Week Twenty-five

Ironically the one with the reputation for being naughty is not on the counter.

I took him to lunch and told him I had a surprise there. He later told Erin, "Mimi said there was a surprise. It was Pops. I don't think that's a good surprise." 

Library haul. He never wants to return books. He generally loves them all.

He selected all 14 of my earned pins and then proceeded to have most of them applied to his backpack.

He told the neighbor Diesel really likes her yard because he likes long grass. She immediately text her lawn guy with a giant sigh. This boy throws a lot of shade for someone his size. 

When I realized what was about to happen here, I knew I had two choices. Scold or photograph. 
I stand by my decision.

"Pops always get to have sleepovers with Mimi and that's not fair." When asked where else Pops would sleep he suggested the couch. Pops is feeling loved.

He really just wanted to eat the hot cocoa ball.

His daddy told him painted nails are for girls and he countered, "they are red and that can be a boy color."

It was a rainy week so we spent a lot of time playing inside. He even scored a hot cocoa because of the wet, gross weather. But then on Thursday, we took advantage of the cooler, cloudy day and toured the zoo. He decided the new red panda was his favorite, right behind the meerkat who has been tied with lemurs for a couple of years. He'd like all three as pets. 

PS. He did not relax or nap on the way home. He gets really angry if you insinuate otherwise.

Greg and I managed two actual dates this week. Dinner on Wednesday and ice cream on Thursday. I love my summer schedule.

He didn't want anything.......🤔

My boss is also a good friend. He is managing a project in our yard and mentioned a glitch "that could always be worse." I laughed as I pointed out the frequency in which he states that and noted a few times things in fact could NOT get much worse. I then had shirts made in his honor for our first staff tee shirt day. Of course I also got one for his wife to wear too. 

The back says, "I guess so." It's another one of his famous quotes.

If only enthusiasm equalled skills.

He insisted I buy these for him and his mommy. His mommy didn't get any. 

Week Twenty-four

He is cute.

Life is loud so we took a day to drive out of town for lunch and some fancy olive oil. We noted companionable silence in long stretches. It seems we've hashed things out enough. We simply needed to be together.

Ability to relax? 10/10

My morning reading has been somewhat adjusted.

Books, Lincoln Logs and art supplies draped in morning light. This is summer. 

Free movie and some concessions. He likes the theater.

Sometimes cleaning is dumb. This little overflow created two loads of towels and happened while I was cleaning the bathroom. Sigh.

A project was started and someone was as helpful
as most would imagine.

Sometimes they are best friends.

Kate's car received a terminal diagnosis Monday. We put a $300 bandaid on it and hoped it would buy us a couple weeks to get a plan together. It died Thursday on a busy road on the way to a dealership where Lauren was scoping out a new car and hoped to use it for some trade in money. Needless to say, a purchase was made from the salesman who literally pushed the car to safety. He earned his commission.

This looks sweet; however, Austin was pumped to be the first one to join me in my bed and couldn't wait to occupy the spot closest to me before calling
Diesel in to gloat. 

Pouting.

Week Twenty-three/Graduation

For Kate's graduation post, it seems appropriate to share her words. This was her Senior speech......

"Find someone who grows flowers in the darkest parts of you,” Zach Bryan.  As I have grown and pushed myself through life’s setbacks, I have often been reminded there are people who will not deserve to be a part of my life. I am grateful the opposite is also true. There are people who have come alongside me in the darkest, quietest moments who have proven to redeem the hard edges of a life lived well. I’m Kate, not Katie. Baughman, not Bowman.

My journey so far in life has not been something I would consider easy. I suffered multiple concussions that left me with an ongoing battle with memory loss. The ability to retain information, conversations and memories is beyond me. Due to this, I have battled extensive anxiety. Social situations and moments like this speech are excruciating. I am grateful for the few close friends and my boyfriend who have pushed me out of my comfort zone to attend some of the typical high school events like football games and Prom. But I would generally do just about anything to avoid putting myself out there, including shaving a full year off my high school experience. Getting out of here has been my goal since the first time I entered the building. 

My highest moment in life is difficult to determine. I led a mostly happy childhood as the fourth daughter in a family of five children. As my sisters grew up and moved out, my role adapted but my favorite so far is my title of “Aunt Kate”. Austin Ryan was named after me and my brother and has been the best addition to my family. We all think we are the president of his fan club. 

I don't see myself in the traditional role of a woman ten years after graduation. I hope to be helping people in the medical field and traveling a lot. I want to see the world and am exploring careers that will afford me opportunities to serve abroad. If marriage happens, I would seriously have to consider the implications on my desire to see the world. Kids don’t feel like something I would choose. However, I have watched my sisters navigate big life choices like marriage, divorce and family so I have enough wisdom to know I can never say never. 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank some of the people who have supported me up to this point. Ms. Cox at Georgetown Elementary poured into me as I entered public school for the first time. She loved and nurtured me. I am grateful for her and the investment she made in me. My therapist, Stephanie is hands down the one who deserves the credit for pushing me across this finish line. I literally couldn’t have done it without her. My parents are supportive and encouraging. My dad is my bestie and we laugh at each other’s terrible jokes. This exhausts my mom, which makes it that much more fun. My mom is my person. I can always count on her to be there, to listen and to push me to do hard things. Also, it doesn’t hurt that she loves editing speeches. I also want to thank Miss Collins for making such a large impact on my life. I know I can always count on her.

