Picture of the Week - 4/7/2023

 I wish I could go back to this time last week...  We were on the verge of our first camping trip with the doggos last Friday.  It did not disappoint!

Happiest thing

Getting all of our boys together - even if it was just a short visit to see Grandpa Bob and Grandma Phyllis for dinner.  Having them all together is not something I ever take for granted anymore.  I even remembered to take some pictures this time!

Scariest thing

Easily the first 3 hours of the drive on Saturday morning.  There were storms forecast to hit our area early Saturday.  Our original plan was to wait out the worst of them and then hit the road.  When we woke up we learned that the cold front had slowed down and was going to throw off our whole schedule.  So we decided to get moving (quickly) and try to get in front of it.  We failed by about 30 minutes or so and ended up driving WITH the storm for a long time before we finally got out in front of/south of it.  It was white knuckle driving in heavy rain and winds.  First time in weather like that with Harvey.  Bob did great.  I sprouted a dozen more grey hairs.  We all made it out without damage, but it was stressful!

Most annoying thing

I'm not sure I was really annoyed by anything.  I'm far more annoyed by many many things on the regular than I was on this trip.  If I had to pick something, I guess I would say that with the dogs and kids and us in and out of the camper, it was impossible to keep the floor clean.  We tracked in a lot of dirt and grass (even with the outdoor rug we have).  We need to figure out a better solution for trying to capture the muck coming into the camper - or we just need to embrace the broom every evening.

Most interesting thing

Tough one.  We continue to learn SO MUCH about the whole camping experience.  I find every experience we've had to be really interesting.  On this particular trip I think the most interesting thing I learned was probably at the Statesboro campground.  This was a small little campground without any frills.  It had maybe 50 all-grass sites with full hook-ups.  The most interesting thing was probably how many of the sites were filled with full-timers.  We met one neighbor who was living there in a teeny little camper and working in Savannah - a good 45 min drive each way.  He was doing it to save money and simplify his life.  Campground people are pretty cool - and pretty interesting.

Most heart warming thing

There were a million little things that just made me love the whole experience - and my little family - so much!  Watching the boys play together.  Watching Bob throw the football with Zane.  Watching the dogs hang out together.  Watching the dogs hang out with the boys.  Everyone just got along - no fighting...  do you even know how rare it is for Zane and Beck to not bicker for 4 straight days???  Sigh...  I wanna go back.

Nicest thing

Downtime.  I haven't just SAT and done nothing as much as we did on this trip in a long time.  I think this is, honestly what I have looked forward to most about these camping trips.  There's no expectation of constant activity.  There's nothing that "needs" to be done around "the house" and the goal is really just to BE STILL.  That's the best!  I even pulled out quilting and finished a whole handful of Granny's Garden squares on this trip!

Easiest thing

I purposely picked campsites that were pull-through sites for this trip.  There was no backing up required!  #winning

Most surprising thing

Maybe how fast the dogs adjusted to the camper life - and how well they did in the car.  Gable loves car rides.  Brutus is more anxious about it, but is a super easy traveler - he just never really relaxes.  The first night the dogs were so exhausted from the trip and all the NEW things everywhere that they crashed really hard.  Gable fell asleep on the floor and never moved when we went to bed.  This is unusual because he always sleeps on our bed with us.  At some point in the middle of the night he woke up, was freaked out, and started crying.  When he realized we were all still there he ran around the camper wagging and kissing everyone and was just SO happy.  Then he crashed on the bed with us for the rest of the night.

Luckiest thing

I'm going to say the weather - even with the really bad storm we dealt with at the start of the trip.  The rest of the trip was basically amazing.  It rained a couple of times during the weekend, but never caused us to change plans or anything like that.  The rains came at night and really didn't cause us any grief.  And the temperature was basically perfect.  We were able to leave doors and windows open for much of the weekend!  Since it is still so early in the season, the bugs weren't bad.  The humidity wasn't bad.  It was just so pleasant!  I'm not 100% sure how the camper/kids/me/dogs will do when it's blazing hot, but I am now sure that we are REALLY big fans of spring camping!

