Ammon is a teen for the last time

We celebrated Ammon's birthday 10 days before his actual birthdate, since he would be back to college by then. As soon as we arrived back home from our family vacation on New Year's Day, we immediately got to work cooking and cleaning for his birthday meal that evening. Although he would be home from college on Christmas Break for one more week, the rest of us all had to go to work the next day, and the following weekend when he left for school, Josh and I would be gone to Amanda and Ryan's sealing in Ogden. So although the timing was a bit rushed and stressful to have a party the same day we got back from vacation, it was the best option for a time when all of us could be together to celebrate his upcoming special day on the 11th. 

Some of his friends were out of town, and couldn't come over, but Tiger and Madi were both able to join us, which was fun! We ate his birthday meal of steak, mashed potatoes, rolls and salad. He opened the few gifts he had: a new suit, khaki dress pants, a souvenir golf ball from our trip, and cash (to help him pay for the newest problem with his car--a replacement water pump). For dessert, we had peanut butter fudge. His friends hung out for a while, and then he went back into town with them. And just like that, his birthday celebrations were done! 

Ammon has enjoyed his freshman year at the University of Idaho, although there has been some struggles and difficulties in his transition. It's been a bit more costly than he anticipated (with his "new" car and purchasing school books and his new laptop had issues and wouldn't work), and it took some time to figure out where he fit in comfortably (trying to find new friends, his roommate quit school, and figuring out his goals for being in the golf program). Right after he returned from Christmas Break, he moved out of the dorms and into a Frat House, he asked Gabby to be his girlfriend, and his new semester started; things seem to be going better for him since the new year, for which we are glad. 

Ammon is now 19. He is incredibly talented and gifted! He is extremely intelligent, very social, good-looking, and really easygoing, so we are optimistic about his future. We believe that with his well-rounded abilities, he will be very successful. We hope that he will see his potential as we see it, and that he will use the gifts and talents that he has been given to continue to succeed in whatever he chooses to do.