Picture of the Week - 12/28/2020

 Well, I'm all off schedule this week!  Holidays on Thursdays and time off and getting unplugged from this computer have all thrown my Thursday POTW schedule for a loop.  

I considered just skipping last week altogether, but that didn't seem right since we have had such a fun week.  So I just decided to send it late and catch up.  Plus, who knows what will happen with this week and New Year's!  LOL

Last Wednesday was the boys' first day of break.  I think that's the latest they have gone to school before Christmas in years.  They all agreed that it was weird and made the time before Christmas go really fast.

Christmas Eve we went to Tricia's house for our annual Christmas Eve brunch/lunch.  It was fun to hang out at their new house and the kids always have a blast together.  After that we headed to The Melting Pot for a fancy Christmas Eve fondue dinner.  Believe it or not, we don't go out to eat as a family all together very often.  We eat out plenty, but it's pretty rare that everyone is free at the same time.  And even at 9 and 11 it's sometimes a hassle to take everyone and listen to the complaints from Zane and Beck about where/when/what we are eating.  Basically, it's just hard to make them all happy.  So we save the money and eat home - or feed them and then go out.  LOL

Anyway, dinner with the boys that night was SO NICE.  Everyone was excited.  They all ate.  Bob and I drank wine - thanks designated drivers - and we had both melted cheese and chocolate in the same meal.  Hard to find fault there!  It was a really fun time.

We headed home, opened up our matching PJs and everyone headed to bed.  Pictures attached are all from Christmas Eve.  I don't think I took a single picture on Christmas day.  

Christmas morning was so nice and calm.  I woke up first and we had time for coffee and to make the Monkey Bread before the boys woke up.  We dove into presents around 8 and really just had a great time together.  That afternoon we headed over to my parent's house with the biggest cheese and meat spread I've ever put together.  (Seriously I could have fed 40 people...) and celebrated Christmas again!  :)  

The weekend was full of rest and lazy.  It was awesome!

This week Bob and I are back to work for a few days and then another nice long weekend awaits.  We have no plans for New Year's.  We never really have celebrated New Year's Eve, so this is nothing new.  The boys are all back to wrestling practice now.  We have a tournament on Saturday and then quickly get into the heart of the wrestling season.  Believe it or not, there are only 2 more tournaments before we get into Regions, Quads, and State Duals - the wrestling equivalent of playoffs.  Still crossing all fingers and saying regular prayers that we can get through this season!!!  

I hope you all had a beautiful Christmas and have plans to do something you love for New Year's.  Stay safe and healthy!

Picture of the Week - 12/17/2020

 Before I get into family news, can I just vent for a second about all the messages out "there" saying how happy everyone is that 2020 is almost over because it's been such a train-wreck of a year?  I hate these messages.  They irritate me for lots of reasons.  One - do NOT fall into the trap of thinking that 2020 was only bad.  It wasn't.  Even if you have suffered hugely - and I know lots of people have - there are undoubtedly things that happened in 2020 that weren't all bad.  If you happen to be reading this, the fact that you woke up today is one of them.  Two - there is no magic that will happen at midnight on 12/31/2020 that will cause all the pain and suffering in the world to go away.  Covid will still be here on 1/1/2021.  So it's non-sense to think that all the sudden the bad crap can be thrown out with the old calendar.

Am I in favor of looking forward to the future and hoping for the best - heck yeah!  Do I think people tend to want to climb into/onto the "whoa is me train" far too often - also yes.  

2020 has been a hard year.  I anticipate that 2021 will also be a hard year.  2019 was a hard year.  2022 will be hard.  Get it?  

OK - rant over.  (PS - I could also go on and on about people who wait for New Years day to make a resolution to make themselves better, but I'll let you imagine how that would go...)

*******************

All is well here.  The high schools all went virtual for the remainder of the year, so that's "fun", but the elementary schools are still face-to-face.  

We also have some additional limitations on sporting events, but so far nothing cancelled.  Spectators are limited to "family only", but at least they are still wrestling.  And I pray every day that they will get this season in.  The West team looks amazing.  They have a legitimate shot at winning a state title this year.  They are solid and the bench is deep.  The bench is so deep that Quinn, who has had a varsity spot for the last 2 years, is having a hard time cracking the line-up.  This is a great "problem" for the coach to have.  Maybe not so great for Quinn.  He's got another wrestle-off today.  This is essentially an intra-squad match to set the depth chart at his weight class.  It will determine whether he gets to wrestle in this weekend's Dual tournament or not.  

