About Shanda

wife, mom of seven, friend, child of God

afternoon outing

Posted on June 30, 2017 by Shanda

“Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That’s why we call it ‘The Present’.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

We had thirteen young ladies stay here overnight last night. They were from a NYC youth group traveling into New England to visit Six Flags, Lexington/Concord, and Vermont. We knew some of them from years of camp so it was an easy “yes” to host them overnight. Plus, they ate dinner before they came AND brought their own cereal and milk. Grace very much enjoyed the visit and sat in on their *before bed* devotions. I got lots of hugs this morning as they left in the rain…..thankfully it did clear up later on for their outdoor tour of historical battle grounds in Massachusetts.

After they left it was rather quiet, the maids came to do their weekly cleaning and the girls were asking for macaroni and cheese so I decided to take the kids to the diner just a couple miles down toward town.

David stayed at home and ended up using the time for a long bike ride.

The diner has old black and white photos of the town on the walls and the kids were thrilled to see their friend Logan arrive to eat lunch with his Grandpa, too.

The kids meals came with a free drink so Seth and Sarah chose hot chocolate, which meant they helped themselves freely to my coffee creamers….in no time at all we used up about 10 creamers. I told the kids the waitress should have just brought us the carton.

Waiting for the food is the most difficult part but thankfully it didn’t take long at all and the boys brought things to read.

You may not think so by his face but Caleb has been so appreciative of this magazine subscription….every month I get a thank you.

Grace read a book, too, by one of our favorite authors, Isabel Allende.

Sarah ❤

(I was sandwiched between the girls–such fun)

My lunch (actually, I had already eaten a salad at home so I simply HAD to get my favorite—strawberry sundae).

Sarah ate a pancake with french fries (I had to laugh when she ordered it) and the other three kids got hamburgers and fries.

It became the *thing to do* to keep passing around the ketchup. Seth and Sarah put it on their fries like toothpaste on a toothbrush.

Grace’s lunch.

Sarah had birthday money and bought this animal yesterday so she had to bring it everywhere with her today. It’s name was Lee Ann but she renamed her Rosie.

Seth’s is named Rufus.

I ate all my sundae and then offered “the rest” to Seth….and he completely enjoyed the melted remains (all 1 teaspoon).

Well, we were all happy and silly from a good lunch and decided to go antiquing at a “new to us” place in the next town over. I was thankful to have such fun friends along with me.

Right away I saw some HLC dishes, although not fiestaware, these are from the harlequin line. So pretty.

Seth saw some cool things, too!

I always like these needlework things. . . but didn’t buy any today.

Caleb found a Patriots football pennant and a football coin.

Between the three youngest children I admit I said, “Don’t touch” about 1,000 times which made for a good discussion with Grace on the way home. Did they touch things so much because I was obsessed with them not touching (and kept saying so)? We decided that in their immaturity, they had a hard time obeying my rule, but as they get older they will learn self-control and be more obedient. However, at the same time, there is also a truth that in the act of overstating/overemphasizing rules, we somehow make them more likely to be broken…..it’s simply human nature. (see Sarah’s arm on the right of the photo holding the sharp gardening tool?? yeah…….)

Tiny butter dish for a half stick of butter–so darling (didn’t buy).

This vintage kitchen towel was only 2.50 so I had to buy it (it has a small hole that I can easily stitch). (kids behind me….touching things….) I know I do need to lighten up some, as well.

I found a vintage fiesta lid! (no one understands why I had to get it). But I did!

Caleb’s Marshall Faulk coin (Rams football player).

NEXT STOP….I found more fiestaware but this collection was P86 (periwinkle, yellow, and ivory) and overpriced.

And then…..oh my goodness! They wouldn’t sell just the serving pieces (I asked) so I was simply FORCED to buy the whole lot, thankfully I did get a great deal on it.

ROSE fiestaware:

(back at home and unpacked) I am so pleased with these beautiful dishes, Rose is discontinued and so nice to have on Valentine’s Day. The mugs are not fiesta but still made by HLC (maybe restaurant ware? I have to look it up–but its the same glaze).

Kitchen towel, plus a vintage “radioactive” red fiesta mixing bowl (with chips) that I bought along with it at our first stop. They go good together, don’t they?

The kids were great…we stopped at the gas station to get drinks along the way and they watched “Garfield the movie” in the car while Grace and I went into the second shop together. (I couldn’t stand any more begging and touching).

