Funny Boy & Updates

The other day I heard Aaron say, "Can I help you make supper?" It was music to my ears. :) This growing up and separating from Mom thing is not fun for me. This morning I read a blog post on Facebook that called this process "1,000 tiny breakups." So true! When he offered to help me that evening, it made my night.

He opened soup cans, stirred chicken broth, mixed up the casserole, and sprinkled chow mien noodles and slivered almonds on top. And if that sounds like a lovely time, it was. But here's what ELSE it sounded like.

As he stirred the ingredients together in the mixing bowl, he said, "It looks like lumpy barf. At least it doesn't have dirt in it."

He makes me laugh, that boy. :)

After I fixed lunch last weekend, Aaron looked in the sink and said, "You have dead butterflies in your sink, Mom." I replied with, "That's a new one!" I had no idea what he could possibly be talking about. Turns out the strawberry leaves I trimmed off the strawberries swirled around in the sink looking like dead butterflies. Ooookay!

One more kitchen funny. :) Last week Aaron asked me if we had any banana bread left. I told him I didn't make any banana bread. He said, "Yes you did! You put some in my lunch today." I said, "No, I didn't. I don't have any banana bread." I was confused. He was confused. Then it clicked with me. Earlier in the week I made monkey bread for one of our snow days. When I asked him if he meant monkey bread he said, "Oh yeah, I get those mixed up. Monkeys like bananas, you know?" Never mind the fact that monkey bread and banana bread are totally different... :)

Speaking of the snow day, we had two snow days last week for our 3-4 inches of snow. Since it's the most snow we've had all year, we'll take it! The kids played outside a LOT. We went sledding with their cousins. The boys took turns driving the 4-wheeler to plow the driveway, our neighbors' driveways, and the street, so the mail truck could deliver mail. They also pulled each other on sleds in a field near our house. At one point Aaron spent 2 hours outside building his fort and shoveling snow. He came to the front door and told me he needed to come inside to "hot off." We both laughed at his word mix-up, how he mixed up "cool off" with "warm up." :)

This post has been all about Aaron, but there's more going on with the rest of us, too. Derek is back on day shift this week after making it through 4 months of nights. Yippee! We all made it through those months of nights. Braylen started running after school at the beginning of this semester, getting in shape for track season. He's lifting weights twice a week in strength class and training with the varsity track coach, running anywhere from 2-5 miles every day. He's been having some knee pain, which is most likely related to a medication he's currently taking. We're taking it day by day, and are really proud of his work ethic and dedication. Tonight is his last time playing in the pep band this school year, bringing an end to another busy band season. I've been selling concessions during basketball games to earn money for Braylen's student account. In May 2016 he'll be traveling with the band to NYC and Philadelphia, so I'm doing what I can to offset the cost of that trip. It's kind of fun to work concessions while Derek's working the game and Braylen's playing in the pep band. Kaleb and Aaron keep each other company in the bleachers, and sometimes Grandma and Grandpa join them. :) Winter has been fun for us.

Kaleb and Aaron used their Christmas money from my grandma to play sports this winter. Kaleb's playing racquetball every Saturday, and Aaron's on a basketball team. Both of them are having fun and staying active, so it's a win-win. I think that's about all the happenings going on around here. This afternoon I'm making my annual Valentine heart cookies for my valentines. (A quadruple batch!) This year they're each getting their own stash of cookies. That way there's no arguing about who gets the last cookie, and no accusations of, "He had way more cookies than I did."

I'm a slow learner, but I love my guys! All 4 of them. :)

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

The phrase from a version of this well known hymn keeps running through my mind today. "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and watch the world grow dim standing next to Him, in the Light of His Glory and Grace." 

Another version says it this way. "When I fix my eyes on all that You are, then every doubt I feel deep in my heart grows strangely dim. All my worries fade and fall to the ground, cuz when I seek Your face and don't look around, any place I'm in grows strangely dim."

Dropping my kids off at school is such an everyday thing. I'm usually focused on the clock and on the traffic, getting all 3 kids to their 3 schools, and sending them off with my usual, "I love you. Have a great day!" Today I noticed a bit more.

