16 candles for our son

Braylen is 16 today--16!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's worth 16 exclamation points. :) And 16 candles.

I made his favorite breakfast (French toast) before anyone else was awake. It just so happens to be my favorite, too.

All day I felt like today was such a gift. In the middle of a very busy back-to-school time, this calendar day was completely open. No band camp. No work. No school. A gift.

After a laid back morning, the 5 of us piled into the Honda to take Braylen to get his driver's license. I also needed to renew mine, so that worked out pretty well! We stood there together, Braylen and I, taking our pictures and signing our names. Aaron didn't understand what was going on and asked me why I was getting my license. Didn't I already have one? :)

Braylen drove us to our insurance agent where we handed over the required documents in order to add him to our policy. Cha-ching! When we got back in the car, Derek told Braylen that we (Derek and I) were going to walk home, and he was free to drive his brothers around and visit Grandma, Aunt Pam, and cousins. In that moment it really sunk in for Kaleb and Aaron--Braylen can drive without Mom and Dad! They drove off and we walked 2.5 miles home. I loved that time with Derek. Facing these new seasons together is kind of exciting. In fact, I was not emotional or teary eyed or anything. My overwhelming emotion of the day was excitement. I think it's because Braylen is so ready for this next stage. Why be sad when all I see from him is happiness?

This is right before their first ride together.

Braylen opened his gifts after lunch. My favorite part of this time was watching Kaleb and Aaron give him their gifts. They came up with their own ideas this year, which I think is a first. Kaleb bought him a new case for his iPod Touch, which I would have never thought of. But Braylen was VERY happy, and truly thankful to Kaleb. Aaron bought him a lanyard for his keys, which he immediately put to good use. Again, a very thoughtful, useful gift!

Best friends forever

Best friends forever

Derek picked up some gifts this year--car related, of course! :) A towel to dry the car after he washes it, and a decal for the window. Since I've been the primary gift-buyer for our entire life as parents, I really loved watching Derek buy a few things for Braylen. To a 16 year old boy, they mean more coming from Dad, and I'm okay with that.

Yes, I picked out his water bottle. But I had more good gifts, too!
They just didn't make it in the picture. ;)

All 3 boys washed the car together on this beautiful summer day. Braylen put his new decals in the window and his Colts license plate frame on the back plate. He took Derek's things out of the car and put his own items inside. This car is ours, for Braylen to use, until Kaleb needs to learn how to drive. At that point we will help Braylen buy his own car. (By "help," I mean a small percentage will be our money--the bulk of the cost will be his!) This just seems to be a good fit for our family right now, and a responsible financial decision.

One of the most important things we did today was create a driving contract for Braylen to sign. Derek found examples online, and used those to create a unique contract for our family. He also wrote some of his own ideas in it. He put a lot of hours into it and I'm very thankful he did. This helps us set boundaries and rules, allowing Braylen to safely find new freedom. As Derek wisely stated, Braylen is gaining freedom--but he is not independent!

Writing the driving contract

We had an early supper, since Kaleb had somewhere to go and Braylen wanted to take him there. Bacon cheddar burgers, tater tots, sweet corn, and fruit salad were Braylen's choices for tonight. A perfect summer meal!

Braylen took Kaleb to his friend's house after supper, and then took himself to an FCA planning meeting. We even let him pick up his friend Hunter. Yikes! A brand new world!

So, 16 year old son, here we go. Dad and I are new at this. We've never had a 16 year old before. I'm sure we'll make mistakes. I hope we get some things right. We remember what it was like to be 16, but we are looking at those years now through parental eyes. That means there will be decisions we make that you won't always agree with. All we ask is for you to follow our lead, and we promise to do our best, with God's help, to lead you on the path towards becoming an independent young man. One with many freedoms, yielded to the direction and guidance of our God who numbers every hair on your head.You are greatly loved, my dear boy, and never forget that your mother will always see a glimpse of the little boy you once were in the young man you are becoming.

Happy 16th Birthday, my son. I love you, Mom.

