Picture of the Week - 12/22/2022

 We wish you all a VERY Merry Christmas!

Love

The Bovenizers

Picture of the Week - 12/15/2022

 Wrestling isn't for the weak.  It's not a casual sport.  It requires, if you want to succeed, dedication and determination.  

I'm really proud of both Zane and Beckett for embracing this lifestyle.  It's not glamourous - and it hurts.  (See picture of Zane who came home from last weekend in Virginia Beach with 2 black eyes and a singlet splattered with blood.  His blood.)

Bob and I have taken a pretty "long game" approach to wrestling with Zane and Beckett.  We didn't go "all in" while they were really young.  This is partly because we were busy with Spencer and Quinn, but it was also a direct result of my favorite parenting super skill - perspective.  

What we learned watching Spencer and Quinn - and their peers - is that many of the kids who were successful at high school had lots and lots of experience.  They didn't have lots and lots of youth state championships.  We also noticed along the way that there were kids who were absolute stud wrestlers in 6U and 8U who disappeared after middle school.  Our goal with the boys has been pretty straight forward - 1) don't let them quit and 2) make sure they have fun.

This year we have intentionally stepped things up a bit.  Actually this started last summer...  when we sent them to a wrestling camp in Missouri because it had a great reputation for teaching techniques that match how our boys wrestle.  We decided that this year we are going to continue doing what we're already doing, but layer in some additional opportunities for them by watching for - and being willing to attend - travel opportunities.  Will this work - in the long run?  No idea...  but along the way we are going to have some fun!  

This weekend we are staying local and wrestling in a tournament on Saturday.  What's up next is a little up in the air.  Maybe Kentucky the weekend after Christmas.  Maybe South Carolina the first weekend of 2023.  Maybe both...  Stay tuned for more updates - and if you need to know how to get blood out of a singlet, give me a call.

Picture of the Week - 12/8/2022

 Quick update today because it's kinda more of same - except I think I have the flu and feel pretty crappy.  

Bob's got Zane and Beck this weekend in Virginia Beach with one of their wrestling teams for a big weekend of wrestling.  Last weekend was a vacation with a little wrestling.  This weekend is wrestling in a different state.  Big difference!  It'll be interesting to see how they do.  I expect a lot of learning.  ;)  If you aren't winning, you are learning, if you get my drift.

Quinn got home yesterday for winter break.  It's nice to have him here for sure!

Spencer gets home on Tuesday - I think.  Details are always a bit sketchy when it comes to Spencer and plans.

I'm going to spend the next 3 days trying to get well - and wrapping Christmas presents.  :)  Maybe I'll even bake something.  Maybe I'll just watch nonsense TV instead.  LOL

Here's a fun picture of Beckett from breakfast this morning.  Zane has been on a bit of a weight cut - prob last one this year.  I'm certain he's looking forward to dinner tonight after weigh-ins!  (In case anyone is curious, there's less than 10 lbs between Zane and Beck right now.)

Picture of the Week - 12/1/2022

 I thought I'd take this week as an opportunity to share our family picture from Thanksgiving.  

As casual as this is, I love it.  It's not fancy.  No one matches.  There are unshaven faces.  There's a turkey onesie.  It's us.  In all our crazy, chaotic glory.

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving week - and are gearing up for all the awesomeness of December.  

Tomorrow morning we are pulling the boys out of school and heading to Gatlinburg.  We're going for a wrestling tourney, but really, it's just an excuse to go see Gatlinburg decked out in Christmas lights while staying in a rented camper* in an RV park.  There will be some wrestling, but mostly just a quick family trip and a break from all the "stuff" going on in real life.  

* for anyone unaware, we've been looking at possibly buying a travel trailer for a while now.  We've got one all picked out even.  We have researched (to death) and a trial run trip in a rental is basically the last hurdle.  Wish us luck!  Maybe someday soon I'll get to share pictures of our new camper!

Picture of the Week - 11/17/2022

 This week is so fun!  And so full of STUFF!  The kind of stuff that's leaving me mentally stressed and emotionally excited!

