Picture of the Week - 5/20/2022

 Well, this week nearly did me in.  It wasn't so much that it was all bad (although there were so low, lows) but that it was a ridiculous combo of really good, really busy, really unexpected, and really sad.  I'm really glad that I've got Bob alongside me to get through this crazy rollercoaster life.  He's been there...  forever...  and I don't talk about how blessed I am to have that man as my partner nearly enough.  

Tuesday is our 25th wedding anniversary.  I say that with all the pride and awe and love that I can muster.  It's a big deal.  I don't take it for granted.  I am forever grateful that God brought us together.  I can't imagine a world without "Bob and Kara".  

Where to start...  

I'll knock out the worst first.  We unexpectedly had to put Ozzie to sleep this week.  I still can't believe it.  I still can't think about it without choking up.  He was literally fine a month ago.  The story is so familiar to so many - rapid decline, abdomen full of masses, inoperable, incompatible with life.  And yet, it's so unimaginable that it's hard not to look down and expect him by my feet.  I miss that crazy, neurotic, high-strung dog.  I know that the pain we feel when a pet passes is the payment for all the love and joy they bring while they are here, but I still hate it.  I know I have all the memories of him happy and healthy, but I still think it's unfair he had to go so young.  Ozzie's passing overwhelmed my week - and I hate that it did because there's a lot of other stuff going on and much of it is really good.

Zane's last day of football tryouts is today - and culminates with the spring game.  Zane is feeling confident and strong - or he was until yesterday.  He got to his locker, found his lock was missing along with ONE of his cleats.  I hate middle school.  I hate middle school pranks.  I hate middle school immaturity.  We are all certain someone thought they were being funny and have hidden the (brand new) cleat somewhere.  Maybe it will show up...  but it forced emergency shopping last night to find a replacement pair.  Oh and some hotshot "forgot" they weren't wearing pads during their walk-through last night and rammed his helmet into Zane's shoulder.  It's not broken, but it's going to be an ugly bruise and hurts enough to bring him to tears.  He also managed a bloody nose at practice last night and came home with a blood soaked shirt.  That's kinda how this whole week has gone - overall theme is GOOD and HAPPY but the details and nuisances are painful and ugly.

Spencer has been home and is working - except the whole office he works in got sick this week, so his schedule has been all over the place, which is difficult for week 2 on a new job.  I'm hoping next week will bring some stability for him.

Quinn graduates on Sunday.  His grad party is tomorrow.  We have events planned - and he has even more parties to attend - and fun stuff planned.  I really can't believe he's done with high school.  And I can't imagine this house without him in it.  Sigh...

And Beck is just chugging along.  No graduations.  No tryouts.  No work.  Nothing particularly new happening...  so he decided to contract a case of lice to keep things interesting.  (Never fear, I've, sadly, been through this before and we are on top of it and it's behind us, but I wanna tell you, in the midst of having discussions about the imminent demise of a pet, nit-picking is not what you want to be doing...)

This weekend will be fun.  Next week can NOT be as "eventful".  And at the end of next week, we have our annual beach trip to look forward to!  We can do it.  We HAVE done it.  We will always continue to do it.  

PS - Quinn also bought a new car (can't remember if I mentioned this already) and stay tuned to learn about our new dog, Gable.  He's NOT a replacement dog, but we are all excited about having a new puppy in the house and the timing is certainly a Godwink.  More on Gable soon - we don't have him yet, so we are all being patient!!

Enjoy some pictures of Quinn and Jess in their cap and gowns.  Those two are so cute and so good for each other.  I love them and am so excited to get to celebrate their graduations this weekend!

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!

Picture of the Week - 3/11/2021

 Slowing down doesn't mean we aren't still fulfilled

Mundane isn't boring

Routines without stress are a blessing

We are settled into a nice spring routine with work and school, wrestling practices without competition, activities we want to do instead of things we have to do, and a calendar with more white space than we are used to seeing.

And it's good!  I love the time to plan new projects and research future trips.  I love having the boys around my table for dinner (most of them, most nights).  I am cherishing this "last spring" before our little family looks different in the house.  It's good!