Second scariest thing

So we decided that we much prefer driving on back roads than on the interstates.  Maybe this will change as we get more comfortable, but on this trip we were not in a hurry to get anywhere on any of the legs of our trip and we intentionally picked routes through quiet little towns and along picturesque roads.  It was a different pace for sure - and it was awesome!  Except when we realized we needed gas and there really aren't a lot of great options conducive to pulling a 34 ft camper through in the middle of Mayberry.  We got slightly panicky about running out of gas and even discussed needing to find a place to park, unhook, get gas, get hooked back up, etc.  The unhooking and re-hooking process is not insignificant...  We finally found a gas station that looked like it would work.  Filled up and then realized we were basically stuck.  It took some maneuvering (which we really still aren't very good at) and maybe relocating a cardboard sign a bit (oops) before we could get out of the parking lot.  Yikes!  Learned a lot of lessons through that experience! 

Tastiest thing

We cooked 4 meals on the new Blackstone grill.  We did smash burgers, pancakes and bacon, chicken fried rice, and steak hoagies.  All of the meals were delicious and fun to make!  2 thumbs up!  Also - we bought ice cream for a treat one night and it was not only delicious, we were pleasantly surprised that it stayed mostly frozen on the trip back in the freezer!  

Most exciting thing

We have more trips in Harvey planned to look forward to throughout the summer and fall!  This is just the start of something awesome!

I have added a bunch of pictures from the trip.  I hope you enjoy!  I can't wait until the next one!

Picture of the Week - 2/2/2023

 Happy Birthday to Quinn!

19 years old - goodness that seems impossible!  I'm so proud of him and the path he's on.  He's loving life away at school - and doing all the appropriate college "things".  I'm really anxious and excited to see what this year brings for the Mighty Quinn.  I can't wait to watch his life unfold - and continue to be grateful every day that he's alive and thriving.  

Bob, Beck and I are heading down to see him on Saturday to celebrate (while Zane is away at a church small group weekend.)  I think we are going to head over from Statesboro to Charleston for a little visit with Spencer too.  

It's more than a little weird to have kids spread all over the place.  Not sure I will ever get used to that...

Have a great week everyone - stay warm and dry!  It's been ridiculously wet in Georgia so far in 2023.  I need some sunshine!

Picture of the Week - 12/22/2022

 We wish you all a VERY Merry Christmas!

Love

The Bovenizers

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 - 10/13/2022

 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 - 9/8/2022

 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 - 8/11/2022

 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 - 7/21/2022

 Greetings!

I hope everyone is well - and staying cool.  It's HOT and HUMID in Atlanta right now!  This weather has been a great reminder that we live in a sub-tropic region!  This month, I am grateful for air conditioning!

Lots of stuff going on - none of it particularly exciting...

