Picture of the Week - 4/29/2021

 We snuck away!

Bob and I have left the boys home ALONE!!  We have, of course, left them home alone before, but never overnight - much less for a few days.  It's terrifying - and exhilarating!

When our springtime cruise was cancelled this year, we didn't really think much of it...  until we realized that we really missed having some one-on-one time to focus on each other.  We aren't (and never have been) trying to "fix" anything, but any relationship needs tending to regularly.  A marriage is no different.  

I don't think I really agree with people who say it's "work" to cultivate a happy marriage because it doesn't (98% of the time) FEEL like work.  But I do agree that putting a priority on staying connected, finding activities that we both enjoy, and just spending time together is a pretty key component to a good relationship!  So this weekend - is all about US!  And I've been looking forward to this for months now!

Here's the view from our back porch.  The place we rented is so nice!  It's a little studio apartment rental with an amazing back deck - complete with rocking chairs overlooking Lake Chatuge in Hiawassee Ga.  Hiawassee is a wee little town just across the North Carolina border in northwest Georgia.  

We are here until Sunday.  We brought games and books and sewing and snacks.  There's a hummingbird feeder with frequent guests.  I could live here!  It's so peaceful and quiet.

Meanwhile...  at home...

Quinn has Zane and Beckett duty tonight.  Tomorrow is PROM!  I am actually really sad that we are missing prom, but when we scheduled this trip, prom was scheduled for next weekend and when they started increasing the number of people who could attend, they had to move to a different date so everyone could participate.  We have tuxes and ordered flowers and the boys have plans.  I've pleaded with them to get pictures - so everyone cross your fingers!

While the big guys are at prom, the younger ones (not allowed to call them little anymore...  as Zane is almost as tall as me now) are gonna hang with my parents.  

And throughout, Ozzie and Willow will pace the house worried sick that we are never coming home.

I am so appreciative that we are able to have a weekend like this.  I'm so thankful that I have Bob to share this with!  It's going to be an amazing weekend!

PS - Today was Spencer's last day of high school.  Oh in the world...  literally...  I just can't even wrap my head around that... (he has some AP tests and a couple of finals before he's done-done, but no more high school classes for the eldest Bovy boy.  

Picture of the Week - 4/22/2021

 It's been "top down" kinda weather here recently.  Pollen aside (which has been really bad this year) it's been gorgeous and sunny and just enough chill in the air to need a jacket in the evenings.  Quinn has taken advantage by removing the doors and taking the top off his Jeep.  This makes Zane and Beckett practically vibrate with excitement because he drives them to wrestling practice in that Jeep on the weekends.  Can you think of anything cooler than having your big brother drive you around in a cool old Jeep while blaring music that I probably wouldn't let them listen to?  I think not...

There's not too much new news going on down here right now.  The boys are all gearing up for milestone testing and finals.  Learning is ramping down and reviewing (aka cramming) is ramping up.  

Spencer and Quinn (really Zane and Beck too...  but lesser a bit) are both really busy.  They regularly go from school to work to gym to sleep.  Or school to wrestling to gym to sleep.  Or occasionally they squeeze in dinner with a friend or hang out somewhere working on a project.  I have a list of things that need to be discussed (not deep dark things, more like "are you gonna go with us to graduation?" kinda stuff) that I have to write on a piece of paper so I can pepper them with questions during the 5 minutes a day I see them.  It's pretty wild...

This week we have some folks in our basement building a closet into one of the rooms down there.  This closet is kinda massive.  It's going to be really nice!  Quinn has decided he wants to move down there this summer so he can have some privacy (currently he shares a bathroom with both Zane and Beck).  So we are working through some home improvement type things to make it a little more feasible for him to live down there.  After the closet guys leave, we paint and then some minor electrical stuff (this massive closet is going to need lights) and installation of a closet organizer and then we can start the process of moving boys all around.  Quinn's stuff is going downstairs, then his current room is getting a fresh coat of paint before Beckett moves in.  Finally we are going to spruce up the room Zane and Beck currently share.  It's a lot of small projects that will - realistically - take us all summer.  But it's fun kind of stuff that I'm excited to tackle.

Hope you are all having a great April!  Next week is a fun week for us with Prom (x2) and a weekend away for Bob and I which I've been looking forward to for ages.  More later...

Picture of the Week - 4/15/2021

 This year...  disappeared... poof and it's nearly gone.  Seriously, how in the world did that happen...

Senior year activities and planning have me all in the feels right now.  I'm busy writing letters to Spencer and his friends, planning graduation stuff, following-up on plans for what comes next, and SO MUCH reminiscing.  

I'm not sad.  Good grief, how could I be.  I am so proud I could nearly pop.  Bob and I have successfully raised this wee baby we had no idea what to do with and he is now about to close out his adolescence and move onto the rest of his life.  It's weird.  And it's SO FULFILLING.  Spencer is going to be amazing - and I am going to love him ever step of the way.

Today is April 15th.  Spencer's last real day of school is May 13th.  For those following along, that means we are down to weeks...  Graduation is on May 23rd - IN PERSON - and we have a little party planned on Saturday the 22nd.  If you happen to be in town and would like to stop by, please let me know and I'll forward along information.  

