August round up

 After we came home from Vegas, I got right down to business with my diet. So far things are going great. Edward got his drivers license this last week and is officially driving to school! I am so excited for him to have this new found freedom.   

My mom came to church this last week and sat in the back. She made it through sacrament meeting then headed home. She seems very content with her life and her pain level. 

Nolen started jiu jitsu this month and is loving it. I was a little hesitant to get him going because it is a very physical sport. Nolen is not very good with in your face combat but he is doing great. 

Stephen and I have been enjoying golfing together over the last few months. It is hard but enjoyable with lots of friends!

Swimming this summer with Craig and Blair has been a blast! Their pool is clean and so relaxing. So much so that pearl jumps in with us any time we swim. The hot tub has been my favorite place this summer. 

August has been fun and tiring all at the same time. We have some fun stuff planned for the rest of the year. Should be great!

Quick trip to Vegas!

 

This year has been a bit more challenging for us that usual.  Stephen has been through some serious health concerns and is still pretty stressed out about them.  He had been taking a supplement for the last seven years and found out that his health was declining because of the supplement.  Back in March he decided to get off the supplement and try to live his normal life with out it.  That proved to be much more difficult than he thought.  This decision has lead him down a path of finding better health overall so it really was for the better.  

Stephen has now seen many many doctors to find out what is going on with his health.  He had a colonoscopy, a throat scan, and a few MRI's!  So far, doctors have said he has anxiety.  He has a little bit of reflux and a growth on his thyroid.  In his quest to figure out what is going on with his body, he decided to pay $2000 for a full body scan in Vegas.  So we flew Sunday night to Vegas! 

Sunday we arrived in Vegas pretty early so we had some time to kill before we could check in to our hotel room.  We ate at Mon Ami Gabi, which by the way is DELICIOUS!  It is also expensive for just two people.  Then we walked over to New York, New York the hotel and got our room.  As soon as we went up to our room we knew we would have to change rooms.  The room was above the pool where the bass was turned up so high it vibrated the windows, the roller coaster ran right by our room every eight minutes, and then our neighbors came in to their room and tried to unlock the adjoining room door THREE times!  We could also hear everything they said, so we moved.  Good choice! 

After moving we went down to the pool and hung out for while in the shade before we finally got hot enough to get in the water.  After the pool, Veronica and Chris picked us up to head to dinner at Honey Salt.  It was about 22 minutes north of the strip and so delicious!  Sharla and John also met us at the restaurant and we all laughed and laughed about how far away Honey Salt was from anything! 

Monday, we woke up early and headed in to Stephen's scan.  It only took an hour so then we had a lot of time to kill during the day. We went to breakfast at an American diner inside New York, New York and then went to exercise for a bit.  We took a much needed nap then went down to the casino.  We actually waked to Bellagio and played my favorite bubble pop game.  We walked away losers but that is ok, we had fun just sitting there together.  

We walked up to our favorite Secret Pizza joint for lunch and then went to see Carrot Top! He was so funny.  During the show, Carrot Top talked about how he was trying to be funny so he tried to tip his airplane pilot $5 bucks a few weeks ago.  So as Carrot Top did his meet and greet along our row, Stephen slipped him a $5 dollar bill!!  He laughed and laughed!  It was so funny!  Stephen is hilarious! 

Tuesday, we jumped on an early flight back home to real life.  I will be forever grateful to Stephen for always finding ways for us to connect.  This was a much needed relationship refresh!

Fifteen and a half!

 

My sweet beautiful Edward is 15 and a half!  I love him.  He is hilarious and full of deep wisdom.  He has always had an older soul to me and that hasn't changed.  Edward is in 10th grade this year and attending Albuquerque Aviation Academy (or SAMS) as it was known for the last 10 years.  He is loving it.  This year he is taking ground school.  He is so excited to actually start flying this year.  I know he will do his best. His goal is to be a pilot when he is an adult.  

Edward loves airsoft.  He spends all his time and money on airsoft.  Here in Albuquerque they only have one airsoft field and it has games every other Saturday.  If the games were every Saturday, Edward would be there!  He loves it.  

I am so honored to be his mother.  This year has been more challenging for me as I have looked deeper into the Mormon religion and have seen it through different eyes.  Edward didn't like seminary so he is no longer attending.  He doesn't want to become a priest and he doesn't want to go to church any more.  I understand where he is coming from now.  I was so full of fear before but now I see a completely different possibility for my children and I am living without fear.  I will honor Edward's choice despite my apprehensions.  I am so wrapped up in what people think about me as a mother.  I didn't realize how much of my identity was built by how I parent.  That has changed this year.  I have changed and I hope it is for the better.  

Edward, if your reading this as an adult, know that I love you.  I have always tried to do my very best with the knowledge I was given.  I want nothing more than a beautiful life for you and I want to be a part of it in any way possible.  I love you.  

Just a little August Randomness

 Saturday, Nolen and I went with our church to the wibit! We had a blast, especially jumping in the cold water at blue hole! 

I am changing my meal plan again and hoping for a really good 10 pound weight loss! So far, I’m loving the meals. 

I am still on track for attending the temple every month! Four more to go! 

Frist Day of School

 AND a new car! Edward gets to drive in 17 days.  I am so excited for him.  He will have some sweet freedom for the first time in his life.  He will also be able to help out a bit more and feel some real responsibility.  Today, is also the first day of school!  Nolen is in 8th grade and is still home schooling.  Edward is in 10th grade and attending Albuquerque Aviation Academy (SAMS) the same school he has been attending for the last two years.  I hope they have an amazing school year!

Nolen also got the bottom braces put on his teeth so he will have a beautiful smile next year!

SWEMB BIRT Minneapolis day 8

 This was our last day of the trip.  We woke up early and headed out of the gross hotel.  We looked up a few waterfalls and headed to see them.  Then we went over to the Mall of America.  We went to a mirror maze, at lunch, and then headed to the airport.  This trip was such a huge success.  We didn't run in to any issues.  Everything worked out amazingly!!  I am so grateful that Chelsea was able to come with me on the trip.  She is seriously a saint!  Five boys is a lot to manage and she did it with ease.  I was sad for the last day to come but I was very much ready to sleep in my own bed!