When we got home Rich and Ethan had just arrived. They were able to leave work early and now its the start of a nice long weekend. They don’t have to go back to work until Tuesday. I had dinner ready in the crock pot so I was able to feed the hungry men right away.

David got home safe and sound from his long bike ride, all hot and exhausted. He said he “wasn’t going to do that again for two months.”

Ethan and Tessa are here, but Jacob is still at our friend’s house, as he is house sitting for them this week.

We are watching Little House on the Prairie and it’s super dark outside; a thunderstorm warning is in effect for the next hour or so and it’s raining.

“I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world.” E.B. White

birds and a rainbow

Posted on June 29, 2017 by Shanda

It’s a bird morning! Every few minutes I find myself scanning the trees trying to see what I’m hearing. . . . .

Sarah is on the floor playing a game of SORRY with a stuffed animal friend.

David and Caleb are up the road with friends (they spent the night).

Grace is still asleep.

I haven’t been sleeping well. As it is, I’m easily disturbed, & it doesn’t help that the other night I was awakened by our orange cat Sherlock cornering a FROG in our room. I woke up hearing strange small noises which turned out to be the frog saying “help” the only way it knew. By the time I got to it it was very anxious and covered in dust, still very much alive and well. I threw it out the window along with the cat and then shut the window tight. . . .unfortunately now as wide awake as could be. Rich refused to move through all of this and stayed asleep, only asking once, “What is going on?” to which I replied sarcastically, “Don’t worry about it, I’m taking care of it!” But glad he was able to sleep through it as he’s been working so hard during the day.

Last night nothing like that was going on, but I kept waking up over and over. . . .finally getting up at six this morning with dry eyes. . . . . .

. . .to enjoy the bird morning!

And Grace’s bible that she left by the bench on the porch.

“But as you excel in everything–in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you–see that you excel in this act of grace also.”

*****

The other evening we had a rainbow. Sarah jumped up and down with glee.

Grace on the front steps, watching the sky.

Sunshine through fat raindrops.

The sky was doing beautiful things.

Now that life is calming down just a little (from a vacation with Rich, end of school excitement with a graduate, and a trip to NY) I’ve been puttering around the place, cleaning, and rearranging, catching up on household things.

And going for walks with the kids (mostly Grace). . . . .

baby bird

another baby bird

end of the day sunshine through the trees, on a walk with Rich

keeping an eye on Seth as he exaggeratedly looks “both ways” before he crosses the road (retrieving a baseball)

Yesterday was a gardening day. I took Grace to driver’s school and went to a nearby gardening place and bought three perennials. They were giving away some old annuals that looked sad so I was able to get some free plants to baby back to health; flowers, cabbages and leaks. Then later on Rich and I went to the home depot for three tomato plants (one yellow, one purple heirloom, and one cherry), cucumber, watermelon, two hanging baskets for the porch, and some petunias. I’ve already got all but a few of them planted.

music and slideshow

Posted on June 26, 2017 by Shanda

(MUSIC)

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We took so many photos that I thought it would be fun to put them in a slide show along with music to listen to if you would like, while you look at the pictures.

We had the party at my parent’s house “up on the hill” where mom and her sisters grew up. We all have deep roots in this land, farm land, quiet country, woods, blueberries, birds, so many memories….all of it.

We had chicken BBQ (thank you Dave and Maria for all your work to make this happen!)

Kids played together as a pack; croquet, football, chalk on the driveway, running wild.

Mom was overcome with emotions a few times, just so happy to have all the people she loves the most with her.

One of my favorite memories was when sister Amanda and I were off by ourselves lost in conversation and Mom appeared wanting us back with her. “You’ll have to leave soon and I want you with me!”

Cousin Erika made the birthday cake, I sure wish I had a piece with me right now while I write this post.

All she wanted for her birthday was her family. And that’s what happened! What a great day for a great lady.

Happy Birthday to our beautiful Cindy, Mom, Sister, Grandma, & Aunt. You wear many hats and we’re thankful for who you are in our lives.

(with a photo of her first birthday)

you’re part of my heart

Posted on June 22, 2017 by Shanda

SUMMER
VACATION

We went to the playground.

The boys had friends over to play baseball, football, video games, fishing, swimming….

If we should be so lucky
as to touch the lives of many, so be it.
But if our lot is not more than the setting of a table,
or the tending of a garden,
or showing a child a path in the woods,
our lives are no less worthy.
Kent Nerburn

Grace and I went for a long walk through the woods, visited Sam-cat and the chickens. She read to me the medicinal values of yarrow and elderberry, she chewed yarrow even though she didn’t have a tooth ache and said it made her tongue numb. Mountain Laurel is in bloom and almost done. We ate wild strawberries and sniffed deeply of wild roses.