My parents are currently in the Caribbean somewhere.  Bob is in the frozen tundra (Fargo, ND) for work.  And my big boys are still at school.  This time next week - they will ALL be in my house.  I mean, if that's not enough to make a mama heart happy, I'm not sure what would do it.

In the meantime, I've got lists (to-dos and check varieties) and a spreadsheet of what needs to be done when.  (Turkey comes out today because it's an enormous beast.)  I haven't hosted Thanksgiving since before Spencer was born.  Feeling a little rusty - and also up for the challenge!  (So long as there's wine involved!)

In the middle of all the Thanksgiving prep - I'm also trying to get things ready for Spencer's first trip home since August and Quinn's return tomorrow as well.  I want to surround them with reasons to want to come home again - college parents out there, I know you get this...  I'm making Chicken n Dumplins for Quinn tomorrow.  I've got Chili fixins for Saturday.  Oh and the wrestling club's annual Thanksgiving Duals is on Tuesday.  I may be running all stuff that happens off the mats.  (Concessions, Hospitality, Volunteers, Signage, Decorations, etc.)  I love this tourney - it's my favorite of the year.  It's at our own high school.  It's very early in the season - so no stress or pressure.  It's MY official launch of the holiday season.  And I get to spend the whole day with my friends.  It's a really fun day.  (But it's also a lot of work!)  

It'll all get done.  Or it won't.  No one is going to die.  And all will be well.  

I'm grateful to get to live this crazy, chaotic life.  Wouldn't trade it for the world.  (Although I would prefer Bob be here instead of freezing in North Dakota.  And he needs a hat, right?!?!?)

Picture of the Week - 11/10/2022

 Whoops - almost let 2 full weeks slip away without a POTW email.  

It's a funny phase of life right now!  Things are kinda overwhelming and simultaneously sort of boring and routine.  I suppose that's life in a nutshell.

We are neck-deep in all things wrestling right now.  Bob and I are running both the high school and youth team booster clubs.  I love all of it.  I really do!  If I could figure out a way to monetize serving a wrestling booster club, I'd leave my job in a heartbeat.  But that doesn't mean things are drama-free all the time.  We have grown the program from about 30 kids 6 years ago to around 130 now.  This year we have onboarded probably 60 brand new wrestlers.  Maybe 50...  I'm not sure, but it's been a LOT.  And one of my favorite things is talking to these folks and helping them understand the sport and our program.  I love helping other people fall in love with this sport like we did.  95% of the folks I talk to and the things I do are super rewarding.  That other 5% literally makes me lose sleep - and some faith in humanity in general. 

I choose to focus on the good while I knock out all the things on the wrestling to-do list!  Gotta get things rolling so I can dive into the Thanksgiving prep to-do list.  Let's goooooo!

This weekend Zane is wrestling in a middle school dual after winning his first wrestle-off of the season.  Last weekend he won his first tournament.  I think this is going to be a fun season for him.  After this weekend I think we have around 7 straight weekends of wrestling stuff - including a trip to Gatlinburg and another trip to Virginia Beach - all before Christmas.  So fun - so crazy!

Sharing some pictures of Gable out practicing his new skills!  We put him in a board and train program a few weeks ago.  We missed him SO much while he was gone, but he came home with some better manners and is way nicer on a leash now!  One of the things that he learned was a "place" command where you put him on a place (any place) and he has to stay there until you release him.  This is really hard for him because he just wants to be with his people.  But he does it!  The first two pictures show him before he got tired.  The last picture is him with his "I'm over it" face.  It's exhausting for him - which always results in a nice, hard nap!  Win/win!

Have a great week everyone!  

Picture of the Week - 10/27/2022

 I just finished adding all our wrestling tournaments to our calendar.  Simultaneously sobering and exciting!  I can't wait to watch the boys wrestle this year.  

This is the first year we will be able to focus on ZnB without splitting duty with the high school schedule.  It's going to be fun!  It's going to be busy too...  and if you need anything between now and March...  well, we're probably in a gym somewhere.

