Is it a Driver's License or a Mug Shot?

 It's a Driver's License!  Will took his driving test today and passed with flying colors.  He is now able to drive himself to school, drive himself home from school, run errands for his parents and most importantly, drive himself home from the school after late night football games.  No more setting my alarm for 1:00 a.m. to check on the status of the bus.  Well, honestly I'll still be checking on the status of the bus, I just won't have to get in the car to go pick him up.  Congrats kiddo.  

A letter to the birthday boy

 Dear Will:  

Yesterday you turned 16.  My goodness.  You are going to take your driving test next week so that will be another celebration.  Yesterday you didn't want a party - just some takeout and an ice cream cake.  You asked for a new gaming system which we let you open on Friday night because you wore us down with your negotiations, a trait that will surely serve you well in the future.  

Will, it's such a delight to see you grow up.  You have amazing recall for all sports trivia, facts, statistics, and just now you asked me who the leading scorer for UW basketball and then ridiculed me because I didn't know it without googling it.  I think you should grow up to be a coach or an AD.  I'd say radio or tv announcer but I don't think you like to talk as much as that job requires.   

You had a great football season as a sophomore and we were so proud of how you played.  You won the Scout Team Player of the Year and you are already working hard to get ready for the Fall.  You competed in wrestling for the first time and while it wasn't your favorite activity, you worked hard.  We are so proud of you for trying something new.  Your PE class is finishing up a dancing unit and what I wouldn't give to be a fly on the wall for that session.

Will, your sense of humor is still a delight.  Your sarcasm is constant.  Your design esthetic could be described as 'monastic' (white walls, dark furniture, lack of knick knacks).  You are sweet with the pets, except the chickens who drive you bonkers in the summertime when they screech outside your window in the morning.  The cats view your room as their refuge from the puppy.  Your little cousins think the sun and moon revolve around you.  Your sister doesn't take your advice but be patient there.  

Happy birthday Will-Will.  You are so loved.  We can't wait to see what the next year brings.  (Well, we can wait if that means that time slows down just a little bit.)

Will and Lincoln in his first few days with us. 

Birthday tradition- an ice cream cake.  I should have ordered a bigger one.

This is not your favorite picture and I'll probably end up taking it down when you ask me to.  But you let me take your picture on your birthday and there were too many giggles and this ended up being one of the better shots.  

Christmas Wrap-up and I'm 50!

We had a really nice Christmas and I meant to write about it a bunch of times last week but then I got busy hanging out with kiddos, cleaning up from Christmas and knitting (I'm knitting again!), watching Andor with Glenn (so good!) and I didn't blog about any of it.   But we had a nice break.  Glenn and I worked some of the days.  Will had wrestling practice.  Reina tried out experimental recipes in the kitchen.  The cats terrorized the Christmas ornaments.  Fun was had by all. 

We received so many lovely presents - it's hard to pick just one that's our favorite but I asked everybody tonight for a quick review:  

Reina's favorite present was her iPad from Mom and Dad.  She downloaded a drawing app already and has quite the portfolio already.  

Will's favorite present was an interesting Broncos sculpture from Aunt V and Uncle M which had some money taped to the back.  He hasn't put the sculpture in his room yet because he's scared to wake up and see it staring at him. 

Glenn's favorite present was a mug that I had made with pictures from Will's football season. I'd like to say I made the mug but that was all Shutterfly.  

My favorite present is hard to choose from but it's probably a drawing that Reina did for me that I need to frame and hang up - and take a picture for the blog!  

Today is my 50th birthday.  50!  I've been dreading this one a little bit.  Fifty just feels so .... fifty? Didn't I just graduate from college?  Or get married?  I think underneath it all, this feels like a decade of big changes.  I'll probably get a new job this decade when I can retire from the State.  Kiddos will graduate and go to college this decade.  Who knows how many animals Glenn and I will bring home in the next 10 years.  But the day turned out pretty great.  My co-workers decorated my office in black crepe paper and pictures of me photoshopped as Sally O'Malley (SNL, google it).  Glenn gifted me a car detailing from an actual detail place and not just me with the shop vac trying to get out the detritus of almost two years of driving teens around.  Reina picked out some really pretty earrings and Will got me a really nice wallet (he dislikes my current wallet and he has opinions about a lot of things).  I also got gift cards and cash and a book. I'm a lucky middle-aged lady.  

