Family Vacation 2023

 This year, we had to make some changes to our plans for our annual family vacation.  My mom has been battling cancer for the last five months and it just didn't seem feasible to travel to Costa Rica with out her.  We all decided to gather together for Memorial Day here in Albuquerque.  Craig, Blair, and I planned some activities and all the meals.  We worked hard to make sure everyone had somewhere to stay and picked up chairs and tables from the church so we could eat together at my house. 

It was a little chaotic but it was fun.  I am so glad that we work hard to get everyone together year after year despite the challenges we have faced as a family.  All of us are changing and growing and I know it is a sacrifice for families to travel and take time off work.  I am so glad that they did.  I think, moving forward, I will plan on just spending a long weekend with my family.  No more week trips because we are not in a place where we can get along for more than three days! HA!  Either way, we had a good time, played games, ate meals together, and I forced everyone to take a photo with my mom.

 

Recital and last day of school

 Summer is here!  I am so glad! I have been waiting for this time of year FOREVER! This winter was actually mild compared to other years, but summer is my season! I had my recital on a Tuesday before school got out, hoping that most kids would be able to come.  However, I had half my students show up.  It was a wonderful recital and still took an hour and 15 minutes.  Then on Thursday, we invited all of our friends over to have a last day of school water balloon jump on the trampoline.  It was a perfect day!

Twelve and a half

 Oh, how my heart can't take how quickly time passes. Things are so great with my sweet boys and I just want to bottle up every single moment.  Nolen celebrated his half birthday today!  It wasn't much of a celebration because I worked and we went to track practice, and then to dinner with my parents.  We played a new fun game of Uno and I made sure to capture a few photos of Nolen on his half birthday.  We usually go get a treat, but it was not in the cards for us.

Nolen has been working hard at track and math.  Both things he is quite good at and has wanted to improve.  He finished his school year with an 89% in math but really wanted a 90%.  I think that will happen next year when he does pre-algebra.  He is so determined to run a faster mile at track.  He ran a 6:31 at the last meet and was so happy.  He really impresses me with his ability to continue to work hard each and every day.

Theater and Vegas and Mothers!

 This week as a bit of a whirlwind but I had a blast.  Tuesday night, Stephen and I skipped track practice and went on a little date to watch Hamilton, the musical. I bought these tickets in January 2020.  I was so excited to see the show once it finally came to Albuquerque.  It was worth the wait.  The singers were amazing and the show was brilliant.  Stephen even loved it!!  

Friday, I flew to Vegas to spend one night with my two High School best friends, Leigh Anne and Veronica.  We got tickets to see the Dixie Chicks.  It was such a fun weekend but a terrible concert.  I will never attend their concert in the future.  Yikes!  It was so boring.  A lady in front of us yelled at us for talking and yelling during the concert.  I had to laugh because we were at a 5,000 person concert and everyone around us was being loud.  Saturday, we went to the spa and the pool at the Cosmo.   I am so glad I have friends who like to take little adventures to get away from just a moment.

Mother's Day was very relaxing.  Just what I needed after a wild 28 hours in Vegas.  I went to church with my boys, visited my mom in the hospital, and then came home and took a nap.  Just what I needed in order to survive the next few weeks as we finish up school and get ready for summer!