All is well here - really nothing exciting to note really.  (Sorta makes me wonder about whether these potw messages are really worth it to anyone anymore...)

Yesterday both Spencer and Quinn checked in - without prompting.  They are both pretty good about reaching out from time to time, but it's also not unusual for days to go by without hearing from them.  What a weird transition it is to experience the "moving out and moving on".  Sigh...  

They are both doing really well.  Classes are good - both have enough struggles to keep them focused in the right direction, but not so many struggles to feel overwhelming (or to make me worry).  Quinn's in the process of signing a lease for an apartment next year.  This is new for us!  Spencer has to stay in the barracks all 4 years, so we are navigating college-town rentals for the first time.  Thank goodness he's got friends he wants to live with and one of them is already in the house they will be moving into.  The process could be even more unknown!  

We have a pretty free weekend coming up - no football, no wrestling - so of course we have chores planned!  HA!  Last weekend we started painting the ceiling on the main floor and got about 1/3 done.  We need to finish that up this weekend!!!  Also, Beckett tells me that pumpkins need to be obtained and carved into jack-o-lanterns.  :)

Here are some screen shots of snapchats from Spencer and Quinn.  I'm so proud of them!

Picture of the Week - 10/21/2022

 This was/is Beckett's birthday week.  

And man does he love the attention!  LOL

I suppose because he's the youngest, his personality is partly dictated just by birth order.  It's probably influenced by being carted all over the place from the time he was born.  I'm certain I contributed to it by outfitting him in 90% hand-me-down.  And I'm certain there's an inherent, God-given piece of the puzzle too.  (I'm a nature + nurture kinda gal and would never consider one or the other as king.)

Whatever the case, Beckett keeps us all pretty darn entertained!  All.  The.  Time.  He's not a casual, side-kick kinda kid.  He requires your focus and attention.  Example, he asks a LOT of questions.  But these aren't the kind of questions you can just answer without thought.  The stuff he wants to talk about requires actual engagement.  I'm not complaining (really) but it's kinda exhausting sometimes!  I don't know where the workers building the bridge park.  I have no idea why the neighbors chose to have another baby.  I never thought who decides what cereal to put on which shelf.  

He's a trip!

We had his parent/teacher conference this week.  I'm always a little apprehensive about these events.  Beck is a good kid because I know he means well, but he's not always the most well-behaved child in the classroom/bus/field/yard.  He has a quick temper and does not handle situations he views as "unfair" well.  He wants everyone to like him - and honestly kids gravitate to him naturally because he has a big personality.  But if there's a conflict or a kid decides Beck's not for them, he doesn't always handle that well.  He's also a very bright kid (not bragging, just honest) and has a pretty crappy work ethic.  This leads to scenarios where he just doesn't feel like he needs to do the work cause he already knows the stuff.  He's probably right, but that's really not a good approach.  In fairness, this is much better as he matures!

I get some glimpses of what Beck may evolve to as he gets older, but I don't think he's quite picked a lane yet.  He's still in that golden age where he knows he can play in the NFL and be a scientist and cook delicious meals and will live in a house on the same street as me with his family when he's older.  He's currently sitting in our kitchen playing Roblox in a turkey onesie.  He's a free spirit with enough self-confidence that he does what he wants and does not care about what anyone thinks about it.  I hope he can hang onto some of that as he moves into middle school next year.  

I can't wait to watch how he changes as the years pass - but I'm pretty certain the core of who Beckett is won't change one bit.  He's, as I've said many times before, the perfect exclamation point to our family.  

This week we have gotten to celebrate him over and over - which he has loved.  We had dinner at his choice (sushi conveyor belt restaurant) with my parents last weekend.  Then we took cupcakes to his football team on Tuesday and he beamed while they sang to him.  We let him skip wrestling practice on Wednesday and went out for Mexican and he shared with the waitress it was his birthday - and was rewarded with free dessert.  Today we are heading to Publix to pick out some snacks for his party tomorrow.  After his football game tomorrow we are having a few of his friends over to play and a couple to spend the night.  He's over the moon excited and has big plans to wake up early to help me make them pancakes on Sunday morning.