Dress shopping with a teen

 Reina had a school dance at the beginning of December and she wanted a winter-y dress to wear.  She showed me some pictures online and finally on Black Friday, we braved the mall to do a little shopping.  

Our first stop was TJ Maxx because I remember finding cute prom dresses there.  Unfortunately we didn't find anything that passed the Reina Test even though I lobbied hard for these festive kitten overalls.  Holiday!  Velvet!  Cat!  Modest!  

Next we went to our only big department store in the mall and hit the jackpot.  The entire junior dress section was full of moms and teens looking for the perfect jr high dance dress.  Some of the dresses were even on sale.  I really liked this one and Reina didn't mind it so we got it as a church dress but not a DANCE dress.  

Reina and her chaperone on the big night. 

The winner!  She was happier than she looks in this picture. 















 

First Day of School

Yesterday was the first day of school for 10th grade and 8th grade.  And yes, I got a little teary-eyed.  It feels like they are slipping through my fingers but that's a lament for another day.  I couldn't get a group shot because Will is taking 0 hour weights which is a fancy way of saying that he takes a class in the wee hours of the morning and it's weight lifting.  He leaves the house before I'm fully conscious but I rallied to get his picture.  

He's growing his hair out along with the majority of the teen boys in society.  The 80s are back!  

Reina goes to school at a slightly more acceptable hour so we snapped a few photos in the sun and with a cat as an ankle accessory.  

 It's only been two days but the school year is off to a good start.  Will travels with the football team to Sheridan tomorrow and Reina has a slumber party on Saturday.  Whoever agreed to hosting a slumber party on the first weekend after school started was obviously not thinking clearly LUCY.  

So this is happening

Will got his driver's permit a few weeks ago.  Yes, it looks like a mugshot.  Yes, you might want to stay off the sidewalks for a little while until he gets the hang of it.  Honestly, he's doing great.  His favorite parent/driving teacher depends on the day.  I was too encouraging when I drove with him.  He did not need/appreciate all of my "good job buddies."  Glenn accidentally instructed him to go through the roundabout and 'wasn't explaining things very well.'   But so far, so good.  

A letter to the birthday boy

"Hey Will, let me take your picture with your cake." 

"Okay, but smile this time." 

Pretending to spit on the cake so that no one else will want to eat it.  

Look at that handsome smile.  

Dear Will:  Today you are 15. FIFTEEN! Don't ask me how that's possible.  (I can hear you answering this question with the perfect blend of sarcasm and science, "Well mom, that's how time works.") I just know it's moving all so fast.  You can read this blog whenever you want now so I won't go into embarrassing details about how cute you are when you are snuggling one of the pets or how your sense of humor is both delightful and exasperating, usually in the same thirty seconds.  You probably won't want me to mention that you were  on the honor roll for your first semester of high school.  You also don't love it that we think you are so handsome.  Daily, I'm reminded that you are taller than me by several inches now and I think your dad's next.  Your voice is so low that a few days ago I heard Glenn talking to someone in the kitchen and I thought that a neighbor had stopped by.  Nope, just my kid.  

Will, I hate that I can't find out about any breaking sports news before you do because your phone beats me to it and I only get a hard start when you are either still asleep or sitting in class without your phone handy.  The day the Broncos signed Russell Wilson.... well let's just say that I don't think a lot of studying was happening during your school day.  You are a knowledgeable sports fan and while you don't always have the "hope springs eternal" view of some of your favorite teams, you are always happy when they do well.  

You discovered Wordle a few weeks ago and you like to send me your screenshots of a successful game and you get mad if I give you too many hints.  You've been preparing for next Fall's football season since the last one ended and you have a new baseball season starting up soon.  Your love of all things sport and competition give your dad and I a lot of joy (and heartache sometimes but mostly joy).  We just love to watch you play.  

Happy fifteenth birthday big kid.  

