Alex Turns EIGHTEEN!

It is with great excitement that we announce that Alex turned 18 years old!!! He is an adult now! 

This young man has been experiencing life to the fullest and in his eighteen years he has done a lot and has seen loads. 

To bring us back to his younger, formative years...let's remember this little gem. 

I remember when he wrote that while going to school in Japan, at around 5 yers old. It was hilarious back then and it is hilarious now! I loved going through his memory box the other day, getting rid of stuff that didn't really make an impression anymore and organizing stuff that is still fun after all these years.

This year, Alex had a different kind of birthday as he had a huge HXP trip planned when his actual birthday was happening. So we celebrated Alex a few days early, on July 24th, the day before he was leaving. 

We keep coming back to this yummy layered dessert year after year. Easy to make and lighter on your stomach. 

I know I say it all the time, but it s really hard to believe that Alex is now so old and mature! He has grown into a responsible young man, a fun friend and a great son.

                Oh, and to celebrate, Alex invited a few of his friends to go paint balling in Angier. They all had a blast! 

And as usual, here are the traditional answers from our birthday boy: 

Favorite sport to play: rowing

Favorite sport to watch: basketball

Favorite book: The Boys in the Boat

Favorite Movie: Knight's Tale

Favorite Color: purple

Favorite hobby: piano

When I grow up, I want to be: rich

Happy birthday, Alex! We all are impressed by you and what you had accomplished, don't stop now and keep going forward, bravely and faithfully. Stay humble and grounded, remembering your priorities and values in life. We love you! We hope you remember all the things we have taught you and remember to text us sometime, now that you are going to be on your own. 

We love you! 

Mark’s EFY Experience 2023

An exciting post written by Mark himself!

This was Mark's very first time at FSY! They have it every two years and this was the first time Mark was old enough. It is at UNCW and there were kids from all different states. 

Mark was rooming with his great friend Caleb. He is a little older than Mark

This was when they checked in. Alex had gone to FSY the week before and apparently he had hidden a giant jar of candy for the boys in the cabinet behind that counter. 

They are gonna meet their counselors soon. Mama left before then. They would be there for 4 days. 

Mark says it was an incredibly spiritual experience for him. He made so many friends and has great memories. 

He says it was 10/10 except for the food. The food was terrible. No one could eat it. But he will go for sure in two years. 

 

End of an Era--Apex Breakers Swim Team

As if Alex's life wasn't already full to the brim, he made a decision to continue with coaching the swim team for our local Apex Breakers. He has been coaching for a few years now, and as a paid coach for the last three. We just love how much it helps him feel alive to be part of something like this! 

Because he drives himself and because Mark absolutely refuses to do summer swim after only two season, we usually skipped Tuesday night meets, but did show up when we needed to volunteer as parents. 

Alex also swam for the team for all these years since he was almost 12 and we first moved to Apex. He has never become the fastest swimmer, but that did not matter. To him, and to everyone around him, the team spirit and the supportive environment of the fun summer swim team was what made all the difference. 

Here is Mark supporting Alex at one of the meets on a late summer night. Sometimes these meets still go till after 10 pm! 

Alex was one of the coaches for the tiny kids who needed assistance in the pool. It was endearing to watch these big strong boys being so gentle with little swimmers. 

The swim season comes and goes like a tornado. It starts at the end of May and finishes third week of July. Alex tried to miss as few weeks as possible this year, but he did skip a week to go to EFY in Wilmington.

He made sure he was present for the End of the Year Banquet, of course!!! He loves this event, this last hurrah of the comradery, especially this year. 

As part of the event, the team celebrated its seniors with a fun photo slide show. They said a bunch of "goodbyes" and gave out yearly awards. Alex got a very prestigious award--the Hucks-Diddy Award! It's an award for being the greatest person alive according to his head coach-haha!

We are so proud and happy for him! He truly deserved it! 

He also received a swim scholarship from the Swimming Association of North Carolina because his team submitted him. Another win! 

Final thank you goes to coach Jason Harloff who has been a dominant part in Alex's coaching experience through all these years. His son, Trey, was one of Alex's swim coaches and examples that Alex seemed to emulate. The culture of the team greatly depended on what coach Jason and his junior coaches have been building for years. We are grateful for the experiences and lessons that Alex was able to enjoy thanks to being part of the summer swim team! 

Go Breakers!!!