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 - 3/16/2023

 It sure was nice to have Spencer and Quinn home at the same time for a little while this week.  I don't think it really dawns on new college moms that visits change repeatedly over the first couple of years.  For us at least, the first couple of visits home felt like things were back to normal.  After a while, though, having the boys home is more a treat than normal day-to-day.  It requires special cooking and shopping - well is just a special time.

Bob took a picture of me and Spencer before he left to head to Statesboro (more on this in a second) and when we took it I said - let's make sure to get one with Quinn too!  Then we forgot.  Oops!  

Spencer was home for only 2 nights before he left to spend the rest of his spring break hanging out in Quinn's dorm and working at a small farm just outside of Statesboro.  I don't think I've shared here that Spencer is about to make a big change at the end of this semester.  He's decided not to go back to the Citadel and has transferred to Georgia Southern to finish up his degree.  Lots of reasons and much discussion about the options, the pros/cons, and how to implement his decision.  I won't say every conversation was smooth and productive, but once again, I think he's on exactly the path he should be on.  

He's going to be changing his major from Civil Engineering to Mechanical Engineering with the move to GSU.  The major change was part of the decision making process because all his current scholarships are Civil and would go away if he changes majors at the Citadel.  He's also coming back in state - which is a big deal for tuition expense - and has signed a lease with a couple of guys in a really nice townhouse apartment.  He's pretty excited to be moving into "the nicest place he's ever lived".  (I'm trying not to take offense to this seeing as he spent 18+ years in our house.)  

This brings us to the farm job.  Spencer found a help wanted posting for a farm near Statesboro for the summer and after talking to the owner they decided on a trial-run for Spring Break.  Things have gone great this week and everything is falling in line.  I am really happy for him.  He's excited about the upcoming change - and a more traditional college experience.  

So I guess we will be doubling down on Georgia Southern spirit wear now!  Go Eagles!

Quiet week here - then we ramp back up with spring season wrestling practices next week and start prepping for our next camping adventure in a couple of weeks.  Feeling blessed and happy :) (And going to try to remember to get a picture of the boys all together next time they are all in the same place - no matter what they are wearing or who needs a haircut!)

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 - 9/29/2022

 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 - 9/8/2022

 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 - 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 - 3/31/0222

 Wow - last weekend was so cool.  It's hard to really explain.  I'm going to try anyway...  cause that's what you all pay for.  (LOL - there's no one paying anything...)

We went down to Charleston not really knowing what to expect from Recognition weekend.  We also went not really knowing where Spencer's head was.  He has had some rough re-entries from break back to school and this post-spring break return was no different.  He left on Sunday and the next few days we received a series of texts and messages from him that left me pretty worried about him.  He didn't seem happy and I, honestly, was a little unsure about our future at The Citadel.  

So we get to campus and show Zane and Beckett around.  If you've never been to The Citadel campus, you should try to drive through sometime.  It's really not a big place, but it's pretty unique.  It's steeped in history and tradition and just really unlike any other campus I've been on.  So they were all excited and we visited the bookstore and bought new hoodies (always a favorite) and were waiting for the gauntlet to start.

Side note - I'd heard about the gauntlet and there was much discussion about it on Facebook.  The guidance we were given is that if your child asks you not to attend, to honor their wishes and stay away.  I knew it was a series of physical tests - think obstacle course, kinda - and I knew it was designed to be difficult to complete.  There were a series of 10 stations that each company rotated through over the course of 2 hours.  The stations were things like Buddy carries, medicine ball tosses, army crawls, etc.  All of this would be followed by a 1.5 mile victory run around campus.  And then some stuff - including many pushups - behind the walls of their barracks.  I wasn't, honestly, worried about the physicality of the gauntlet.  I figured that Spencer is physically fit to begin with - and was just coming out of wrestling season.  Wrestling workouts are no joke...  so I figured he would be better prepared than the vast majority of cadets.