But it's kind of boring to write about.  There's not really anything earth-shattering going on.  It leaves me a little stressed about finding some topic to share in the weekly POTW so I don't let you all down!  

This week we have a dog with an eye infection, a kid about to (fingers crossed) land his first job tomorrow, a couple of boys learning how to do Greco wrestling throws, and a Saturday full of yard work planned.  It's in the mid 70s this week (won't last, but is a very welcome teaser!) and I've worked every day this week with the windows open listening to the birds.

Life is good.  

I hope you are enjoying life where you are too!  

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 - 8/6/2020

 So I guess this is the last week of summer.  The boys go back to school next Thursday.  

I really wish things felt more settled, but I guess this is what we've got right now.  

Not really too much to update.  Spencer is away for the week doing some work in Albany, Ga.  It's not the way I'd want to spend the last week before going back to school, but he really wanted to go and after much debate - off he went.  Quinn is here and working hard at being social.  He is off for meals with friends or swimming or working out or ??? almost every day.  He's basically living his best life.  Zane and Beck are at the Dojo again this week.  This was their favorite of all the summer camps this year (except of course the sleepover camp!)  Next week they will just hang here with us for a few days and the off on the yellow bus.  

I don't know how long it will last.  Watching the news, I am not confident they will make it to October, but all I can do is hope and pray for everyone involved.  (And maybe clear off that spot on the dining room table that they will need if we go to virtual learning...)

And the dogs, well lets just say that they have gotten extremely used to us being here all the time.  Especially Ozzie.  He is asleep at my feet about 80% of the time.  If I ever have to go back to the office, I'm not sure who will be more upset - him or me?  LOL

Have a great week - enjoy whatever it is you are doing because who KNOWS what's next in 2020!

Picture of Ozzie chillin w me on the back porch.  We are both spoiled rotten...

Picture of the Week - 6/4/2020

Y'all - I don't even know what to say about all the stuff that's happened over the last week.

Protests, riots, covid...  it's just too much to try to process and put into words right now.

So I will simply share this picture of my smiling dogs and call it a day.

PS - Zane and Beck have LOVED going to camp this week, have tested negative for Covid, and are looking forward to Woodlands next Monday.  Spencer and Quinn are back to the gym/wrestling studio and motivated.  Things slowly moving toward normal in our little bubble while the rest of the country tries to implode.  

Picture of the Week - 7/11/2019

Well - this was a pretty weird week - even by our weird standards!

Bob and Spencer have been gone all week.  Spencer's in the Ohio State Intensive wrestling camp.  I have gotten a few short texts (proof of life) from him every day, but don't have many details.  From the sounds of it, the camp has had some really stellar coaches and the participants have put in a ton of work.  While he's been at camp, Bob stayed up in Ohio to visit his mom and sisters/family.  They come home on Saturday.  Just in time for me to take off to Scotland on Monday.  (Actually the only reason I'm not leaving tomorrow like I normally do is that it would be awkward to leave the other boys home alone all weekend - hahaha!)

I had a bunch of work events and stuff I needed to do down in Buckhead.  That meant that it would have been REALLY hard to handle Zane and Beck camp drop-offs/pick-ups.  Thank goodness for my parents - who stepped up big this week to help!

Quinn was home with me (well for the wee bit of time I was actually in the house this week) and managed to keep himself pretty busy - and knocked out a number of (but NOT all) of the chores I gave him for the week.  Speaking of Quinn...  his MRI came back normal, which is great news.  He's got an EEG scheduled for next Monday and then he can resume normal activities - with more fluids and more salt in his diet.  Here's a fun selfie of us from the other night.  He let me take him out to dinner, no cell phones, and then we went shopping and grabbed milkshakes on the way home.  It's pretty rare that I get 1:1 time with any of them, so that was a special night for me!

The dogs aren't home either - I don't think the house knows what to do between being empty last week while we were at the beach and the UTTER lack of chaos this week.  It's just been so...  unsettling!  Brutus and Ozzie have spent the last 2 weeks at "Board and Train" camp at Rucker training.  I get them back on Saturday.  I'm really anxious to see how they are and what they've learned.  Here's a cute picture of them that the trainer sent.  I really cuddling with those guys at night.  

