That's a Wrap

With the dawn of my first full week back at work looming in less than 10 hours and the kids' return to school just days away, I give you the summer recap.

She looks innocent, but she may very well be the most annoying dog ever!!! Summer held just a handful of days when I could actually sleep as long as my body said to. She yelped every single morning at 6:00 a.m. until I drug myself out of bed and walked down a flight of stairs to let her out of her crate.  I let her outside, and she yelped to come back in.  By the time we finished the process, there was no way I was going to get back to sleep.  She woke me every morning I could sleep late.  On the only morning I could attend an inservice, she did not make a peep, and I awoke 30 minutes prior to the start of the in service.  

On a day that we were trying to enjoy an amusement park, we faced storms.  We ditched the park and visited a nearby mall where Wyatt and Julia enjoyed this really cool two story carousal courtesy of Zach.

Julia filled my phone with selfies.

I mean she really filled my phone.

We spent precious few days with friends.

Andy and I celebrated 20 years in NYC.

We prepared for senior year.

We met a new family member.

Shiloh added her own brand of being ornery to the mix, so much so that many discussions have revolved around whether we can continue to keep her. We are working on her and seeing some positive changes. We have returned to what worked before and are getting a kick out of her love for her new toys.  She's like a kid with a security blanket carrying her latest stuffed toy everywhere.

Wyatt found something he could enjoy at an amusement park and insisted on numerous pictures of himself with the dinosaurs.

We enjoyed precious few days on thrill rides and in a water park.

Dad celebrated 70 years.

We enjoyed a great swim season with champion swimmers.

Work travel made fun days with Andy very precious and few.  He visited Texas, Seattle, and Buffalo in our few weeks of summer in addition to family trips.

We loved a new beach.

Our teens were challenged and had a blast at Bible and Beach.

We caught up with old friends and friends from far away.

We said goodbye to good friends as miles part us.

We faced our last summer of high school football practices.  We know the season will fly, and we will really, really miss this team.

This summer was our busiest ever.  We traveled more and spent less time with friends.  I am not sure the entire family was ever home for a full week at a time.  In many ways it was one of our best summers ever.  We celebrated marriage and connected with great friends who live away from us.  However, it was not the best for everyone.  I hardly managed to get Savannah together with her friends at all, and she really helped us through the travel.  She is training well to be a great mom and homemaker.  Zach worked so much that he rarely gathered with friends himself.  While Wyatt and Julia enjoyed more social experiences, our busy schedule even limited them.  It was definitely our fastest summer ever.

As usual, the summer projects did not happen.  Wyatt's room still needs to be painted.  Our living room still needs new flooring, and all our our indoor trim needs a fresh coat of paint.  Our basement and garage need lots of purging and organizing.  The Vacation Station workbooks went unfinished, and just two days before school starts, Zach has barely touched the summer assignments.  None of this is going away, so I guess we have some fall projects to tackle.

Please summer, don't go.

Getting some practice

on manual mode

Shiloh's not usually such a willing subject.

All in a Day!

We traveled out of town yesterday for a day trip. Along the way Zach asked if I had seen the coach's email about the parents coming to practice this morning. I freaked out a bit as Zach shared that the senior parents come to a practice and talk about their sons.  Unfortunately, one day's notice was going to be tough.  I was scheduled to work today, and it would be my last opportunity to work a set-up day for extra pay.  We do not get paid if we are not in the building by 7:30a.m. no matter how long we stay.  Practice starts at 7:00.  Because I had no notice to ask permission to switch my hours, I could not stay for the whole time, but I did get to hear Andy share this story and encouragement about Zach.

The first year Zach played football, he played for a team where football was not the only new thing.  One thing that was new was the language used by the coaches and parents which was more colorful than Zach had experienced before.  At practice one time, Zach came off the field visibly upset.  Andy asked what was up, and Zach revealed that Reynolds kept taking him down from the back, and it hurt.  Reynolds was a year older and quite a bit bigger than Zach.  Andy noted that taking a player down from behind is illegal in football and then told Zach that Reynolds couldn't take Zach down if Reynolds was on his back.  Zach went back onto the field and put Reynolds on his back, and Reynolds left the field in tears.  Andy followed that story up by reminding the boys that scripture tells us that we will have trouble in this life.  They will have trouble on the football field and in their future jobs, and people will try to take them down from behind, but Christ has promised that He has overcome this world, and your Father always has your back.  The team chaplain suggested that Andy become the chaplain after that:)

I left shortly after that, so I did not witness the rest of the tradition, but this was probably the first of many lasts this year.  Before I wrap my head around Zach being a senior, he will graduate (wow, it is really hard to type that word).

After leaving the practice, I went to work and moved about 300 boxes.  We have to unpack the books on Monday.  We needed about 800-1000 boxes moved and sorted today, but the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, and I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Before we even left the house in the morning, we found strange wood chips under a door.  Further investigation led to Sadie's cage where Sadie (Julia's hamster) was not.   She apparently had herself a party while the household slept, and she chewed the bottom of the door.  We found her under Wyatt's bed.  With two dogs in the house, I did look for blood in their area of the house.  

And that's how the return to work after summer break starts around here.

Hanging with Wyatt

On Tuesday, Wyatt and I went on an adventure.  We visited a fossil bed, something he has longed to do for a while now.  

He loved the mammoth.

He amazes me with his ability to identify rocks and minerals.

We had a great view of the city skyline along the way.

Wyatt does not like amusement parks, and because his school does not allow for a directory, we struggle to connect with friends outside of school.  He openly admits that Julia's social calendar makes him jealous.  Unfortunately, one of his best buddies moved out of state this week, so they got together for the last time about a week and and a half ago.

saying goodbye

I confess that I really do not find fossils to be very interesting.  If we had planned better, we could have taken a guided tour which probably would have been better for both of us.  It was my birthday, and I selfishly wanted to spend the day doing what I wanted, but I always have a good time with my buddy.  We hope to return in the fall.  The fossil beds are about 20 degrees hotter than the temperature outside because of the reflection of the sunlight on the limestone.  Summer is probably not the best time to visit, but it sure is hard to find time any other time.  Wyatt is the odd man out unfortunately.  Everyone here, except for Wyatt returns to school on or before Wednesday, the 14th.  He does not start until the 20th which will make for a lonely week for my social guy.

I mentioned my birthday and must share that because Julia does not like one of my favorite desserts (cheesecake), Andy bought a DQ s'mores cake for my birthday - BEST. DQ. CAKE. EVER!  Savannah baked a cheesecake, and it would be pretty hard to top her cheesecake as well.

He can't help it

He's beautiful, and I can't stop posting pictures.  His professional, hospital pictures are fantastic!

Here he is ready to go home and meet Regan and Ira!

Just wait, people, I meet my new niece in November.  Yes, pictures will continue to show up on the blog.  

Congrats to Zach

We learned yesterday from Zach's football coach that Zach will be profiled in an upcoming high school sports magazine.  He will be featured on one of the top 10 to watch lists in this magazine for our local community. Zach will go for a photo shoot on Sunday for both the individual piece and a group shot for the cover.

He decided recently to continue to pursue football in college, and God seems to be confirming this direction for him.  I am so excited and proud of him!

I have not yet picked them up but the first of his senior picture proofs are in.  Hopefully, senior pics will soon be posted to the blog.

I've met Isaac

I met Isaac on Tuesday.  He's beautiful.

I returned tonight to give him his birthday gift and get my fix.  Danielle looks great!  All is well.

Nobody can figure out who he looks like.  His hair is dark and thick.  He sleeps the whole time I visit, so I am anxious to get a look at his eyes.  They look dark in his hospital pictures.