is certainly true of our dear Wonder Boy! From DAY ONE he has NOT been a fan of mornings (regardless of the day of the week)!

In our look back to 2002, we see our little man crashed out while I was attempting to get ready for work and pack his bag for day care. There were many mornings when I wanted to just let him sleep it out since he so rarely slept in the first place, but one can only ignore work for so long.


These days, we have a pretty good routine worked out. You might think that since he is the farthest thing in the world from a so-called "Morning Person" that we might have to physically drag him out of bed, but that has thankfully never been the case. He sets the alarm on his watch, pulls himself out of bed and stumbles into the living room to snooze until time for breakfast. We have an unspoken agreement that conversation before calories will be kept to a bare minimum. Now, that is not to say that we have to be quiet and tip toe around the house. No, it just means that quite frankly, he may not remember anything discussed before he's had a bit to eat. After breakfast though, things kick into high gear while he gets dressed and ready for school. There's always a flurry of school supplies, lunch bags, a reminder of after school commitments, and a pat-down of all pockets to make sure he has his wallet, keys, school ID, and garage door clicker. Then he packs it all in his car and heads out to start another action-packed day at school!

I have gotten accustomed to the little bit of quiet time after he leaves the house to take care of a few around-the-house tasks before I have to face the fact that, just like when he was small, I can only ignore work for so long and must pack up myself and kick-start my day.

Project 18 to 18: Day 1

Firsts and Lasts

Hip, Hip, Hooray! Today marks the start of my all-time favorite annual photo project - the countdown to Wonder Boy's birthday!

This year, more than any other, I often find myself lost in nostalgia, remembering so many firsts. In contrast, Wonder Boy is focused much more on all of the lasts that are looming on the calendar. He recently had his last-first-day of high school, for example! He's counting down the days until he can cross off his last orchestra concert, his last fight out of the school parking lot, his last summer at home.

Personally, as we wind down the last days of him being a minor, I am in total denial to all of these lasts that he so gleefully crosses off the calendar. And while I enjoy looking back over all of the firsts, I'm shaking in my shoes about a new set of unknowable firsts to come - the first day at college, the first serious relationship, the first taste of adulthood and freedom.


Today, however, I'm thinking about our first first - our first day together! The photo on the left was taken just a few hours after Wonder Boy made way his into this world. It has at once been SO LONG since he fit in my arms like that and yet if I close my eyes, I can still feel the gentle weight of his head on the crook of my arm like it was yesterday.

The picture on the right may well turn out to be a last - the last start to my favorite photo project of the year - since I am unsure if I will be able to continue this tradition once the Boy is out of the house. And you will note that these days I fit better on his arm than he on mine.

I know I'm starting off the project this year looking back, but while I might miss those early days on some level, I have no desire to return to that time. The young man so willing to give me a place to rest my head is an amazing guy and I honestly DO look forward to seeing just what paths he might take over the next few months and years!

And on THAT note, I will offer my last thought for this day: Let's roll!