Mostly, I need my house filled back up with loud and crazy and cuddly.  This quiet and empty is NOT for me!!!

Picture of the Week - 7/6/2017

Greetings!

I hope everyone had a safe and happy 4th of July!  I have kind of a love/hate thing with mid-week holidays.  I love the extra "free" day, but then it's back to work the very next day.  Schedules are strange.  Half the world seems like they are on vacation right now.  

We had a very nice, relaxing Tuesday.  Got up.  Yard work.  Then pool time.  Cook out.  Cards and beers with my parents.  It was awesome!  Would have been awesomer if we didn't have to work the next day!

Every day I get to look back at old pictures taken on the same day in years past.  I use Timehop, which I'm pretty sure I've talked about before.  I also use Amazon Prime photos, who recently added the same functionality.  (Incidentally, if you are a Prime user, it's free and a pretty cool way to store/protect all your pictures.)  

It turns out that one of my all time favorite pictures of the boys was taken on July 4th 4 years ago.  So of course, I made the boys recreate it.  Pretty crazy how much they have all changed in 4 years.  You know who was the most difficult of them all in the picture taking process.  Willow!  She was terrible and had Bob totally flustered.  LOL

Enjoy this little bit of then/now!  

Next week I'm off on a tour of Sacramento and Phoenix.  I'll have to leave at o-dark thirty on Monday morning and won't be back until around midnight on Thursday.  YUCK!  Have a great week everyone.  I hope yours is a little more restful than I think mine is going to be...

2017

2013

Picture of the Week - 5/11/2017

Greetings from New York City!

I think it's probably been somewhere around 25 years since I've been in NYC.  Maybe more like 27...  I think the last time I was here I was in high school.  Goodness...  time flies!

I don't remember NYC being so crowded.  I actually don't remember it being so big either.  And, now given the gift of perspective, I can say that it's a really cool city.  The limited amount of time I've spent here between yesterday afternoon and this evening has confirmed for me that 1) I could never live here and 2) that's a cool place to visit.

This Sunday is Mother's Day.  I think it's also the first "free" day we've had in weeks.  I'm SO looking forward to hanging out with my boys and just enjoying a day together.  I asked them on Tuesday to take a picture with me as my gift for Mother's Day.  They all happily agreed and we marched outside between everyone getting home from school and heading back out for evening activities.  Here's my "gift" of my Gifts.  Love.  My Heart is FULL!

Have a great week everyone!  

Picture of the Week - 3/10/2016

So what's making you happy today?

We got the dogs back from the kennel today and Ozzie was SO happy to see me.  LOVE that!  Doesn't he look like he's smiling???

I got home last night from a pretty tough business trip.  The schedule wasn't nearly as demanding as some, but the environment was rough.  Rude, difficult clients are the worst.  Also, I've added Syracuse, NY to the places I don't think I'd like to live.

But it's over - and that makes me happy!

And while I was gone many good things happened!  Our floors were finished and the painters did their thing.  We have a bunch of pictures to hang back on the walls and rugs/furniture/stuff to move around, but the worst of it is definitely over.  Phew!  Here are a couple of pictures, but I can't get the color right.  There's more grey in the floor than I can get in a picture.  You will just have to come visit to see it in person.

And then there are the little boys.  They got their lacrosse uniforms on Tuesday night.  I'm so bummed that I missed that because they are SO excited.  Giddy even.  How can you not be happy when they are SO happy???

And the weather has been so awesome!  Yay for spring!

Tell me, what's making you happy today?!?

PS - Another shout out to my mom and dad for letting Bob move in with the chaos (aka my boys) while our floors were getting destroyed and I was in NY.  They are awesome!

Picture of the Week - 1/21/2016

Today is one of those days where if I didn't have this POTW to write, I wouldn't bother with the camera.  The only pictures I've taken all week involve quilts.  So thank you!  Thanks for giving me the responsibility to stop and document a little piece of life in January 2016.  Here's a quick shot of the little boys with Ozzie.  Love them!

