One Proud Aunt!!!

It is impossible for me to imagine being more proud of my nephews!!! This post is dedicated to the first TWO of FIVE little boys to enter my life and steal my heart! Long before my own kids were brought into this world, my first nephews were born, just 8 months apart. How cool was it for me to see BOTH my sisters pregnant at the same time with what would soon be my first nephews! I was in college, and despite being a bit caught up in my own world, I had to be the most excited aunt-to-be on earth!  First came Luke, and 8 months later, Tyler entered the world. From the moment they entered this world, they have held a special place in my heart. Hard to imagine that those two little sweet babies will soon be GRADUATING high school in the class of 2011!!!

Not only graduating, but moving on to spectacular careers as well! I am so very proud of both of them! Luke was recently accepted into a prestigeous branch of the military - the United States Air Force!  Little did we know just what a battle it would be for him to be accepted!  Being naive as I am, I figured they would pretty much take anyone these days that wanted to join!  WRONG!  Luke can attest to all the screening that he had to go through - from entrance exams, to GPA requirements, to the rigorous physical exams required to be accepted.  We soon learned what a true HONOR it is to be accepted into the USAF! Luke will report for basic training in Texas this summer.



Luke 2011





Next it was Tyler's turn for planning for his future! Tyler applied for and was accepted at NDSU and will be making his way into the Architecture program there.  Another remarkable acheivement as NDSU is a school with a great reputation and competitive Architecture program. Without a doubt, this is a career that is well suited to Tyler. Tyler has amazing artistic abilities, as demonstrated below.  The first is a charcoal drawing he did of Bob Marley, the second a first-ever snow sculpture he did as an amatuer that won him $100 on the spot!  From someone who struggles to draw stick people, I truly admire his artistic skills! In all seriousness, he did not get the talent from me - my kids often tell me that my drawings of pigs, cows, horses, dogs and cats ALL look the same, save a different tail or ears!  :)  Definitely not an area of talent for me!!

Tyler 2011

Bob Marley - charcoal

Mom Wolf and Baby

It struck me recently as Luke was going through his Air Force training and Tyler made the decision to try his hand at carving a sculpture starting from a 4x4x7 foot block of snow without any training or guidance at all, that these boys really are ready for the BIG world!  In my mind, I think they will always be the toddlers that I chased after with out-stretched arms trying to protect them against a fall!  But in my heart I know they are well prepared to face their futures. I beam with pride just thinking about it - I can't imagine how my sisters must feel.  To think that my own little ones will someday be following in their footsteps just blows me away! I can only hope that they will be as prepared, mature, and extremely talented as the "first" boys in my life have become.

Luke and Tyler - I love you with all my heart, and although it is hard to let you go into that big world out there, I know that you are ready for whatever may come your way!  Know that I will be here cheering you on at every step, and that I am always just a phone call away! I love you!!!!

~Ali