Spencer has not had trouble keeping his spot and is wrestling better than he ever has before.  He's lean, fast, strong, and motivated.  He's one of a number of guys on the team good enough to make a run at individual state titles.  If we get through this season without covid messing things up, it's going to be a really fun first 6 weeks of 2021!  

Spencer went to the Takedown Sportswear Invitational last weekend and made his big debut at 195 pounds.  He won first place and did so leaving no questions on the mat.  He won his match last night at our Senior celebration Dual as well.  He looks great - feels great.  Attached is a picture from last night and a link to his highlights from last weekend.  

It's fun to watch this team.  It's fun to watch Spencer having so much success.  It's 2020 and it doesn't suck.

https://youtu.be/iPpQYOceOzk

Picture of the Week - 12/10/2020

Christmas is only 15 days away!  Crazy!!  Exciting!!  Festive!!

It's time for our annual Christmas hat picture.  I will make them do this forever...  future spouses beware!

I hope you are all having a great, holiday-prep kind of week!  I'm excited.  Our shopping is pretty much done, wrapping will be underway tomorrow, gifts are made, baking on the agenda for Sunday.  

And to top off all that fun, festivity - we are also wrestling!  The West team beat North in a Dual last night and Spencer looked great.  It was, hopefully, his last 220 match as he's dropping to the 195 slot for Saturday's individual tournament.  It's a tough invitational, so we are all excited to see how he will do against kids his own size!  Quinn's wrestling with the JV team up in Lumpkin County this weekend, so Bob and I are doing a little divide-and-conquer action on his birthday.  I promised him we could meet up for post-wrestling drinks somewhere to (hopefully) celebrate both a birthday and a successful day on the mats.

Have a great week - and don't hesitate to wear the Santa hat in public!  Ho ho ho!!!

Picture of the Week - 12/3/2020

 Turns out the only pictures I've taken in the last week are of food and my dogs.  Read into that information what you'd like... LOL

It's cold here - which I hate - and we are busy with wrestling and work and prepping for Christmas.  It's all good stuff, but between the loss of daylight and the early morning wrestling practices and the freezing temps - I mostly just want to curl in a blanket and watch TV!  So that's what we've done :)

Last weekend we took Zane and Beck to a tournament where they both had a rough time.  Wrestling is one of those 2-year per age group sports and they both bumped up an age group this year.  I expect it will be more losses than wins, but will prepare them for next year!  Zane is in particularly dire straights as there are a fair number of 12 year old 6th graders who are well into puberty and there's a VAST difference between pre and post puberty on a wrestling mat!

This weekend Spencer and Quinn are heading to a dual with the varsity team.  Spencer is likely wrestling the 220 spot, but may get bumped to heavyweight if the team needs him there.  He's in a rough spot right now too because he's the biggest senior on the team until the football kids get back (they are still in playoffs) so he's kind of covering both the 220 and heavyweight spots even though he's dropping weight like crazy so he can get to 195 for the rest of the season.  Wrestling is funny like that...  there's a whole lotta sacrificing early in the season to set up where you want to be in regional competition.  

Here are some sleepy pictures of the dogs chilling with me...  the first one is on the new couches in the living room.  The second may have been during a work break when I may have been laying on the floor with them. LOL  Shhhh - work from home has privileges!!

Picture of the Week - 11/27/2020

 Day late, but I'm not gonna sweat it.  

Yesterday was Thanksgiving and we had a great day.  We are blessed to have family nearby and got to celebrate just like we normally would have - it felt normal in a weird, weird year.  We have much to be grateful for - and it was nice to celebrate together.

And I finally got a family picture of us - which had alluded me for months!  

Today we are doing some work, putting up some Christmas decorations, and packing up for a day-trip over to Jefferson GA for a youth wrestling tourney tomorrow.  I normally may not have been excited about driving an hour or so at 6 AM for a day in a gym, but I'm not sure how long this season will last and we are going to take advantage of every opportunity we can to let the boys all enjoy a 2020-21 wrestling season.  