This has been another long week for us.  Odd how the calm and quiet of the holiday weeks seem SO very far away!  Highlights of the week - some of which are questionably labeled as "high"lights.

- I got my first root canal.  Um...  not fun...  but better than the "angry" nerve that's been bothering me for weeks.  I had no idea this was such an involved process.  I have to go back for the crown in a couple of weeks and hoping I don't have any issues between now and then.

- I finished a quilt I've been working on for more than 18 months.  Feeling pretty awesome about that.

- The boys had their first weather-related school dismissal of the year.  I feel there will be more coming.

- I finished my 3rd business trip in 3 weeks.  Too much travel.  It wears me down...  The welcome home from the boys is always a welcome sign. 

- We went to our first professional lacrosse game and it was really fun!  I was surprised how few people were there - which made for a very easy event.  No lines, no traffic.  Just a good time.  We'll be back.

This weekend we have a basketball game (if it doesn't get snowed out) and a wrestling tournament.  Pretty tame as far as weekends go.  I'll be home for the next couple of weeks too, which is a relief! 

Have a great week everyone!  And thanks again for forcing me to pick up a camera.  Those little boys of mine will never look exactly the same as they do tonight.  And it's a rare treat to share a picture of Oz.  LOL

Picture of the Week - 12/31/2015

The last day of 2015!  Wow!

I've got lots of thoughts rumbling around in my head as we get ready to dive into a new year.  I don't know if I have really sorted through all of them just yet.  Right now, I'm feeling a bit like the dogs look in this picture.  

I'm a wee bit bummed that the Holidays are nearly over again for another year.  It's not that they weren't awesome, because they were.  It's more a forced acknowledgement that the number of holiday seasons like this we have left with our crazy little family is limited.  There won't be another one like this one.  And while this is true of EVERY day and EVERY holiday, for some reason it's hitting me a bit harder than usual today. 

Just a little blah about the whole thing. 

I think maybe it's because I've enjoyed the quiet time, the extra snuggles, the family time so much these last few weeks.  I know, in my logical head, that 2016 is going to be a whirlwind.  I know based solely on the number of commitments we have, the responsibilities we have signed up for, the events, activities, travel, work that is coming our way, that the next 12 months will be challenging.  I know that it will fly by.  And I know that I'll be sitting here again next New Year's Eve trying to figure out where the time goes.

Yeah...  it's just a little BLAH.

But that doesn't mean I'm not going to be fired up to tackle all that stuff that I know is barreling it's way toward us.  It's not that I don't want to peek around the corner to see what's next.  I do.  I can't wait.  I know there is fun coming.  I know that there are more family moments.  More laughs.  More learning opportunities.  I know 2016 will be awesome - whatever it brings.  Because we will MAKE it awesome! 

So let's do this.  Let's get out of the post-holiday funk and get on with things! 

Here's to a safe Happy New Year!  Here's to another great year!  Here's to 2016!!

PS - We had a houseful of noisy boys last night for a sleepover.  Any chance of making it to midnight tonight evaporated around 2 AM this morning.  So here's to you hearty souls out there celebrating.  Have a drink for us! 

Picture of the Week - 12/11/2014

First of all I owe many of you a big thank you for putting up with my whining last week!  I got back many words of encouragement and appreciated every single one of them!  I'm in a MUCH better frame of mind this week!

Developments since last Thursday include:

1. We only had to drive to Stockbridge one time.  While it was sad that Spencer's team lost and his little league football career is officially over, it is also a relief that we didn't have to juggle that schedule last week!
2. Quinn's lacrosse team went 0-4 in their tournament last weekend.  Not super fun to lose, but it IS super fun to watch Quinn play!  More on that in a minute...
3. My baking is DONE and DELIVERED!
4. My hives are gone and the allergist confirmed yesterday that I am NOT allergic to any foods.  I'm officially diagnosed as idiopathic chronic hives and have instructions on what to do if I have another episode.  All in all, while an awful experience, it could have been MUCH worse.
5. We were able to get a visit to Santa done last Saturday.  I make it sound like a chore...  and it kind of is.  I have 3 believers and one of them wouldn't go near the jolly elf.  On the bright side, Zane made sure Santa knows what Beckett would like under the tree. 
6. And in related news...  my shopping list is down to the last few things.  (I freaking LOVE Amazon!!!) 
7. I am down to 6 days of work left this year. 
8. We have another lacrosse tournament this weekend, but now that we've done one, we know what to expect which makes things somehow much easier.

