Our Big Boy is Super 16!!!

Happy 16th Birthday, Colt!

Today is a BIG day!! Our biggest boy is turning 16! It is hard to believe that I could be the mother of a teenager, let alone a boy now old enough to drive! WOW!! And I still feel so young and have only had to pull out about 10 grey hairs to stay on top of those nasty little traitors! So how could *I* have a 16 year old! LOL!

(click on any of the pictures for closeups)

When I got married my good friend Jenny said that that she she had known me, I had always wanted to get married and have kids. So you can imagine my delight when I found out I was pregnant with our first child.

Baby Shower For Colt

I had the most easy, wonderful pregnancy! I had morning sickness for a mere five weeks, and nothing stopped me. I was climbing ladders and fences right up to my delivery date!

When Colt decided to make his arrival known we were living about 20 minutes from our doctor. We decided to go in after about an hour of pain, because we had no idea how soon this baby would arrive! It was a good thing that we went in, because he was born a mere 4 hours 10 minutes from the first hint that a baby was on the way!

He was a BIG baby for a first baby! 9lb 2oz and 22 inches long!

Our first home was a little travel trailor on a piece of land that we rented from people we knew.

Here is a picture of it when we were taking it apart piece by piece. We lived there for almost a year. We built a little house onto the side of a 5th wheel trailer. There is Colt in the front yard, with our sports car - back in the young and foolish days!

He was the

APPLE OF MY EYE

2 Months Old

We didn't know how advanced he was physically when he was tiny, because he was our first!

Just Sitting Casually on Daddy's Shoulders!

Colt has always been an achiever. When he was three weeks old he could stand with us holding his hands! Here he is standing with me supporting his shoulders, but he has the full weight on his legs. You couldn't bend those stubborn little legs, if you tried! He would grow up and show us how determined he could be. Almost any goal he set for himself, he would attain!

He was sitting up before four months. He was walking around furniture days after he turned six months! And then there was no stopping him. He just cruised! When we went to Europe when he was 7 months he was walking up and down train aisles! We thought this was normal until we had other kids and some didn't walk til 15 months!

6 Months Old!

Colt became a world traveller at 12 weeks, when we took him on a little four seater airplane to visit my aunt. This was the beginning of his travels.... He would later travel to Europe before he was one year old and do such things as sledding on Mount Andermatt in Switzerland.....

Sledding on Mount Andermatt, in Switzerland

This was a forty! minute sled ride down the mountain! By the time we got to the bottom Colt was sound asleep! Note Ray's fashionable gear. We were staying with friends from the countryside and we were not equipped with snow gear! So we all had a giggle at how 'fashionable' we all were in our country gear beside the fancy tourists!

Writing Postcards in Switzerland

Duncan and Denise and Colt, in Switzerland

Playing the Slots with Auntie Lorna, in England

Auntie Carole and Uncle Norman with Colt, in England

English Bobbies and Colt

Paris, France

We took this trip with him when he was just 7 1/2 months old. He cut his first tooth in France!! It was a wonderful experience. The trip, not the teething!

Homeward Bound

When Colt was four months old he was dedicated to God. As Colt grew he showed himself to truly love the Lord. He is a real inspiration in his faith. He has a real heart for God and even though Colt is attending a public school now, he regularly attends a prayer group and bible study at the school! This is not run by the school, but by the students within. It is so wonderful to see the young man of faith immerging.

Colt's Dedication

When Colt was 7 months old his Uncle Carl bought him a motorbike!! I think he was disappointed that Colt didn't get on and ride it that first day!! *laugh* That little bike had a lot of use before it finally bit the dust.

10 Months Old and Too Cute!

Colt was a busy little boy and the days passed and soon he was a big brother!

Sneaking Into Baby Brother Dane's Crib!

Colt had a best friend named Katie! They were such pals. They have been friends since they were born, because Katie's mum and I have been friends since we were kids. Colt and Katie don't get to see each other much anymore, but I know there will always be a soft spot in Colt's heart for Katie. They have many fond memories.