Speaking of...  The high school team opened up the season in a dominant fashion with a 5-0 run through a JV Dual Tournament on Monday and a 4-0 win at our Thanksgiving Duals on Tuesday.  More to come...

Picture of the Week - 11/19/2020

 Please, oh please, let there be a season!

I didn't think I would care as much as I do, but I think since Spencer didn't play football this year, I've got some pent up "senior mom" needs...  and I REALLY want there to be a wrestling season!

We have our first duals next week.  They are kind of the equivalent of pre-season because the whole team isn't there yet (some still playing football) and it's the first tournament with this team, so guys are still shuffling weights and such.  It will take a couple of weeks before everything falls into place - and even then, given this crazy year and quarantines and illness - who really knows how much wrestling we will get to do.

But at least we have next week...  and I'm going to enjoy every match we can get!

Here are some pictures of Spencer - the individual is from a photo shoot for their senior banners.  I don't know if this is the picture they picked or not, but it's the one I liked best.  And the one with the other guys in it is the team banner for the year.  Those 8 guys are the state qualifiers from last year.  The team is stacked...  and if there's actually a full season, it's going to be a blast.

Picture of the Week - 11/12/2020

I've been making an intentional effort to disconnect more from social media over the last week or so.  Many reasons...  but this month of November and the focus (which should be) on gratitude and thankfulness has me examining what fills my cup and what empties it.  I'm not making any "no more Facebook" statements or anything like that, but I am going to be more intentional.  What do you do to "fill your cup"?

This picture is the view I had while I was waiting for Bob yesterday.  He had some outpatient sinus surgery and I (thanks Covid) had to sit outside to wait for him.  I wasn't bothered...  put on an audio book, talked to my mom, did some work, and got to stare at this beautiful tree for a few hours.  I can't imagine another scenario that would have allowed me to sit quietly and watch nature for hours, so I'm pretty thankful for that "banishment" to my car yesterday.  As an introvert, I really like alone time.  Maybe I need to find more time to just sit outside - or inside staring out the window.  

Some updates on the college process...

- Spencer has an appointment on Monday for an interview as part of the nomination application process with Rob Woodall, our former congressman

- We are working on paperwork and medical examinations for the Army ROTC and Navy Marine ROTC scholarships.  And Spencer needs to call and schedule an interview for the AROTC which I'm hoping he can do while they are off for Thanksgiving break.

- We are still waiting for some kind of official word from Coast Guard Academy.  We are guaranteed to hear something before Christmas, but hoping for something sooner as his application went under review a few weeks ago.  

All is well with everyone else.  Beckett's football season ended on Saturday, so now all 4 have transitioned into wrestling and we're just crossing all our fingers that they get to have a season.  Covid trends have me very nervous...

Also thought I'd share this picture of all 5 of my boys from last weekend.  I love this picture SO much!

Take care everyone - and do something to fill up your cup this week!

Picture of the Week - 11/5/2020

 Well this has been a super weird week - and full of nervous energy all around - due to the election and ongoing post-election drama.

I won't say anything more about that.  It's in line with the rest of this strange, strange year.

I thought about sharing pictures from Halloween, but I didn't get one of Quinn, so it felt weird.  Spencer dressed up as Marge Simpson - in a blue wig, yellow dress and yellow tights.  Complete with the big red necklace.  It was every bit as funny as the picture in your mind.  Beckett was an inflatable unicorn which was AWESOME.  He refused to take it off nearly all day Sunday.  Zane was an inflatable guy strapped to a rocket.  The best part of his costume was that his legs were the rocket flames so when he walked the flames swished back and forth.  I loved their costumes - and the fact that we got to go Trick-or-Treating and had a nice neighborhood get together in the street.  It was a fun day.  

This weekend Bob and Beck have another football playoff game.  Zane's team lost last weekend, so he's moved onto wrestling season.  He's also starting personal training tonight.  

Other than that...  we are just taking things one day at a time.

Here's a picture of some pretty flowers that Bob got me for my birthday.  They are so bright and pretty and have brought me many smiles this week.  I hope they bring you a little joy as well.

Picture of the Week - 10/29/2020

 Having expectations is a recipe for disaster.

(And as a planner, this is something that is really hard for me to admit/learn/remember)

If 2020 has taught us NOTHING else, it's that things don't always (ever?) turn out the way we think they are going to.  Sometimes things are worse, but lots of times things are better.  