A letter to the birthday girl

 Dear Reina: 

Today you are 13.  THIRTEEN.  (We have two teens in the house but that's a post for another day.) You were sad last night that you weren't going to be twelve anymore but I reminded you that you've been sad about that just about every other year of your life - "but I don't want to be eight!"  You woke us up early and you unwrapped presents before school - just like every other year.  This year, you asked for and received art supplies, clothes and money for clothes. 

Reina, you are such a cool girl.  I'm sure I say that every year too but it's the truth.  You are making your way through your first year of junior high. You wouldn't say it's been fun but you are making some friends and finding new classes that you enjoy.  You are also taking a bunch of dance classes at night and your schedule is busy.  But you still find time to play your computer games and read books in your free time.  

You have a delightful sense of humor that's getting more um... adult every year.  You love to watch old Saturday Night Live clips on Youtube and cackle at Will Ferrell movies.  You still love a good chick flick.  Your favorite book genre is what I call YA Gothic but I don't know if that's really a category. But you love a good story about a house that's haunted by a disgruntled ghost and the tween/teen has to figure out why.  

You are still our social justice warrior and you have a champion of the underdog.  You are a good friend and you are doing your best to get through this tough time in life (COVID, jr high, social unrest, etc. etc. etc.).  We love you kiddo.  Happiest of birthdays and we can't wait to see what the next year brings you.   

Birthday outfit 

Grandma H's birthday card to you, Queenie.  

Reina's 2nd big game hunt

Glenn and Reina zipped over to location-redacted-by-Glenn-because-hunters-are-weird-about-sharing-spots for a quick hunting trip on Friday.  They had planned to be gone all weekend but our little sharp shooter got her first elk that morning and they were home by dinnertime!  

Glenn texted me this picture on Friday.  He said he has about 40 others but I like this one even though the hunter's eyes are closed.  

Glenn butchered the entire elk today (Saturday) and I helped by wrapping the steaks and stew meat.  We'll tackle the burger another day. I've probably posted a similar picture every year but whenever I label the packages, I think back to my first year - writing '04 on those packages. I was the girlfriend at the time and only had an inkling that wrapping elk steaks would become an annual tradition.  

 

Reina's first big-game hunt

Today's guest post is from our very own Reina who went on her first big-game hunt with Glenn this weekend and shot her first antelope! The comments in parantheses are from the Mom and Dad but the story is Reina's. My hunting trip, this weekend (October 1-2). I went hunting with my father (long time readers of the blog will remember his name is Glenn). We were out in the dry prarie (south-central Wyoming with more sage brush than actual prairie but its semantics) hunting antelope. My dad heard of this area where many antelope lived (according to Glenn - a hunter management area). It was also an area with cattle. We drove at least four hours (maybe a little longer than necessary because SOMEONE left the guns at the house and SOMEONE else called their cell phones a few times but no one answered so SOMEONE thought those must be extra guns that they left out but no. So SOMEONE met them on the interstate so that they wouldn't have to drive all of the way back). Back to Reina: Half of which were getting lost. After hours of driving we found a place to camp and settled for the night. We had seen many antelope but didn't go after any that first night. The stars were very pretty and bright as I tinkled on th,e shoes I borrowed from my dad when I got up in the middle of the night for a bathroom break. (Editor's note, Lucy insisted that this part of the story be added). After a cold, rough night we woke up and went out again for a long hunt, seeing and missing two antelope. I was pretty mad that I missed those shots. After a long time of driving around on a dirt road, we saw another antelope. I wasn't really up for trying to go after one, but my dad convinced me. We had to sneak through the sagebrush and we flushed a flock of sage grouse which my parents think was cool. We got into a spot where we could see the antelope. My dad set up the gun on his backpack. I was worried I was going to miss again but it took one shot and we had a antelope down. I was very happy, but was also ready to go home. We butchered the antelope and loaded up the truck. I helped with the butchering even though it was a little yucky. We got back in the truck and headed back towards home. prepared for a long trip back. In the end I'm glad my dad made me go after the antelope and I was also glad how quickly we got home. I had a great time hunting but I was ready for a nice warm shower. (Glenn wants me to say that he'll remember this trip forever and Reina is a great hunting pal.)

