Ethan turns 18 and becomes an official "adult"

Ethan just turned 18 on the 19th of September which was a couple weeks ago.  As a dad, and I feel a young dad, it just seems so bizarre and weird to me to have an adult for a son.  I just can't believe it has been 18 years since he was born into this world from the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center. and of course when he came from his Heavenly Father's presence.  It has been awesome.  I sure do love, admire, respect and adore my oldest son.  He is a great example to his younger siblings.  He has his little quirks, but he genuinely loves his siblings.

For his birthday, Nichole and I decided to get tickets for these 3 awesome sons of mine and myself.  It was soooo fun!!  We thought the game was going to be too late for Eli, and Ava wanted to stay with her mama. We ended getting tickets in what ended up being the party section of the stadium.  As the game started, many people in the stadium started to sit down.  I soon realized that we were going to be standing the whole game after the game went on for a few minutes.  How did we end up in the raucous section?!  I think the boys loved it, because it really added to the atmosphere.  Soccer is Brad's favorite sport and I have since realized that Ethan has put a RSL sticker on his car.  Ethan, Brad and Jake each got an RSL shirt.  They were cool shirts, and I was glad they liked them.   I think they loved the game. 

Just yesterday, I had a good experience about EThan.  Yesterday, as we went about doing all of our Saturday chores and duties cleaning up both the inside and outside of the house, it came time to attend the Priesthood Session of the General Conference.  Because I was so tired, I thought it would be best to watch the Priesthood Session on TV as opposed to going to the Stake Center.  As I went inside and turn the TV on to watch it with these three Priesthood holding boys, I realized Ethan was not here and that his car was gone.  I initially thought, "that little terd.  I can't believe he took off right when Priesthood was to start."  I was a little perturbed and disappointed.  I thought he had taken off to go play with friends or do something else.

Ethan was gone for the whole time during the priesthood session and then a few minutes after the session had completed, I realized he had come home.  I went to his room when I noticed that he was in his Sunday dress.  I was humbled and got a little choked up inside but didn't let him notice.  I asked him where he had gone when he responded that he had gone over to the stake center to watch the session.  He had done that on his own.  I told him, "Ethan, I have to honest with you.  I was a little upset because I thought you had bailed on watching the session."  He was funny and replied, "Dad, I have to be honest with you, I just wanted to get away."  We had a good little chuckle.  But, I was proud that he would go do this on his own.  When asked why he went to the stake center, he just simply said that he thought he would get more out of it by watching it there.