When I get caught up thinking about how something SHOULD be or how someone SHOULD act or what we SHOULD do, then I get flustered and disappointed when the picture in my head doesn't match reality.  Which is kind of dumb because reality is, well real, while the picture in my head is nothing but imagination.  Granted, this imagination is flavored with experience and knowledge and not fantasy...  but still, the point is the same.  If I have an expectation, the reality is not going to match (hardly ever) and then I am disappointed or flustered or whatever - instead of just being PRESENT to enjoy the actual moment.

Says easy, does hard sometimes...  but it's a process, an evolution, a journey.  I'm better at this now (by about a million percent) than I was 15 years ago.  Raising kids will do that to you!  

The annual trip to Burt's Pumpkin Farm is a really good illustration of an activity that I think we all have expectations built around because we've done it for 17 straight years.  We know the route to take, we know how long the drive is, we know when to go to avoid the crowds, we know what the hay ride is like, we know the story the talking pumpkins will tell on the mid-ride stop, we know we will overpay for pumpkins, and we know at least one boy will pick a tiny pumpkin that we will find around March in their room.  Experience tells us these things, so it's pretty easy to create an expectation from the day.

Then reality happens and you can either drop the expectation and enjoy the moment or dwell in the "loss" of whatever the day was "supposed" to look like because of an expectation that is, honestly, nothing but an imaginary dream.  

Our Burt's trip this year happened about a month later than normal because of all sorts of reasons - weather, trips, etc.  Also, it's 2020, so I don't know how/if Covid impacted their farm.  When we showed up, instead of seeing a field of different shapes and sizes of pumpkins, we saw mostly damp mulch and mud across the bulk of the empty field.  It was definitely not up to the ideal imaginary expectation - or even really on par with even our worst previous trip.  

We could have been disappointed and let it ruin our day.  Instead, we laughed.  

Because it was FUNNY!  We grabbed a few pictures, grabbed a few pumpkins, skipped the hay ride and headed back home.  It was definitely not the way I expected the day to go, but I think it's pretty safe to say that 2020 has taught us all to just roll with the punches and deal with whatever comes around the corner.  

2 months left, here's hoping November and December simmer down some!

This weekend we have playoff football games and then a Halloween block party thing before Trick-or-Treating.  

Also - Wrestling season started!!!  I'm so excited for this season.  It's such a great group of kids and the program is so much fun.  I really hope we get to have a season - and I'm trying hard not to have any expectations about what that might look like!  For now, I'm happy for every day my boys get to be on that mat!

Picture of the Week - 10/22/2020

 This year's version of the traditional O H I O picture is about 2 months later than it has been in years past.  This is because Covid changes everything!  But in this case, it's actually cool! 

We typically take this picture on our back deck or in the front yard or someplace else (in Georgia) that is obviously not connected with Ohio State.  This year, however, we had an opportunity to get some O H I O pictures ON the Ohio State campus while we were up there visiting a few weeks ago.  Thanks Covid!  I love the pictures!  :)

We are pretty excited to finally watch the Buckeyes play football this weekend, but we are also a little tempered in our anticipation because we have MANY things to do this weekend and will en up watching the game well after it's played thanks to the wonders of recording.  It will still be fun!

In other news...  

We celebrated Beckett's birthday this week.  He got pancakes for dinner - with marshmallows - and got to hand out cupcakes at football practice.  It was a good, albeit low-key, birthday.

Zane and Quinn are good!  Nothing super exciting happening with those dudes, but they are doing a really solid job of being easy and fun.  

Spencer and I went to the Citadel last Friday and he basically fell in love with Charleston and the college.  In one of those serendipitous timing things, his academic acceptance letter to attend the Citadel arrived while we were gone.  As his first official college acceptance, it was pretty special, but combined with a very enticing visit and tour, it became even more exciting.  We are still finishing up applications for a few other places and got word this week that his early decision application at the Coast Guard Academy is currently under review.  Hopefully he will have some difficult decisions to make about where to spend the next 4 years, but it's a really nice feeling to know that no matter what else happens, he has earned the opportunity to call himself a Citadel Bulldog.  

