A Quick Recap

I've been away from my blog for so long. Life whizzes by. So many pressing issues are on my mind. It's interesting that as children grow up parenting becomes easier, and also more difficult at the same time. My day-to-day tasks are not as consumed with mothering as they were ten years ago, but my mind is more consumed, and my prayers more intense and constant. The dangers they face and the choices they must make are so much more life-altering, and yet they are at the stage where they must deal with those things largely on their own, using their agency, and I must stand back and hope that I've prepared them well enough. And I pray. Did I mention that? I hardly even care to pray about any other issues in my life as long as the Lord answers my prayers for my children, though I realize He's not limited in his benevolence. 

To recap the last month in an abbreviated way:

In a mad rush, Aiden finished Driver's Ed and got his permit. He did his Behind-the-Wheel training in the days before he had to leave for the summer at his dad's. In California, teens have to have a permit for six months before they can get a license, which they can get at age 16. Since he spends the majority of the summer in Arizona, we wanted to get the permit's "clock" started before he left so he can get his license right after his birthday. Also, we wanted him to be able to get a lot of driving practice with his dad over the summer. He's a pretty good driver, that Aiden! Careful and conscientious, the way we like them. 

In the most exciting news, Miss Lyns finished her studies at BYU! She was able to finish her program in only three years because she went in with lots of AP credits and she took 17-19 credits each semester. Her major was Bioinformatics with a minor in Computer Science. She was also chosen by the College of Life Sciences to be the honored student for the Biology department! Graduation will be held in August. In the meantime, she is working at the research lab there on campus and studying to take the GRE. After a gap year of working and traveling to Asia, she hopes to pursue her PhD in human genetics. Wow. So weird to even say that. My daughter is a scientist! I have a whole other post I want to write about this journey, but I had to share these text messages that last day.

That was such an emotional day for me!!

Meanwhile, Aiden is now in Arizona spending time with his dad and brother Dylan. I love when he sends me pictures because I am missing both of them like crazy. And seeing Dylan's face does me so much good. It's been a very difficult few years as Dylan has been working through some serious struggles. I love that kid with an intensity I can't even put to words. I'm glad Aiden can be there with him. Their dad took them on a week long hiking/backpacking adventure to Montana. The pictures were gorgeous! I'm really grateful they are having such rich experiences.

Back here at home, Conor finished up his baseball season, playing for the Angels. This was his first go at a team sport and he did so well! The little guy surprised us with some talent for baseball! He learned so quickly and proved to be a real asset to the team. Aiden and Adam helped with the coaching, which was wonderful support for Conor, who has been selected to play on the All-Stars team for Sunland. Practices for that team began last week.

For Father's Day, I wanted to be sure Adam felt appreciated and loved for all he does for our kids. Despite whatever stress happens to be between us, his heart really comes out with his children. He loves those kids with fierceness, and he's been an important part of my kids' lives as well. To surprise him, I invited his two big kids, Caitlin and Sean, over for dinner. Conor and I had treated him with his favorite breakfast and cards and gifts in the morning. I was preparing his favorite dinner (spaghetti and garlic bread) when there was a knock at the door. He was so happy when he answered it and saw those two standing there! It was a great surprise!

I love these kids, the blonde half of our brood. They have all the best parts of their dad.

Conor loves a chance to play with his big brother.

Adam requested Blueberry Cobbler for dessert. Man, that was a good choice. Conor and I made this one together. We served it with a little vanilla ice cream and it was incredible!

So, now, summer is in full swing. Adam has been out of town working in St. George with his stepbrother on a new project they hope will provide jobs for our families. I'm still working at least three night shifts a week. Conor is a little lonely without Aiden home, but he gets together with some friends, and I have him busy here at home. He loves to have a puzzle going. Our kitty, who also madly misses Aiden, likes it too.

Here's the 500 piece puzzle he finished a few days ago. He already has another one started, and I bought him a new one that should be arriving soon.

Yesterday was our annual piano recital. It was a really different year, with most of the students being first or second year. Most of my older students had to leave because of school commitments or moving away. I miss them so much, but it's fun to have a new cohort to bring up. They all played beautifully, and I think I was more nervous than they were!

This was Conor's second recital. He played "Halftime Show" and "The Entertainer" from memory. He did a really good job, and already wanted another lesson when we got home at almost ten o'clock.

Conor's a cool kid. He has a tendency to want to spend his days watching television or playing video games, but when we drag him away and give him something to work on, the little guy has so many talents and learns so quickly! It's a challenge to keep his mind and body active. I really love the time we can spend together.

That's what we're doing a lot of this summer. Hanging with my little guy. Happy are the days when I don't have to go in to work and we can be together.

Summer Catch-Up

I'm trying desperately to catch up on this blog! It's become a family record as well as a place for me to explore my thoughts, so I want to keep it current. It's also for my family's benefit, since all of them live so far away. This post has a lot of pictures, so be warned!