My dream for the future is to be surrounded by those who deserve to be in my life and to be the kind of person others want to befriend. I have always deliberately kept my circle small. It has served me well but I do hope to expand and stretch myself to better understand the larger world. 

In closing, I will offer you another quote because bonus points never hurt. My mom often says, “the people who say the high school years are the best of your life are either liars or losers.” Her implication is that these years were never designed to be the best of our lives. They are the stepping stones required to move into the future. I hope we have all fulfilled our requirements efficiently and enjoyed the sweet spots when they occurred. But the future starts now and I hope we all live our one beautiful life richly.  

At the last moment, Kate decided not to walk at graduation. Taking a more relaxed approach to the afternoon served us all well since we weren't rushing around to make both the ceremony and prepare for her party. The open house once again reminded me how much I prefer the intimacy of smaller gatherings because I feel pulled too many directions when surrounded by so many. However, it was a beautiful night and we all felt the love for our girl as we hosted. The theme for her party was "She's Ready to Soar" and I believe she will.

Week Twenty-two

There was enough heat in the grill after Greg smoked chicken thighs for s'mores. Little man wasn't so sure about the marshmallow texture.

Austin got sand in his eye and was livid. Greg and I helped him rinse it out and in total despair, he complained I didn't care he was going to go blind. Perplexed, I needed further explanation and was told we were out of carrots. Carrots are good for your eyes. The drama around here is legendary. And often exhausting.

Situation has been addressed.

The girls each got ready for the day and laughed when they realized they dressed alike. Greg couldn't help joining them for a ridiculous photo

Greg and I slipped to the farmer's market for fresh strawberries and a bottle of specialty bourbon. A band was playing so we found a spot under a large shade tree to listen for awhile. It's been a long time since we did something so relaxing with no further agenda. And then those strawberries were put to good use with a homemade almond flour cake and whipped cream. Yum.

Monday a rain shower interrupted our dinner on the deck. Austin didn't mind at all. He ran and played in the rain until his mom bribed him with a bath using the bath bomb he painted earlier in the day while shopping for laundry detergent with me. It was a pretty special ending to good old fashioned playtime.

PS. Painted bath bombs leave food coloring residue behind on bathtubs and children. 

Kate left for her final morning of high school on Wednesday and despite her puffy allergy eyes, messy bun, oversized sweatshirt with athletic shorts and both hands full of crap snacks, I wanted a photo to mark the moment. I was suddenly experiencing some big feelings and they took me by surprise. I withheld my urge for the photo, knowing full and well she would have begrudgingly complied but absolutely didn't want the moment remembered with an unflattering image. I get that. My baby has finished high school. I know all too well how winding the path gets from here. I thought I was ready.

He rode with me to a doctor's appointment Wednesday and asked to stop at the gas station. I should have known he was up to something when he was ready to go at eight in the morning. This is the breakfast of champions.

This one has learned to appreciate my swing and his time on the porch with me while I read. He has impressed me lately with his ability to remain on the porch despite all the life that happens in front of our house with dogs on walks, delivery trucks and people. He has it in him to be such a good boy. He just often forgets.

Not dead but I did have to check. That eight am appointment caught up with him Wednesday afternoon.

Thursday marked the one year anniversary of his gotcha day. June 1 will never be the same. Neither will the house or anything in it. But we love the knucklehead. Our neighbor tattled on him recently. When he is let out and she is on her porch, he watches and waits for us to turn our backs so he can creep into her yard to say hi. She said the process takes him about five minutes because he stops and looks over his shoulder every few steps to make sure he is still in the clear. She laughed as she she described his super quick kiss and pets before he sprints back into our yard as if nothing had happened. Oh Diesel. 

Austin wasn't home so Kate took a turn. The neighbors were cracking up. We are THAT house. 

In other news, a decision was made and the neighborhood may never be the same. Austin and Diesel are having a blast but it's slightly terrifying. I'm just glad I was able to persuade Austin to wear a helmet. And now Ty is texting me links to dirt bikes. Of course he is. I told him to talk to Lauren. She is responsible for wild purchases. This also created another parking situation. So I am not only not driving my car because Lauren has it but now I have also lost my parking space in the garage because Austin needed it. 

Austin has been pushing boundaries lately and his momma reached the end of her tolerance level. A color chart was created with limited success. However, Diesel made a "red choice" and it was determined he too needed a color chart. Austin is reveling in power to control Diesel's chart.