Yep that’s what we drove to go surprise Rhino’s girlfriend that we are going to call Sassie. I wish we would of videotaped Christian surprising Sassie because I know we would of won the $100,000.00 grand prize. She was speechless, about hyperventilating, and then just threw herself in his arms. It was GREAT! Awww young love….
This baby right here
*sniff, sniff* I’m just going to wallow a little in the passenger seat as my little boy drives himself to work then maybe I’ll get ice cream to help me deal with Rhino being a JUNIOR!!
What has Rhino been up to these days:
working crazy hours, soccer practice, Civil War re-enactment, driving lessons, hanging with friends, bonfires, going to a baseball game with great-grandpa, word working with PD, scoping out girls, looking into colleges and SATs, going to the zoo with his momma, Aunt Mischie, DT, and Nick, AND trying to get some sleep in
Rhino has recovered nicely from his wisdom teeth surgery and has been working up a storm. We decided to head to town on Monday night down to the Cruise in at the Bay for some down/fun time.
It was great to get out and spend some time together, my dad {or better known as P.D.} came along too!
All 3 of us had a great time, looking, awing, drooling, and fantasying about all the wonderful vehicles there!
As you can tell there was a whole variety of vehicles. And of course there was quite a few of mine and Rhino’s favorites…….MUSTANGS!!
Rhino was going thru a chipmunk phase last week. Really, Rhino just had all 4 of his wisdom teeth extracted last Monday! I promised I wouldn’t take any pictures of him at all, but what kind of mother would I have been to keep that promise…….
And can I say, our oral surgeon Dr. Basile was astounding!! Not only did he keep apologizing to me when he was going over the instructions for the aftercare “because it is so much to handle all at once” and kept stating everything was written down and to feel free to call with any questions, but he personally called to check up on Christian the same night!! You just don’t get that kind of service anymore. Cudos to Dr. Basile, his entire office, and to Village Surgery Center too!
Hello everyone! Sorry for the long time no post but the Rhino household has been busy with the beginning of summer, end of Rhino’s Sophomore year of high school {which the grades weren’t as stellar as previous years}, beginning of Civil War re-enactment and *drum roll please* Rhino getting his first J-O-B!!
Yes Rhino has gotten a job with our local
Today was his actual first day on the job and he really didn’t do anything but sit and watch videos BUT hey he does that at home and doesn’t get paid for it so…….
Needless to say Rhino is learning to adjust his schedule for work time now. He’s going to be one busy child between working, soccer practice, still getting driving time in on his driver’s permit, Civil War, and just being a teenager. Choices are being made and sometimes it’s not the choices he would like BUT they choices that have to be…..guess he truly is growing up!
We’ve had a few questions on how Rhino has been doing, post ankle surgery…..does this answer your questions?
We’ve always told Rhino that if he didn’t need at least 5 good years of psychological help when he grows up, we failed him as parents!!
Tonight has been one of the funniest nights in the Rhino household and it all boils down to….mom embarrassing kid *insert evil laugh here*
If you happen to see the Rhino, ask him about the Sweet 16 party, Facebook, cell phone numbers, and Juniors.
Yep this child is in for soo much psychological help the psychiatrist will be weeping with joy over the dollar amounts he’ll receive. Luckily for Rhino, I do medical billing for psychiatric patients….I’ll give him a few hints on what to say! *insert evil laugh again*
Yes dear family/friends, Rhino asked for me to take some photos of him. So I seized the moment like it was a gold ring and jumped right to it.
Rhino is doing wonderfully. We saw Dr. G today for the last time and had an appointment with PT Bob 2 days ago and they both have given him the go ahead to do full activity. WOOOOO HOOOOOO! And Christian seized that opportunity to start back into soccer. He’s helping out with training/conditioning the 7th/8th grade team. I don’t know who has the biggest smile on their face me when I see him come off the soccer field or Christian when he’s playing.
Other news, report card time is right around the corner {oh the joys in all the evil things that I can think of doing for bad grades…..now it can be…NO DRIVING…MUHAHAHHA!} and Rhino was sweating his Trig grade but at the last minute he pulled a 98% on his Trig test which boosted his grade tremendously. Very proud of him for that one!
Speaking of driving, Rhino is also getting his time driving behind the wheel in. He’s still nervous in traffic and won’t get on the thru way yet but heck he’s only had his permit for 2 weeks. At least he hasn’t run onto any sidewalks yet, LOL!
Well our little boy has turned 16! 
Rhino also had Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday off of school to so the partying continued! Friday night Christian spent it with friends having a bonfire and getting his driving hours in. 
I can’t believe that my baby boy is 16 and is driving. Who would of ever thought all those years ago during the multiple sleepless nights I would pray to have those back.
March is going to hold quite a few exciting moments in Rhino’s life this year!
Of course the first being he turns SIXTEEN!!!! The day that Rhino has been dreaming of since he hit the big two digits {ya know 10}. 
I know we say time and time again that we are truly blessed to have such a wonderful teenage Rhino but I sat back the other day to think about who all has been gifted into Rhino’s life and I can NOT believe the variety of people that Rhino has come to know. And every time I meet one of them, whether it’s a teenager to an elderly adult, each one has nothing but praise for Rhino. I hope pray Rhino realizes how gifted he is to have such an array of friends and to be seen for a great child almost adult.
