David turns 50!

It was a normal and busy Tuesday. He didn’t have the easiest day at work. But this evening we celebrated him. 

He is very bad at stopping to smile for me. He still argues the camera steels your soul. 

I made his cake, finally, correctly, after all these years. 

Finally a glass of wine for the first time in a month. 

Clair’s card was in the form of a very thoughtfully written, lots of words and minimal color, long scroll. 

A family game of pool ended the night. David won. 

Another cool school project we could not keep

Clair made a very nice math project she got a great grade on. School has so many neat projects the kids do. I feel guilty I can’t keep them all. So I take pictures!

High school split years

Our high school has almost two separate school years in each academic year thanks to the way they have it set up. A student takes 4 classes for half the year and another 4 classes the second half. The benefit is an extra class each year and more flexibility in later grades. However it also means long classes, less chance to be with friends and that you have to get your schedule and patterns reset in the middle of the school year - including a new lunch routine. 

Ellie started the second half of freshmen year this week. I had not realized how nerve racking it was going to be to be starting over. It was like another first day of school for her with finding the right outfit, wondering who would be at lunch with her, finding her way around the school in a timely fashion, getting to know new teachers, etc. the first day was not great. I wish I could have helped her. I hope that as the years pass she learns to embrace this opportunity for change. Who knows!

Being a kid is hard. Growing up is hard. Parenting is hard. Not being able to fix your kids problems and sad feelings is hard. 

Thanks fully day 2 seemed to go better for her. 

Winter sports

Our kids don’t do as much in the winter. It’s nice not running so much. Ellie is back at Jujitsu twice a week and enjoying it. David always takes her. He enjoys it too. He has not been able to participate with her hurt knee for a few months. He’s hoping to get back to it. 

Clair is doing a light version of winter basketball. Practice is once a week and one game a weekend. I love the light schedule. She feels accomplished and it doesn’t eat into our life like fall sports do. 

She is enjoying basketball and has clearly improved over the season. Her hall handling and shooting are improving. I’m proud of her. 

We did let Clair and max start a soccer clinic on Wednesday nights for 7 weeks leading into spring. For Clair it’s a goalie camp and her coach wanted her to do this. For Max it’s a striker camp. They both seem happy for the opportunity. 

I love watching the kids enjoy sports! Sports are my favorite. 

Helping with 9th grade math

This week I had the pleasure of helping Ellie figure out some confusing geometry that I had no recollection of. But, thanks to Google, I was able to remember or lookup the formulas and topic and help explain it to her. 

At first I though I was frustrated but by the end I felt like a superhero having figured it out and nearly taught it to Ellie. I always loved math. Ellie does not enjoy math sadly. 

I’m thankful she asked for help. Often she does not ask. 

Star Wars is back

Two weekend ago Max and David introduced Clair to Star Wars and it was a success. This is now her new favorite fantasy to play. Max is loving having someone to play this with. He’s reviving the dress up! They even jointly bought a whole new set of toy light sabers!

Life with cats

Means soft little purrs and lots of meows

Dirty cat litter

Meows for food

Toys all over the floor

Midnight zoomies

And ripped leather couches, much to my dismay 

I love this little fur ball

Those nuggles

Clair loves to get in bed and cuddle at night. I rarely let her because I can’t get comfortable thanks to my back and actually am in a lot of pain if it lasts all night. So I really don’t allow it anymore ugh to o ur dismay. 

Every once in a while I can not help myself. She comes in to use the bathroom and then comes over to give me a hug and kiss before returning to her head. 

Last night this happened and I just pulled her in. She giggles with excitement. She nestles into the spot between me and the body pillow. She wiggles around and tells me she is trying to get warm. When I invite her under the covers she gets so excited. She jumps up and says she will be right back. I know what this means; here she comes back with her cold blanket and snuggle blanket. She dives right in. She is so happy. 

She tells me “mommy I have the best dreams when I sleep with you in your bed!”

She is content. This is love!

I try to fall asleep holding her. My shoulder hurts. I manage to fall asleep briefly and wake up. She is sound asleep, snoring happily. 

I slide away to use the bathroom and think about what I will do next. How will I sleep? Where will I sleep? Shall I leave her there and sleep in her room and sneak back in in the morning? I consult David and he says he will move her to her bed. My strong husband, her strong father? Lifts the 80 pound five foot child into his arms and carries her carefully into her bed, with her blankets. She snuggles in and we all say goodnight. 

I wish I could hold her all night. I am sad that I can’t. But as we all sleep in our own beds, we sleep well. 

Breakfast

The kids always like when I bake for breakfast. A couple weeks ago we made a bunch of blueberry pancakes for them to freeze for breakfasts. They ran out Friday morning with an uneven number. This meant someone lost and had to eat cereal. So today I committed to restocking their heathy high protein baked goods in the freezer. 

Homemade waffles with berry compote is a hit around here. Even David eats a quarter of a waffle. 

Kid of the week

I forgot to post this in December, but it’s important to remember this awesome feedback Clair received from her peers as kid of the week in December. 

I love that her teacher takes time to prioritize the kids recognizing good character in each other! Thank God for awesome teachers out there. 

A few more pictures from our New Year’s Eve celebration for the memories ….

Family picture. Too bad clair had already showered. 


Photo bomb as we prepare another family picture. 

Preparing the bubbly

Me and my big girl 

Confetti everywhere!

Ringing in 2023

New Year’s Eve has become a celebration each of my kiddos look forward too for each their own reasons I think. Ellie enjoys the pop music concert while watching the ball drop and the open access to junk food in her own house all night. Max enjoys the party aspects of it and that it’s a

Something different. Clair enjoys getting to stay up so late and commemorate the event with different memories. 

The past few years we have celebrated alone but with my sisters family back in town everyone was excited to be together again. So we did it. We had them over for the evening. Their was an 80s movie - Three Men and A Baby. There was laser tag - like in years past with a fresh batch of guns. There was an adult outing to Vintage for a couple drinks. There was lots of food and desserts for all. There was a small attempt at board games. 

There was a photo booth adventure directed by Katie. There was fun party favors and decorations for all to enjoy. The kids loves the noise makers and some may have gotten in trouble for blowing them loudly in others ears 

At midnight there was confetti popping in the driveway and there was the banging of pots and pans. 

There was some crazy moments and a little bit of emotions management needed but we persevered and celebrating letting 2022 out and bringing in 2023. 

I wish all my family a great 2023 and hope it’s a year

Of growth for everyone in personal development and in their relationship with Jesus. For me, I need to get my Heath a little better under control! 

Silly faces 

A team!

Kids insisted the adults get involved. 

“Jamie and Jelly”

Clair kept wanting a picture of kissing my cheek.