I wish him the happiest of birthdays and pray for a fun, successful - and big - year for him. 

PS - this weekend we will also be celebrating Zane's return to a wrestling mat.  He's wrestling in a scramble on Saturday as one of only 2 middle school kids heading to the tourney with the high school coaches.  AND Spencer will also be on the field on Saturday as he's earned himself a starting spot on the Citadel Rugby A team.  I'm 100% sure Quinn is also doing super fun and exciting things down in the 'boro too.  I can't wait to see him again in a few weeks for Thanksgiving.  

Picture of the Week - 10/13/2022

 I started writing this about a dozen times today and I really wish I had finished it earlier!  I had grand plans to share all kinds of good info and news about the last week.  Now, however, I'm tired!  Long day after a few back-to-back long weeks is taking it's toll!  Lemma try to rally here...

Last week, after I got home from a work trip to Minneapolis, we packed the suitcases back up and prepped for a trip to Charleston.  But before we left, we dropped Gable off at the dog trainer for a couple of weeks of doggie boarding school.  We did this same program with Brutus and Ozzie and really liked the results.  So when we get Gable back next week I'm excited to see what he's learned.  He's been a really good puppy without the formal training, so this additional discipline will be bonus for us!  Man I miss him though!!  And I think Brutus REALLY misses him!  Here's a picture they sent us.  

We headed down to Charleston for Citadel's Parent's weekend while my parents held down the fort and took on Uber duty and cheerleading responsibilities for Zane and Beckett's practices and games.  Bonus - Quinn drove up to see us from Statesboro, which is about a 2.5 hour drive from Charleston.  We really had a great weekend.  The weather was absolutely perfect.  The rental we had was in a great, convenient location and had a ton of space for us.  We had some great dinners and some fun conversations.  We did a lot of people watching and talking with other parents who are just as happy and proud as we are.  It's a really fun weekend!  It's also kind of sobering to realize that in 2 short years, Spencer will be a senior and will be receiving his ring.  Time flies!

This week we, sort of unexpectedly, saw the end of Zane's football season.  The team lost a heartbreaker of a game on Tuesday they needed to win in order to make it to the playoffs.  It was a really bad call from a ref that's kind of notorious around here for being a pretty big jerk.  It was a hard way to end the season, but Zane took it all in stride.  He's already looking forward to next year as an 8th grader.

The next day, he started wrestling season.  I'm really interested to see how this year goes.  I am always excited for wrestling season - and this year is no different.  But it might be a growth year for both boys, who both moved up an age group this year.  While they are both really good wrestlers, with more experience at their ages than most already, they are also on the young side and will compete with kids a year older than them.  I'm not sure if you've ever seen the difference 12 months can make in a teenage boy on either side of puberty or not...  LOL  It's a big difference!  SO we shall see how things go - and I know that they will either win or learn!  :)

This weekend we only have 1 football game - which should leave plenty of time for me to sort and organize (and then distribute) 80ish wrestling uniform gear packs.  My basement looks like a screen-printing warehouse at the moment...  

Next week we celebrate Beckett's birthday.  11...  crazy!

Have a great fall week!  Go outside and enjoy the crisp air and the color on the trees.  And be grateful for all of it!

Picture of the Week - 9/29/2022

 This week has been all about celebrating birthdays and monitoring a hurricane!  (Oh and maybe being jealous of all the folks we know on fall break vacays this week...)

Spencer turned 20 on Tuesday and today is Zane's 13th birthday.  Fun!  

As I was putting together Zane's birthday collage it struck me how much he's changed over the last 12 months.  He's like a totally different kid than he was this time last year.  He's tall and lean and has the best hair in the house.  He kinda grew up in a hurry...  

Hurricane Ian has had my attention for the last few days because it's path for a long time was splitting the difference between Spencer and Quinn.  We have had about 6 different plans of who is staying where and who is leaving and how that would happen.  If you remember, I was supposed to go to Statesboro tomorrow, but Ian squashed that visit too.  