At Aaron's school, his principal stands there at the curb with a watchful eye. He does all he can to make sure the kids are safe and the parents obey the drop off rules. The kids are so cute with their big backpacks and little bodies. My next stop is the high school, where there is no watchful eye. A cluster of kids stood across the street sharing a joint, a girl hung on a guy, teenagers were driving like teenagers--what a difference a few years make. The middle school is pretty much in the middle--a mixture of elementary school "innocence" and the high school "culture."

Driving this route, and seeing the way things go as kids grow up, saddened me today. It's no surprise, and it's nothing new or earth-shattering. But it reminded me of a few simple truths. 

There will always be choices set before us--before me, before my kids, before my husband. The challenge is to focus not on what is around me, but what is before me. It's easy to be filled with worry and fear when I look around at all that's unraveling around me. Instead, I want to turn my eyes ahead of me and keep them fixed on Jesus. He alone keeps me from sinking into the deep waters. He keeps my path straight and moving forward. To live with this eternal perspective fills me with hope, not with fear, and the junk of this world grows strangely dim. 

Derek and I have raised our boys with this same eternal perspective. Everything is about Jesus Christ. See those kids skipping school to do drugs? Let it grow dim and focus on what's before you--like getting to class. Someone wants you to do something you know is wrong? Walk away and keep your eyes fixed on all that Jesus is, all that you know is good and true and everlasting. 

When I drop my sons off at school, I send them into those buildings equipped to make their own decisions, whatever the consequences may be. They are growing up and will be on their own sooner than I'd like to think! 

One more thing--I texted Derek about those kids smoking this morning. Yep, he went over there and busted them for it. I think we make a pretty good team, in parenting and in life. :)

Photo Recap from 2014

***Lots and lots of pictures in this post!***

We moved our computer downstairs, since I'm usually the only person who uses it. The kids have laptops and iPods. A desktop is so ancient history. :)

I LOVE having it out of the living room. It's even inspired me to turn our basement into more of a family room...and less of a "I don't know where to put it, so just put it downstairs" kind of room. I expect this project to take me all winter to complete. That being said, with the computer out of sight and out of mind, I don't think of downloading the camera very often.

Wow, did I find some really good pictures on it! I have a few from the wedding in San Diego last summer, some from Kaleb's birthday, and a bunch from Christmas. Here goes!

These first two pictures are kind of neat. My mom is standing with her siblings and they are arranged by birth order. I'll call them the Fabulous Four. The next picture is each of the Fabulous Four's firstborn children. Interestingly enough, the boys had boys first, while the girls had girls first.

Uncle Wally, my mom, Uncle Rick, Aunt Susan.
Siblings

Nicholas, Me, Daniel, Katherine.
Cousins

 We look just like our parents, don't you think? :) Ha ha!

Katherine and I with our five boy cousins. We're only missing my brother and her brother in this picture.
My Aaron is the cutest of the bunch! :)

I realize Kaleb's birthday was almost two months ago. Nevertheless, here's the official 13 year old picture. :)

Aaron made Kaleb a bracelet

Kaleb is wearing Ginger's new Christmas collar cover from Grammy.

Bracelet #2 from Aaron

 Here are a few pictures from our Christmas at home...before our big trip to Illinois!

Kaleb put the star on the tree this year.

Christmas Eve, ready to open their presents from San Diego aunt & uncle

Christmas morning! Braylen's wearing his new shirt that he opened Christmas Eve.

Who says a 13 year old boy won't love a stuffed Minoin? Kaleb named it Kevin!

He loves his new Husker shirt.

Derek & Aaron received new ping pong paddles for Christmas.
They love to play together. :)

Family Christmas 2014

On December 26th, we took off for Illinois! We only stopped twice and the trip flew by, thanks to a really good audio book we all loved. Mom, Dad, Eric, Amber, and Will were all waiting up for us. It felt so good to be all together at home! Most of these pictures are from Eric. We've designated him as our family photographer.

Will loves Kaleb right away.

Braylen & Kaleb's turn to get new ping pong paddles.

My dad and his new book :)

Thanks Uncle Eric for the Lions hat!

Thanks Mom, for my new hat! :)

My cousin Kristy on my dad's side has a little boy named Julian, and they came over one evening with my grandma, aunt, uncle, and cousin Joe. It was fun to watch Julian and Will play side by side. They are not at the age where they play together just yet.

