Friday, May 26, 2017

May-cember 2017

♫♪♩Do you remember the
25th night of May-cember?...♫♬♪


I think I'm going to re-write September by Earth, Wind, and Fire, because someone has got to capitalize on the mayhem that ensues in the month of May. We have songs in December for the holidays! Why not for the end of the school year???

Here we are...playoffs, parties, and awards...OH MY!

Yesterday, we wrapped it up and put a BIG FAT bow on middle school for Sam and elementary school for Fulton. And Oliver is just along for the ride as he rounds out 2nd grade. Such a good sport as we dragged him to and from ceremonies and parties for his big brothers. Bless his heart!




There's a part of me that wants to be sappy and sentimental about their transitions. But I can't. Maybe it's new meds or maybe it's just that I am so damn glad to say that...
WE SURVIVED MIDDLE SCHOOL with our 1st CHILD. 
(Bold is not enough. I feel like that ^^^ should flash or something.)


During the address one of Sam's teacher's gave, they thanked the parents and said we couldn't do it without your support, carpooling, conferences, volunteering, etc. Shan and I looked at each other and added...all-nighters, counseling, alcoholism, near-divorce, money trees, loss of sleep, stomach ulcers, come to Jesus-es, blood, sweat, tears. All of it!

In the words of Clark Griswold..."Hallelujah! Holy Sh*t! Where's the Tylenol?" I realize we've got two more to go, but when you know what to expect, it's bound to be less painful. Right?

Everything about middle school is so awkward. I guess that's why there are countless books and TV shows on the topic.

I think (pray) that high school will be much different for Sam. I love the person he is becoming and know that he will make himself and us proud. His sweet, quiet nature, atypical learning style, and his confused mother are often a train wreck in a tornado when mixed, and might have something to do with our middle school experience. But we do the best we can...teaching each other as we go. And it's gone by super fast. I mean it truly feels like yesterday that I wrote this post. I can hear and feel the words I typed that day. All-in-all, he did well, has great friends, and has managed to keep his amazing sense of humor and character.

Fulton, fortunately for him, this won't be his momma's first rodeo. And that boy...he doesn't leave anything on the table. He sees it. He wants it. He gets it. He was born with a fire and a spirit that I cannot relate to. But whatever it is...I love it! He is eager to leave the elementary school nest because he wants to do "more". I am excited for him in this next chapter. 



 These handsome guys have been together since the Kilbourne Park Preschool days.

Any who...yesterday was a good BIG day for my boys.

At their promotion ceremonies, Sam was recognized for being part of a varsity sport and the A/B honor roll. Fulton was recognized for multiple achievements in academics and character. It was pretty sweet and I couldn't be more proud of them!

Fulton high tailed it to an EOY pool party to celebrate.

Sam and I got him ready for the 8th grade gala put on by the 8th grade team at Crayton.


These guys wanted to go "stag" to keep their "options open". Hehehehehe!!!

And Shan, Fulton, and Oliver had their final football games, where precious Oliver scored ANOTHER touchdown. He's done great this season. But I'm sad to say that with all the dividing and conquering to get the boys to and from, I only caught one game. 😞  I feel good knowing Shan was their coach and that I got the best play by play recap of each game!



Pay no attention to the fact that my children are the only ones without the uniform shorts...because their mother forgot to wash them! Score!!!


Last week we had the Spring sports banquet where Sam received a varsity letter for being part of the AC Flora Golf team in their 8th consecutive State Championship.



And Fulton had his Spring concert for the Satchel Ford singing group called the Sensations. I seriously want to take that group on tour! They are a hit among the whole school and so much fun to watch!





This time they did a tribute to one of Fulton's classmates and fellow Sensations member who died from complications of an auto-immune condition a few weeks ago. With a humble heart of gold, beautiful smile, and dynamic personality, Vijay Sanders was a bright spot in everyone's day...always. There wasn't a dry eye in the room when they dedicated the song "Hall of Fame" to him. Probably the sweetest thing I've witnessed a group of children put together...EVER. During the evening performance for the parents, they also incorporated a slide show. I had the opportunity to attend his funeral and it was a beautiful send-off and celebration of his short, but impactful life. There is no doubt that Vijay will always be in the "hall of fame" and hearts of everyone at Satchel Ford. 





And then there was a zoo field trip for Oliver's class and of course, FIELD DAY!!! Sam, Carson and Emme wanted to exert their 8th grade seniority and go back to their old stompin' grounds to visit. They even got in on a little balloon stomp action and said goodbye to their favorite PE teacher, Mr. Stillwell, who is retiring. 


 

 

 

 

Oh and I can't leave off the Mother's Day Tea! Perfectly precious and priceless!!! It's hard to believe that that was my first Mother's Day program ever. Neither of the other boys had them along the way. I was pretty excited!


Muzzy and NaNa were overwhelmed by the sweet sentiments from Oliver. 

Though it's busy, and I complain, I have to admit that life would be quite boring without May-cember. I think once I stop, breathe, and look at the bigger picture, I feel blessed that we have active boys. And we have a fabulous community with great schools and friends to help us make it more fun. So Cheers to another fabulous May-cember!!