At the moment, in person classes for both boys have been canceled and they are both sheltering in place as neither school has evacuated.  As time goes on, Statesboro looks like it's going to be mostly spared.  They will get wind and rain, but should be totally fine.  Charleston, on the other hand, is currently in the bullseye of the second landfall.  I'm willing the storm to continue the trend of moving a bit farther east.  It would be MUCH better for Charleston if they are on the west side of the landfall.  So everyone cross your fingers!  I'm not so much worried about Spencer's safety - I mean he's on a campus full of some VERY capable people - but it will bother me a LOT if they lose power and I can't check in on him.  He's, how should I say this..., REALLY bad at charging his cell phone!

Tonight we are taking Zane out to dinner and making him wear the funny hat while strangers sing happy birthday to him.  Always fun!  This weekend we are mostly just hanging out on Saturday and then on Sunday Zane gets to use his birthday gift, which is tickets to see the Falcons play the Browns while I head to the airport for a quick trip to Minneapolis.  

Have a great last couple of days of September!  

Picture of the Week - 9/22/2022

 Happy first day of fall!

I love this time of year.  It's that first chilly evening sitting at a football game/practice that gets me!  And sitting in our bedroom sitting area and watching the first leaves fall off the trees.  Love it!

This week is also the last week of BUSY before fall break.  We had a trip planned for fall break at one point.  We were going to tackle Disney and Orlando and I had a whole itinerary laid out.  It was going to be fun and glorious and exhausting.  We canceled.  Many reasons, but it basically boiled down to 1) work and 2) protecting the "recovery time" this week brings every year.  It's nice to know we don't have a bunch of activities/games/stuff and can have dinner together as a family for a couple of days.

I am taking Friday off and heading down to see Quinn.  No real reason - just want to put my eyeballs on him in person and give him a hug.  It's a good excuse for a day off work too.  

I may swing up past Charleston on the way home if Spencer is going to play in the rugby matches that day.  Undetermined at the moment as he got a bit hurt at practice yesterday and may need some time off.  Oh yeah - Did I mention Spencer is playing rugby?  LOL  He's having a lot of fun (or was until he got hurt) and the team has really embraced him.  I love that he's found something to do with people he likes and I'm really proud of him for stepping out of his comfort zone and trying something new.  He even got highlighted on the team's schedule flyer.  I guess if nothing else, he looks the part!

More on all of that next week...  for now - gotta get through one more weekday and one more 5th grade football game (someone remind me it's our turn to take snacks...) before some downtime.  

Picture of the Week - 9/15/2022

 I am not a selfie kinda gal.  I am not good at it.  I've never really tried to get good at it.  It's just not my thing.  

(This is not me passing ANY kind of judgment on those who are skilled at selfies.  In fact, just the opposite, I'm a little jealous that all of you selfie-takers will actually have pictures of yourself for people to remember you someday...)

However, having 2 kids in college and one active social media guy in middle school has forced me into the world of Snapchat.  (I mean, if you want to talk to them, you have to go where they are!  I can send a text and a snapchat at the same time and the snap gets opened immediately while the text is fermented and rotten by the time they notice it's out there.  SO WEIRD!)

So snapchat...  I'm ALSO not good at snapchat and mess things up all the time.  One of the things that even I can't mess up, however, are the amazingly ridiculous lenses.  They crack me up.  I have sent pictures of myself wearing a WIDE variety of costumes and random accessories.  I can sit down in the morning, pick my flavor of ridiculous and start a conversation with the boys even before I've dried my hair.  And they don't even know it cause I'm wearing a digital cowboy hat.  Brilliant!

I was sitting in the parking lot waiting for someone/something this week - I don't remember...  there are a lot of drop offs and pick ups...  and I figured I'd snap the boys.  When I went to take the picture there were all these lines all over the place.  I thought it was super cool...  so weird lens even!  Although I'm sure I could have found something to paint me as a wild animal behind bars - or maybe as a criminal...  I'll have to look!

