Kings, Queens, and a 21-Year-Old Cowboy

Kings, Queens, and a

21-Year-Old Cowboy

🌼 Date: Sunday, April 5, 2026

⚡ Energy: Full Celebration Mode

💓 Status: Proud Birthday Mama

🌞 Outlook: Cake, Crowns, and One Very Legal Drink

Today was a special day on the cruise because we were celebrating two birthdays in our family.

Casey turned 54, and Nicholas hit a huge milestone — 21 years old!

I’m not quite sure how that happened so quickly. One minute Nicholas was a little boy running around the house, and now he’s sitting at a dinner table on a cruise ship ordering his first legal drink.

When Nicholas was little, his nickname was “Toots in Boots.”

Now before anyone gets the wrong idea, let me explain. As a baby, he never burped after feeding. Nope… it all came out the other end, which earned him the nickname Toots. And the Boots part came later, because no matter what time of year it was, he would always slip on his rubber boots instead of waiting for someone to tie his shoes… or heaven forbid learning to tie them himself.

So yes, our sweet little Toots in Boots is now 21 years old.

Time really does fly.

To celebrate the birthdays, Casey was crowned King Casey for the day, complete with a royal crown. And of course Aunt Dee wasn’t about to let that opportunity pass her by, so she became Queen Dee. The best part was that most of the cruise crew completely played along, bowing and greeting her with “Your Majesty” whenever we walked by.

It was hilarious, and she absolutely loved every second of it.

At dinner that night Nicholas ordered his first official legal drink, and the wait staff came out to sing Happy Birthday to both of the birthday boys.

Did I get a picture of that moment?

No.

Apparently after raising four kids and surviving cancer treatment, I still somehow forgot to capture the one moment every mom is supposed to photograph.

Great wife. Great mom. Ten out of ten.

But honestly, the best part of the day wasn’t the crowns or the drinks or even the birthday singing.

It was simply getting to be together.

After the kind of year our family has had, standing there on a cruise ship celebrating life, laughter, and another year with the people I love felt like an incredible gift.

Two birthdays.
One cruise ship.
A whole lot of memories.

And somewhere out there, the little boy known as Toots in Boots is still in there… he just happens to be wearing a cowboy hat and ordering cocktails now.

💗 Tina –
One Badass Day at a Time