Today is definitely a special "bluebird day" for me.....
because today is the anniversary 22 years ago....on July 21, 1989....that God blessed me with my younger son, Elliott....
Today is the 22nd birthday of my son, Elliott Courtland.... Each year as you celebrate your child's birthday, you reminisce about times spent with them during their childhood. Here are a few of my memories...
Of course, my first memory is of the day Elliott was born...July 21st, 1989, in Houston, Texas.... My Mother was visiting and excited to welcome her second grandchild. Big Brother Brandon was also very happy to have a sibling.... Brandon had just turned six years old in May that year. Both my sons were born on the 21st....one in May and the other in July....
Ten little fingers and ten little toes..... this little piggy went to market....this little piggy stayed home... Brandon has on a hospital covering over his clothes which they required in those days...
Brandon holds Elliott in the rocker at the hospital.... rock-a-bye baby...
Home in his room....Elliott is surrounded with love and attention.... I loved the Laura Ashley wallpaper I had selected for Elliott's nursery...
Brandon brought tears to our eyes one day as he disappeared into his room and came back with his security....his cookie monster....and presented it to Elliott.... such a sweet gesture... My Mother and I both cried, and it still brings tears to my eyes to think about it....
Little babies grow up so fast... Soon Elliott was a toddler and exploring the world around him... and we were back at the hospital welcoming Elliott's cousin, Jordan, into the world... Jordan and Elliott have been very close throughout their lives and spent a lot of time together when they were both little in Houston.
Elliott and Jordan with olympic winner, Kathy Rigby, on Kathy's birthday at the Four Seasons Hotel in Houston. Kathy was playing Peter Pan on broadway and we attended a special birthday/Christmas luncheon with her before the performance. This photo appeared in the Houston Chronicle Newspaper after the event....
Elliott with Jordan.... ride em cowboy and cowgirl!
My sister, Jeri, bought this rickshaw at an auction in Houston. It was used at one time on the field of the Astrodome before events.... My sister's neighborhood had a parade for residents each year on the 4th of July. It was hard to beat the decorated rickshaw for first prize... Here are Elliott, Jordan, Brandon and myself after a ride down the streets of my sister's neighborhood in the 4th of July parade in Houston...
Elliott and I at Halloween one year... All small children want to be "community helpers" when they are little.... They are born with a desire to help others... Elliott thought about being an Astronaut like many children, too. He excells in math and science and would have been a good Astronaut. About the time he was six years old, he decided to go into the computer field. He never varied from this once he made his choice of a career as a young child. Today, Elliott attends University of Washington where he is majoring in Computer Engineering and Robotics. After we moved to Florida, at 6 years old, Elliott predicted that one day he would go to college in Washington State. We had never been to Washington State......little did I know that a few years later, my husband would be offerred a promotion by his company, and we would relocate to the great Northwest. Elliott, your prediction came true....today, you are attending college in Washington State. Funny how life works.....
Elliott with Santa at an office party for Coca-Cola Foods in Houston...
Elliott and I at our home in Houston with one of our puppies...
Every Christmas, my sons and I made a gingerbread house when they were growing up. Here are Brandon and Elliott with one of those houses...
Elliott with Brandon heading to the Houston Livestock and Rodeo. Today, my son, Brandon, volunteers at the Rodeo each year along with his fiance, Amy...
My Mother with Elliott and Brandon after Elliott's first confession service at Church in Florida.
Elliott and Brandon with my husband as he heads off to sea...
Target practice and gun safety instruction with my Dad....reliving something I did with my Dad when I was small...
Special memories with his grandfather.... We miss you Dad! xoxo
Elliott and his cousin, Jordan, on the day my husband and I were married...
Elliott and his younger cousin, Sarah....my brother's daughter....
Fast forward a few years.... Elliott and his friend, James, working on a computer. That is Elliott on the left...
Heading to homecoming at Klahowya High School a few years ago...
Elliott with his cousin, Jordan...
At a restaurant in Seattle...
With his brother Brandon (cowboy hat) at a restaurant near Pike Place Market....
On a fun day at Lake Sutherland and Crescent Lake Lodge...
Another high school homecoming....
Happy 18th Birthday.... at our former home in Silverdale...
Our home was always opened to all of Elliott's friends...
Drivers license and heading out on his own...
