Parker's 18th Birthday

 Look out!

We have a new adult in the house!

PARKER IS 18!!!

Now he can fly planes!?!?

Christian (a real pilot)

took him up on a early morning flight!

Best Gift EVER 

from Parker's favorite person EVER!

Later, back on the ground,

we had a massive make-your-own-pizza party!

Batman Themed

Here's Cora going down the assembly line

showing them all how it's done!

Parker invited all his band friends,

but most importantly is the

massively photogenic, Carter!

He plays the trumpet,

so he's used to making weird faces.

Surprise visitor!

Zane had to come out to play

as Joker!

Parker was speechless!

It was legend!

Zane also plays the trumpet,

so you draw your own conclusions there.

Since it was a pizza night,

we made dessert pizza instead of cake.

But then the candles wouldn't stay up...

So mom took one for the team

I just hope all his wishes come true!

(while I run to the burn unit)

Sterling doesn't know what to think!

Lots of love from Parker's crew of friends!

Earlier that day...

We had a Hill family reunion,

for Grandma's side of the family.

It was so fun to catch up in

Doyle and Judy's beautiful backyard!

Sunday after, 

we had a family birthday party.

Sterling was on batter-sampling duty.

Parker finally got to blow

out his real candles

on a real cake!

For the weekend festivities,

we put pictures of Parker as a youngster

tied to the bottom of all the balloons...

Here's a few of my favorites.

Binky lover!

Nose-picker!

Fifth-grader!

Cute-smiler!

Suit-wearer!

Robot-Commander!

Bow-tier!

BATMAN!

All-in-all,

the best big brothers he can be.

Parker is a very hard worker.

He's hardly ever home,

because he loves staying busy!

He works at Men's Warehouse.

They said they couldn't hire a

17 year-old without corporate approval.

So Parker went in 

once a week to ask,

"What did corporate say?"

After several persistent weeks,

the manager could tell he wasn't

going away.

So he got corporate approval to hire him!

Now he calls him and asks

where can I find more kids like you?!

He out sells most of the adults!

He loves suits, 

and all clothes really.

He aspires to have 

his own clothing store

one day in the future.

He loves music,

all kinds.

Every morning is fun to hear

what genre will be pouring out

from his room.

Jazz, gospel, 90's rock...

it's all great!

He's already started his mission papers,

which is very surreal!

But he genuinely is thrilled to go!

He is a spiritual leader to his

younger siblings.

He loves coming into mom and dad's

room at night,

ruminating over his day

and life in general.

He watches whatever youtube

nonsense we are watching

and we all laugh together.

I really feel there isn't

anything else I have left to teach him.

I'm sure Heavenly Father will show

me something!

But he's grown into

a better person than I could have 

ever imagined.