Normal week around here.  Games and practices - although we've had to skip a couple of weeks of wrestling because of another case of ringworm that's being stubborn...  This weekend we only have 1 game - and a party.  Woot!  Then I have to make about 200 mozzarella cheese sticks for Monday night.  Still contemplating the best way to do that and transport them while staying somewhat warm.  Any ideas?

PS - Spencer's 20th birthday is just around the corner.  If you want to drop him a card, I'm sure he would love it!  Spencer Bovenizer 374 # The Citadel, 171 Moultrie St, Charleston, SC 29409

Picture of the Week - 9/8/2022

 Let's see...  what's new?  

Nothing - everything

I asked Spencer how he was doing the other day and his response was something like "same as yesterday, I think I'm in Groundhog's Day".  And that's kinda how I feel.  It's the same every day - get up, get kids out the door, work until my back aches, take a break, work some more, dinner, pick someone up or drop someone off or both, do load of stinky football uniforms, brush teeth, go to bed.  Next day - basically the same...  pick-up/drop-off routine may change and sometimes we throw in a game for fun.  But it's rinse and repeat.  

And in that day in - day out - same same same - it's REALLY easy to lose sight of what is actually happening.  Progress and growth and decisions and and and.  It's not a small, meaningless, repetitive existence here.  These days of "puttin in the work" are, in the end, the important ones.  These are the days that make us who we are.  Am I right?

Yes, the vacation pictures and game highlights and dinners out with friends get all the limelight on the socials, but these "normal" days are where the real magic happens.  

And it's so easy to forget that.  I admit I get lost in planning vacations I may never take.  I reminisce in FB memories of big game moments from years past and look forward to the ones that have yet to happen.  I scour restaurant menus and arrange plans to "get out".  I do all these things because they are exciting.  So today, I'm reminding myself - as much as you teeny number of people out there still paying attention to these POTW messages - that exciting is fleeting.  The routine and mundane should be just as celebrated because it's just as (I will say more, even) important.  

Life is ACTUALLY the stuff in between the highlight reel...

So what's new?  Nothing - everything

All boys are well and settled very nicely into the fall "real life" stuff.  Spencer has decided not to wrestle this year.  I was sad, at first, but he's really happy to not have that pressure, stress, and time commitment anymore.  And he's taken up Rugby on the Citadel club team.  He is taking a LOT of classes this semester and handling things pretty well so far.  He's got a good roommate this year, whom he likes and generally seems happy.  Tomorrow he's interviewing for some internships next summer and apparently he's got a "hot date" this weekend too.  All good there - and we are looking forward to going to see him for Parent's Weekend again in a few weeks.  

Quinn continues to be GOOD.  He spent Labor Day weekend on campus and with the extra downtime, headed to Savannah for dinner.  Sounds so glam!  At one point both Spencer and Quinn were on Islands (Daniel and Tybee, respectfully) while Bob and I sat at home listening to the rain and cleaning stuff.  Those boys are living their best lives...  Quinn also got to learn how to deal with a flat tire on the interstate.  He got to talk to tow truck operators and find a tire repair place and all kinds of grown-up stuff.  (Of course he called me first for help.  Why me?  Tires are a dude thing.  I handed the phone to Bob like it was on fire!)

Zane is still crushing 7th grade.  He's frustrated with football this year because as a 7th grader on a 7/8 team he's not getting a ton of playing time.  He's a lineman - and a good one - but he's undersized.  He gets some playing time, but not like he's used to.  This is not a unique experience - and honestly it's exactly what we expected - but it's new for him.  He's still having fun on the team with all his buddies though - and really isn't that what's most important anyway.  (We aren't shy about our desire to leave football and go full-time wrestling with ZnB at some point, but the timing is totally up to them!)

And Beckett is just adorable.  He is home alone with us a LOT more than he's ever been before.  First of all he's on "early elementary" time this year, which means he gets home at like 2:45.  Zane wouldn't get home until 5 without football practice - with football, they never see each other.  Beck leaves in the am before Zane wakes up.  Then he's out the door for wrestling/football practice before Zane gets home and by the time everyone is back under one roof, it's time for bed.  I think there were around 48 hours last week those 2 didn't even SEE each other.  Weird!  Also hard to make dinner plans...  Anyway, Beck is great.  He's funny and helpful and he talks A LOT. 