I think this is how we’re supposed
to be in the world ~
present and in awe.
Anne Lamott

We went together to take our small visitors home and then to the grocery store where she is getting ready to work this summer. I made chili and pasta for dinner.

It’s fake blood.

I sent Sarah upstairs to play while I worked in the kitchen. When I went to get her for dinner I found her on the floor…fast asleep.

Summertime, fun and exhausting!

How was your day?

grace (graduation)

Posted on June 21, 2017 by Shanda

It was about a week ago now that I met a homeschooling family at one of my son’s baseball games. The mom and I had a nice visit together as we watched the boys play and at one point Grace came walking by with her friend. I stopped her and introduced her to my new acquaintance. “Oh, I used to be homeschooled,” Grace offered excitedly, “I loved it. I never wanted to go to public school but mom made me.”

Part of me cringed to hear these honest words. However, after last night, watching Grace with her class and teachers, seeing her bright smile, how mature she was, how capable, her light shining bright, it all became clear to me.

She bloomed where she was planted.

She took a difficult change in her life and made the best of it.

She had ups and downs, more downs, a few more ups, on and on for the six years she was in school, rather like a roller coaster.

She had fun, tears, anxiety, sleepless nights, songs, dance, silence, wide eyed wonder, false friendship, true friendship, romance, responsibility, headaches, dizziness, academics, good grades, good books, teachers who were kindred spirits, teachers who were her second mothers, and through it all…….she had her faith in an unchanging dependable Father God keeping her steady.

She did it. Rich and I could not be prouder of our daughter.

*******

A month or so ago I was feeling a little desperate about Grace leaving home so soon and mentioned, half teasing, that she might like to take a year off from college and just stay at home with us (me). After all, she did start school when she was four and was younger than a few of the juniors this year. “We would have so much fun, Grace!” to which she replied (and I quote because I wrote it down):

“I know we would but. . . .we have all summer. And I need to move on with my life.”

I just had to laugh with respect, happy to have a child this steady and focused on her goals. I know how much she adores her siblings and depends on her parents. The relationships within the family circle couldn’t be better, which is to say, perhaps this is the very reason why she is confident in moving on; her needs are met so she is not needy or clingy. Plus it’s just her personality in general. She’s forward-moving.

She’ll be attending Christian college in the fall about 5 hours from home (not too far), easy enough to get her home for the holidays. I know she will have the time of her life there.

For our small town, the class of 2017 was rather large and cars parked all over the the place outside in the parking lots AND out of the parking lots. I drove up over the curb with my big mama vehicle and parked in the lawn! Saving seats was a hostile experience! But we all got squeezed in and you can see my view from the middle of the room. . . . . .thank the Lord once we sat down I found that I could see Grace if I leaned over to the right and then forward in my seat.

There she is!

Recognized with the other scholarship and honers students.

waiting in line for her diploma

two hours after walking in……the class left the gym to loud & happy music.

(dear girl; Emily–our neighbor and also Ethan’s girlfriend’s sister…kids rode the bus together for years)

and now for the fun photos:

With gratitude to the teacher who understands that some families NEED more tickets, Grace’s siblings were able to attend this year’s graduation ceremony. (all 9) Her two big brothers visited the old HS stomping grounds and saw some of their teachers and friends. (I say “old” but Ethan just graduated a year ago, and Jacob the year before that).

After getting through the crowd and out of the gym, we found our girl.

Oldest girl with youngest girl; oldest boy with youngest boy.

friends

adoring little sister

One of “our other kids” Zak, also graduated. He is a close friend of the family.

My husband coached him in wrestling.

brother Dave

W E N D Y ! ! ! !

I had left my purse unguarded in the hall so Jacob collected it for me. Brittany is another dear friend of the family and graduated with Grace.

Caleb and Seth got through the night thanks to the kindle and…..cheese. 🙂

Ethan with his girl.

My daughter, my friend.

Love you, Grace…

How hard the battle goes, the day, how long;
Faint not, fight on! Tomorrow comes the song. ~Maltbie Babcock

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grace (class night)

Posted on June 20, 2017 by Shanda

The washer and dryer are going, and outside skies are clearing up after being washed clean from a night of rainfall.

A mason jar of wild flowers, freshly picked, sits on the kitchen island.

