These Past 9 Years Have Gone By So Fast

Today, my oldest nephew turns 9...HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHAEL!!!!! He had his family party over the weekend and today he's having 9 of his friends come over (with him and Joseph it makes 11) to play football and eat home-made pizza. What a handful, good luck Kathy! Michael and Joseph (one of my other nephews) have been diligently working on their playbook for the big game today!

Here are Joseph and Michael, the team captains/coaches of the day!

I've been feeling homesick lately, and missing out on celebrating Michael's birthday certainly doesn't help. I did get to talk to the birthday boy last night, and it sounds like he's been having a great few days of birthday-ness. I just can't believe my sweet nephew is 9 years old already! I remember sitting in the hospital waiting room anxiously waiting to meet him. I've watched him grow up before my eyes, and I can't wait to see what his future brings for him. So here's some pictures of Michael over the past 9 years...

Precious Michael, my brother, and sister-in-law

Michael and I before my 8th grade graduation, May of 2001

Kisses from Michael 4 years ago...look at little Charity in the bottom right corner!

Michael on St. Patty's day 2007 riding the train into Chicago

Michael is probably the BIGGEST Bears fan that I know. It amazes me all of the statistics he knows about them and his undying enthusiasm! He is definitely a football fanatic!!

This was taken near the end of 2007, beginning of 2008. Michael grew his hair out because he wanted to be like the Jo Bros (aka Jonas Brothers) I believe. This is one of my favorite pictures of us.

This picture was taken this past summer, when the whole family went to an Indians game.