This picture is Spencer and his friend Brody.  Brody is heading to Mississippi State.  I will miss the comfort of knowing those 2 boys have each other to lean on every day and hope that they maintain their relationship after high school.  They sure have been through a lot together!  I am so so so tickled (probably the only one who really is) that both Spencer and Brody are going to be Bulldogs in college - and despite growing up in Georgia, neither of them are THOSE Bulldogs.  I think it's cool.  

This weekend is a bit of a breather and then we are off to the races.  The boys are all prepping for a wrestling tournament in Myrtle Beach in mid-May.  Yes - all FOUR of my boys will be competing in the same tournament for the first - and maybe only - time ever.  I think that is SO SO cool and be prepared for pictures of them together and likely decked out in tournament t-shirts.  I bet there aren't many people on the planet who can say they have 4 boys competing together - in anything.  Blessed...  and proud!

Have a great week everyone!  

Picture of the Week - 4/8/2021

 This week is Spring Break and we took advantage!

Bob and I grabbed Berber and Pappy, Zane and Beck and headed for the Smoky Mountains.  We could not have had better weather.  It was amazing!  We stayed in a cabin perched atop a mountain, which made for slightly nerve-wracking drives in exchange for breathtaking views.  We ate a picnic lunch halfway through the National Park.  We visited Dollywood, saw the Dixie Stampede Dinner Show, and ate dinner-plate sized cinnamon rolls.  We played cards, pool, chilled in a hot tub, enjoyed drinks on the back porch.  We laughed and really just enjoyed.  It was a perfect mini trip!  (That also left me wanting more travel and less staring-at-my-computer-screen!)  Good thing we have lots of stuff planned for the coming months... stay tuned!

I've had regular contact with both Spencer, who is in NC at a cabin with his buddies, and Quinn, who is in Orlando doing the theme park circuit with a friend of his.  They both seem to be having a great time and enjoying the break from work and school.  Spencer comes home tomorrow and Quinn is expected sometime Sunday.

This trip was a bit of a preview into what things will be like in the not-distant future as we transition from a family of 6 down to 5 and finally settle at 4 for a few years.  It's...  bittersweet.  I know we have done our jobs and they are ready to fly.  I can't wait to watch them spread their wings and GO!  But I am going to miss them.  It feels funny without all those faces around the table.  

A week or so ago the high school compiled a list of all the upcoming important dates for the seniors.  It was kind of daunting!  There is a lot of stuff crammed into the next 5 weeks or so.  Spencer will be having an in-person graduation.  We are pretty excited that we will get to watch him "walk" even if it is via limited tickets which means we can't take everyone we want to - including all our kids...  He's got finals, AP exams, Senior breakfast, graduation, parties, etc. etc. etc.  

On top of all of that, he's about kick wrestling preparation back into gear.  Spence has earned a tryout with the Citadel wrestling team and he wants to give it a go.  We aren't really sure what that means yet, but he's going to start hitting the mats again a few times a week to prep for whatever comes.  He's also participating in a couple of wrestling tournaments this May (which is part of the the "stuff planned" I referred to above.)  It's going to be a busy couple of months...  and then he will be off to Charleston.  WOW!

If we are connected on Facebook, you may have already seen my request for you to send Spencer a note that he will receive as part of the high school's "blue envelope" tradition.  Anyone can send him a note of congratulations or wish him well.  All you have to do is send a letter to the school with his name on it - Spencer Bovenizer, c/o West Forsyth High School, 4155 Drew Rd, Cumming, GA 30040.  The letters are being collected from Monday through the end of the month.  He would LOVE to hear from you!

Enjoy some pictures from our trip!  I miss that mountain view already!

Picture of the Week - 4/1/2021

 Happy April!

I think as soon as we get past this short cold snap down here, it's full on time for spring!!

We head into spring break next week - and have kids spread all over the place.  

Spencer is doing a senior trip with a group of his friends.  It's scary for a control freak (me) to let them go do this thing...  and yet, it's a right of passage and I know it's time.  They rented a cabin in a pretty remote area, so we are sending lots of food and firewood and praying that there's enough wifi for regular check-ins.

Quinn is going with a friend of his to Orlando.  They had planned on doing Universal, but tickets are pretty scarce, so I think they are going to Epcot.  The plans are more squishy than I prefer, but I'm sure they will have a blast.

Bob and I are taking Zane and Beck, along with my parents, to a long weekend in Pigeon Forge.  The weather looks like it's going to be amazing.  We have plans to go to Dollywood and some other fun stuff.  It's pretty exciting to get to be planning STUFF!

For future reference - Georgia is lifting the remaining Covid-restrictions as of April 8.  No more limited-capacity and 6' social distance requirements.  It's back to, be smart, do what you think is best, and go live your life.  I'm pretty happy about it!

Today is Ozzie's birthday.  No good pictures of any of the boys this week, so here's a Smiley Ozzie picture for you!

Have a great first week of April - and here's to a beautiful, fun spring!