Little brother all grown up...well almost :)

When Kaleb dropped out of high school I told him that he would miss so much.  Dances, friends, graduating, etc....I was very wrong.  I should have known!

About a week ago, we got the results back from his GED exam- he passed with flying colors!  New Mexico is one of the few states that rewards those who pass their GED with an actual high school diploma.  CNM holds a cap and gown ceremony for all of those who get their GEDs- so we get to see him cross the stage with cap and gown and take tons of photos of him! yay!

Yesterday Kaleb went to prom.   One of his friends from his old

high school asked him.  He was sooo handsome. All I could see when I looked at him was a man (still a young man...but a man none the less) and not my little brother.

When I was younger, I used to wonder if I would ever be friends with Kaleb- we were sibs and I loved him but we were not always on the best of terms.  We are very alike and we would fight all the time.  He was annoying and 6 years younger, so I felt that I knew more and deserved to be left alone by the little twerp.  I was annoying and bossy and he felt like I should just realize how smart he was and he deserved to be apart of my group of friends.  Truthfully, even though Justin and I had some "big kid" time, Kaleb would often come along.  And though I would have hated to admit it back then, I loved when he came along.  Family always came first!  Even though that was sometimes hard to understand during my teenage years. 

In the last few years, things have changed and now I not only love him as my little brother but also as a dear friend.  I love sitting and talking about what latest book we have been reading or what we think of how the kids reacted today.  Having "girl time" with him, mom and I is one of my favorite things since Justin moved out.  He is so wise and funny that deep sometimes hard subjects are often lightened with his sense of humor and witty commentary.  He has grown up so much and I am so very proud of him.  He has turned out to be such a smart, kind, loving, caring, brilliant, wonderful, wise (I could go on and on for a long time!) individual.    

I love you little bro!