My grandma with all 5 of her great grandsons: Aaron, Will, Julian, Kaleb, & Braylen.

This picture is too cute not to post.

Will loves trains, so Kaleb played with a lot of trains this week.

Aaron played with Will a lot too. 

Playing Monopoly with Daddy
This is my least favorite game, so I'm glad these two can play it without me!

Another day we visited my mom's side of the family. Katherine, you are in this post TWICE! :)

We are 10 years apart but close in ways that count!
Katherine needs to come see us in Nebraska...

Brendan & Eric, our brothers missing from the San Diego picture.
Good to know we were all together in 2014 one way or another!

The 5 girls in these families.

The 9 boys in these families.

Back at Mom and Dad's house for the rest of our week, we kept busy and had plenty of down time too. I can't believe we only played one game of Clue, but since I won, why play another? ;) Kaleb and Aaron played lots and lots of rummy. Eric taught us two new card games. For the record, I do NOT win at card games. But I still like to play them. We went to a studio for family pictures, We spent a day at the Y swimming, exercising, and playing basketball. We even took Kaleb and Aaron to an indoor trampoline playground. It was a really special visit.

Me and my one and only brother :)

Ginger Girl, all ears and nose in this picture :)

Kaleb

Aaron

It's hard to know when the last time comes for something. I bet the "lasts" go by without me noticing it. The last time I picked Braylen up. The last time Kaleb held my hand in a parking lot. The last time I snuggled with Aaron at bedtime. Those everyday moments end, and one day I'm left thinking, "I didn't even know it was my last time to do that..."

Aaron and my mom have used my old easy bake oven just about every time we visit. It's the first thing he looks for. This time he didn't ask about it until the end of our week together. It makes me wonder if this is the last time he will ask to do this with Grammy. Brings a tear to my eye...

Cuddles with Kaleb

Playing cards on New Year's Eve

Aaron wanted to beat me at Connect 4--it took until the best of 7 games for him to do so. :)

Ready to ring in the new year with ice cream fondue balls and...

...party horns!!!

All too soon, our week in Illinois came to an end. We took a few last pictures and loaded up for the trip home.

So cute in their "dorm" room

Merry Christmas 2014 & Happy New Year 2015!!!

Wow, that was a LOT of pictures!!!

Time for Something New

I love this blog. When I look back through the years and read some of my posts, I realize that without funwithoursons, I would have forgotten so many things. My kids were little when I started writing here. They've been growing up right in front of me, and I'm so glad I have these written accounts of our memories. Just tonight Braylen stood face to face with Derek and said, "You don't seem all that tall anymore, Dad." Growing up, indeed.

Our experiences as a family inspired me as a writer. Many times I would feel restless and unsettled until I wrote about an event, a memory, or a lesson learned. Once I wrote it all out, peace would come. My family still inspires me, and I plan to keep this blog up and running. But I have to admit, I'm not drawn to these pages as often as I used to be. 

Tonight I read an article online that really spoke to me. The author spoke of the seasons of our lives. I started this blog in the "spring" season of my family's life. I was a young wife, young mom, with young kids. Keeping up with our daily happenings was really important to me then. When kids are little and mom's stretched thin, it better get written down or else it didn't happen! I miss those years, now that they're gone. 

Lately I feel like I'm in my "summer" season. I'm in the zone of driving to 3 schools multiple times a day (or night!), managing everyone's schedules, and racking my brain to help with homework beyond my ability. I'm trying really hard to "be all there." 

So, when something big comes along, or when something meaningful happens in our family, and I get that tingly urge to write it out--I will.

Here's where I get to the part where it's time for something new.

I have a new blog. It's not about raising our sons. It's about being a police wife.

I'm still finding my way through this process. I don't know why I'm writing it--I just feel better after I've done it. I don't use names or locations in that blog, because I need it to be a safe place for me to write about what I know, without sharing the wrong kind of information. I can't tie it to funwithoursons at all. Is being a police wife something people want to read about? Maybe, maybe not, I don't know. But that is where my heart is at. It's what keeps me restless and unsettled--until I write it out. Then peace comes.

Here's to 2015--a year I want to embrace and be all there for. A year to remember. :)