6 years. How did that happen? Starting again is much harder than the starting first time. Why is that? Shouldn't it be easier the second time around? Oh well, here goes.
Just like in the beginning, I'm not sure what I'll write about, but with life being what it is, I'm sure I'll think of something. The experience of feeding my mother's animals and getting the goat's head out of the fence while Coy attempted to chase the pig back into its pen while instead the pig chased him, would have been a fun one to write. Or when Cade "bruised the bone" in his wrist (pretty sure it was broken) while dressed as a cheerleader, complete with wig and rather large rice breasts stuffed into a hot pink bra.
So very much has happened in the last 6 years that I won't even attempt to catch up on all of it. Those sweet, cute, smiling boys in that picture to the left? They're 6 years older now. 10, 13, and 16(!) to be exact. And that is pretty much the last picture I have of all 3 of them together (and getting that one was torture). My boys are notorious for hating to have their photo taken, and all 3? Forget it. I quit devoting too much energy to it a long time ago. It's one of those things that I wish was different, but for my sanity, I've decided it is what it is.(Kind of like giving up on the house that is clean to magazine or Pinterest standards). Sure, I still get First Day of School pictures and the like, relying heavily on threats, but they usually leave a lot to be desired.
Speaking of Pinterest--it wasn't even a thing (that I knew of, anyway) the last time I wrote a blog, and I had just recently joined the world of Facebook. Hard to believe! Lots of things are different, but oh so many are still much the same. Boys are still boys, and the fun, laughter, and work never ends.
A run down:
As I'm typing this, Cade is cleaning up the mess that is his VEX Robot. He has spent the last 6 1/2 hours on the living room floor rebuilding the intake for his competition "bot" to have it ready to go for the competition next weekend in Tyler. He competed in VEX the last 2 weekends. First in Flower Mound (Dallas) and then Houston. The boy never stops. 2 days before he was in Dallas, he was in Austin competing in State UIL Congress. 2 days before that, he had a Congress "practice" meet. The week before that? Persuasive Speaking practice meet. Last Thursday was the first Powerlifting meet of the season. This morning he was at KFDM for Channel 6 Challenge. As a sophomore, he was an alternate this year, learning the ropes for next year. Oh, and the week before Christmas and New Year's, during "break," he completed the workday portion of his Eagle Scout Project. Thanksgiving "break" was NYLT at Camp Urland. In October he attended his "Ordeal" weekend for Order of the Arrow. UIL "Season" is just getting kicked off and will continue through April for Regionals, and end of May should he advance to State. Sometime this Spring will be Drum Major tryouts, which he's decided he would like to do. Tired yet? Throughout all of this, he manages to maintain 1st in his class, and Student Council Officer responsibilities, not to mention a girlfriend(?!). And guess who is still driving him around to all of this. Yep. He's basically too busy to get his license. I don't mind, really, because it's one less thing to stress me out.
Coy just fell asleep next to me on the couch, with sunglasses on his face. An all nighter at your friend's house will do that to you. He also spent all afternoon/evening everyday last week at a teammate's house working on his Lego Robot for his first year of Robotics Competition. My boys don't always remember to turn off the stove, or wash their dishes, but they can sure build a robot! During that week of robots, this Mom learned yet again how much easier life is when you're coordinating with 3 other Moms that are amazing. It makes all the difference in those late nights and needing to be 3 places at once while the kids cram in last minute building and programming. Coy has also been busy with Student Council and honors classes and UIL this year. He started percussion last year and LOVES it! He's quickly working his way through the ranks in BSA, which makes us so very proud of the hard working young man he's becoming. He had a great time at NYLT in November, and even enjoyed his "Ordeal" for Order of the Arrow in October. I should have been keeping the blog current when Coy broke off his two front teeth with PVC and a drum stick. Or when he got pneumonia in Lubbock, TX during our month long Colorado vacation. Or when he fell off the monkey bars at South Toledo Bend SP during Spring Break and broke his humerus on his growth plate. Thank goodness for health insurance!
Kyler. Oh Kyler, the baby of the family. He's super sweet, very smart, and never in a hurry. This year I've been a den leader for his Webelo Scout troop and we've had fun together. First Aid, Outdoor Cooking, Hikes, and this week, Pinewood Derby! He still loves working with Legos, is obsessed with all things guns, and still wants to be a gunsmith when he grows up. Homework is no fun for either of us this year. They work non-stop at school all day, without recess, and PE only 2 days a week, then home to homework. 4th grade is no longer easy, and it's just as hard for the kids.
Dennis just made his 21st year with Beaumont FD, and couldn't be happier. He has a great crew of guys that make him truly look forward to going to work. He still says it's the "greatest job in the world." This past October he responded with his Wildland Firefighting Team and Texas Forest Service for a week to help protect homes during the Bastrop Wildfires. He loved it! Of course, he was also with a fantastic crew then, which makes me worry much less. Having a husband who thoroughly loves his work makes all of our lives more pleasant.
Me? When Kyler started 1st grade I decided staying home with "nothing" to do was making me crazy, so I started as a substitute teacher at the elementary. I love it! I'm still a proud mini-van driving Mama that wonders why these kids feel the need to eat, Every. Single. Day. But, eat they do, so cook, I do. They also produce an insane amount of laundry, and I'm always behind on cleaning. I've learned not to feel too guilty about saying "No" to commitments, but there are still plenty. I'm tired about half the time, but it's a different tired now that they're older.
This August, we started remodeling our kitchen, meaning half the house. It had been put off for far too long. Mostly because we knew what a job it would be. Took out a bar/half wall, which meant adding a load bearing beam. Replaced the dining room window, which entailed rebuilding most of that exterior wall. Rewired the whole house. Yep, everything from the meter to each individual outlet and light fixture. Fun. New cabinets, countertops, sink, etc. We kept really good momentum for several months, but the holidays slowed us down. Not much has happened in January, because well, its January, and I never get anything done in January. We still have painting and about 12 miles of trim work to do, along with under cabinet lighting. Then the floors need to be sanded and refinished, after the new floor is extended into the living room. Then, then, then. . .the list is endless, and continues to the rest of the house, mostly on the exterior.
I'm also currently planning this Summer's vacation. In November 2011 we bought a used 5th wheel trailer, and in Summer 2012 took our first big trip. For 4 Summers we've spent lots of time as a family traveling for several weeks at a time. Last Summer we took it easy, and only spent 2 weeks in the Texas Hill Country. I'm disappointed that I didn't keep the blog up to date during those Summers, but, this year we're gearing back up for another spectacular trip. I'll have to put together a separate post about the travels we've already done. I've already rambled enough for this one.
Whew! How's that for a first post back? Now that it's sort of up to date, I can pop in whenever and share whatever comes to mind. Hopefully that won't take another 6 years, but no promises. Sarah
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