Texas Style Birthday!

Three and a half weeks later, I'm finally posting about his birthday, but I don't want him to say that I forgot his special day.

Seventeen.

 I cannot believe I have a child that will be an adult in less than one year.

Button can't believe it either!

The story goes.....the birthday boy wanted boots.  Bonafide, good ole, Texas boots.  If you have not ever had the honor of buying boots?  I have one word for you.

  Expensive.

It was also the type of thing that I couldn't go buy and wrap up. 

You need to make sure the boots fit perfectly.

So I decided to make him a Texas flag throw pillow to tuck in with his gift card.

  

The Marquette U. throw pillow was such a big hit last year, I thought it would be fun to do again.  Especially since I haven't finished his quilt yet. Yikes. 

 

But then I thought just the boot gift card would be boring, so why not more gift cards?  Or better yet?  A "certificate" declaring him an official Texan. 

 He was born in Virginia, but has been here for the past 11 years of his life!

I think he liked it! 

(Whataburger is a Texas thang)

And at that point the bunting I made for the fireplace made sense to him.

and the cupcake toppers.

All in all? A pretty successful birthday!

Too much for a seventeen year old...or not enough?

My Alma Mater

Marquette University

The place where I earned my Nursing degree.  The place where I grew up to become an Army Officer, thanks to the most incredible Army ROTC program!! 

It also happens to be the place where I happened to run into Mr. Boss on the first day I was moving into my dorm.  I don't know how many people meet their soul mate over a big moving cart their freshman year...but I was one of them!

With that said, our children are subjected to Marquette Basketball every single year.  March madness is a sacred time around here.  We don't buy NFL packages for our television review.  We buy NCAA men's basketball packages!!!

You are wondering...why the pillow?  

It is for our oldest son.  

The one who turned 16 yesterday.  

SIXTEEN!!!!!!!

Oh..and yes, it is official.  Fancy Fondant is not for me. Cupcakes?  Oh yes.  I did make the 16 out  fondant because he is the only one in the house that actually likes to eat it!

Back to the pillow....

I predicted he would not be super excited about it. His general response to my quilts when I am done are, "that looks just like all the others....it's a quilt".  But don't be too harsh on him. He admits and everyone else in our house knows that his talents are not in anyway bent to artistic creativeness.

He loves sports.  He REALLY loves Marquette Basketball.

We decided that he needed something special.  A trip to Milwaukee with his dad to see a game.    I am all about surprises and silly packaging. So I thought I would make the foundation pieced pillow.

It was a rocky process and my design changed as I was working on it. 
But I finished it yesterday morning, just in time to tuck the tickets in the box.  

I thought for sure he would say, "Oh...gee...nice" and then the tickets and trip would be even more exciting after such a let down.

Instead?  It was "Mom, wow. You made this for me?  I love it.  It is awesome!"  

I love him.  

He is currently my favorite right now.

Shhhh...don't tell the others.