1. Football/Zane edition - Zane's (official) practices started this week.  He's got practice 5 days a week and so far loves every minute of it!  Even the practicing in the storms days!  
2. Football/Beckett edition - Beckett's practices start next week.  His schedule will be interesting this fall.  We were hoping that he wouldn't have practice on Tuesdays so he could watch Zane's games, but sometimes the scheduling Gods don't cooperate.  Luckily, we have friends on the team he's playing for this year (Bob is retiring from coaching football!) so we will work it out.  He'll be practicing 3 nights a week - including Fridays...  so if you need us on Friday evenings, check Midway Lower where you may just find us chilling with a couple of Goldens and a cooler full of "soda".  
3. Wrestling/family edition - HA!  Bob and I are knee deep getting ready to help host the high school golf tournament on Monday.  (No, we don't have any high school age children.  Yes, we do love this program!)  Then we are helping to host a program-wide party a week from Saturday.  Both are fun events that I'm looking forward to!  I miss my wrestling peeps!
4. College/Quinn edition - we are getting scary close to Quinn's departure.  Close enough that I'm in serious list-making, list-crossing off mode.  Oh and my bedroom looks like an Amazon truck blew up in it.  Oy!  Much more on Quinn's launch into college student status in a couple of weeks.  He leaves here on August 4th.
5. College/Spencer edition - we have a bit more time with Spencer, who doesn't return to campus until August 21st.
6. Work and stuff - nothing exciting here, but it's still happening...  LOL  I traveled last week to NYC and Bob traveled this week to Tampa.  I think we are both home for a bit now.
7. Quinn and the cardiologist - Quinn had an check-up exam with his cardiologist today.  We didn't expect any issues, but (you know) it's always a little nerve-wracking.  All is well and he got an "all clear for another year" report.  We also got confirmation that Quinn gets to stay with Sibley until he's 23.  I was worried about the transition, so this makes me feel VERY comforted.  We've been a patient of Dr. Sallee since Quinn was 6 weeks old and 4 lbs big.  Dr. Sallee has kids that are 20 and 22.  We have, literally, grown up together.  Special place in my heart for that guy, I tell ya!
8. Dogs - All good and Gable is growing like a weed.  He's over 23 pounds already.  He's such a good puppy.  We are having a lot of fun with him - except my backyard is FULL of mosquitos and taking him out always means more bites.  See sub-tropic note above.  

I think that's about it for here.  We have a weekend full of chores and cleaning and packing and prepping planned.  But I also have reservations for fancy grown up dinner and will be soaking up these last couple of weeks with my full house.  Gonna look a lot different around here in a few short weeks.

Here's a couple of recent pictures.  Have a great week!

Picture of the Week - 6/9/2022

 I love chaos.  I really do.  I love a lot of things going on - especially when they are fun!  My mind works better when it's busy.  Really!

So this week, I've been IN MY GLORY!

We got home from the beach on Saturday.  The trip was so so so awesome.  Maybe the best weather we've ever had for a week on the beach.  It's early in the season, so it wasn't too hot.  We only had one evening of rain - and it was the last night and it waited until after we had packed up all the beach stuff.  The house was amazing.  It was on the marsh, so it had a private dock and the most spectacular sunset views.  It was really just a great week!  We were all sad that it was over, but...

The very next day we picked up our new puppy - a Golden Retriever named Gable.  He's been the best!  He's pretty laid back (for a puppy) and has us all enamored already.  He is so cute!  The boys (who are home) take turns puppy-sitting so Bob and I can get some work done.  Even Brutus has accepted him already - although it may be because the puppy came with a plethora of new toys that Brutus gets to steal and play with!  He's going to be an awesome addition to the family!

Then the day after puppy pick-up, we took Beckett up to Woodlands for his week at camp.  He chose to do the Xtreme version of camp this year - which has all the same wonderful content as every other year he's gone with the addition of a couple of field trips (horseback riding and rock climbing) and they sleep in a shelter in hammocks instead of the super nice cabins.  I can't wait to hear about his week.  (Funny story - I over-funded his camp account because last year he ended up buying snacks for all his friends and ran out.  I put more than enough in there...  and when I checked it this morning he had 50 cents left.  LOL  He's apparently quite fond of something called a Milky Way Mocha and I think he's purchased wristbands for everyone in his group.  Love him!)

At the same time Bob was heading north with Beck, I was heading south with Quinn for Georgia Southern orientation.  I kinda fell in love with that university.  It was my first trip and it's honestly a perfect place for Quinn.  There are around 5 thousand freshmen, which is big enough to feel different than high school, but not so big that you can't walk the whole campus in 10 minutes.  It's all red brick and beautiful.  I love that he picked that place - love where his dorm is - and can't wait to see him thrive there.

We got home on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning the tile guys came to do our backsplash.  We were told it was a 1 day job.  I kept saying "but our kitchen is bigger than the average kitchen, are they sure?"  Sure enough, they did not finish.  We have a new and exciting variety of kitchen mess at the moment - and don't expect them to return until Monday to finish up.  It's OK though because the lady who is painting our cabinets is coming tomorrow to show us how to take off the doors so she can come get them and start the cabinet painting next week.  She says it'll be perfect timing.  I'm just like - place is already a mess and half the kitchen is already in the dining room, so BRING IT.  