I still have some stuff on my "must" do list, but I'm not sweating it.  I will attempt to get some traditional photos taken this week.  It will make me very sad if I can't convince them all to put on a santa hat in front of the tree again this year.  But with a 3 year old in the house...  everything is iffy.

I thought I would share some pictures of Quinn from the tournament last weekend.  He had a couple of OK games and one REALLY great one.  He scored 7 goals in total and 4 in one game.  

This is Quinn waiting to go into the game.  Yes, that is a yeti with a lacrosse stick on his sock.

Action shot!  Quinn has the ball and is jetting across the field!

Having a big brother is often helpful!  In one of the games, Quinn was matched up with this giant kid.  He showed no fear and had no issue dropping a hip into the dude going after a ground ball. 

And this last picture I just had to share because it cracks me up.  Rooster has taken to LOVING on Ozzie pretty regularly.  When he's in the mood, he will rub all over Ozzie's legs.  It's pretty hilarious because Oz always looks embarrassed about the whole thing.  LOLOL

I hope you all have a great week!  Hard to believe that Christmas is already just 2 weeks away!  I'm feeling more and more Christmas spirit every day.  This is another benefit of having the little boys around.  It's kind of impossible not to get caught up in all the fun, festive holiday stuff with them.  Yesterday Zane came home from school with 8 decorated paper candy canes.  They were all different.  Some had words on them, some pictures of trees or stars, and some were just colored.  Zane insisted on taping them all over the house.  There was a time that may have bothered me, but right now I love it! 

Go color a paper candy cane and tape it to your door!  Bet it will make you smile too!

PS - Wish Bob a Happy Birthday tomorrow.  We will be celebrating this weekend with another trip to the speed and agility camp Friday night and another lacrosse tournament Saturday/Sunday.  Good thing he loves his boys!

 

 

 

Picture of the Week - 10/9/2014

Wow!  That was a fast week!!  Does anyone else feel like someone pushed the fast forward button???

 

I was too busy to take many pictures this past week.  We were doing the usual stuff - plus working a quilt show and traveling to away games and a 2 day training course for me at work to top things off. 

I thought this week I could share an outtake picture from the little boys photo session at school.  They tried a new thing this time around where we got a CD with all of the pictures on it and get to crop/print/use however we want.  I love the idea...  just wish Zane didn't look so goofy in 95% of the pictures.  Here's a funny one.  Beck is so cute in his it makes me want to drive to the school just to hug him!  (You will see more of him in his birthday collage - coming soon!)

 

I also had to share this sweet picture of Rooster and Ozzie.  The other night we were watching TV in bed and Oz was sound asleep.  Rooster hopped up, rubbed his head on Ozzie and then cuddled in with him for a nap.  Bob and I were like "What the heck!?!?!"

 

I filled out our October calendar a couple of days ago.  Quinn took one look and turned to me in horror.  I think there are only 1 or 2 days on the whole calendar without an activity.  (And I don't put the normal - school/work/grocery shop - stuff on there.)  We can do it!!!

 

PS - I promise to get the camera out and take more/decent pictures soon!

 

PPS - Also - just so I can remember some day...  Beck is now sleeping in a toddler bed without a paci.  I am very sad that we packed away the crib.  It's so weird to acknowledge that we don't have a baby in the house anymore.  But man-o-man, it's hard to stay sad for long because Beckett is about the coolest nearly-3-year-old I've ever been around.  (Don't tell his brothers!)