My Busiest Day

Summer break with our kids has been a wonderful mix of fun, relaxation, vacations, activities, and bonding. Sprinkle in plenty of arguing, irritations, short tempers, and exhaustion--and you have a realistic description of our summer!

One week from today Braylen turns 16, and while I haven't downloaded any pictures since our Black Hills vacation in June, I feel compelled to mark this day in time. One of the things on my to-do list is, "Call insurance agent and put Braylen on our car insurance." It's surreal, it really is. Most days I feel like I'm riding the rapids in one of those rafts that can catapult you overboard at any moment. I don't feel very secure, or very safe, in this raging river of parenting teenagers. And so I hang on. It's also why I don't blog much anymore. I really am doing all I can to keep afloat.

Which brings me to my busiest day. Packing for vacation and getting the house ready to leave is always a crazy time, but everything I did yesterday seems WAY more burdensome than that. I didn't think that could be possible. Someday I will look back and wonder what kept me so busy while my kids were 15, 13, and 11. Well, here's the answer. For one day at least.

I woke up and made a lunch for Braylen at band camp.
Started laundry.
Took him to band at 7:40.
So glad Kaleb can walk to and from his band camp.
Paid a credit card bill just in time.
Updated checkbook, since it had been too long...
Mowed 3 lawns with Aaron and Derek. Took us until noon to finish.
Showered, hallelujah!
Did more laundry.
Fixed lunch for kids and me.
Made a menu and grocery list.
Shopped at Walmart.
Put cold groceries away.
Picked up Braylen from band camp.
Took Kaleb to clinic for a cough.
Fixed supper.
Put rest of groceries away.
Did more laundry.
Picked up Kaleb's medicine, and groceries I forgot earlier.
Baked 4 dozen muffins for band camp snacks.
Did more laundry.
Walked the dog with Kaleb.
Vacuumed entire upstairs.
Did more laundry.
Cut Kaleb's hair since he has school pictures the next day--yikes!
Tried to renew library books at 10:30 PM. Not renewable, darn!
Tackled email and replied to several timely requests since there's a birthday coming up.
Did more laundry.
Asked Derek to pick up library books and drop them off during his night shift. Yeah!
Wrapped up cooled muffins for band camp.
At midnight I finally put my sheets on my bed. Derek helped me, since he came home to pick up library books.
Decided I could put several things off until the morning and collapsed into bed wondering if anything I did today mattered, or was I just consumed with busy tasks?

Back to today. It's time to go pick up Braylen. A week from now he'll be bringing himself to and from all of his activities. Maybe it's not so bad to add him to our car insurance? :)

It's Been a Long Time

Wow, it's July already! School is a distant memory, and summer is already slipping through our grasp. We've traveled to the Black Hills, mowed lots of lawns, had fun with fireworks, stayed up really late, been boating and fishing, completed summer PE, celebrated 18 years of marriage, volunteered as a camp counselor, and walked many miles with friends very early in the morning--not in that order! Currently Braylen is taking Driver's Education and we're all adjusting to Derek's shift change, and July holds more summer fun that will go by too fast. It always does.

Highlights from the second half of May...

Last day of 9th, 7th, and 4th grades

Braylen's birds before...

...and after!

Playing games with  the family

"Working" with GoPro videos

Memorial Day Weekend at the lake

Where's Braylen? In the tree!

Kaleb flying his kite

Aaron with his Minion kite

So, what's different for us this summer? Aaron is craving more independence. He wants us to treat him like the older boy he is becoming. Yes, that is hard for me to do. What his brothers did at his age looks different than what he's doing now, and I'm working on that. Kaleb still works out his middle position in the brotherhood pretty well, but I hear him say how much he misses Braylen when he's not around. Which brings me to Braylen. He's a busy guy, and he never complains about getting up early to work, attend PE, or Driver's Ed. I admire him for that. When given the chance, he will sleep in like his brothers, and sometimes they don't stir until 10 or 11 AM. Ah, summer. :)

Some moments from June 1-16

Aaron & Derek

Braylen & Kaleb, fishing buddies

I love having more help around the house in the summer.

