Catching My Breath

After some very busy days, I am grateful for a few moments to sit down and reflect on what's been keeping us so busy...and literally catch my breath, since I went to exercise class this morning. :)

On Labor Day our family of 5 FINALLY spent some time together at the lake. Our extended family was there too, and we all had such a blast. It had been since mid-July since we went boating. I just can't believe that. Anyway, we made up for it with a beautiful day on the water. We swam a lot. We skied a lot. We laughed a lot. :) We didn't catch any fish, but to tell you the truth, I am more than okay with that! My sis-in-law took some great pictures of our fun in the water--thank you, Pam!

Derek is on the left, I am on the right!

Derek and his brother

Crazy fun! :)

Braylen took my place and he is a great skier!

Kaleb and Aaron did lots of knee-boarding, and both of them picked up the rope. Yay! They also tried skiing, got up for a couple seconds, and will keep trying until they get it. :)

Soccer has been lots of fun for Kaleb and Aaron this year. One of Kaleb's coaches is a family friend of ours, and that's been a nice bonus for Kaleb. Aaron's team, the Light Blue Flames, is unlike any other team he's been on in recent years. They win games! I know it's not all about the winning, but it sure makes the games more fun when they don't lose all of the time. Aaron's scored 3 goals so far this season, which was unheard of in the past. He's a much more aggressive player this year. What a difference a year makes.

Go get it Aaron!

Smile for Daddy :)

Braylen had his first football game yesterday--a scrimmage--and it was SO much fun to watch him play! He loves to play the running back position, get the ball, and run it down the sidelines. He also plays safety on defense and made several good tackles yesterday. Yes, I cringe when he collides with the other players. I am his mother after all! Pictures are on Derek's phone, so I'll have to post some of those next time.

Aaron and Kaleb have been making more derby cars out of aluminum foil again. They've also spent many hours playing football with their mini players and mini helmets in the living room. I love that they still play by using their imagination. Ginger had a car underneath her paw and I loved joking with them that Ginger was playing cars too!

Playing cars demo derby style

See Ginger's car?

Look who's mowing all by himself? (with supervision of course!)
Kaleb saw him having a hard time by the curb and ran outside to help his brother--so sweet!

We're eating supper on the run and supplementing our meager meals with bowls of cereal before bed. And sometimes homework is done after 9pm and musical instruments are practiced by boys who are waiting for a turn in the shower. I remind myself that these crazy crazy crazy days don't last forever, and we are blessed blessed blessed with a family to do fun things with!

Another silly sleeping position, Aaron style! He was sound asleep like this!
I guess when you're this tired, any position will do.

Where did the time go?

As most of the nation is stuck in a miserable end-of-summer-heatwave, us included, I find it hard to believe we've moved into our "fall" routines. But we have! At times I have been triple-booked in the evenings, meaning I need to be 3 places at once. In those moments, when I feel like there is not enough of me to go around, I start reminding myself to be thankful for healthy kids and a healthy me. Really, that helps me adjust my attitude and ENJOY this life I've been given. Then I can fall into bed--tired, but joyful. :)

Braylen is playing 8th grade football this year, and that brings him (and me) great joy! He's loved the game since he was a little boy, and now he can finally suit up and play for his school. We had to purchase our first pair of cleats--ever--and I think that's pretty amazing. We've been so blessed in the past with families passing on their hand-me-downs. All the years our boys have played soccer and baseball, we've never needed to buy a pair of cleats.

Aaron's first soccer game of the season was this past Monday. Even in 100+ degree temps, he glows when I tell him it's time for his game. Kaleb's soccer season starts after Labor Day, and I am thankful for that. Otherwise I might have needed to be in 4 places at once the other day! :) He is doing really well in 6th grade, and I am proud of the way he's stepping up to his new responsibilities.