One Day More

A few years ago, a friend from high school posted that she always sang "One Day More" from Les Miserables on the last day before school started and since I read that, I've always giggled and of course I've had that song in my head all day. (I might even be trying to rewrite some of the lyrics to fit... Tomorrow is the judgment day...... tomorrow is the first day of ninth grade and seventh grade..... one more dawn, one more day ONE DAY MOOOOOOOOOOOORE.) So yes, tomorrow is the first day of high school and the first day of junior high for Will and Reina.  The kids are ready. Glenn's ready. I'm mostly ready.  I drove by the elementary school last week on the way home from work and noticed all of the cars and people streaming in for open house night.  I was struck by the fact that none of my monsters spend their days there anymore.  The days are long but the years are short, right?  So I'm getting in a few extra hugs, going over schedules, making sure first day outfits are ready and let's do this!  I'm also making pro and con lists.  Pro's for going back to school?  The house will stay cleaner, the snacks will take slightly longer to be emptied out, and people will be tired enough at night that bedtime won't be (as much of an argument).  Con's?  The pets will miss them, I will miss seeing them at lunch or getting texts during the day about what snacks can and can't be eaten, and people will be too tired at night to behave reasonably. 

I don't need to spend another five paragraphs bemoaning time and aging and giant teenagers who empty the cupboards on a weekly basis so here's a quick note about the week before last.  Long story short, we were exposed to covid-19 and coincidentally came down with summer colds that we convinced ourselves were covid breakthroughs. I took a mail-in test but while we were waiting for results, Glenn started feeling poorly enough that we took him for a rapid test.  He tested negative, I tested negative and it was just a poorly timed summer cold.  We are back to masking in public places, doubling down on hand sanitizer and hoping that everybody stays healthy and school and school activities (FOOTBALL!!) stay on schedule.  

This time last year, I told myself that I'd take the first day of school off and spend the day looking at pictures and crying but instead, I'm hosting a workshop this week which will probably keep me to busy to cry (hopefully for the workshop participants sake anyway).  We're off to a new adventures and I can't wait to see what the school year has in store.  

Reina's Track Meet

A few weeks ago, Reina participated in her last elementary school track meet.  It was the first one that I got to see because I missed 4th grade's event because I was traveling for work and last year it was canceled when school shut down.  But this year, the sun was shining and our girl was at a track meet!  Reina ran the hurdles, did the high jump and was part of the shuttle relay team.  Reina was pretty nervous the night before (she gets that from me!) but she was so much fun to watch.  

Getting ready to hurdle while wearing a mask!  

Post hurdle chit-chat and if you look closely you can see a smile.  

Deep breath before the high jump 

Planning the strategy for the relay.  Just run as fast as you can!  

Reina was disappointed that she missed out on the ribbons but we were so proud of her for getting out of her comfort zone and competing.  That kid is fast when she turns on the heat.  I'm still holding out hope that she'll become my running partner one of these days...even though she's probably too fast for me already.  

8th Grade Promotion

Yesterday was the last day of school (more pictures of that later!) which almost meant the last day of junior high/middle school for Will and the last day of elementary school for Reina.  Yikes!  More lamenting from me later but here are a bunch of pictures of Will dressed up for the 8th grade promotion. 

Handsome boy.  I ironed three different shirts yesterday afternoon until he landed on a combination that worked.  

Will rode to the dance in a giant limo with 13 other 8th grade boys.  I don't think we paid the limo driver enough to put up with this crew.  

Most of the parents met beforehand so that we could take some pictures of their big night.  They cooperated about as well as you can imagine. 

Let's climb the windmill!  No 8th graders were harmed in the taking of this photo.  Will is on the ground to the left. 

Will and Payson have been friends since kindergarten and it's fun to see them head off to high school together.  

 

Guess who got their shots?

Will and Reina were able to get their first vaccination today!  I'm so thankful!  I put their names on a list on Tuesday, got a call from the Children's Clinic yesterday and they got their first shot today.  Mr. Will didn't consent to a picture but he was there too.  Teens.  But hooray for science! 

A Letter to the Birthday Boy

 Dear Will:  Today you are fourteen. 14!  Where has the time gone?  I know, I know. I start every birthday letter with those words - I just change the year.  But seriously, how can I have a fourteen year old?  One more year until you can get a learner's permit?  Eeek!  

