Noah's 15th Birthday

We have very few videos of Noah as a baby or toddler. Being 15 means being born before digital cameras were the norm, and to capture video, you had to know someone who owned one of those video cameras that were carried up on the shoulder and recorded video onto some obscure tiny little tape. Lucky for us, Noah's Connecticut grandparents had one of those machines and recently sent us a few dvds of some video they had taken of Noah as a little guy. So, to help myself come to grips with the whole "15" thing, I spent his birthday morning watching those videos. Something about seeing my first apartment, my clothes, myself looking maybe 12 years old, made me see that yes, it really has been 15 years. So much has changed, so much as happened. And this guy, Noah, really has been with me forever. So, instead of going into his birthday with the feeling of "I can't believe you are 15," the sentiment was a calm. "yes."
Yes, we have spent 15 years together.
Yes, that is nearly 1/2 of my life.
Yes, this family that we know as the Five Carmonas started with you and me.

Noah made a plan to get a group of friends together in Asheville to go to the mall, to see the Avengers, and to pizza. So, we celebrated his big day as a family the night before. Noah was gracious enough to let his little cousin help unwrap his presents. The first on the list, a waffle maker!

He also was given enough money and gift cards from friends and family to purchase an ipod touch and a new skateboard. He was very excited!

After sharing his cupcakes (yellow cake with cream cheese frosting per the birthday boys request) with some neighbors, and ordering his ipod online, the happy birthday got some serious birthday sleep to rest up for his birthday celebration with friends the next day.
Happy 15th Birthday, Noah!