And yes, for anyone wondering, if he goes to the Citadel he is still planning to take a military route and will look to commission as an officer through one of the ROTC programs there - currently leaning Marines, but this tends to change pretty regularly and may be swayed by scholarship offerings.  Luckily for him (and us) he has a very strong scholarship-competitive resume and topped it off recently by scoring a 1420 on the SAT.  (There's no way for me to share that without sounding like I'm bragging...  but I *am* quite proud of him for it!)

I hope you are all enjoying the switch to cooler weather.  It's been quite warm in Georgia the last couple of weeks, but the humidity is gone and it's been beautiful.  I love this time of year - and not only because I seem to be surrounded by birthday cake for a month straight!

Here's our 2020 version of the O H I O picture in front of the Ohio Stadium rotunda.  Pretty cool!

Picture of the Week - 10/15/2020

 Sometimes I worry a little about Beckett because he's the youngest in our family.  By the very nature of going through all the milestones and stages last, he runs the risk of not being treated with equal excitement and enthusiasm.  Honestly, we've been there and done that.  It's really hard to get AS excited for the 4th first lost tooth, the 4th first day of kindergarten, the 4th first football game.  You get the idea.  

In a very real way perspective, which I view as a powerful and positive weapon to have in our arsenal, also has a downside for the baby of the family.  I feel like our highs aren't quite as high for him.  We've leveled out some.  

But then I stop and think a little more critically about Beckett the BOY, not Beckett the birth order, and I realize that there's nothing at all to worry about.  Yes, it's very true that Bob and I have changed as parents since our first time through this process, but honestly I don't think any amount of preparation or experience could really prepare us for Bucky.  God knew exactly what he was doing by gifting him to a pair of boy-veterans. We know (a wee bit) more about what scenarios we need to sit up and pay attention to and which ones can come in one ear and out the other.  I'm guessing Beckett's teachers may not appreciate this laid back attitude we have about reports that he won't sit still in class or talks in the hallway.  We know these things will pass with maturity.  But the tattle-tale report from a brother that he was being mean to a neighbor - even if it was during play - that one needs to be dealt with promptly.  So yeah...  both Beckett and his parents are better off having some experience during his formative years!

Beckett is a crafty and intelligent child - who often puts both of these traits to action in trying to get away with something or convince us that he should get whatever it is he's asking for.  This can be a snack, a computer game, a privilege, a pony, etc.  He's relentless in his pursuit of whatever it is he thinks will make him happy. Right now that is kind of exhausting, but I really think he's developing a personality and behavioral way about him that will serve him quite well as an adult.  He could be an amazing salesman because the child literally will not take no for an answer.  And half the time even when we think we are saying "no" he has somehow managed to get what he wants!

I speak of him as if he's a spoiled brat.  He IS spoiled...  not going to try to avoid that one, but he's not a brat.  People like Beckett.  He has a LOT of friends.  He's fun to be around and enjoys playing all sorts of stuff.  He has this thing he does where he plays a game on the computer - like Roblox - and at the same time he has his ipad in his lap watching something on youtube or disney or netflix or whatever.  This dual input would give me a killer headache, but he does it ALL the time.  He's wired to be able to handle these dual inputs and he picks up bits of info along the way.  Recently I've realized he knows a lot about a lot of things that I had no idea he had been exposed to!  (And no, not all of these are "proud mom" topics...)

Beckett is a handful - always has been.  But goodness gracious is he also a heart-full.  He is so full of life and love that I can't imagine our family without him.  He finished us, but he also completed us.  He adores his brothers - each in their own ways.  Zane is literally his best friend - the classic brother relationship in every way - the play, fighting, competing, confiding...  all of it!  Beckett and Quinn probably spend the least amount of time together, but he loves riding in Quinn's jeep and he knows that Quinn will play fun music and goof around with him.  Beckett and Spencer, that's a pretty special relationship for sure.  Spencer is coaching Beck's football team this year, so they spend a lot of time together.  Beckett views Spence as a second father-figure and also the subject of utter "hung-the-moon" awe.  It makes him so happy to "show off" his biggest brother to his football friends.  I think Beck will really miss Spencer next year - even if he is counting the days until he moves out so he can get his own bedroom!

It's hard to believe it's been 9 years (on Monday) since Beckett joined us.  Time truly flies.  He's going to have a great year - and I couldn't be more proud and blessed to get to hang alongside him for the wild ride.  Happiest of 9th Birthdays Bucky!  