Picture of the Week - 6/26/2014

Summer is awesome!  I am loving it!  And I'm kind of sad that it's already half over.  (I shall not dwell on that...)

 

The boys have been having a blast doing little things around the house.  They play in the sprinkler.  They throw footballs around the backyard.  They water flowers out front.  They ride bikes in the creek.  I let them get messy.  I make them go outside.  And I scoop out the ice cream.  (And also open the beers and drink the wine from tervis tumblers.)

 

Summer life is pretty cool!

 

Here is a fun little picture of Beck playing in the backyard last weekend.  He is not a toddler anymore.  He's a little boy.  And he is going to be (if I had to guess) the busiest and the rough and tumblest and the dirtiest and the orneriest and the funniest of all the brothers.  That child is awesome.  In every single way!  He makes funny faces and says hilariously appropriate things.  He never stops moving, unless it's to give one of his arms around the neck, legs around the chest hugs.  He calls us dada and mama and if he continues to do that, he will forever get just about anything he wants.   

 

Here's hoping that you are all enjoying summer as much as we are!  If you are on Facebook, check out the Throwback Thursday I am about to post.  Made me smile!

 

 

Picture of the Week - 3/13/2014

Lately, when I think of my boys, I get that warm and squishy feeling.  You know the one...  it only happens when you really love someone and you are really proud of them.  It's a pretty darn special thing!

 

There are a million reasons that I am proud of each of the boys.  They vary from ridiculously shallow (like goodness, I am proud that Zane is so good looking) to more meaningful, by far.  Right now, I am beyond thrilled at the way the gang is treating each other.  I love love love to watch the relationships between them. 

 

While the boys have always been pretty good to each other, this latest phase started (as best I can pinpoint) back during the last snow event.  Our "normal" up until that week back in February was that the big boys would disappear to the basement to watch TV and play video games and do tween boy stuff.  I try not to ask too many questions.  Plausible deniability is a good thing.  While the BBs were in the basement, the little boys would be in the toyroom playing and watching shows.  They are considerably more needy, what with their inability to reach the chocolate milk themselves.  During the latest week stuck at home all together, something totally reasonable happened.  They got bored. 

 

The boredom lead them to branch out a bit.  The LBs ventured downstairs.  They played air hockey and wrestled and watched in utter fascination as their idols played video games.  The BBs emerged from the basement and hung out in the toy room.  Sometimes the pairs actually SPILT UP and Zane stayed in the basement with Spencer while Quinn and Beck hung out.  And then a half an hour later they would mix things up again and Spencer would sit at the computer with Beck on his lap while Quinn let Zane win at some silly game.  It was a beautiful thing!  Built in playmates - and OPTIONS.  Rock on!  Snowstorms are a great validation of the decision to have a big family.  Just saying...

 

These different relationships have continued in other ways now that we are no longer stuck in the house.  Sometimes Beckett won't go to bed until Quinn reads books to him.  Sometimes Spencer comes upstairs specifically to see if the LBs want to wrestle.  Sometimes Quinn will actually pull an extra chair over to the computer so some little fellow can watch him.  Spence carries Beck downstairs in the morning.  Quinn pours milk for Zane.  They look out for each other.  It fills me with a kind of pride I just can't explain.

 

Last weekend was exceptionally nice down here.  It was sunny and nearly 70 and we opened windows and played outside.  A lot.  They played with balls of all varieties.  They played in the fort.  They pulled out nerf guns and baseball bats.  And they spent a LONG time all playing lacrosse.  The big guys were giving pointers and the little guys were soaking up the attention and lessons along with the sunshine.  Ozzie was in heaven. 

 

I can only hope that this current phase, and all the fun the boys have been having with each other, sticks around a bit.  I'm loving every minute of it!

 

 

Picture of the Week - 11/7/2013

Not much new here!  We are done with Lacrosse for another season and still plugging along with football.  We have 2 free weeknights a week now!  This is a significant improvement over zero!  :)  Spencer's team is entering their playoff bracket as the #1 seed, which means we have a bye this weekend.  I'm not sure what we'll do 2 whole days with nothing on the schedule!  The weather this weekend is supposed to be nice and sunny...  so maybe we can do some kind of fun fall family thing!  Stay tuned!

