Katelynn is 18!

I can't believe that Ryan's baby sister is now officially 18 years old! The time goes by so fast! She was only 8 when Ryan and I started dating!! Wow, how times flies.

She was always a fun kid. After we moved in when their dad passed away- we got to spend every night with her. Their mom had to work "night shift" and we were In charge of getting Katelynn everyday from school and getting her homework done, making dinner and whatever else was going on at the time. We had softball practice, games, where Ryan was the assistant coach and I was the "dug out mom". We were there to help with whatever we could as this was a huge transition for all of them. Katelynn and I still look back and laugh at some of those times. We really did have fun and we tried to make it a good time for her. Her and I would play UNO or Phase 10 almost every night and she would beg to stay up just a little bit later. We would make hamburgers or mac and cheese and stick hot dogs in it...her thing she made me try. She would get sad if we were going to go out with our friends for the night. She always wanted to go with us. We felt bad.

We moved away when she was 10ish, and we stayed gone for almost 6 years. We still came down alot and we still had time together. Her and I would pick part of the weekend out and go shopping together. We loved it. It was a ritual. She was always mature for her age and we enjoyed spending time with her.

We got to finally move back to Corpus about a year 1/2 ago and she was such a good help! She came and watched Bridg for us so we could go out and have a date night or go out with some friends (We never had that in Beaumont). She still comes and watches B every now and then. But she is getting older - having her own fun so know that is much more important to a 18 year old! ha!

She is an excellent kid...I mean adult and I am so proud of the person that she has grown into. She has a good head on her shoulder and knows right from wrong and really tried to display those traits. She has tons of friends and a boyfriend who adores her. I know she will do great things and I can't wait to see how her college life plays out for her. She is going to have a blast!

On her 18th birthday we went to dinner at Giramaldi's. Bridger was shy with all the girls at first, but warmed up and was sitting on their laps by the end of the night. Little ham.