**********

In other news...

- Quinn went to his first college visit yesterday.  We went up to Cleveland, Ga, which is about an hour north of our house in the North Georgia mountains.  It's actually where Zane and Beckett go to summer camp.  We visited Truett McConnell university, which is a small Christian college.  It was so nice and they were all SO kind.  Quinn couldn't have had a better first college visit!

- Today Spencer and I drove over to Charleston, SC and tomorrow we will be touring The Citadel.  Spencer has applied there and we may have an admission decision from them in the next couple of weeks as they do a rolling admissions.  We are both looking forward to seeing the campus after walking around downtown Charleston this evening.  

- After our tour tomorrow, we are driving up to Kingsport, TN where we will meet up with Quinn and the rest of the wrestling team for a dual tournament on Saturday.  Then back home for a day of rest before starting another week!

- Zane has a football game on Saturday, but Beck has a bye week.  

- Next week we have parent teacher conferences and it's a short week for the boys.  The weather should be ideal for kicking them outside to play while we work!

Picture of the Week - 10/8/2020

 We are taking a short breather between fall birthday celebrations, so I thought it would be a good time to show off Zane and Beckett's (and Bob too) football pictures.  Aren't they cute!  And yes, Zane was badly sunburned with a farmer's tan for photo day!  LOL  

This week...  let's see...  

- Spencer is attending an "athletes only" Cadet for a Day program at the Coast Guard Academy.  It's only slightly irritating that he would be there in person if not for Covid...  so he'll make the best of the experience through the screen.

- This weekend we have football games in different parks at different times - so divide and conquer.  It's actually probably one of the worst schedules we have all season - which really just means we got really lucky with our schedule this year.  Also, yet another tropical storm coming through here starting tomorrow.  It's been a WET year!

- We are supposed to go to the annual Burt's trip on Sunday, but something tells me the weather is going to change our plans.  I fear for that tradition this year as we are running out of time and free days!

I hope you are all well and staying positive.  2020, in my opinion, remains "heavy" so be sure to be grateful and not dwell in the mess.  In spite of all the challenges, there are really good things all around every day!

Picture of the Week - 10/1/2020

 Zane turned 11 on Tuesday.  We celebrated with cupcakes and ravioli (his favorite, which he eats strangely without sauce) and have a birthday party with some of his buddies this weekend.  

11 years old is one of those "sweet spot" years.  (I think the same about 5 year-olds.)  Zane is smart (more on this later) and funny (more on this later) and not yet into that pre/early teen moodiness.  He enjoys hanging out with us and talking to us (mostly about football and madden and other things he knows WAY more about than me).  He's generally just an EASY kid and a pleasure to be around!  Seriously!  There were many days over the last 6 months where he saved my sanity - and he is a superstar remote learner!

I mentioned that Zane is smart and funny - but those adjectives don't really cover it.  I've talked in the past about the unique way Zane's mind works.  He is very very bright - and I say this after raising some other really smart kids.  Zane just processes on another level.  He's definitely smarter than me - which fills me with both pride and a little terror.  Pointed in a positive direction, the sky is the limit.  But if he goes off-course, he's going to be a hacking millionaire mastermind leading dubious entities for nefarious goals.  LOL  I kid...  sort of...

I also stated above that Zane is funny, which is very true, but when you combine his biting sense of humor with the fact that he's often one of the smartest people in the room, his humor can be quite caustic!  He doesn't always find the balance between making someone laugh and just being mean - bright side, a good portion of his quick, one-liners go over the head of the target because of both content and the extraordinarily dry delivery.  Maybe he will be a comic when he grows up... 

If you ask Zane what he wants to do as a career, he will tell you he's going to be in the NFL.  It's actually refreshing to see a little dude who loves a sport so much that he wants to turn it into a career - however unlikely.  I'll not be bursting his bubble any time soon - the world will do that it time and for now I love that the boy can dream.

Speaking of dreams...  Zane STILL spends a lot of time alone in his own head.  He's always done this.  It's in his personality.  He likes his alone time and he likes the process of creating.  He would be mortified to know that I'm sharing that he still plays make-believe (regularly).  He makes up elaborate games with his stuffed friends, sometimes Beckett, sometimes his friends outside, sometimes a football, sometimes nothing more than some room to run and a little fresh air.  Oh, and he's ALWAYS in charge.  