 

The little boys had their 2 year old and 4 year old checkups today.  They are both healthy and happy!  (Well Zane was not so very pleased with his round of immunizations...)  Surprisingly they are also both around the 75% in both height and weight.  We knew Beck was a little bulldozer, but hadn't realized how big Zane had gotten.  He grew 4 inches and put on 7 lbs in the last year.  Bob is starting to really chomp at the bit to get him onto a sport steam of some sort!

 

 

Picture of the Week - 9/12/2013

I worked from home yesterday.  Which really isn't news worthy.  I don't work from home regularly, but it does happen from time to time.  In hindsight, it was a pretty well-timed (albeit completely coincidental) work from home day. 

 

I've been in a bit of a funk lately.  No reason really.  And when I stop to think about all of the other people going through legitimate issues, I'm a little embarrassed to even admit that sometimes I get into a funk.  (Tell me this happens to everyone...  right???)  We have a busy schedule and sometimes the days run together and there never seems to be enough time to do anything the way I'd like to do it.  From time to time, it feels like we're just getting by. Throw in a week of nasty head colds and annoying coughing and screwed up sleep and I end up in a funk. 

 

And then something, usually something completely random, reminds me that I am blessed and I need to get over myself and be thankful. 

 

And I am!

 

Yesterday I worked from home because Bob had to go into the office and someone needed to cover afterschool and a vet appointment.  And spending a day alone in my quiet house was just what I needed.  And the fact that it was also the 12th anniversary of 9/11 was like a sign from God.  Things happen for a reason.  Timing is not chance. 

 

I took the dogs outside after lunch and I took a break from work and the computer. I sat in the sun.  For 10 minutes or so, I had nothing to do and no distractions.  I sat and I enjoyed my little spot on the earth.  I scratched a couple of dog heads.  And I thought about all the reasons I should be grateful.  I have health and a happy marriage and a handful of very marvelous kids.  I have a good job and a comfortable life.  We have friends and family who care about us and are always there to help.  My little backyard, with the grass that needs cut and the overgrown shrubs and the fence that could really use some paint, was the perfect reminder for me.  The warm sun and a comfortable chair were bonus. 

 

Next time I get in a funk maybe I'll schedule a preemptive work from home day. 

 

This weekend we are looking forward to a visit from Grandpa Bob and Grandma Phyllis.  We've got our first lacrosse game and another football game.  And the weather is forecasted to be decidedly UN-FUNK worthy!  Enjoy it!!

 

 

Picture of the Week - 9/5/2013

Two pictures for you this week - and not very many words. 

 

Bob and I are still in the recovery period from head colds that wrecked our long weekend.  Sad...  I had hopes for 3 days with no plans...  alas, most of the weekend was spent trying to survive the boys. 

 

Things are looking up now though!  Today we have decent weather and a lacrosse practice on the NEWLY turfed field.  I love lacrosse practices because even though they start at a very difficult (for anyone with a job) time of 5:30, they are over by 7.  That means we can load up little boys and dogs and spend an evening together.  (As opposed to football nights where we have to divide and conquer so the little dudes can get to bed on time.) 

 

We also have our first regular season football game this weekend.  I'm excited and nervous and very anxious to see how things go.  Spencer has been having a good time with this team - and has already learned a TON.  I think he's going to get to start - or at least get some serious playing time - but they move kids (and especially Spencer) around during practice so much that it's kind of hard to tell.  I think he's starting D line and back-up O line, but who knows... 

 

Speaking of football...  lots of you probably already saw the picture I took of the boys doing O-H-I-O.  I sense a new football season tradition in the making...  I wanted to share it here for anyone not on Facebook. 

 

Here's a new picture of Ozzie and Willow too.  Oz has now lost almost all his baby teeth (thank goodness!) and has started to mellow.  We're working on training with him and he's starting to be less of a pain... slowly!

 

 

Picture of the Week - 8/8/2013

Today is Back to School Day!