A few days ago, you asked me if you could stay home from school today to watch March Madness at celebrate your birthday.  You were still home on a snow day at the time, so I said I'd think about it.  Then school was canceled the next day, then the next and then today school was canceled too.  So you got your wish!  

I'm more cognizant of your privacy as you get older and I hesitate to gush about  all of your weird little idiosyncrasies.  So here's what I will talk about.  Your love your pets.  You continue to come up with intricate backstories for all of them, that changes on a daily basis.  Soxy sleeps on your bed during the day and usually comes to find you at night too.  You rarely call them by their actual name and instead invent of series of nicknames, which also change daily.   

Soxy loves you more than it looks like in this picture 

You also love your sports.  I think football is your favorite but you also go all in on whatever sport season it is.  I can hear your shooting baskets in the hall upstairs even though your basketball season ended a few weeks ago.  You have baseball practice tomorrow morning and your first game is in just a few weeks.  You'll be ready!  You told me a few months ago that you thought you might like to be a coach when you grow up.  I think you'll be terrific at whatever you set your mind to but I also think you'd make a heck of a coach.  

For your birthday, you asked me to make sausage casserole for lunch, you ordered wings for dinner and requested a chocolate cake for dessert.  I make a giant-sized hostess cupcake cake which is your favorite. I pulled this cake out of the oven and showed it to you and you giggled. I inadvertently made you a boob cake for your 14th birthday.  Hmm.  

Will, you are doing really well in school.  Your dad and I are proud of your effort and your grades.  You've registered for high school classes and I'm excited to see what you will learn.  This year you've become much more interested in politics and things in the news.  We have good conversations and you do like a good debate.  You hunt with your dad and every once in a while bail your sister out in her video game.  You let your cousins talk your ear off.  We couldn't be prouder of the young man you are growing up to be.  Happy birthday Will.  

Snow Days

I have to say, I'm a little tired of writing about historic events that we are experiencing from the confinement of our house, but here's another one.  We are digging our way out of the biggest snowstorm our community has experienced since 1979.  We officially had 36 inches of snow from Saturday to Monday.  The kids have Snow Day #3 tomorrow.  Government offices are closed but Glenn and I are working from home.  It's wild to see how much snow is on the ground.  

Reina on top of the pile from cleaning off the driveway. 

Reina sledding down our street before the plow came through.

Will helping Glenn shovel on Monday after the snow started to taper off.

Glenn taking on the sidewalk. He shoveled a path and took on the driveway and then our neighbor came over with his snowblower and helped finish it up.  We are taking him a gift card as soon as we can get out! 

I've had to teach an online class this week so I've missed some of the shoveling and clean-up.  This afternoon, Glenn sent me a message while I was in my class that our grocery store pharmacy was giving out COVID vaccines to anybody who could make it there.  When my class finished up at 3, I put on my snowboots and walked about 2 miles to the store.  On my way there, I kept telling myself not to get my hopes up because there were a lot of people who could easily get to the store because the roads were opening up.  Most of the roads have been plowed but there's just been about an 8 foot wide path cut so only car can get through at a time.  I was able to walk on the road for most of the route, but I did have to slog through some big drifts.  I made it to the store and stood in line behind one other person.  I was handed a clipboard, filled out some information, waited a few more minutes and got my first vaccine.  I knew it was real when the clerk handed me my vaccine passport with a note to come back in April for round 2.  And yes, I got a little teary-eyed.  I'm so glad I can stay healthy and help keep everyone else healthy too.  Even better?  Glenn shoveled a little path to get his truck onto our road and came and picked me up so that I didn't have to walk back home.  It's mostly uphill on the way back so I was happy about that.  Plus, I did a little post-vaccine celebration grocery shopping and stocked up on some items that we were running low on.  All of the roads have been closed in and out of town so store shelves were pretty bare but I grabbed some goodies to tide us over until things open up for good.  

A letter to the birthday girl

Happy 12th birthday Reina girl!  It's so cliche, but how in the heck are you 12?!  This is the last stop on the train to Teenageville, heaven help us all!  I don't want to wish time away so we shall enjoy all of your last year of being a pre-teen.  Well, let's be honest.  We might not enjoy every single second, but we shall get through it together. 