I'm really enjoying the process of raising this interesting young man.  I love that he's about to blossom both physically and emotionally.  He's off to middle school next year and I think he's going to thrive!  11 is going to be a good year for Zane!

*******************

This weekend we have more football games - and got really lucky with both the schedule and the weather.  We have a 10:30 and a 1:00 at the same park - which makes for a lengthy day, but both Bob and I will get to see both boys - which is often not the case.  AND bonus that it's supposed to be textbook "chamber of commerce" weather in Georgia this weekend.  Cool and crisp and perfect for a day of football - and probably sunburns.  

Then Saturday night Beck's football team is doing a big community sleep out in one of the local neighborhoods - coaches Bob and Spencer are going too.  And Zane has a birthday party sleepover too.  If I can keep Quinn from making social plans (unlikely) I will get a Quinn date.  Worst case, I get a Saturday night alone at home.  :)

Picture of the Week - 9/24/2020

 Where to begin.  Spencer turns 18 on Sunday.  And I've been stuck trying to figure out how to begin this birthday tribute for days.  

And it dawns on me that part of the challenge here is that this is both a beginning and an ending.  Wow!  Even just typing "ending" has me a little choked up.  But I suppose that's all part of this process.  It began nearly 18 years ago - before that actually as I lay in bed with a hand on my growing belly feeling his kicks and starting the process of loving this child.  It ends, in some ways, in just a few short days.  And that is pretty hard.  

Yes, I know that just because he will technically be an adult it doesn't mean he's instantly going to vanish forever.  I know that I get to see his face across the dinner table for a few more months.  I know that I will still feel compelled to take care of his wishes and needs for long after that.  I know I will love him forever - no matter where on this earth he lands.

So this is "just" one of those milestones.  Like when he chose to wean himself or take those first steps.  Like the first time we left him at daycare or watched him ride away on a school bus.  Like the first trip he took with a friend or the first drive.  It's a bitter sweet milestone like all the rest.  I celebrate - because that's the goal here.  It's our job to prepare our sons for all of these milestones so they can be confident and ready - for anything.  But I'm also a little sad because each milestone marks the end of a phase.  And I've loved all the phases.

(Except the 12 year old phase...  not my fave!)

And really there is far more to celebrate about Spencer turning 18 than reasons to be sad.  There are so many things about this man that I adore.  I love that he is capable and willing to help in any situation that comes up.  He's the first to head outside when yard work needs to be done and the first to agree to helping move heavy things for anyone who asks.  I love that he's got a quick wit and a bright mind.  He is both book and (somewhat) street smart.  He thinks for himself and doesn't just roll with the crowd - never has.  I love that he has some really random, and fluctuating, interests and knows how to do things like sell old stuff on social media.  I love that he wants to better himself and wants to be better so he can better his country.  I love that he is narrowing in on what he wants to do in the future and I really love that the direction he's heading makes so much sense for his skills, interests, and abilities.

I love him.  For who he is.  For what he's done.  For what I know he's going to do.

And when I think about that last bit, the anxiety ratchets up again.  It's normal, I'm sure.  I will be sending him off to tackle this crazy, crazy world without the ability to see how the day has treated him written on his face.  I'm going to say goodbye without really knowing when we will get another hug - or phone call.  I am not the only mom of a nearly 18 year old to ever have struggled with this collision of ending and beginning.  I know that...  and I also know that my child is at least as prepared as all those other newly christened adults out there.  Nah - Spencer is more prepared.  He's ready.  

And with that, I will prepare to wish him a happy, happy 18th birthday.  We will celebrate with cake and presents and hugs and I will make him let me kiss him on the cheek.

Picture of the Week - 9/17/2020

 So the remnants of a hurricane came through here last night/today and it has had me reminiscing about the hurricane that came through Atlanta on September 26/27 2002.  Spencer was born in during a "hurricane remnants" storm.  I guess it's the time of year, but I think it hit me particularly hard today because I've spent a lot of time over the last couple of weeks looking at colleges and reading essays and gathering what I hope is a good and accurate snapshot of Spencer to try to get him into his dream college.  I suppose it's natural to be nostalgic.