Katie and Colt

Forever Friends

Colt and Dane have been BEST FRIENDS since they were tiny. They've spent so many years doing things together over the years. Our philosophy has always been that Family Is First and friends are second. So our boys have always been encouraged to treat each other like Best Friends - cause 'Your brother is the best friend you will ever have!'.

Pals....

As Little Boys....

And Big Boys!
Colt (15) and Dane (13)

When Colt was four years old he learned to ski - again, he being a goal oriented boy decided that he wanted to learn to ski that VERY FIRST DAY. The reason was that he knew he could not use the ski lift until he could ski. Within four hours he was on that chair lift and I was having to race to keep up with him on the way down the hills!!!

Little Skier

Colt became a big brother AGAIN. Colt loved his baby brother and was a tender little guy. He had such a paternal way about him.

New Baby For the Boys!

And then a couple years later....

Another Brother....

By the Time Colt Was Seven

When Colt was between the ages of three and five, I taught preschool at our home, in a little preschool called, The Secret Garden. By the time grade school began for Colt at age 5, I couldn't imagine sending this sweet little guy off to school!! I would so miss all the hours I got to spend with him all day! And what would Dane do with his best buddy gone? And do you really think that a paid teacher would have the same joy when Colt learned to read his first word? Or conquered his times tables? I knew there was no way I wanted him to leave the nest just yet! We decided we would homeschool until he was at least 8 years old.

Kindergarten

School was not to be just dry text books. In addition to reading, writing and arithmetic being learned the old fashioned way we would end up doing all kinds of wonderful things, like having medieval feasts - complete with Daddy wearing an icecream bucket for a crown!

Medieval Feast - Studying Middle Ages

They would be learning LIFE SKILLS and COOKING.

Little Cook

Hanging Laundry - Any Little Guy Can Do It!

They would be exposed to CULTURE through going to ballets, and plays and having tea with me in the afternoon. They loved the tea time and we need to do more of it!

Tea and Reading

They made a mattress from leaves when studying the Pilgrims,

Making a Mattress Like Pilgrims

and learned about Symmetry by building the Eiffel Tower with cheese and toothpicks.

Symmetry Lesson

The boys learned Geography by traveling to Japan in a boat - complete with maps and binoculars to find the way.

Geography in a Boat

Practicing Adding

Colt proved himself to be a hardworker at school and he learned to read by age 6.

Reading to Baby Brother

His favourite parts of school were the read alouds and the hands on projects. Colt quickly got into projects like making a bookshelf, and a boat! Each of these activities showed Colt's character traits. Both took a lot of determination, hard work and dedication. He began each job on his own and saw them to completion with little adult assistance!

Refinishing His Bookshelf

Building His Boat

Ever since Colt was a little boy I have always said that he is a 'man in a little boy's body'. His work ethic was remarkable and he always enjoyed doing a real man's work - no matter the weather or where the job.

Filling the Basement With Sand

When he was 6 years old he got to help his dad put a new roof on our house. Anytime there was a big job to do he would be the first one to do it. You couldn't force this little boy to stay inside. He wanted to be outside working side by side with his dad.

First Roofing Contract

When Colt was seven years old he had a bunch of friends come over for a cowboy birthday. It was a lot of fun. See if you can recognize some of your little guys and girls in this picture! They have sure changed from back then!

Colt's 7th Birthday Party

Once Colt hit age 8, I realized that I didn't want to stop teaching him, and now I had his little brother learning too! There was no way I was going to send them to school!! So off we went to our next years of learning. There was so MUCH MORE TO LEARN and if they were in school they would be stuck learning what the teacher thought they *needed* to learn, rather than what they *wanted* to learn!! I firmly believe in following a child's passions, because ultimately when they grow up, *that* is where they are going to go - what interests them! Of course, as well as their passions we also follow the basics 3 R's.

Colt showed himself to have a real knack with inventions, electronics and mechanics. When Colt was 8 years old he took a chainsaw that was totally taken apart (by a repair shop trying to find the problem with it) and he rebuilt it correctly!

Rebuilding a Chainsaw

And then when he was 9 years old he took an old blender of mine and built a working airplane in our basement!!! It actually had a working propellor!!

Building a Plane With an Electric Propellor (age 9)

Creating an Invention at Science Camp

Eleven Years Old Today!

When he was 11 1/2 he gained a new team mate for all their fun. Another baby boy joined our family.

Cooper Was Born

When Colt was 13 he had an opportunity to go to Mexico on a missions trip. He has always been a very compassionate boy and so this was a really special thing for him to get to do. This was a also a very exciting trip for him, as he was the only child on the trip to go without parents. He was gone for two weeks and a treat of going to Disneyland on the way home.

Colt's First Missions Trip

Life carried on with our boys and Colt was always the ringleader. He always had wonderful ideas for lots of fun, imaginative games. The other boys were quick to follow his lead, because he always had the best plans!

The boys enjoyed their war games in the woods on our property and as soon as they found out that our town had a Royal Army Cadet Core, they joined it. Colt has proven himself to be an upstanding cadet - a fine example to the rest of the core. He takes his position as Corporal seriously, and is soon to be promoted to Master Corporal.

Guarding the Memorial During Remembrance Day

Corporal and Private

When Colt was just 6 weeks old, he had the chance to go to the Provincial Summer Camp and meet his cousin, who was the Chaplain. Little did he know that when he was 14 years old he would become a cadet himself!

Six Week Old Cadet Colt

When Colt was 13 he became a big brother for the FIFTH time.

My Littlest Brother.... Briton

Colt is a very busy big brother. He doesn't get a lot of time anymore to hang out with his little brothers. Here are some pictures of Colt enjoying those pesky little brothers who love him.

I Love My Brother!

Just Hanging Out With My Bro'

Brothers Eating Icecream

Brothers at the Treehouse

Austin and Colt

Colt's newest endeavor is learning to play the electric guitar that he got for Christmas last year.

New Abilities

As Colt grew up he continued to be an extremely hard worker with a great work ethic! He began working for his dad on a parttime basis when he was 11 years old.

One of Colt's First Foundations - Age 11

By the time he was 15, he was his Dad's right hand man, and a very valuable employee! Recently, when I was in a local automotive shop, one of the workers was telling his boss that he had worked with my husband and Colt, and he was saying what an amazing worker our son is. I know this, but it sure is nice to hear Colt applauded publicly for his efforts!

Setting Trusses on the Roof

Pouring a Foundation

Last fall, Colt decided that he wanted to go into the public school and try it out. He had worked extremely hard from June '06 through January of this year, at home, putting 5 academic subjects behind himself, whereas school kids only had to do 3 subjects. His plan was to enter school at the beginning of the second semester and see how he liked it. Well, he has done extremely well, with the majority of his marks being B's!

Heading Out on His First Day of School

He is enjoying being a part of a Leadership program, where he has had the opportunity to be one of the school's leaders. This week he had the responsibility of being the Project Manager of a 30 Hour Famine. It was an outstanding success with students raising $1000 for hungry children!

He has had fun dressing up for the variety of 'theme days' they have had.

Punk Day

Colt has also joined a prayer group and bible study that take place with a large group of students at school. He studies extremely hard and spends his free time doing youth group activities, cadets, working for his dad when he can, and just hanging with his brothers or friends.

Studying Hard

Now that Colt is 16, a driver's license is the next thing on the table!! Colt got his fill driving the ATV this last summer, while we were building our house and then clearing our land. The novelty has worn off; now he is ready for the real thing!

ATV Main Man

Today was Colt's birthday and the sports court officially opened. The boys had a ball playing hockey and basketball with their dad. There is still work to be done with fencing it, but in the meantime they had a mean game of hockey. Unfortunately they still do not have the big guy hockey nets and you can see how big Colt is in the net!! *grin*

Having a Little Fun!

Hockey Game With Dad and All the Boys

He Saves the Game!!

Colt, you have always been a loyal, loving son. On one hand, it is so exciting to see you growing up, but on the other, it is a bittersweet thought to think of you moving up and out. I am so happy to see you achieving so much with your life, but I will miss my little boy! I know that one day you will be a fine husband to some lucky girl! I am proud to call you my son!!

With all my love on your 16th birthday!

~Mum~