A collection of baseballs over there on the end table from a now-ended season of little league.

Parker the dog is sleeping, with his head resting against my leg.

I scrubbed something disgusting off the porch this morning.

Sarah’s stuffed owl on the coffee table.

A stack of stuff emptied from someone’s backpack.

shorts, a tank top, freshly washed hair, and comfy birkenstocks on my feet

*****

Today is the last day of school.

Last days are a tad heart-wrenching, aren’t they?

(I swear they each grew a foot this year.)

Thankfully, “last days”……. are followed by “first days”.

*****

Grace’s HS graduation is tonight.

Rich and I were away for five days, we returned last night just in time to go to the school for a fun “Class Night” put on by the Seniors, for the Seniors. Grace looked so pretty marching into the auditorium with the rest of the students. All the moms and dads looked and looked until their eyes rested on their own dear child. . . . . . . .suddenly on the threshold of completing all those years of school. We couldn’t help but take the time to remember the years leading up to this day, as they grew from little babies all the way up to the 17 and 18 year olds that they are now. Lots of love was in the room.

After a 30 minute slideshow, the kids put on one last talent show up there on the stage.

I sat between Jacob and Ethan and it was fun, but today, right now, as I watch these videos of the two songs Grace sang with her friends, I’m a big puddle of mama-tears.

Grace wore a long white dress with roses on it.

dishes n’ daisies

Posted on June 13, 2017 by Shanda

I’m posting these photos today because my Aunt Colleen came home from an amazing cross country roadtrip with a bag all the way from West Virginia for me! Guess what was inside of it? A fiesta daisy plate! She gave it to me when I was at her house this weekend and the first thing I did when I got home was tuck it in my collection; just right.

Thank you, my friend!

Wild daisies are just coming in bloom here in Connecticut and it’s hard to say which is my favorite; a handful of daisies or a fiestaware daisy plate.

It was fun to take a few minutes to play with these colorful dishes in the midst of a busy morning.

“I will go pick daisies
and have a happy heart.”

at the present time

Posted on June 12, 2017 by Shanda

“forever is composed of nows.” Emily Dickenson

Now: recovering from a mild concussion, “pink shorts/don’t care”, having fun with a neighbor-friend (who arrived wearing his shirt), fried chicken party from mom in the kitchen, swimming in the pond, lacrosse in the yard.

Now: another summertime for romance

Now: with a little adoring sister who loves her, too.

Now: freedom to soar, to fly, to play

to laugh.

Now, with a faithful furry friend or two.

Now: time for graduation parties, a dear cousin, a loving family, and yummy food.

Now, sisters.

Now: contemplating a secret recipe, sleuthing, enjoying.

Now: for oops and for trying your best to recover what you lost.

Now: innocent childhood, cousins, holding hands, exploring magical places.

Now is the time for youth, skipping stones, bare feet, a mama who adores you.

Now: a tire swing hung from an old apple tree, and glow stick bracelets, and soft green grass.

Now: a trip back home to where your Dad grew up, climbing trees, flowers in the garden.

Now: for memories, for listening, for fathers and daughters.

Now; driving four hours to get back in time to watch your boy play baseball.

Now; cheerful friends, watching the boys play, music, blazing sunshine.

Now time to go home and fall into bed with that delicious “by God’s grace I did it all” feeling, and “it was very good”.

*****

And now it’s time for me to do lots of laundry in a ponytail, shorts and bare feet, with a dear son at home, thinking of the children at school taking finals, planning a graduation party, looking forward and not backward, reading and praying, talking to Jesus, a song or two, thankful always, with love all around. . . . . . .

Philippians 3:13 “… I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on. . .”

Posted on June 9, 2017 by Shanda

I slept so good last night, finally, after a week of having the world’s worst cold ever. I made it through the day yesterday with no nap (feeling better!), plus five miles of walking outside in the fresh air, two baseball games at the end of the day, trip to town for errands, weeding in the garden, cough medicine before bed, yes indeedy it all made for a wonderful night’s sleep. I woke up with my face glued to the pillow I had slept so heavily. It’s 8:30 and I still feel sleepy. Delicious..

Kids are all in school, their last day is the 20th.

There is so much going on in my life. So I haven’t been able to blog as much this week because I’m very distracted. However, I did take some photos here and there throughout the week so I thought I would make myself sit still on the couch and post them this morning. They are mostly nature photos. The sun has been shining bright and we have two lilac bushes in bloom attracting the most beautiful little creatures. . . . . . .