Here's one of those things we've been putting together - Spencer's wrestling highlight video - Spencer Bovenizer West Forsyth Class of 2021  I don't know if it will mean as much to anyone else as it does to me (and Bob) but I'm really glad we put this together because it's pretty exciting and someday will be a great memory for all of us.  For now, I'm hoping it shows off his abilities and potential.

Spencer Bovenizer West Forsyth Class of 2021

This weekend we have a couple of football games and then we are heading north for a very short visit to see Grandma Sharon and Bob's sisters.  I'm feeling very excited because Laura is going to capture some Senior pictures of Spencer for us too.  Fun stuff.  

Next week is Fall break for the boys!  We are celebrating with another round of SAT testing.  LOL

This week was also Brutus's 2nd birthday.  I forgot.  Zane reminded us.  LOL  That about sums up my mind these days!  Here's a picture of the goofiest member of our family.  

Have a great week everyone!  I'm going to try to enjoy the last full week where I can still tell Spencer he has to listen to me because he's not an adult yet.  10 more days...  wow...  

Picture of the Week - 9/10/2020

 This past weekend was the 1 year anniversary of the day I got laid off from my job.  It was the start of what is certainly one of the strangest 12 month periods I've lived through - so far at least.  So I've done some reflecting...

There are a lot of things that have changed in the last 12 months.  Some of them obvious (I don't travel any more) and some of them likely a bit more subtle (I've gotten much more spiritual).  I've had my confidence shaken and I've been fearful of what the future will bring.  I've celebrated new beginnings and learned how to be more flexible.  I've reached out to others and I've withdrawn into myself.  I've created and planted and read and cleaned and renovated.  And I've sat staring dumbly at stupid TV.  I've been disappointed and elated.  I've canceled plans and I've made new ones.

In the last 12 months I have realized that there are really only a few things that are truly important to me - God, my family, and my health.  

My job loss forced me off a merry-go-round that was going too fast for me to be happy and healthy.  It also forcibly removed me from a situation that was more toxic in hindsight than I could see in real time.  It wasn't what I asked for, but it was exactly what I needed.  Then Covid forced me to slow down even more and focus on the people closest to me.  If those two situations - a one-two punch if you will - weren't a sign from God to take heed, then I don't know what is.  

I've mentioned before that I have a sincere hope that people will use whatever their experiences are through this pandemic as an opportunity to SEE something new - in themselves, in the world, in God.  I hope that there are lessons learned and that this whole mess isn't for naught.  I pray this regularly.  Actually - forget the Covid mess - I pray that people will use all of their experiences (good and bad) as a way to be better.  I can look back at some of my hardest times (think 2 lb Quinn in the NICU for 42 days with a 16 month old at home, for example) and realize that GOOD came out of that situation.  I pray that everyone can choose to be grateful whatever the scenario.  This is the reason I am always sharing Gratitude reminders on Facebook.  It's my mission to remind people that there is always something to be grateful for.

I can only speak for myself in saying that 12 months into this tumultuous year I am happier and I have better relationships with all the fine men who share my home.  I think that's a pretty big deal.  And I am thankful to God for leading me to this place - however weird the road.  

Here's a fun picture of my big boys from last weekend's wrestling tournament.  It wasn't a particularly successful weekend for them as Quinn ran through a bunch of REALLY good competition and Spencer hurt his foot in the very first match and was forced to sit out the rest of the tourney.  But they learned a lot, they had fun with their friends, and I got this amazing picture of my boys.  

Have a great week everyone!  

Picture of the Week - 9/3/2020

 Happy September!

Despite how weird this year has been, time still flies.  Hard to believe we are already into September.  Crazy!

This week Zane and Beck had school pictures.  Funny how something so mundane can feel so much more important after the last 6 bizarre months!  I even bought them new shirts!  (easily 80% of their wardrobe is hand-me-downs...)

Bob is off with Spencer and Quinn and the Bad Natured Rodents (the wrestling team name for off-season stuff) for a tournament down in Perry Ga tomorrow and Saturday.  Tonight Zane has a scrimmage against a team in a rival park and Beck has practice.  Then we are pretty much on "chill mode" for a nice long weekend.  

Nothing else much to report...  which is good news!

Have a super happy September!