Now...time to take on summer 2017. 

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Easter 2017

With all the End-of-the-School-Year activities and Summer just around the corner, I don't want to fall behind again. It's always difficult to weave a missed-post in here when life is coming at us so fast.

Any who...

Here's my Easter recap.

The week prior to Easter was filled with Spring Break fun and our traditional egg-dying. But now, egg-dying with the boys is a sight to behold. Long gone are the days of making brightly colored masterpieces and signing their names and drawing crosses with the white crayon to personalize their eggs. Dying eggs was a major process when they were super little. Not just avoiding spills and cracked eggs, but picking the next color and the pressing decision of whether or not to do striped or tie-dyed eggs. It would eat up at least an hour and a half of a spring afternoon. Now...

This is what egg-dying looks like with 3 boys...14, 11, and 8.

Warning: Pinterest moms should probably close their eyes.

 Uuuummmm...they like yellow, green, and diarrhea. 

 Or camo?

 I've got an idea! Let's mix all the colors together and make eggs that look like poop! -Oliver (8)

PRIDE! 

The aftermath.

And Easter morning was glorious, as always, as we celebrated a risen Lord at St. John's. Easter service fills me with all things good...restored hope, renewal of faith, and a deeper, greater love for Jesus and His ultimate sacrifice. I love that each year my boys "get it" a little bit more. It's an abstract concept to teach children - even when they've been hearing the story their whole lives. Questions are fewer and farther between as the little light bulbs are all firing in their heads. It's a good feeling as a parent.

After church, we enjoyed a tasty lunch with family at our house. And sadly, it was the first year that no one wanted to do an egg hunt. 😢  (Sniff.) This whole thing with the boys getting older is H-A-R-D!!!

 Squinty Easter family

Love a good Snap filter

 And love that these boys still love their Easter baskets



 Arnold loved his Easter basket too!

 Pretty boy!



A man in a (my) apron... Now that's hot!

 Sisters 💖




Nothin' says Hallelujah like a risen Jesus and Banana Puddin'

 Who knows?

My biggest baby

Monday, May 08, 2017

I was on a roll...

Roller coaster is more like it. But not like a scary, bad roller coaster. More like the Scooby-Doo roller coaster for kids. You know, with a long straight-away and then an unexpected belly-dropping dip and then back up a little hill for another dip to add some excitement! Enough to keep you entertained but not too overwhelmed.

So I last left you with the story of our AMAZING current state of athletics in SC. But before that and until now, there's been SO MUCH more!

 Man-up-to-the-Barre date night with some awesome peeps at Barre3 Columbia

 The Tree-Condo that has almost ruined our marriage that Shan is determined to build for his boys. Which I'm pretty sure it'll turn into my she-shed or his man-cave because they will all be in college by the time he finishes.

 When this sent us...

 here.

 The intervention that I had to have with the teen-alien who lives upstairs and who I have failed miserably. 

 I am praying for his wife daily...well, actually praying that he finds one. 😳
(An aside...the drawers are fully functioning. He just likes them open so he can "see his stuff". And please note overflowing trash can in the reflection of the mirror. #cannotdeal #thisiswhyGodmadeXanax)

 There was a trip to the Aiken Steeplechase...

 With good friends!
Clearly it was very bright and and the glare was terrible because I couldn't open my eyes in either picture.

 Lord give me strength...they like to gamble.



 A fun night out with my lifelong bestie on Daniel Island... 

to see NeedtoBreathe

 An awful April Fools joke played by Sam and Fulton
 "MOM!!!! I accidentally slammed his head in the door..." (at nighttime the blood looked really real.)

 A super fun baby shower for my sweet cousin

 A field trip to the NASCAR Hall of Fame

 A fabulous long weekend in Hilton Head for Spring Break

 It was all fun and games until...




all this...

 turned into this. It was a shortened trip due to Shan's stomach bug, (which he later shared with me) and Sam's strep throat. Good times!

 I got lights on my patio! It has now become my new favorite retreat!!! Thanks Shan!

 I taught my boys a good ol' southern past time...green bean snappin'. #BadArnold even got in on all the action.

My childhood friend, Dawn and her husband came to town and we enjoyed catching up over dinner with our boys. Her son Jack and Oliver are close in age and hit it off instantly. Love seeing friendships come full-circle.

 I have taken on the role of Board Manager for Junior League for 2017-18 and was in charge of organizing our weekend planning retreat. Board Manager essentially means...

I'm Ms. Garrett from The Facts of Life.

See.

We set fire to the left over Easter PEEPS for a cross between Creme Brûlée and old fashioned roasted marshmallows. FAB!

 Oliver may or may not have a fire fettish.

Love my patio. Y'all gotta come sit with me!

 There've been a few good girls nights...

This group could be the cast of Bad Moms 2 and...

then there just might be a t-shirt in the works for this group. 🔥  Love them all!

I always like to do an Easter post because it's such a GLORIOUS day and it didn't seem to fit in here. So stay tuned for a Very Baker Easter.