Dad still wins :)

Go Aaron!

I love Kaleb's face here.

Derek had a visitor one morning in his Cruiser. 

When a strawberry truck crashes, look what we get!

They keep getting bigger, or is Big Mable shrinking?

Playtime

Kaleb and Aaron's haul after fishing with Grandma and Grandpa!

Getting the camper ready for the Black Hills

Working with wood while I pack up the food for our vacation.
I think they were making a birdhouse here.

The pool is up before our trip!

Brothers

June 17th we left for our camping trip in the Black Hills, which I hope to capture in another post. Someday. Meanwhile I will try to soak up all the summer moments I can. Maybe I can find some time to rest? I think if someone asked me to pick three words to describe my life with my kids right now, I would say, "Busy, tiring, and exciting." I guess I can rest later!

Life Goes On

Well, so much for writing about our spring break trip to Colorado. School is ending this week and we are caught up in the whirlwind of May activities. Saying that it happened, and that we had a great time celebrating family ties and relationships, will have to be enough. Derek and Braylen made lots of memories snowmobiling with the guys in our family, while the rest of us hiked at Garden of the Gods, explored the Air Force Academy, and enjoyed good food at Red Robin and Chick-fil-a. The cousins made a game out of counting slug bugs, PT Cruisers, and Smart Cars. It continues to this day!

My parents packed up and moved away this month, leaving Illinois behind for a new stage of their life. Before the big move, they came here for a visit. We squeezed in a track meet and my dad's 64th birthday, along with basketball games in the driveway and Snoopy Sno Cones made my Kaleb and Grammy. 

When it was time for my parents to drive home to Illinois, I went with them. For a few days it was just me, Mom, Dad, and Eric at home together. I called it my goodbye tour of where I grew up. We ate at our favorite restaurants, visited our high school, walked through the mall, attended church at FVBC, and spent an afternoon with my grandma and extended family. I got together with some special friends one evening, lifelong friends of mine, and came away feeling incredibly blessed to have these women in my life. Eric and I helped Mom and Dad pack, and I tried to wrap my mind around the fact that 37 years in this house was ending. Leaving this place I've always called home, and saying goodbye to a part of my life I will never have again, wasn't easy. "Do the next thing" became my motto this spring, along with lots of prayers! The time I spent with my family during those days is a gift, really. I'll treasure it always.

Giordano's!

All together at church

I spent countless hours in this gym growing up.

My sweet grandma and me :)

Fradillio's!

Jacobs High School

Remembering Station 1 on the Fox River

The only original piece of playground equipment left from Eastview.
In the background are the T-ball fields.

Goodbye #13

Derek met me at the airport, and just like that--I was back in the reality of my present life. :) We had the May whirlwind in front of us, which brings me to today. 

DQ after Kaleb's band concert

Aaron at the Trails & Rails field trip, my favorite one of all.
We made cornstalk angels as part of Pioneer Days.

Braylen keeps reminding me he's very glad to be done with his freshman year of high school. He'll soon be driving himself wherever he needs to go, which brings me a mixture of terror and relief. I'm trying to hold on to each day we have left of this stage of life, for I know it will be over in the blink of an eye.

Derek officially turned 40 last week, and honestly, I feel like I'm having an out of body experience. My parents moved states away, my son is on the brink of 16, my husband is 40--it feels like I'm observing someone else's life! 

Derek and his parents

Happy 40th Birthday with my Love!

This past week was National Police Week, and I wrote an article about what it's like to be a police officer's wife. Another web site posted it for me since I needed to keep my name off of it. If you saw it floating around Facebook, and wondered if it was mine, it is. :) Derek's mom helped me put up some blue ribbons around town, and the police wives did a fantastic job bringing food into the station for our officers all week. LESA (Law Enforcement Spouse Association) is being revived, so hopefully next year we will have an even bigger impact on our town. It would be wonderful for the community members to rally around the officers, but until they do, the wives will take care of it!

Summer "vacation" starts in 4 days and if only I could find a way to make it last and last...

And that's where I'm at right now. Living it out one day at a time. :)