Derek and I are adjusting to his schedule, trying hard to find the good in it and not focus on the bad. We might not have a lot of family time on the weekends like we used to, but he and I have some days together while the kids are in school. Today we did exciting things like: defrost the freezers and stock them full of our 1/4 side of beef. I have high hopes that this winter we will clean out our storage room...maybe even the attic? Derek really enjoys taking Aaron to school in the morning. He is intentional about soaking up these moments with our youngest son, since he missed them with the others.

The rest of our days in August have been filled with everyday things like mowing lawns, playing frisbee, and attending birthday parties. A group of friends treated me to a birthday dinner one evening--which was no easy task when your birthday falls on one of the busiest weeks of the year. Turning 37 years old was pretty sweet. :)

I'll end this post with some pictures from our second half of August. Looking at these makes we wonder where our time went. We started the month feeling like summer would last forever, and end the month stepping in to our fall schedule!

Braylen and my dad--SO close! The pic on the computer is from May when we took a picture like this at my house. No, I didn't pose them like that on purpose!

Ready for the drive home. Grammy was at work--sorry we didn't get her in this picture!

I love my dad!

Playing frisbee with Dad and brothers

Silly Aaron and his mismatched socks, crocs, and sideways smile t-shirt!

Ginger wants to play frisbee too!

Aaron, our only elementary kid now. The theme for school this year is, "O, the places you'll go!"

I love this

Birthday gifts from my guys

Aaron wanted us all to have umbrellas in our ice cream cake. :)

Birthday Duo, 37 and 14

Traditional family picture by the cakes

Kaleb and Braylen walk together to school this year!

Ages & Stages

Another summer round trip, another round of August birthdays, another first day of school...we have been busy bees. :) The kids and I traveled to my parents' house for a quick visit to celebrate my Grandma's 90th birthday. Derek stayed behind to work and put up a backsplash in the kitchen. He tells me it was lots of work, and I believe him. But to me--it magically appeared while I was gone. :) Thank you sweetie. It looks fabulous!

A glimpse of my new backsplash while I hold my birthday breakfast: a latte and blueberry twist donut!

Driving over 1200 miles with my children was uneventful, and that is just the way I like it. No car trouble, no health issues, no safety problems. We felt protected and provided for on the road, thanks to many prayers said on our behalf. This is the third summer I have done this, and while I prefer to have Derek join us for these trips, I am thankful for the memories the kids and I have made on our adventures.

Grandma wore a crown that says, "Birthday Queen." Yes, Braylen photo bombed my picture!

Braylen turned 14 while we were on vacation. I think this is his first birthday away from home. My dad took him to an auto museum and shopping for the entire day. No, he did not buy him a car! :) He did let him pick out some new clothes, a belt, and a bike speedometer. Most of all, he spent all day making memories with Braylen. I can't thank him enough for that. Mom and I took Kaleb and Aaron to a park on the Fox River. Of course the boys loved throwing rocks and logs into the water. And unlike the river near our house, this river was full of rushing water. We also walked to a 9/11 memorial where we saw a beam from one of the twin towers on display. Kaleb and Aaron were not born when 9/11 happened, but they get the significance of it. This memorial is near the former site of our fire station's water fights every summer. Remember those, Eric? I can still hear the barrel bouncing around the court as the firemen sprayed it with their hoses.

Walking to the river

A fun park

Kaleb and Aaron posing for me.

Such a pretty down town park

I love my mom!

At the 9/11 memorial

For his birthday supper, Braylen thought Giordano's pizza sounded good. Awesome choice! We ate our pizza while watching "Return of the Jedi." Angel food cake and vanilla cupcakes completed our birthday celebration, along with a pile of presents of course! We chatted with my brother and nephew on Skype while Braylen opened his gifts. Braylen received a new camera lens from his aunt and uncle and grandparents, which took him by surprise. He LOVES his new lens and has had fun taking pictures all over the place. When Braylen told me his choice of birthday cake, he called it a fruit cake. If he only knew how different angel food cake is from fruit cake, he would not make that mistake again! :) I think this was a special birthday for Braylen. He will always remember he turned 14 at his Grammy and Grampy's house.