Before the school year ended, and because I have a teeny-tiny bit more financial security, we took the plunge to get Aiden's braces on. He's really grateful to have them, as he knows straight teeth are a luxury most of the world doesn't get, and he's been terrific about taking good care of them. 

The very next week after graduation, Aiden tried out for the football team at his new high school. I've had a few reservations about this whole high school thing with him. The school he really, really wanted to go to is far away. And, because it is a charter (the largest charter school in the country, actually) there is no bussing. His junior high was far away also, but there was bussing, so that saved us. Now, all of his friends are out in that area and he wanted to follow them to high school. Can't say I blame him, but it just makes life very hectic and more expensive. If he went to the high school that Lyndsay and Dylan attended, he could just walk there, and life would be so much easier. This charter school is an outstanding school though, and he qualified to attend through a great deal of hard work and effort. It was very important to him. He also really wanted to play football for this school. We talked about what a commitment it would be and how tired he would be with Seminary, Honors classes, and practices and games, but he was insistent. So, we proceeded. He had a week of tryouts.

Adam drove him to and from tryouts when I was working. He and Conor watched from the bleachers and cheered him on.

The school is known for its first-class football field. It is named for the Denver Bronco's quarterback, John Elway, who attended high school here. And it is a beautiful field!

The coaches mean business. Listening to them drill these boys put some fear into my heart, but I'll admit I also really loved their seriousness and expectation of excellence. The tryouts were grueling!

But at the end of the week, the boys were called in one by one to meet with the coaches and told whether or not they'd made the team. Aiden was thrilled to find out he made it! I am so very proud of him! He really worked for this, faced his fears and doubts head on, and went for it. 

This is right after he told me the good news!

Our days were long those first two weeks of summer. I should mention that before going to tryouts (and then practice), Aiden went out to the Johnson Ranch again where he worked last summer in the persimmon orchard and worked for 4 hours. He's got goals to save up his money to be able to buy a truck when he is old enough to drive (and take some of the burden of his school commute off of me!) Then we would pick him up from work and take him out to school. Directly from his practice, which ended at 7pm, we would drive Conor to his swim lessons. I was fortunate enough to get him signed up for a session of private swim lessons. He did a great job and learned so much, though we had to tell him to stop talking so much to the instructor. Too many stories! Just say "Yes, sir," and swim!

He worked on elementary back stroke, free style, breast stroke, side breaths, and diving. I wish he could have kept taking lessons, but his session definitely helped him improve, and he's confident in the water.

We had our annual youth fundraiser. I agreed to bake something for the auction, but had worked so much I was running on little sleep and even less time. I decided to bake a loaf of bread and offer it with a jar of homemade jam. Luckily, it sold for $75! I also sold a jar of Buttermilk Caramel Sauce for $60!

Here's Aiden and his friend, Travis, helping with clean up duty. I love to see the kids working!

Speaking of working, Conor has a summer job too. Meet Bun Bun.

He's the cutest little guy! He belongs to our friends who are spending their summer in Thailand, so they hired Conor to take care of him while they're gone.

It's been a great learning experience for Conor. He's been wanting a hamster of his own, so I thought that having this pet experience will help him see how much work they are, and give him the chance to earn the money to buy a hamster if he still wanted one. Let's just say the pet-of-his-own phase has ended. But he loves Bun Bun and has had a good time taking care of him.

We've had a good time playing with friends as well. Our friends just finished their backyard landscaping and pool installation and have been so kind to invite us over several times to share the fun. Aiden loves every chance he can get to practice his flips.

Conor has lost two teeth so far this summer. I'd been praying for this one to come out for over a year! Now I can't wait for its neighbor to come out too.

Conor is officially a cub scout now, and a few weeks ago his pack kicked off summer with the Raingutter Regatta. Here is Aiden, helping to construct his boat.

Then Conor painted it and decorated the sail.

He did not win. Not even close, but he had fun.

At the end of June we went to a Dodger's game for Mormon Night. Elder Bednar threw out the first pitch. It was great fun, and after the game, we were able to go down onto the field for a fireworks show.

(See that missing tooth?)

I had posted on Facebook that we were there at the game, and my best friend Amber in St. George texted me that her husband and son were there too! They had driven out to Los Angeles just to come to some games! So, I texted them, and they came over and said hello! I loved seeing them, even for that brief time. But it made me miss my Amber something fierce!

This is the picture I texted to her:

The next weekend, surprise, surprise, look who walked into my bedroom just before midnight:

Always a joy to have my Lyndsay home! She's finished another year at BYU and came home for some relaxation and family time. We had her here for two weeks, and now she and Aiden are up in Arizona visiting their dad and Dylan.

Summer is such a busy time! And someone just told me there are only three weeks left. What?! I can scarcely believe that! There is always so much I want to do! In between working and piano lessons, and all of the kids' activities we are doing our best to soak up all the fun we can.