I often tell Ryan that I just thoroughly enjoy my Brevan boy. As far as teenagers go, Brevan must be just about the easiest teenager ever. In true teenager fashion, he still feels the need to argue every point to the death, but I admire his genuine love for others and the way he strives to improve himself all the time. Plus he's been mastering the joys of sarcasm, so I find him downright hilarious.
Brevan gets himself up at 5:45 every morning, quietly closes my bedroom door so we don't wake up, then eats breakfast in the dark before taking a shower. I wake up about 6:20 and check on his progress, have a prayer with him, and watch him get on the bus at exactly 6:39. Brevan is so self-motivated that I don't ever have to worry about his grades. His backpack might look like a mini-tornado scene, but he knows where every paper is and will always get A's in his classes. I can't argue too much with his logic if it's working for him. Brevan continues to outgrow his clothes overnight. He wears a size 11 in shoes (which is the same size Ryan wears) and is approaching 5 foot 9 inches tall now.
I took this picture a few weeks ago when we got the season's very first short-lived snow.
My handsome 8th grader, who is growing up before my eyes.
For Brevan's birthday, I bought him a plane ticket to fly to Utah on November 29th and spend 4 days with his grandparents. He was nervous to fly alone, but I prepared him for every situation, arranged for him to miss school for a few days, figured out his schedule with both sets of grandparents, packed his bag and took him to the airport on the 29th. After I had checked him in for his flight, I mentioned to a flight attendant that he is 14 and this would be his first flight. She told me he wouldn't be able to fly because the age restriction was changed from age 14 to age 15 on November 1st. I spent the next hour discussing/arguing his case with the management before taking him back home. I was rather ticked off by that point, and had Brevan quite concerned on the way home. I don't think he has seen me upset many times in my life, so he kept putting his hand on my shoulder and saying, "Mom, it's OK. We'll figure out something." Poor kid thought his mom had lost her mind over a simple plane ticket. Nothing gets me fired up like bad customer service. After we got home, I had Ryan call the airline and figure out what had happened. Come to find out I had entered the wrong year for Brevan's birthday, so I had been able to check him in since I showed him as being 15 years old. Oops. I still think they should have allowed him on the plane, however, because the new rule had gone into effect after I had bought the plane ticket, so being 14 wasn't an issue when the ticket was purchased. Anyway, Ryan demanded that the airline get Brevan a seat on a plane for the following weekend when he and I were traveling to Utah (which was the trip I had originally planned to take until Lindsey got sick). Brevan and Ryan flew to Utah on Friday, December 7th and stayed until Tuesday, December 11th. Brevan spent a couple days having one-on-one time with his Springer grandparents, a couple days of quality time with his Ellefsen grandparents, and fun times with his Webb and Ellefsen cousins. The lucky boy got spoiled by everyone for 5 straight days. My Mom took these pictures while he was in town. They took him bowling on Saturday and to see the live recording of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir the next day. I was very jealous! I'm so grateful for grandparents that love my children and like to spend time with them. I think grandparents are one of God's greatest inventions.
Brevan is helping teach basketball to the Special Olympics kids in the Kearney area again. He has such a special gift for working with disabled people. His gentle nature helps the disabled kids feel very comfortable with him. Brevan is also picking an Eagle project to begin working on, since he has completed most of the Scouting program already.
Brevan is working out a few nights at a week at a local health store. They are holding a class for teenagers that gets them sweating for an hour before they are given a "recovery" shake. He enjoys it so far and is excited to feel stronger.
When I asked Brevan what else he would like said about him on this blog post, he said to make sure I remember to write that he has officially become 20% cooler this year. He has a secret "crush" that can't know about, but he often makes comments, such as: "I like girls that have blond hair that's a little longer than shoulder length. And I don't like the look of thick glasses on girls." We are getting closer to solving the mystery of the secret crush! While driving him to school the other day, Brevan asked me if I thought he should go to the New Years Eve church dance. I told him I don't care one way or the other, and asked how he felt about going. He said the other boys his age are pressuring him, but he doesn't feel ready. I told him not to worry about going then because he has plenty of years to get involved in social activities. Later that day, he texted me from school:
Brevan: Just accidentally walked into the girls bathroom. My life is over.
Me: Oh no!! Haha that is not good in Junior High!
Brevan: Girls saw me. Not good. Perhaps it's not time for any dances yet . . .
This kid cracks me up! I'm glad he's learning to laugh at himself when he makes mistakes!
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