This coming week promises more chaos - the puppy playtime, rug scrubbing, cabinet dismantling, car-pooling to football/wrestling practice with the dogs in tow - kind of chaos.  And I wouldn't want it any other way.  

(Although, I admit that there are *multiple* times a day I have to do a mental inventory to make sure I know where everyone is...  and we only forgot to pick up Zane once this week.)

Picture of the Week - 5/26/2022

 May-madness is almost over...  the end of the hustle is SOOOO close!

In the past week...

- Zane played in the Black and White game.  He played center for the whole game.  He was consistent and reliable and steady.  He's not flashy, but he is a really good football player.  I really do love watching him play.

- Visited with Sharon and Karen who came down to visit from Ohio for the festivities

- Held Quinn's graduation party where we entertained a LOT of people.  My heart is truly so happy to see all the friends and family who came to wish Quinn well.  He's just such a good, likeable dude.  Celebrating him was fun - and easy! - and also a little exhausting! 

- More dinner party fun with Berber and Pappy and Jess and her family to celebrate the graduates!

- Actual graduation ceremony on Sunday and dinner (out again... who wants to cook in May???)

- Then we found out on Monday that Zane made the football team - woohoo!  I'm so happy for him - and he's SO excited about it!!

- Tuesday happened to be our 25th wedding anniversary - and we used it as an opportunity to visit one of our favorite restaurants with some great friends

- Wednesday we had a football meeting for all the players and families that made the team to pay dues and get fitted for gear and such.  We also found out that Zane will get to continue the tradition of a Bovenizer wearing #59.  The coaches know and remember Spencer - and asked if Zane wanted to be the same number.  I love that so much.

- And then here we are back to Thursday - the last day of the 2021-22 school year.

I would say we are doing a pretty darn good job of filling our days up with fun stuff!  This doesn't mean we aren't simultaneously saddened by the tragedy of the Texas school shooting.  That evil weighs heavy - but is also a good reminder not to take any of these crazy, jam-packed, family-centered days for granted.  You just never know...  

Tomorrow we will try to get through the last workday before heading to the Carolina coast for vacation.  I can't wait!

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 - 5/12/2022

 Swoooooooooosh - did you feel the first half of May, FLY by???  Good grief!  I feel like I blinked in March and here we are mid-May.

We continue the month of (almost) all Quinn.  Last weekend was his second prom - which started with some awkwardly windy pictures and ended in a super fun (per Quinn and Jess) event in downtown Atlanta - like literally across the street from the capital.  They went with a charcoal grey and pink color scheme for this one and looked gorgeous.  I can't decide which one I liked better - and also couldn't pick just one picture to share.

Then Spencer came home on Saturday.  He's home until mid-August and working as a Project Engineer for Hawk Construction.  He's only worked for 3 days and has already learned so much!  This is going to be a really excellent internship for him.  He's also been busy connecting with some of his friends as they return back for the summer and spent Sunday helping Quinn buy a new car.

Yes...  Quinn has purchased a new (used) car in preparation for driving back and forth to Statesboro this fall.  He got a Hyundai Veloster.  It's cute and suits him well.  He got a (for today's weird economy) ridiculously good deal on it because it's been modified a bit (Spencer could tell you all the things they have added - custom this and that and the other - I can tell you they replaced the Hyundai symbol on the back with a velociraptor plaque.  LOL  

This week Bob has been in California for work and gets to come home tonight.  This weekend, as strange as it sounds, we are going to spend prepping for vacation and Beckett's first week at camp.  We head to the beach on the 28th and Beck goes to camp the day after we get home.  My goal is to be mostly packed for both of these things before we get into GRADUATION activities next weekend.  I can't even believe graduation is here.  Quick topic change or I'll get sad again...  how bout the weather this week!  Gorgeous!!

Have a great week everyone and enjoy the prom/car pictures!