Now if I can only make it thru the driving permit exam I think I will be able to survive manage pout my way thru the rest of his high school years!
Yes ladies and gentlemen there is only sixteen days left before Rhino turns the big 1-6!!
How am I surviving, to be honest with you, it’s a bunch of up/down moments. I minute I’m completely fine, dreaming of all the errands I’ll be able to send Rhino on and then the next minute….WHAM!!…I could ball my eyes out because my baby is turning 16. The hubby, of course, just keeps telling me to cut the apron strings, LOL! {maybe it’ll effect him once Rhino asks for the motorcycle keys…MUAHAHAHA!}
Stay tuned to hear all about “the big” day, well actually it’ll be a 4 day event around here with time off of school {yes they have a mini-vacation the weekend of Rhino’s bday}, a party with the Civil War re-enactment gang, a dinner out, and to top everything off a big party with the family {we haven’t had a family party since Rhino’s 1st bday!}. Of course pictures are to be bountiful and hopefully embarrassing too!
{here’s a picture of Rhino, the eldest great-grandchild, with his great-grandparents and the other 3 great-grandchildren. Yes, there is a big age gap between the eldest to the youngest almost 15 1/2 years!}
So in the words of a mother who’s baby is about to turn 16…..”someone please pass me the bottle of wine!!!”.
Yes dear people how do you spell Ham, like the food you eat that comes from a piggie?
Well our growing, almost 16 year old, honor sophomore student, ankle healing nicely, starting to run and exercise, right now out sled riding Rhino son spells it…..
HAMB!
Crazy child was reading the “options for supper” list the other night and on it was written “hamb” short for hamburgers and as I have my head in the chest freezer this is the conversation that ensued:
R: “mom, ham sounds good for dinner”
M: “Bud we don’t have any ham”
R: “it’s on the list”
M: “must of been from weeks ago and I forgot to cross it off *then brain starts to activate*. Christian we haven’t had ham in forever!”
R: “i’m telling you it’s on the list”
M: *now I’m getting frustrated and the light dings* “Christian are you reading h-a-m-b?”
R: “yea ham!”
M: *laughing now hysterically* “Bud that’s short for hamburgers! How the heck to you spell ham?”
R: “H-A-M”
M: *giving one of those looks “DUH!!!! Oh boy my honor student can really spell”
R: “i’m not going to live this down am I?” *now he’s laughing too*
M: “no boy you’re not. This is a story to be blogged about and to be told to your children and wife someday!” MUAHAHAHA!
So yes people the education is not what it’s cracked up to be now-a-days and ham is now spelled H-A-M-B!!
Please remember that February is CHD awareness month! Pass the word around and for information feel free to go here.
We’ve been blessed with Christian’s VSD and we know that we are one of the lucky families, some are not so lucky!
Thanks again for all your love and support
The Rhino household has been trying to keep warm in the frozen, snow covered NW PA area. It’s been snowing almost continuously since right before Christmas….UGH!!
There’s not much news to report other than Christian had a follow-up appointment with the famous Dr. G on Friday. The drive down was quite interesting as another snow storm was coming in! The normal drive takes about 45 minutes each way, on Friday it took as almost an hour and half!! to just get down to Dr. G’s office. It was worth it though, as Dr. G has released Christian to go back to sports “as tolerated”. She still doesn’t want him jumping or any high impact onto his ankle but it looks like we are in the home stretch here!!
Also Christian has been counting down the days till his 16th birthday in March {I think he started counting the day after his 15th birthday to be realistic..LOL}. We’ve been trying to think of embarrassing thrilling ways to celebrate the Rhino’s birthday….oh forget it you KNOW there will be some embarrassing parts in there too!! Any and all suggestions are welcomed.
I’m proud to say Christian is also looking into some colleges and we’ll be going to see a few locally in the next couple of months too. He’s getting into a lot of different things now and one of them is photography {I might of had a little bit of influence on that..LOL!}. Rhino took these pictures during our Friday snowy trip. It’s great to see your child develop interests in all matters of things! Maybe someday “Robo Rhino” will be known throughout the world!…HEHE!
Happy New Year 2010 to everyone! We hope that 2010 brings lots of joy, good health and memorable times for you all.
I always take a minute on New Years day to reflect on the last 365 {maybe because I’m busy putting all the new year “stuff” on the calendar}. Anyhoodle, 2009 was an interesting one to say the least. Rhino started it off rocking away! 
We also as parents had the privilege to pull some pranks and surprise on our amazing 15 year old son. Remember this….
wonderful, loving, annoying parents {this gave us a good glimpse of how things will be when he heads off to college…ugh!}.
Rhino also started his Sophomore year of High School. With lots of friends, a few girlfriends, and hopefully grades that will continue to shine!
Who knows what 2010 has to hold for the Rhino, but I do know one thing. We’ve been blessed with a wonderful, caring, loving, understanding, co-operate boy turning into a man son that anyone would love to call their own!
