Happy Birthday Max!!!

Today is my youngest son's birthday - my baby is 22 years old!  I still don't understand how this is possible - I mean, I remember when he was born, and I SWEAR it was not that long ago!

We went up to Denton for the weekend to see the boys.  Stopped first at Max's apartment to give him his birthday presents...you know you're an adult when you get art, or rather, "three art" as Max put it, for your birthday.

Max and his art - hey, he wanted real art for his apartment - no more posters for this boy...er, young man!

We had a fun weekend, both relaxing and whirlwind busy - don't ask me how we managed to do that!  For Max's official birthday dinner, he requested a Mexican restaurant in Frisco, which is near where Sam lives.  The boys were eyeing the margaritas on the menu, so Jeff and I encouraged them to order one.  Of course, we cracked up when they were carded by the waiter!  While they both thought the margaritas were pretty strong, they managed to finish them, no problem.

Sam has only had one sip and already, he's giggling!  Max is pondering the essence of the tequila...or maybe he had a brain freeze from the drink?

Here's some of my favorite pictures of Max through the years - he's a kid who's marched to the beat of his own drum - and in one case, created his own drum set.  I'm proud to have him for my son! :)

Lack of an actual drum set never stopped Max from making his own music!

This was taken during - yes, during - his 6th birthday party!  It had rained that day, and after the games and cake, Jeff took the boys up to the elementary school to burn off some energy.  They found mud puddles and were quite proud of their "war paint," those knuckleheads!

 

 (Austin, Tony, Zach and Max)

Max loves animals - these are some (not all, believe it or not) of our pets with him:

With Jackie - I don't think she lasted long in the tub, but she looks like she was enjoying her bath!

With his favorite, Bugs the rat.

Max and kitten Taz.

Vintage Max - old school computer and monitor, soda can AND bottle (banner day!), and Bart the kitten.  What more could a boy want?

Max had a terrible first football game in seventh grade - he was knocked down by a huge kid and badly broke both bones in his wrist.  He ended up having four surgeries and nearly lost his hand after compartment syndrome set in the evening after the bones were set (surgery #1).  Here he is recovering after one of the operations, with now adult cat Bart and my favorite, Pumpkin, keeping him company:

And after all of that trauma, he actually went back and played football AGAIN the next year (broken foot) and the year after that (broken arm).  Then he finally decided enough was enough!

Here's my now 22-year-old son, with happy (I'm with my boy, I'm with my boy) Paco (and mega-desk behind him):

Have a great birthday, Max!!!  We love you. :)