I love FALL

Or as we know it here in Texas, less hot summer.  I'm not a fan of pumpkin spice or anything like that but I do like crisp mornings where you need a sweater (or in my case socks).  It is funny to watch the boys dress in the morning because I remember doing the same stuff when I was there age.  I didn't want to wear a jacket or pants (or socks) and I'm seeing them do stuff that I used to do like wear shorts and a sweatshirt or my favorite socks with sandals.  I know how to fight my battles and I know that it is either sweltering or freezing in the schools so I know they are doing their best.  They aren't into fashion anymore than I was at their ages so as long as they aren't getting sick, I let them be.  They'll figure it out when they grow up and move north where fall actually means freezing temperatures and snow.

I'm trying to get back into crafting after a long break.  I don't know really why I stopped, I know it happened when we moved to Korea and I can't explain what happened when people ask me why I stopped.  I think a lot of it is just that I was trying too hard to keep up with what everyone else was doing and it wasn't really my style and then I lost my style and my mojo.  So I am going back to my roots and my basics.  Simple layouts with pictures and words on them.  I don't know if it will stick but I hope that I can at least catch back up with all the pictures that I still haven't gotten into albums.  The last thing I want is to die one day and my kids only have a hard drive to remember all the stuff with did together.  I need to put things into albums for them to flip through and share with their families one day.

I know I said when it started that I wasn't going to get into the planner stuff but I broke down and bought the fitness planner in August and started using it to log my food and exercise when school started back up and I love it.  I love all the little stickers and stamps and decorating the pages.  So much that I now have a fitness planner, a menu planning planner, a recipe book and a budget planner. And I have a memory planner too but we'll see what I do with that once I figure out how to print out small photos.

44

So today is my 44th birthday.  I spent the day with the guys and they participated in their first shooting competition.  They borrowed a weapon from one of Darren's friends.  They did well for their first time.  It was fun to watch them.

Playing with Paper

None of these supplies are new, in fact they are probably as old as the photos (circa 2008).  I cut the honeycomb out with my Silhouette and added just bits and pieces from a box full of embellishments that I kept.

It felt good to play with paper again.

On turning 44.

So next Saturday is my birthday and I'll be 44 years old.  I don't know why but that seems old to me.  Like I still remember being my kids age and thinking that 44 year old people were old people and now I am one of them.

I think part of the reason I feel so old is my kids are getting older.  This past week, Ian spent at a JROTC cadet leadership camp.  He looks so grown up in his uniform and it scares me to think that I only have him to myself for so much more time and then he will be a grown up.

I mean seriously, stop growing up kid!!

I don't know that all the problems women my age have is hormonal.  I mean we just have so many emotions running through us all the time.  I'm proud of the people my kids are growing up to be but scared for them because the future is still uncertain and I want nothing but the best for them but I know I can't control everything and make it easy and perfect for them and I have to trust that I have done the right things for them when I can so that when they have to go out in to the world themselves they have the tools and smarts to make it all work out.  *deep breath*  Let's just say at almost 44, I cry a lot.

And because I don't want Evan to feel like I don't ever post pictures of him, here he is getting his star rank at our Boy Scout court of honor a couple of months ago.  I'm really proud of this kid too because he pretty much just does stuff on his own without us having to help him and he is SO SMART, I mean like crazy scary smart.  He wants to work for NASA building robots that will explore other planets and I have no doubt in my mind that if when he is done with college that is still what he wants to do that he will be doing it.

I've been getting the weird itch to scrapbook again.  I don't know if it is because my kids are growing up so fast and I still have so much to catch up on in scrapbook time but I might try it and just see what happens.  My problem is all the supplies and stuff that are out there now are so artsy and made for these layouts that use these tiny little photos instead of 4x6 photos that I have.  And have I told you I had to buy myself reading glasses this year so tiny prints isn't something I want to use!!  I'm going to pull out some paper and see what happens.  Maybe I can bring 4x6 back into vogue!

Last day in Dubuque

Before we went and had breakfast and then hit the road to head back home, I wanted to get a couple of pictures of the boys with my parents and also me and my parents.  I should have thought to get one with Sally and me with mom and dad on Thanksgiving day.  Next time!!

Happy Thanksgiving 2016

I ended up going home a week early to visit with my mom and dad because my dad was in the ICU for a couple of days because of some internal bleeding.  He's going to be fine and he was back home before I got there but it was nice to spend the time with my mom and dad and make sure that he was taking care of himself so he gets better.

It was also nice because I got to spend some extra time with my niece and nephew.  Evelyn and I went and saw the movie Fantastical Beasts and I taught 5 year Grey how to play chess or at least that in the rules it says that white always goes first (baby steps).

After Thanksgiving dinner once my boys were all there, we did a big family photo.  It is nice to see how the kids have changed over a year.

First Day of School 2016

Today is the first day of school.  We had to take pictures in the house because about five minutes before this picture the skies opened up and it was pouring outside.  Maybe tomorrow I can get a good outside picture.

Evan is in 6th grade this year and is hoping to be on the Student Council again.  He also wants to be a yearbook editor and on the robotics team.  He was asked by the school to be on the color guard and put the flag up and take it down every day at school, which he is really excited about.

And this one is in high school this year.  9th grade.  A freshman.  How the heck did that happen?  Wasn't he just learning how to read and tie his own shoes?  He gets to start the year wearing that super cool boot because of stress fracture in his foot and hopefully it won't slow him down too much. He is nervous about finding all his classes but as you can see, he is also ready to start high school.  He is in the JROTC and wants to be in their spirit club, rocket club, color guard and orienteering/land nav team.  He also signed up to be on the student council and chess club and the technology club.  He really is jumping in with both feet (HA HA one's in a boot though).

Zoo Day June 2016

I asked the boys what they wanted to do today and they picked going to the zoo!  It was a nice day there, we got there really early and had the place to ourselves to start with.  I loved watching the boys feed the fish and baby ducks and I also loved watching the hippos swim.

Pool Day

First time at the pool for the summer for the boys.  

Troop 343 61st Court of Honor

Evan was the stand in for our scribe and was very excited to get to light all the candles.

Evan earned Nuclear Science and Archery Merit Badges.

Ian earned Nuclear Science, Archery and Camping Merit Badges.

And Ian was re-elected to ASPL but this time in the programs role instead of Advancement.

Clemens High School Graduation 2016

So are part of graduation, all of the feeder schools send a representative and the principal to walk up their school banner at the beginning of graduation.  Evan was chosen to represent Wilder Intermediate School and he was so proud.  I loved watching him march his banner up!