If you give a girl a death trap

 A couple weeks ago I was sitting outside, drinking my coffee, in what has become my most sacred hour of the day, and I looked up to realize that our patio cover was looking a bit...tenuous. I love this patio cover even though it is old and rotted and when we bought the house, the only thing the owners actually offered to do was tear it down. It's rustic and it reminds me of an old southwest house where everything that comes out of the kitchen tastes like love. But also, a couple years ago a not unsubstantial portion of it fell in the exact same spot that my mom liked to spend her time. So I knew that it was coming. 

That afternoon, I mentioned to C that maybe it was time to pull it down. We've been spending so much time in the backyard, and it's pretty hillbilly to start with (see: the decrepit picnic table being used as a diving board that makes me involuntarily suck air anytime one of the boys steps on to it.) C then explained, in detail, what it would entail to take it down and as is our routine, I then got overwhelmed and decided that it would be in everyone's best interests to hire a professional. So I posted on our neighborhood page "Who can help me tear down this death trap?" and within minutes had multiple referrals. 

But of course! It wasn't just referrals to tear it down. Everyone wanted to bid to rebuild and then I started to feel sad that I wouldn't have any shade in the back yard for the foreseeable future. AND THEN. My pool guy texted to say he knew a guy. I love when people know a guy. 

Two weeks later, we're scheduled to have all the materials for a 280 sq foot, solid roof, faux wood patio cover with incorporated lights, fan, and outlets installed. We committed to a price that we ABSOLUTELY weren't planning on, but luckily I'm leaving my job (surprise for another post!) and my PTO cashout is almost exactly the same amount. So I guess Yay! for not being able to take time off for the last 18 months? And we're (mostly C and Eli) demo-ing the existing one ourselves because we wanted to save money. And I pulled apart the picnic table yesterday so our risk of tetanus is greatly reduced. 

I cannot wait to be able to sit outside in the rain and drink my coffee under a set of twinkle lights. My next task is to figure out what kind of furniture to put under this patio, since I took a saw and a sledge hammer to the majority of what we had. 

But picture a delightful rain falling, while I stay nice and dry

First Days

 I find myself less motivated to update this vintage blog, but at the same time I'm so grateful for it's existence and would be so sad to have it just... stop. I don't really know where I'm going to end up, but in the meantime I do want to capture big events for posterity. Big things like the first day of school! Last year was bittersweet, with everyone transitioning levels. What I didn't realize at the time though was that meant new beginnings for everyone this year. 

First day of 6th and 9th! Averson is thrilled to be their dad's sidekick finally, and it turns out that all of my concerns about moving to a bigger school with kids they didn't know was all for naught. Middle School suits this one quite a bit and they're making new friends almost daily. Sydney gets to ride to high school with Eli's girlfriend (a senior!) and with volleyball has jumped in with both feet. Both girls (and I) are thrilled that our district did away with dress codes this year. I love seeing how they both choose to express themselves. 

It felt weird to only have two kids on the porch, and even more so when Eli came down and asked why he wasn't in the shot. Poor kid was feeling left out so we selfied on the way out the door (him to a babysitting gig since his school didn't start for another week.) 

He started his college wrestling practice a couple weeks ago. It's a different beast, but I am so, so grateful that he's able to continue wrestling a bit longer. He came home from his first practice exhausted but also when I asked if he loved it, he said "I want to do it every day for the rest of my life." 

A week later he went off to his first day as a college freshman! And my sweet boy, who was thrilled to not have to be on campus until noon, asked the neighbor to take his picture for me. This kid. I'm loving watching all my friends on the socials moving their kids into dorms but I am also super grateful that he decided to stay at home another year. . 

T

Theater Kid

Averson decided this year that they wanted to try theater, after an awesome experience with the Fifth Grade play. Our local parks and rec partnered with a local theater company to do a camp, where at the end the kids would perform Madagascar Jr. Averson panicked a little about the auditions, since they included both singing and dancing, but ultimately they got several smaller roles. It was perfect! It was a nice mix of group time and solo time and they ROCKED IT. The performance was this weekend and I legit teared up watching everyone sing and dance during "Move It" (which was admittedly pretty discordant but what're you going to do.) The only way I can describe it though, is that it was like watching the light come on in her. Like all of the sudden she was exactly where she was meant to be. Poised and eloquent and with IMPECCABLE comedic timing, and surrounded by all these amazing little souls who saw and appreciated each other in a really beautiful way. We're all obsessed and now I guess I'm a stage mom. Didn't see that one on the parenting bingo card...

Lew the Lemur

Shout out to siblings who take pictures on the sly. This was Candy Hammernose, the news reporter, and she was HILARIOUS. Also, may have wanted to steal the dress

Such a sweet (and chaotic) group of kids!

 

Happy Father's Day!

We had such a fun Father's Day. It was easy and low key and we spent the whole day together, which is C's happy place. We started off by finally using an escape room gift card and despite my fears, we escaped AND we still liked each other on the other side! Then we treated C to a sushi lunch (big kids are the best!) and a couple hours at the arcade. It was the perfect way to celebrate the perfect dad

 

Everyone's promoting

It's so cliche, but I guess it's cliche because it's true, but man, it goes by quick. This year we had graduates at every level and it seems like it was just yesterday that I was sending these little peanuts off with their tiny backpacks and precious little lunch boxes. 

 

Onward and Upward! Graduation is Fantastic

 He did it! 

First Day/Last Day

First Day

Last Day

This week hasn't felt at all like I thought I would. I haven't had as many "my baby!" moments of nostalgia as I thought I would, but at the same time I'm mourning all the "lasts" right along side him. Last day of Fire Tech. Last lunch at school. Last time picking up his girlfriend in the morning. I want everything to be perfect and I know that's an unreasonable expectation but this kid deserves all the greatest that life has to offer. I'm just so proud of this kid and the amazing human he is. The world is just so, so lucky that he's in it.