18 years, 5 months

Last week of high school!

18 + 4: the college decision edition

Huge relief to have these decisions made!

Even though I would prefer the boys to be out of Louisiana, if they are going to stay in state, at least they’re not going to be too far from me. (Tulane is about a 20 minute drive but may as well be another world.) Miles will be about an hour and a half away, so not too bad. And is it weird that I kind of miss going to Baton Rouge? I think I’ve only been back a few times since my mom and Larry moved away, and those were either for LSU games or LSU visits.

(And no, before you ask, Oliver and Linus are not going to room together.)

18 years + 3 months

I figure we have five more of these to do. Five! That’s it! Hopefully by the next one of these, we’ll have a better idea of where the boys will be going next year. We have some ideas, but nothing is set in stone yet.

18 years + 2 months

218 months!

Exciting college stuff is happening. Oliver got a very generous scholarship from Tulane, enough that he may end up closer to home than previously expected. No firm news from any other schools for the other two. But things are moving along.

18 years + 1 month

No, I didn’t stop taking monthly pics when they became adults. Perish the thought! (But realistically, August will probably be the last one. Sob.)

We went on a little adventure to City Park and the sculpture garden, which is why this month’s pic looks a little different. Thought it would be a waste not to use a pretty setting if we had one available!

(I did take this on January 4, but I didn’t get a chance to upload it until today.)

Adults!

Today, the boys are 18. EIGHTEEN.

We went to our usual dinner at Texas Roadhouse last night (they’re supposed to have a game tonight, but the weather is pretty yucky so we’ll see) and they got shoes and socks as their gifts. Yes boys, adulthood is boring.

And the 17 birthdays prior to this one:

17 years, 11 months

aka the last monthly picture as children.

Some people have asked if I’ll stop when they turn 18. No, I will stop when I cannot take them anymore. I suppose next August will probably be the last one. 😦

17 years + 10 months

I am very proud of taking this and posting it on the correct day! (ETA: well, apparently the narcotics haven’t completely worn off because I originally titled this 17 years + 2 months.) Especially since this was done mostly one handed. And with my left hand, no less!

(Shoulder surgery was a week ago yesterday and holy shit did it hurt. Am starting to feel better now, but won’t have the use of my right arm for many weeks.)

Boys are doing great, getting ready to start submitting college applications. Can you believe it?!?

17 years, 9 months

I don’t even know what to say here. They’re almost 18. Adults. It’s going to be a weird month. I’m having shoulder surgery in a couple of weeks. How am I going to be able to take the picture one handed? I’ll have to use my phone, I guess. Even that will be hard. The whole thing is going to be a lesson in letting go of control, which is not easy for me.

17 years, 8 months

A week from today is their first day of senior year.

(I’ll save any thoughts I have on that for next week’s post.)

17 + 7

They had their senior portraits taken last week. I didn’t cry! So proud of myself.

17 and a half

Don’t forget to take the monthly pic before we leave for the airport, I told myself. Okay, I forgot. Don’t forget to take the picture before we drop the boys off at my sister’s. Okay, forgot again. Thanks to Aunt Jenny for getting a pic of the boys before the day was out!

We had a busy week in Virginia between my niece’s graduation, four college visits, and an MLS game, but it was a lot of fun!