What Dwayne really likes for his birthday is a dinner out, with friends, his treat. We sort of alternate between the island and home, but we did something new this year. Friends who still have a too-little one would not be able to make it for a night out, so we hired a personal chef to cook for nine of us at the cabin. We brought Costco food for the kids, to be eaten at our friends’ house, while we splurged on a home-cooked-by-someone-else meal. Unfortunately, weather sent our picnic table inside, but it was still a perfect evening. Jon brought the bucket of homegrown veggies that Chef Raina turned into part of our scrumptious dinner.

Now, Dwayne is fully celebrated and ready to be 47!

Dwayne always likes to scout out a new year for us so I don’t have to go first. He’s 47 today, and between flan and family, pretty much has everything he needs.

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Kyla wanted to go to Wild Waves with her BFF to celebrate turning 15, and she thought her siblings also getting to bring a friend would make it the perfect day. I got to bring my buddy, too! He did all the waterslides with the boys. [When we did this 3 years ago, I brought the same number of kids, three years younger, and by myself. Wow, I was amazing!]

And as for me, myself, and I? I guarded towels and read an amazing book in the sun. Purely delightful.

Kyla turned 15 on her first day of high school. It was a freshman-only day, so it was more fun than drag, and it was exciting to send her off.

We were still able to serve her favorite dinner on the front deck and eat chocolate cake for dessert, so it was still felt like a birthday. Her lil’ bro really loves his sister and wanted to make it a special day for her.

Fifteen for Kyla on her Fifteenth Birthday

1. She’s a great snuggler.
2. She’s adventurous.
3. She’s creative.
4. She’s smart.
5. She’s responsible.
6. I love how she delves so deeply into stories.
7. She learns about the world from so many sources, and remembers and applies her knowledge!
8. She is fearless!  I remember when she “stepped off” a very tall virtual tree just because she didn’t want to.
9. Kyla has begun to think about philosophy, and you can see her brain turning ideas around and looking it them from different angles.
10. Kyla doesn’t make a fuss about things, deliberately NOT whining, which is the harder thing to choose.
11. Kyla thinks about other people. For example, for her birthday, she wants to go to Wild Waves because she AND others will enjoy it. 
12. Kyla is really interested in learning more about evolution! 
13. When Kyla sees someone working on something, she jumps in and helps without being asked to.  She definitely sees herself as a integral part of our family machine.
14. Kyla knows herself well and makes decisions based on what is best for herself and doesn’t bow to peer pressure.  (She didn’t even get on the Among Us train!)
15. Kyla is an artist, and I love her style of her headband, her face paint, her “uniform”, her self-knowledge!