At some point I got a text from Spencer asking me to bring him food.  I practically ran to the market to buy him snacks and then met him and his friend Bradford (the one looking at the camera in the picture of the 4 dudes) in the athletic building where the wrestling room is - aka his home away from home.  I could not have been more pleased with Spencer's attitude and demeanor.  It was like he was a different person than the texts and messages from the last week.  He was happy, slightly apprehensive about what was going to happen, but ready to tackle it.  Seeing him smile made my day!

Then the gauntlet started.  And it was intense.  It was way more intense than I expected.  Watching the kids struggle through the stations was hard.  Watching them helping each other get through it was AMAZING.  It makes me a little emotional just thinking about it.  This comradery they have built is NOT something that happens at normal college in a normal dorm.  It's awesome to see.  

I was wrong about the gauntlet being easy for Spence.  It was not.  He got pulled out of the group on his third station by a couple of upper-class wrestlers and they FRIED him.  They worked him until he was toast...  and the rest of the stations were a struggle.  I mean, if it's any indication, he was doing push-ups with his butt in the air like an 8 year old - and he could regularly drop and do like 100 without even breaking a sweat.  I spent the time alternating between trying to find him in the mass - and not wanting to watch.  

But they all made it through!  By the time they returned to the parade field after the run they whole group was spent...  and also ecstatic.  

Spencer told us this week that he had underestimated how big the shift from knob to "normal" cadet would be.  I think they all had learned to live with the stress of being a knob for so long that with all the additional restrictions and requirements lifted, it's been a way different experience.  He has talked to me/called me more this week than he has since last summer.  He sounds happy and settled - and is busy making plans for the future...  at the Citadel.  

It makes me so happy, so proud to see him thriving there.  My mama heart knew that this school was a good fit for him.  I knew he could manage the road less traveled.  I knew he had the grit and determination he needed to handle the Citadel.  Now he knows it too.  And there's just no better feeling than watching your son figure that out.

The rest of the weekend was a lot of pomp and circumstance - and it's all cool!  But that Friday when the class of 2025 cadets were recognized will be a day I will remember for a long, long time.  I can't even begin to imagine how meaningful it is to the young men and women who lived it all.  

Here are my favorite 2 pictures from the weekend.  One is the family - minus Quinn.  I love this picture because of how happy Spencer was in it.  And I also love that Beckett is obviously enamored with everything his biggest brother does.  He was SO proud of Spencer.  And also the bulldog mascot - he was very proud of the dog too.  The second picture is Spencer's best buddies.  He spends a LOT of time with that group right there.  They are all wrestlers.  They are all freshmen.  They all went through all the knob stuff, the wrestling stuff, all the stuff together.  Those dudes very likely know my son better than he knows himself.  I'm so very thankful for them!!!  Also, that's just a really cool picture!  It's going in a frame on his wall...  

Things for me now shift to Quinn-focus.  I leave with Q and 3 of his friends and their moms on a Spring Break trip to Sandestin on Saturday.  I'm looking forward to chilling with him and his friends for a few days at the beach.  These are the guys he's going to room with at Georgia Southern next year.  Good group of guys!  

Picture of the Week - 3/17/2022

 Spencer is home for Spring Break this week.  Actually, I think it's probably more accurate to say Spencer is not in Charleston this week because he's on spring break.  LOL  I would love to say we've spent hours catching up and chatting, but I feel like I've hardly seen him!  

It's OK though - he's spent the break catching up with his friends, relaxing, and having fun.  And apparently also stocking his "sleep hours" bank.  

Yesterday he and his friend Brody drove over to Birmingham to go to a concert for a band I've never even heard of.  Ahhhh to be young.  I know they are having a blast - and should be home again (to shower and eat before heading out somewhere again, I'm sure) this afternoon.  

I've implemented a plan tomorrow for FFFF (Friday Forced Family Fun) and told all the boys we are going out for a nice dinner - a no t-shirt dinner - just the 6 of us.  Looking forward to at least a couple of hours without distractions to enjoy my boys.  :)

Spencer heads back to school on Sunday. Sigh, the time goes too fast!