 

I kind of love this time of year.  As much as I love the switch to Summer and the relaxed schedule that we enjoy without school and sports, I really do love the fall.  I like the structure.  I love the idea of a fresh start and new beginnings.  I love watching the boys play their sports.  And I love hearing all about the new stuff they are doing in their classrooms.

 

I think this is going to be a really excellent year!

 

All of the boys are now in new rooms with new teachers and new schedules.  How fun!

 

Beckett

B was moved to the "Get Set" room on Monday.  For the little guys, this isn't a huge change, but there are some small things that he's had to get used to.  He doesn't get a paci at school anymore.  He doesn't get a sippy cup either.  Can you imagine a room full of nearly 2 year olds drinking from real cups???  The teachers are saints!  He got to move up with lots of his little friends, so I'm sure that's very comforting.  But he's got 2 new teachers and LOTS more structure.  They will start working on potty training in this room too.  Sigh...  my baby's not really a baby anymore. 

 

Zane

I'm so proud of our little blonde boy!  I may have mentioned this before, but he is kind of skipping preschool.  They did a bunch of evals last spring and asked us if we would be OK with him moving to a pre-K room this year.  He's technically too young since he misses the cutoff date by a little under a month.  Of course we said we were fine with that!  So he's learning to write and doing all of those Kindergarten prep things.  (He won't be able to start Kindergarten next year because of his birthday unless we leave him at Goddard for private pre-K.  We'll have to figure that one out... he'll end up with either 2 years of pre-K or 2 years of K.)  His teacher from the summer and a number of his friends all moved to this new room at the same time.  He really loves Ms. Kathy.  He's quickly getting to one of my very favorite stages.  So long "terrible 3's" - we will not miss you!

 

Quinn

The Mighty is in 4th grade this year.  I think this is going to be a fantastic year for him.  Personally, I think 4th grade is easier than 3rd - and he did great last year.  He has 2 teachers this year and we know both of them.  Spencer had Miss Hall last year and he had Mrs. Martin for 2nd grade.  I love both of these teachers - especially Mrs. Martin.  She ran into us at open house and vividly described a writing assignment that Spencer did almost 3 years ago.  LOVE her!  Q was over the moon when he learned that several of his good friends from last year are in his class again this year.  (When you go to a school with 6 or 7 classes in each grade, that is never a given!)  He's been giddy with excitement since open house and literally leapt out of bed this morning!

 

Spencer

S is "King of the School" this year - aka A Big Bad 5th grader.  He's pretended to be depressed about the end of summer and has said he's not ready to go back to school, but I think he's just saying that to be "cool".  He has 4 different teachers this year, which is pretty good practice for middle school.  His homeroom teacher, Mrs. Stanley, was Quinn's 1st grade teacher.  His Horizons teacher is the same as last year (and the kids will be the same in there too).  And this year the school has started a couple of advanced content classes that he was chosen for as well.  He will have a new teacher for his AC math/science and his all time favorite teacher, Miss Grindle, for AC Language Arts.  When he learned that she was the ELAC teacher he was giddy!  I expect he's going to really love 5th grade!

 

Here's the traditional back to school picture that everyone takes.  Spencer hates it...  he looks like a doofus every year.  (Which I will really enjoy when putting together a collage for his high school graduation...)  My favorite part of this year's picture is Ozzie in the background.  LOL  That dog is a riot!

 

Have a great back to school everyone!  For our friends up north, enjoy your last bits of summer! 

 

BTW - I don't want this to go on forever, but for anyone who doesn't see my Facebook posts, Spencer's football team made it to the championship game in the tournament last weekend.  They were better than anyone expected!  The defense gave up 0 points in the first 3 games - and well under 10 first downs over all 3 games.  The championship game was lost 0-8 due to one bad play.  Spence is the starting right tackle on the D line.  He's thrilled with the position!  He's always loved playing defense!  Quinn's LAX evals are this weekend, so we'll be getting back into the dual practice schedule very soon!  This weekend we also have a football scrimmage down in McDonough.  (McDonough also happens to have an AWESOME quilt store...  may just need to make a detour...)