Eleven and a half

 Oh, the joys of parenting.  There are so many things that make parenting the absolute best job and then there are things that make it the absolute worst job.  Celebrating a half birthday is one of the best!  I love my sweet Nolen.  I spent some time looking back on his childhood and he is an incredible little boy.  I love his tenderness.  He is concerned with others well being.  He is kind.  He is a great dog owner.  He loves his puppy!  I am so glad we got him a dog.  He has been able to sleep through the night and he gets up every morning with Pearl.  They are inseparable.  

For Nolen's half birthday, we got ice cream at the Paleto bar and ate some macrons.  Sundays are always lazy days for us, so we just sat around and watched TV and ate chicken noodle soup.  I love this sweet boy.  He has matured so much in eleven and a half years.  

The Odds and Ends of May and a Piano Recital

Is it me, or is 2022 moving at light speed?  I am having a hard time keeping up with things that I would normally do when I have nothing to do.  I have been on a social media fast for the last four days.  I am so glad I have been off instagram.  I was spending FAR TOO much time in a space that didn't care about me one bit.  

Where should I be spending my time?  Here with my boys.  Writing about their lives so they can look back and see who they were and where they have been.  Maybe this little journal will serve as a great reminder of how much they are loved.  

I love these Barnes Boys. 

They are my everything.  They make my world go around.  I am so glad I am a mother.  I am so glad they are in my every day life.  I love spending my days, hours, and minutes with them.  They are kind, curious, loving, challenging, and full of heart.  They try so hard.  

 

At mutual, the boys did a fun team game that involved water guns and a wheel barrow race!

Today, the boys had a track meet and a piano recital.  It was a full day but they really did their best.  Edward really didn't want to play at the recital, but once he was there he had a fun time and went up and played his song.  Teenagers are challenging but they are worth all the effort.  Nolen played his cello while I played the piano along with him.  I am so in love with my life.  It is beautiful.  It is exactly what I wanted when I was a little girl.  I have created the life that I dreamt about.  

Albuquerque Youth Symphony and Orchestra

 This year, Nolen has been playing with the AYSO.  When Edward was in fourth grade, he had the opportunity to play with the orchestra at school.  I wanted Nolen to have the same opportunity but since we home school it was hard to find a place where he could play with his peers.  I am so glad he had the chance to play with AYSO even though it has been had to get to all the rehearsals and fund raise.  Nolen has learned so much.  We attended his end of year concert today and he did great!

After the concert, we took the boys to get some macarons and ice cream.  Sometimes, you just need to celebrate the big accomplishments in your life.  These boys are amazing. 

Track Season

 It's track season!  I would say it is amazing, but it is just normal fun.  Cross Country Season is so much more fun.  But that is my opinion and it accounts for nothing.  Nolen LOVES track.  Well, and so does Edward.  They are both having more fun running and throwing this season.  I am so glad we are having a normal track season after two years of no track because of covid-19.  

We have had our first meet today.  Both boys have been working hard at practices so that they could perform at the meets.  Nolen is running sprints, which he loves, and Edward is throwing javelin and shot put. 

The Simple things in Life

 I am trying to appreciate the small things in life.  Time ticks away quickly while I am busy raising my boys.  They have been home schooled now for three years. THREE YEARS!  How did that much time go by?  What have I done with that time?  Have they learned anything?  

I have been working on some small projects here at the house including the garden, hanging photos, planting indoor plants, and of course, taking care of the dog.  It has nearly been a year since we moved in and we still need to unpack boxes!