Kitchen reno update

- We have contracts signed for countertops and backsplash and get to go pick out materials tomorrow afternoon.  I'm oddly nervous that I'm going to pick something I won't love - which is weird considering how much I hate what we have now.  LOL

- We are currently in the process of trying to track down someone who can make us a desktop (for the desk portion of the kitchen) out of reclaimed wood because I think it would be cool to break up all the countertop with something "warm".  I found a guy on Etsy that will do it - because EVERYTHING is on Etsy...  but trying to decide if his price is reasonable and I'm just out of touch with reality or if he's overpriced and we can find something better.  

- AND I found a lady who will paint the cabinets for us too...  on Facebook of all places!  I love social media.  She's pretty booked up, so we probably won't get that part done until the summer.  I'm dreading that step - to be honest - because it'll take about a week and, well, the kitchen is important when you are raising boys - especially boys doing the growth spurt thing*

- This is a fun - and expensive - project that I'm SO excited about - and also kinda dreading.  Ya know what I mean???

* Zane is in full-out growth mode.  He can't stop eating.  He's constantly hungry.  And this morning when he came in to say goodbye, I had to noticeably look UP into his eyes.  He's probably grown a full inch since Christmas.  

Picture of the Week - 12/31/2021

 Wishing you the happiest of New Years!  Blessings for a fabulous 2022!

Picture of the Week - 12/23/2021

 Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!!  

Picture of the Week - 12/2/2021

 Did you miss me?

Did anyone even notice I was "missing" the last 2 weeks?  (crickets)

I didn't really MEAN to skip POTW 2 weeks in a row.  I never really MEAN to skip it at all.  But life happens and my memory is sometimes bad and sometimes I'm just not in the mood to stop having fun (or working) to do an email.  And what probably sounds like a ridiculously lame excuse, my employer just increased their "security" and I can't get personal email on my work computer any more.  Sounds like a minor thing...  is not a minor thing...  I fully acknowledge that this is a first world problem, but it's cause some upheaval in my routines!

So what have we been up to?  Mostly wrestling.  And visiting with family.  We got to enjoy Spencer being home for Thanksgiving week - although we didn't actually SEE much of him as he was off having fun with his friends the majority of his break.  It's nice to see that he's doing well.  He also got to wrestle here in Georgia at Life University and won his first couple of collegiate matches.  Pretty fun!  Picture of him in his old West singlet because he was wrestling as an "unattached" wrestler while the Citadel starters were competing at a tournament at the Naval Academy.  I DO still long to get a picture of him in a Citadel singlet...  someday!

On Tuesday of  Thanksgiving week West held our annual Thanksgiving Duals.  It's my favorite tourney of the year.  I think it's because of the time of year maybe...  it's the first big tourney we do with local teams every year.  It's home and I really enjoy hanging out with all the other West families for the day.  I've no idea what I'm going to do next year when I'm not in charge any more...  Maybe they will let me run concessions just for fun!  Quinn had a pretty good tournament and the team is looking really strong again.  It should be a great season again for West Wrestling.

Zane and Beck got to compete recently too!  Zane went undefeated and Beck went 3-2.  Both boys look really good and are having a blast.  They are working 4 days a week at getting better!  We have a couple of weeks before they get to compete again, but I'm already looking forward to it!

In between all the wrestling we got to have a really nice dinner out with my parents, had a football party with all the coaches and families from Bob's team, celebrated the end of Zane's Midway football career at his football party (middle school football here we come!), and of course we had Thanksgiving!  It's been a fun, busy couple of weeks around here!

The rest of the month looks just as wild!  This weekend Bob and Quinn are off to North Carolina for a big dual tournament with some of the best teams in that area.  It'll be a challenge for our guys for sure!  And I'll be home with Zane and Beck getting ready to take the high school team up to Gatlinburg the following weekend for a super fun stay in a super cool cabin.  Bob and I are chaperoning - and responsible for feeding the whole crew.  I'm prepping the coolers and crock pots!

I hope you had a great second half of November and are gearing up for the rest of the Holiday season!  We're mostly focused on wrestling mats, but we DID manage to get our trees and outside decorations up!  Christmas presents are mostly ordered/obtained too!  I love this time of year!