Elliott driving alone for the first time after acquiring his driver's license...
Like many parents as their child headed out on their own for the first time, I prayed..... God please watch over my son....
At Brandon's University of Florida graduation.... Elliott and Brandon
With Brandon, my parents and I....
Elliott with my husband, Brandon and I....
and with his cousin, Jordan, and my sister Jeri, too...
Heading to Seattle on the Bainbridge Island ferry.... Elliott with Brandon and I....
With Brandon on a Cannon Beach, Oregon, Thanksgiving trip...
My husband and Elliott working on a project together...
In Houston at Brandon's first apartment...
Another dance at high school...
Elliott enjoying a dinner out...
2008 Prom at Klahowya High...
Having a little fun...
Graduation from high school....2008...
Elliott and Honor Society Sponsor, Mr. Seidel.... one of Elliott's favorite high school teachers...
Award night at high school before graduation... Elliott and Mark...
Senior hoodie...
Elliott's cousin, Jordan, came from Florida to attend his graduation...
Celebrating Elliott's graduation....
Our family... Brandon had started working at Exxon-Mobil in Houston at this point and came from Houston to be with us for Elliott's graduation...
Brandon's longtime friend, Aaron (on left) also visited us for the event...
Elliott and I before leaving for the graduation ceremony...
Congrats, Elliott! After the ceremony...
Elliott with Brandon....
Jordan, Elliott and Brandon...
Cruise to Alaska to celebrate Elliott's high school graduation....tea at the Empress Hotel in Victoria...
Elliott and I on the cruise...that is Paula Deen, first lady of southern cooking, behind us in the blue....
Elliott with Paula Deen....that is her husband, Michael, on the left....
Hubbard Glacier....
Elliott begins classes at Olympic College.... Thanksgiving at Alderbrook Lodge on the Hood Canal... Elliott with Brandon, Sadie and I...
Our family at the Alderbrook Lodge...
Elliott, Brandon, Sadie and I on Hurricane Ridge....
Elliott celebrates his 21st birthday...
Elliott had just recently found out he was accepted to the University of Washington so I had his 21st birthday cake decorated with UW colors and UW written on it...
My husband and I celebrated privately with Elliott by taken him to Tides Tavern where you have to be 21 to be admitted, and then we gave Elliott a party with his friends to celebrate....
Part of our birthday gift to Elliott was to travel to Anacortes to see a live performance of Whose Line Is It Anyway....one of Elliott's favorite shows. The live show was going to be held at a casino in Anacortes, Washington. Elliott loves Ryan Stiles, who happens to live nearby in Bellingham, and operates an improv theatre there. Ryan sometimes shows up to perform along with the students on Thursday nights....
If you are familiar with the show, they sometimes call for audience participation on some of the improv skits. Elliott was selected from the audience to help with one. If you have watched the show, you will recognize his skit because it is the one where the selectees from the audience provide sounds for the skit... That is Elliott on the very far left...
I was excited for Elliott to be selected because I know how much he loves this show!
We stayed in this hotel....the Majestic Inn. The Inn will let you bring your pet for a fee so Sadie Mae joined us for the trip. We learned that the improv group were also staying at the hotel...
Time flew and it was suddenly move in day at the University of Washington. After two years at Olympic College, Elliott was heading over to begin his third year in college at University of Washington. This photo was taken of Elliott and I with Sadie the morning we left to drive Elliott and his dorm items over to the campus...
Elliott and I in the foyer of his dorm building...
Elliott walking into his dorm...
Elliott's first year at University of Washington has flown by.... soon it was time to pick him up for the summer. I have been enjoying having Elliott home again for the past month or so. He will return back to UW in the fall to complete his 4th year of college as he works towards completing his computer engineering degree over the next two years.
Elliott is currently on a 15 day cruise to Greece and Italy. He sent me a special email today from the ship. We planned that we would exchange emails today on his birthday. Elliott returns from his cruise on Monday evening. We will begin to plan a celebration for him next week in honor of his 22nd birthday. This posting is my birthday tribute to Elliott.
Happy 22nd birthday, Elliott! You have filled my life with love and memories. It has been a joy to be your mother over the past 22 years. I love you more than you will ever know! Happy Birthday, love Mom xoxo
Thank you all for sharing my special day today and my memories. Have a beautiful day! xoxo Kim