No more Facebook!

 Today, is day one of no more facebook.

I joined a study and they want us to be off facebook for six weeks!  I think I can do this.  I know I can do this.  Although, I have wanted to click on the facebook icon for last hour.  I know nothing is there that is necessary but I still have that terrible habit.  This will be so good for me.

DAY ONE!

Happy Birthday, Dad!

 Today, we celebrated

my Dad's 69th birthday!

I am so grateful my parents are here for another year.  I love them to the moon and back.  My dad is a pillar in my life.  Someone that I want to emulate my life after.  He is giving, kind, and generous to every one. He is always trying to give away stuff to other people.  I love, love, love him.  

We bought him a ring doorbell for his birthday because his flags keep getting stolen.  The boys made him a card and gave him cashews.  We made delicious steaks and home made apple pie for the birthday cake.  It was a great day!

It's a Messy Messy World

 BUT we are making the best of it!

Home school days are in full swing here.

We are loving ninja gym again. 

Sharla came to visit for a few days so we got to dogsit.  It was so great.  The boys love taking care of her cute little puppies!

We had a huge storm blow through a few days ago and this tree was blocking the bike path!

Edward had his first swim meet with Mako and did amazing!  He swam the 200 meter Breaststroke.

Grandparents day was Sunday so I snapped a photo of my amazing parents who are staying in ABQ for another year to help out with my sweet, sweet boys.  I am so blessed to have them here.  I will not take this time for granted.  They are my everything.

Last night, as the boys were getting ready for bed, I snapped few photos of just the "normal" stuff that goes on at our home.  I love these simple times. I will miss the madness and craziness of raising children when the grow up and have families of their own. 

Nolen had a horse riding lesson on Tuesday.  He LOVED IT!  Both boys said they wanted to have lessons. I am sure it wont last too long but it was so fun to see them taking care of a horse.  Horses were the center of my childhood. 

My Dad's garden has been AMAZING this year.  He got more than 20 pumpkins!  The boys were impressed!

River Floating with a Rapid

 

I took the boys white water rafting today.  Well it was more like river floating because the water was so low.  We had quite the adventure.   We went with the boys two best friends, Dylan and Kyle.  Dylan's mom, Rebecca was the other adult in the group.  We went white water rafting last year and it was so fun; however, the water was much much higher.  

This time, the water was knee to ankle deep most of the time.  So we hit EVERY SINGLE ROCK along the river.  It was frustrating to get stuck on every rock.  Our guide was not that great.  She either couldn't see the rocks coming or she didn't know how to guide us around them.  We hit them, then got stuck, then our guide had to get out and get us unstuck.  Very annoying.  

The boys had a BLAST, though!  They got to get out of the boat and swim a lot of the river, which ended up being the most fun part.  Rebecca fell out of the boat as we went over one of three rapids on the whole trip.  She lost her watch and got hit by two other boats.  It was a little intense for a moment but she was ok.  She seemed really shook up for a moment. 

We got some great photos on the ONLY real rapid.  AH!  Next time we go in May!

Growing up is Hard to Do!

 

 Well, today I let Edward grow up just a little.

It was hard.

Very hard. 

I am a control freak.

There, I said it.

Anyhow, Edward has told me for a while now that he hates the cello and he no longer likes the trumpet because he wanted to play in the band and, well Covid-19 changed all our plans.  So, he is no longer going to play the cello or the trumpet.  We returned is cello today and we will return his trumpet next week.  

He wants to focus all his time on the piano, swimming, and art.  I guess it's time to let him grown up.  It's hard for me to let him quit anything.  I do understand he is human and wants to live his own life, so I guess I have to start letting go soon.  He will be out of the house in 6 1/2 years.  That's not really very much time.  Freedom is what he is asking for and more time with his friends.  

Lastly, I made a huge mistake as a human. I pride myself on making smart decisions but yesterday, I failed.  I let the boys stand up in the car with their heads poking out of the sunroof while we drove a pie to a friends house down the street.  After we got home, I pulled up to the garage and turned down the music while the garage was opening.  Nolen climbed back inside the car but Edward did not.  I drove forward and heard a loud "bonk".  Yep, that was Edward's head hitting the garage.  Nearly decapitating him.  

Turns out, I suck a life sometimes.