So I sit in front of the flowers in a lawn chair with my camera and it’s just the nicest time in the sunshine and perfume of the lilacs.

I love the tips of it’s antennae.

wildflower I smiled to see

the purple ones smell like grape koolaid. I’ve picked them and put them in the house for the most lovely of smells. . . ..natural air freshener at it’s best.

The peach ones smell good, too. Thanks to mom for sharing her irises with me.

Getting off the bus one day.

I sit on the bench on the side porch with a book and my camera next to me, ready to shoot anything interesting that comes along.

Ugh…gypsy moth caterpillars are everywhere.

This is a pretty little bird, my flash went off and the picture came out nice. I like it’s eye and beak.

A community of mourning doves at the end of the day…they were roosting together and cooing.

see the green grasshopper on the pansy?

It was raining outside, I was in the house on the phone with Tara, and took the photo through a window and porch railings. Not bad!!! I love these birds (Northern Flicker). They have stripes, polka dots, red, yellow. . .so pretty! They eat ants and beetles and have been visiting our front yard to find food.

so lovely (see the blue on it’s wing) –such beauty in a small bit of nature. . . .it’s wings flutter so quickly at times it’s hard to see the details, which is a nice benefit of photography!

Sarah got new clothes, she picked them out of the miniboden catalogue. I love their clothes and Sarah likes wild cats, reading about them, playing with her toy cheetahs and lions, so when she saw this shirt she just had to have it. So this is what she wore to school yesterday, and even though she’s not partial to a top knot, I fixed her hair in one. Adorable. She didn’t know kitty was coming . . . and then was so sweetly happy to hug him.

Back of the shirt. cute, right?

HUMMINGBIRD MOTH, one of my favorite visitors!! They flap their wings so fast they are a blur.

I threw something out on the porch at 8pm the other night and was surprised to see one “working overtime” in the dusky evening shadows flying around, dipping into lilac blossoms.

The bumblebees were most amusing…there were so many the became territorial. Flying, hovering, making contact with each other in the air, buzzing around. Pollen looked like gold dust. Wings as purple as the flowers.

It was quite a challenge to be fast enough to focus my camera on a hovering bumblebee.

last but not least…..I was at the edge of the woods at the end of the lawn and saw a chipmunk.

It was busy eating a dragonfly!!

****

As I was typing the last sentences, and before I had time to edit, the school nurse called because Dave had hit his head in gym class. He hit heads with a classmate, causing the classmates glasses to cut the classmate (he feels so sorry for that) and then fell on the floor hitting his head a second time. So he has a headache and has to rest in a quiet room today. . . . . . .

I just hopped online to edit and publish again. Happy Friday!

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what the boys are up to

Posted on June 6, 2017 by Shanda

Actually only four of the boys were photographed on this day (last weekend). . . .this one is David. 14 years old. Eighth grade.

He does flips all the time–front ones and back ones. Last Friday his class went on a special outing to an amusement park for the day and they had freedom to wander around, go on all the rides, and in David’s case, attract girls by doing flips. He was approached and asked for his Snapchat (nonexistent) and instagram (currently defunct) by the girls. He was proud to tell me the story, however.

David is on the Juniors baseball team and has the highest batting average of the kids there. He is known for his prowess in stealing bases.

David watches The Flash every day, he has seen each episode more than once (or even twice?). I complain but secretly credit the show for his relentless need for speed. They sometimes call him Flash during baseball games and practices.

He will enter High School in the fall. Sometimes he jumps off the upstairs landing on to the couch below…..he’s been wanting to do that since he was 4. He likes music, playing the piano, and playing video games with his big brother Jacob. He is a night owl and typically on a Saturday morning we will forget he’s even home because he sleeps in so long. He is a natural born pessimist and can find something negative about any situation which at this point only makes us laugh as we try to help him see the better part of things. He’s also possessive about his stuff or things he believes belong mainly to him. He only lets his dad hug him because I am “a woman.”

He was straining so hard to flex every muscle he possibly could.

Seth is the youngest boy and still a mama’s boy. He loves it when I’m right by the fence keeping my eyes on him and only him during baseball games. Part of this is because he knows sooner or later I will be gone……over at the other field to give his brother a turn, too. Seth is almost done with 2nd grade and does really well in Math. Reading and writing, not so much, although I have noticed that his actual penmanship is improving. He has reading homework every night so these days I get the bedtime story. He reads to me about presidents, owls, money, sharks, or volcanos. RARELY does he chose a story, it’s usually a educational book about different topics.