Braylen's pile of presents

Kaleb bought him an underwater camera. Try explaining a disposable FILM camera to kids these days. It's nearly impossible to describe.

Derek sent along a note for Braylen, promising an upcoming camping/fishing trip.

Me and my fellas

Skype session!

14 candles

14 years old. 8th grade. My boy is growing up. Kaleb's first day of 6th grade was Wednesday. Aaron is a big 3rd grader this year. I feel like I'm holding on to their elementary years by my fingertips and it's about to slip out from my grasp. It already feels different just having one child at Meadowlark. Strangely enough, I feel okay with that. Our boys are moving through the ages and stages of life like they should be. And I have been given a peace that passes understanding as I walk through these stages with them. Thank you, Lord, for my growing boys.

First day of school: August 15th, 2013

End of Summer Already?

With school starting on August 14th, which seems way too early to me, here we are at the end of summer already. These past two weeks have been a great mix of lazy days and busy days. When Kaleb came home from Colorado, we had one glorious open week. Then we had a week filled with band camps, medical check-ups, and friends. Perfect. :)

The County Fair happened to fall during our free, open week this summer. Grandma treated the kids to a day at the fair, while Braylen and Derek went on a 10 mile bike ride. Instead of the usual sweltering temps, we were blessed with mild weather and lots of sunshine. The guys had a fun bike ride, and the rest of us had lots of fun at the fair!

2 years ago Aaron was so sad to be too short for bumper cars. Last year we missed the fair. This year he was tall enough! Hooray!

They are in the car on the left.

This ride is always a favorite.

Aaron rode all the way up, paused, and plunged down real fast! He said, "That was just too much for my body, Mom!"

Funnel cakes and sno cones

The goats always find a way to nibble on the kids' shorts.

Thank you Grandma for a fun day!

Along with the fair comes the annual demo derby. Sometimes in the middle of winter Aaron asks, "When is the demolition derby?" He says it's even better than fireworks, and he waits his whole life for it to get here. His exact words. :) This year we made it a boys night out--Derek and our boys, and a friend with his son. For 5 hours they soaked up all the smashing and crashing, and I hope it carries Aaron through until next summer!

Let's see, what else did we fill our days with? Kaleb golfed 9 holes for the first time. What a treat for his aunt's dad to take him golfing when he was here for a visit. The cooler weather means lots of tall grass--7 lawns a week get even harder when the grass decides to grow. Kaleb started learning how to play the trumpet at band camp, while Braylen learned his marching cadence in drum line camp. The rest of our fun is told in pictures.

Aaron and Daddy tried to make a bouncy ball. It ended up being more like a putty ball. :)

We made jello jigglers in a "Monsters University" mold and they turned out great!

We've had several fires in our fire ring. S'mores too, of course.

Kaleb dressed up his cup at treat time. He and Braylen also taped googly eyes to their own closed eyelids. We laughed and laughed at how silly they looked!

Our new trumpet player!

After begging for KFC forever, Derek treated Aaron to lunch. Finger lickin' good! :)

Our good friends Shawn and Rebekah came over one day. The kids swam in the pool while the adults caught up on each other's lives. We grilled out and had a great night together. Yesterday the kids and I met up with some friends at a water park for our annual end-of-summer-swim day. Just in time, too, since today is cloudy and in the 60's. We are very blessed with these friendships and I just can't express how much I treasure them. :)

This morning I read a quote on facebook that really hit home. As we wind up summer and look towards the fall, new things pull us in many different directions. Some good things, some hard things. It can be overwhelming, for sure. Anyway, this is what I read: "Stop the glorification of busy." It is so true. We feed off of others' busy lives, comparing ours with theirs to see if we measure up. But really, what are we accomplishing by doing that? More stress? Less time enjoying our family? The feeling of doing it all? Just some things I'm thinking about as we turn the calendar page to August. I read this verse last night and I think it perfectly wraps up this post.

Isaiah 30:15a For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, "In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength."