Happy Birthday Marcus!

Birthday Boy with the flu

Marcus turned fifteen!  We were excited to celebrate this boy.  Poor kid came down with the flu on Wednesday and still wasn't feeling great on his birthday the following Sunday.  We let him stay home from church and I'm afraid to ask him just how much he enjoyed that little gift!  He cleaned the kitchen while we were gone so that was a pleasant surprise.
You should know that Marcus HATES his birthday.  He doesn't ask for much, refuses any sort of party or small gathering and if I hint that I might have something up my sleeve he gets a horrified look on his face and begs me to not do whatever I might be thinking of doing.  I think it's weird but it's his day so I have to honor his request at some level.  I still did all the usual birthday traditions we have like decorating his bedroom door with a sign and balloons, hanging up lots of pictures of the birthday boy all over the kitchen, and making a cake and dinner of his choice.  At dinner over grilled burgers with fried onion strings, everyone said something they loved about Marcus and then we clapped and cheered.  Marcus hated it but endured the compliments while silently pounding down two giant burgers.

Marcus chose a cinnamon roll cake for his birthday cake which is absolutely delicious when it comes out of the oven, but it isn't a typical birthday cake and it's super easy to make.  But I still failed.  I pulled the hot cake out of the oven, yelled for all the boys to come to the kitchen to sing and blow out candles, and quickly poked the candles in the cake.  By the time Marcus arrived the candles had started to completely melt inside the cake.  Duh!  I pulled them out and to my horror saw puddles of wax filling the holes where the candles once stood.  We put the party on hold for ten minutes while the cake cooled down enough so I could scoop out the wax, then I put the candles back in.  It was a mess but Marcus was forgiving.  So that's how we celebrated the big 15 for Marcus and now comes the part when I get to tell you some of the reasons why Marcus is so awesome...
Marcus is a great kid!  He's a natural leader, comfortable talking to adults, super athletic, musical, and kind to everyone.  He is smart and knows how to work hard.  He loves his little brothers fiercely and they love and admire him in return.  He is very attentive to others, whether it's noticing his brother is upset about something or that I'm wearing something new, he notices it.  His future wife is going to love him for that!  He is disciplined and will do whatever it takes to reach the goals he sets for himself and the ups, downs, and drama of his love life always keep us on our toes.  In his words to Ethan, "Only one more year until I can date girls without Mom being mad."
So accurate. 
We love you Marcus!
Here are some random pictures of him throughout the past year.  It took awhile to find them.  He truly isn't around much these days, and if he is he's got Henry in his arms or his shirt off or both :)

Scout camp Marcus

Marcus at Disneyland

Marcus at Hobuck Beach

Marcus playing church ball