Who is this kid?

Well for a start that is one of his favourite sayings. Especially if David asks him to do something ... he points to David and looks at me and says "who is this kid???"

It was hysterical the first time we heard it. Not so much now.

He also had a birthday this week and turned 14.


He got to open his presents whilst half asleep.

... he loved the cash and all his presents.

We had Subway for afternoon tea/ dinner and then went to see a movie after David finished work.

We saw HP7p2 or the last Harry Potter movie if you are not a wizard geek.

Some things I think about Bear:

He can be sweet and loving and he can fight with his sister and swear like a trooper. He can do all these things in the space of 10 minutes.

He is a good Mate and has good mates.

He is off to his first high school birthday party this Friday night.

He is playing school rugby and starts the season this week.

He has no bedroom or proper cupboard space since we changed his bedroom to our bathroom. He doesn't care. He either sleeps on the couch, in Lucy's room or on the floor in our bedroom.

In some ways (like above) he is uber easy going. In other ways he as a stubborn as a mule.

One of the best parts of his birthday was listening to him on the phone to his Uncle's and Aunty's and Grandparents. He is a good conversationalist.

We are about to go overseas for a skiing trip that is mostly for his (and David's) benefit.

He loathes his English teacher and its been a steep learning curve for him not to be the teachers favourite.

He is a pretty good helper around the house and garden. He is a stellar helper with chores when he stays with Nanna & Poppie.

He isn't particularly into fashion and is fairly conservative with his hair and clothes.

He loves his Maths teacher and is hoping to do extension maths next year.

He wants to be an engineer of some description. He is hoping this earns him a lot of money so he can spend a lot of time skiing and snowboarding.

He has been chosen by the school to take part in a mentor program during Year 10 (he will have a mentor from the engineering field).

He has black and white views. It is either wrong or right in Riley's world.

Even though he fights a lot with Lucy he does protect and look after her at school and on the bus.

He likes to listen to Bliss n Esso and Rise Again very loudly on his ipod. He likes the fact that these bands are slightly subversive way more than he likes these bands.

In lots of ways he is a mini version of David. This is a very good thing.

He likes to lift up his shirt and show me (or David or Lucy) but mostly me ... his washboard abs. He does this to annoy me and because loving yourself sick is part of being a teenager I guess.

At least once a week he complains about our lack of internet capabilities at home and cant understand why D and I wont entertain the idea of moving closer to town.

His favourite TV shows are Race around the World, Teen Wolf and Angry boys and any Rugby Union that televised.

He only really turns into "teenager" when he is hungry or tired... teenager and toddler are not so far apart.

He does 3 hours of parkour/circus school and gymnastics on a Sunday morning. He and Lucy do it and he wouldn't have had a go at it without Lucy.

He is so much more than all the above and we love and treasure him much more than words can say.

Happy Birthday Riley Bear!