He is very light hearted and energetic. I heard his coach reprimand him several times last night for his energy and impatience and goofiness during practice. He is a well rounded athlete and does very well in each sport he joins.

He is easily influenced. If he watches Garfield (one of his favorite shows and book) he has to eat pizza. If he watches a baseball movie, he doesn’t last the first 10 minutes before he’s outside with a ball and glove. As soon as his brothers took their shirts off (out of vanity), his came off as well (out of imitation).

Caleb read the most books in his class this year. He thought he would win a kindle and spent the entire year working toward his goal. He wanted that kindle so much. Imagine his dismay at the final awards assembly and only ONE kindle was given out, and by a raffle no less. The child who won it had only read 2 books all year.

Rich and I bought him a kindle.

Caleb loves burying himself in his pillows and covers when he sleeps and always appears in the morning with amazing bed-head. He’s 11 so I have to remind him to change his clothes—he can’t be bothered—he has stuff to do. Mainly sports—football being his absolute favorite. Yesterday Seth had practice at 6 and Caleb had practice at 7 so with his extra hour he played a pick up game of football with 7 other boys. I like to walk around the park while I wait and I smile as I watch Caleb playing with his friends. He is a good friend.

Caleb can’t forget about things. He worries. For example, if he has a game in two days and the extended forecast is rain—he will constantly check the weather, ask me about the weather, ask his Dad about the weather, wondering if it really will rain. It’s a sign that he cares deeply about his likes and dislikes. He’s sensitive and wants his loved ones to have everything they want. When I make dinner he will always say he loves it, unfortunately I don’t ever know if he is sparing my feelings or telling the truth. He keeps his Christmas toys and legos pristine because he wants us to know he liked them and so we won’t be sad to have them get lost or broken. If his Dad wants to go to Pinkberry and I say “no” Caleb’s heart hurts for his Dad and he feels so sorry for him. Poor Dad. He wanted pink berry and mom said no. And then I feel like a jerk (in this case he only thinks of one person’s feelings–his dad’s).

The other day I was standing at the couch folding clothes when Caleb walked by and remarked, “I’m almost as tall as you are Mom.”

Caleb is in the band and it makes my heart so happy to watch him count the beats. He’s a percussionist.

Ethan is home for the summer and just got his first paycheck yesterday. As I was in a gleeful mood, I got out his baby book and glued it in with much drama. (after it was electronically cashed, of course). I made sure not to put glue on the half that had his signature so that by lifting the end we will always be able to see his name there.

He’s working at the same company as his dad and they ride to work together. (I refrained from adding five exclamation points after that sentence, it just makes me so happy.)

Rich wakes Jacob and Ethan up on M, W, and F mornings so they can go work out together. Yesterday he fell down half the stairs because Seth had left his shoe on the step. He accomplished his goal (of waking Jacob) and thankfully didn’t hurt himself. The three of them have such a good time pushing each other in their workouts and it has really paid off. They are all very buff.

Ethan is staying in shape for college wrestling, Jacob is getting in shape for college football and wrestling. By the way, Jacob isn’t in any of these photos because he wasn’t home at the time. So sad.

Jacob and Ethan are both going to the same college in the fall and will be roommates.

Ethan is at his girlfriend Tessa’s house every chance he gets. He is busy working during the week and doesn’t get home until around 5:30 or 6pm. He is the most quiet of all the boys. He knows what matters, he knows sincerity and good character is important.

All three of the older boys are always making pots of pasta. They get hungry and eat the dinners I make each evening and then make more food around 8pm. The pantry is always stocked with boxes and bags of pasta and jars of sauce.

Showing off.

And being cute.

Rich and I do the best we can with these boys. We make a good team. He tends to focus on their character and goals and I tend to focus on their health, nutrition, and general wellness. I also try to find out all the information I can about their private lives, too. LOL (like, does anyone have a girlfriend that I don’t know about). Caleb told me a girl asked him out yesterday but he said no. Um, you’re only 11.

They make me happy every single day because they end up surprising me to laughter. You can’t be bored as a mom of five sons.

Eventually a normal game of catch wasn’t good enough….we had to throw gloves and make up different ways to catch and throw the ball.

And then they got lost in the woods for a while. After a while, from our chairs on the porch, Rich and I saw them appear again. We watched them walking together and felt so proud of these boys of ours.

We are surrounded by brothers.

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