Here's a picture of Beck with his serious football face.  His football experience this year has been interesting.  This is the first year Bob hasn't coached him since he was 6.  He's been bounced to a few positions (all on the lines...  Bob and I make ATVs, not sports cars) and has landed in an O guard spot and right D tackle.  He's having a blast this year and it's pretty fun to watch him make his own way.  

OK - enough rambling...  I'm off to pick up Zane and reheat some dinner for him.  Then comes the load of stinky laundry, brush teeth and bed.  :)

Picture of the Week - 9/1/2022

 September already.  I continue to feel like this year is moving ever and ever faster.  It's crazy that we are already into September and right around the corner from my favorite month of the year.  The last few weeks here have been so hot and humid that I can't wait for some crisp air.  (And this from someone who is, literally, always cold!)

All is well with everyone.  No news...  is good news.

It's been a typically busy week with all our "stuff" in addition to some extra work to pull together a gigantic uniform order for the upcoming wrestling season.  We are looking like we are going to end up with around 90 kids this year.  It's been SO fun to help this program grow!  (Remind me I said that when all these boxes show up in my dining room for sorting and distribution!)

I think the promise of a 3-day weekend at the end of this week has helped make everyone's mood a bit better!  I know it's helped me!  We debated a number of things for this weekend - we have a couple of kiddos we could go visit or we could head to the N Ga Mountains for a bit of a break or we could have done a million things.  In the end, we decided a mini staycation with a focus on chilling out a bit was best for everyone.  We will be doing some household chores, some shopping, and a good bit of football watching.  Yay!

Here's our annual O H I O picture.  I had to get a bit creative with it this year because it never crossed my mind to grab a picture before Quinn left for school.  I truly love my boys for agreeing to get these college campus versions of the O and H this year.  I think it makes for a fun picture - and will be a good memory of what we were all up to in September 2022.

Go Bucks!

Picture of the Week - 8/25/2022

 Happy Thursday!

We are charging through August!  I've never loved this month.  I kinda want to get this one in the rearview mirror, if I'm being honest.

All the boys are well.  Spencer is now back at The Citadel for the semester.  Here's a picture of him with his friend Jackson (aka Bradford).  I don't have any new pictures of Quinn from this week, but I've talked to him almost every day.  He's really loving college life!  Zane and Beck are doing the school then practice, rinse & repeat routine.  And the doggos are just fun and happy :)

Have a great last week of August everyone!  We are very much looking forward to a nice 3-day weekend right around the corner.

Picture of the Week - 8/18/2022

 Happy Thursday!  Boy am I glad this week is nearing it's end!  It's been a rough and busy one for sure!

We are prepping Spencer to head back to Charleston this weekend.  Everyone else is pretty much status quo.  Beck and Zane both had their first football games this past week - with more to come.  Here's Zane's team picture for the year.  So handsome.

I hope everyone is having a great August and adjusting to all the changes that come around this time of year.  It's a wild ride!

Picture of the Week - 8/11/2022

 It’s been a bit of a whirlwind around here lately.  I am still trying to sort through schedules and lists – and my feelings. 

 

Back-to-school time has always been a pretty exciting time for us.  As a two-working-parent family, we haven’t ever really done the “lazy days of summer” thing.  We don’t have extended time off and have always tried to keep the boys busy and active.  There are trips and camps and “things” every week.  So the transition to school-year-level chaos is usually pretty easy.  In some ways – especially since we moved to full-time work-from-home, sending kids off on to the school bus is a little bit of a relief!

 

And yet…  it’s impossible not to think about how time is passing when we tackle these milestone events. 

 

Beckett is in the 5^th grade this year.  He’s moved to a brand new (and gorgeous) elementary school.  He’s the oldest – and probably in the top 2% of biggest – in the building.  He’s not with Zane and is tackling new people, new classrooms, and new opportunities.  He came home the other day asking to apply to work on the school news crew.  I hope he gets picked because he’s the only one of my kids to want to do something like that and I think it’s awesome!  I think I mentioned before that his football practice schedule is a little rough for us – as we have double-duty on Tuesday night with a conflict every week with Zane’s football games.  The flip side of his T R F football schedule is that it allows for him to fit in wrestling practice on Monday and Wednesday.  He’s going to have a great year!

 

Zane is in the 7^th grade – which is the middle grade of middle school.  I’m not going to lie…  this is not my favorite stage of raising humans.  He’s dealing with a full slate of honors/advanced classes along with football – and a social life that would rival A-list celebs.  He’s outgoing and funny and, if I don’t strangle him, poised to KILL 7^th grade.  It’s pretty fun to get to experience all of the “stuff” again.  I’ve told many people, but it’s true…  middle school football was my favorite football – and collectively we have something like 24 seasons of football to pick from.  As a middle school parent, there is truly NO substitute for perspective!

 

Spencer’s last day of his summer internship is today.  He’s learned a lot and has some big plans for what he wants to do next summer.  He’s been working for a construction company and it’s not swayed him from wanting to continue to pursue a career in the construction industry.  If all of my boys were lucky enough to land a summer job after their freshman year in college that helped them solidify their plans for the future, I would be ecstatic!  It’s so helpful to get immersed into the work and figure out what roles are most interesting.  Spencer wants to get into the grading side of construction next summer. 

 

And Quinn…  goodness gracious!  It’s taken me a week to wrap my head around the fact that he’s not here anymore.  I’m not sad.  I promise you that!  Actually, the fact that I’m not sad makes me feel slightly guilty…  like maybe I should be more wistful or something.   But the thing is that he is happy.  He was so excited to get down there and because he’s staying with people he knows in a ridiculously nice apartment, he’s super comfortable.  I almost hate to say it, but it was easy to leave him in Statesboro. 

 

Of course I miss him – he was the MOST consistent with popping into my office when he got home to say hi and get a hug and 100% of the time always came up to give me a goodbye hug before he left.  I miss that.  It’s also weird that I don’t get to see Jess either!  They were here so much that it’s like we lost 2 kids when he went to school. 

 

Quinn is currently enrolled as an Exercise Science major on his way to applying to nursing school.  He’s taking 4 classes and a lab and has settled in with his friends from home, while already meeting some new folks.  He’s going to thrive down there – and I can’t wait to watch it! 

 

If you would like to send Quinn a card – his address is : Quinn Bovenizer, PO Box 8797, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA 30460

 

Here’s a selfie of Quinn that I made him take on his first day of class yesterday 😊 

Picture of the Week - 7/28/2022

 How in the world did we get here?  It's the last full week before school starts.  *record screech*

It's unbelievable, really!  I got a call today from Beckett's new teacher.  His !!! 5th !!! grade teacher at his brand new elementary school.  Wowsers!

We have launched into football for both Zane and Beck - and Beckett restarted wrestling practice again this week too.  He's going to do Monday/Wednesday wrestling and Tuesday/Thursday/Friday football.  Kid's gonna be sleepy!!!

And as if the end of summer and kissing farewell to lazy evenings isn't bad enough...  there's a giant pile of stuff that's all packed up and ready to move to Statesboro next Thursday.  I'll ask again - how in the world did we get here?

(We get Spencer for a few more weeks as he doesn't have to move back until the 21st.)

Here's a funny thing...  Beckett got invited to wrestle on a duals team with his club this weekend.  This all went down last night, so we weren't really able to rearrange work and stuff to take him.  But he was so so so excited to do it...  so we called up a friend and gave him some cash and sent him on his way.  We never, ever, would have sent Spencer away with a bag full of singlets and some money when he was 10.  LOLOLOL  Yes...  our parenting style has changed a bit.  HA!

Here are a couple of pictures of the doggos.  Gable is getting so big - and his PAWS are ginormous!  He's also pretty needy because he really, really, really likes to have company at all times.  Preferably touching...  :)

Have a great week everyone!  Next week we'll be tackling open houses and dorm move ins and work and football and all. the. things!