For your birthday, you asked for and received your own gaming system. No more sharing with your brother because let's face it, he stopped sharing it a while ago.  You also got a weighted blanket and some money for clothes.  You are definitely at the point where you have different opinions about your clothes than I do, so it's better that we shop together instead of me buying all of the cat tshirts at Target for you.  You received cards and cash from relatives and you have big plans for all of that money.  Grandma and Pop-pop sent you a box full of goodies and you had fun unwrapping everything early this morning. I wrapped your presents in leftover fabric bags from Christmas so I'm glad you had something with actual birthday paper to unwrap.  

Reina, I can't come up with one word to describe you right now.  You have a delightful sense of humor and will laugh for hours at old (and new) Saturday Night Live videos.  You also love a good chick flick and you'll watch history shows with your dad, as long as they aren't too bloody.  You are very interested in anime and you fill up notebooks with your own drawings.  You are planning to take art in junior high next year and I can't wait to see what you create next. 

You are have strong opinions about the state of the world right now and you are a social justice warrior.  You are a big fan of the underdog and you still ask me if professional athletes are sad when their sports team loses.  You love Hamilton and you watch James Corden's sidewalk musicals whenever you can.  You are hoping that theater camp happens this summer so you can get on stage and do your thing.  

We are so proud of you kid.  You are braver than you know.  You made it through (what I hope will be) the toughest year of your childhood.  You survived home schooling and isolation from your friends and cousins.  You survived me teaching you math and all of our baking adventures.  We didn't get to do any trips and you love to see new places. I hope that your 12th year brings new adventures and excitement (the good kind, not the pandemic kind).  We love you Reina. Happy birthday!!   

Our 15th Anniversary

 

I interrupt this quarantine diary to write a quick bit about our 15th Anniversary.  FIFTEEN!  Our marriage can get a learner's permit.  We celebrated like we usually do, ordered takeout and made vague plans to buy a new compost bin.  I was on board with this plan until I learned that the 15th anniversary's gift is alexandrite and now I might need to rethink that compost bin.  

I posted this picture on Facebook today with a comment about how Glenn asked if I wanted to split a fun size candy bar leftover from Halloween yesterday and despite that ridiculous request (just eat the dang candy bar Glenn!) I'd marry him all over again.  In some ways, the last fifteen years feel like they've flown by.  Other times, I forgot that I didn't know Glenn in high school because it feels like it's been that long.  Do I write that every year?  Well it's still true.  Happy Anniversary honey!

First day of school 2020 style

We made it through the first day of school.  Despite some early morning jitters (mostly by me), everyone got to school on time, with their masks and lunches, backpacks and jeans.  It was cold enough for long pants!  They both woke up early enough that I could get in a few pictures before the 8th grader (gulp!) headed out.  

First day of 8th grader.  

Day 81

The first official day of summer!  I'm sitting here at our messy dining room table.  I can see three laptops, work-related magazines, pieces of paper covered in fractions, markers, a stapler, masking tape (for the bathroom project naturally) and a plastic box filled with crayons, index cards and more mechanical pencils than any family should own.  Maybe later tonight, I'll clear off the school stuff and try to open up some space so that people can actually eat a meal here.  Who are we kidding, this table will look like this until I'm shoveling everything into a tote right before people come over for dinner.  I'm happy that school is wrapped up, but I think I might miss sitting side-by-side working on projects and practicing spanish, reading math word problems (if Jennie starts off with 13 apples and 15 oranges...) and helping write poems.  What I won't miss?  All of the cajoling and following-ups and you-have-a-zoom-call-in-3-minutes-please-change-out-of-your-pajamas-and-why-are-you-still-in-bed?!   But we made it through to the end of the school year and that is definitely something to celebrate.

Yesterday, I took the afternoon off and the kids and Cousin Alena drove west in search of someplace for Will to swim.  That was his only request - a lake to swim in. Oh and some m&m's to eat on the way.  All of the lakes I had in mind had a pesky 'no swimming/no dogs' policy so we ended up hiking in search of a creek big enough to wade in.  Just as we found a good spot, the rain started.  It poured and poured.  Luckily it was warm enough that we mostly just laughed as we hiked/ran/slogged back to the car.  The car ride home was a intoxicating mixture of wet dog and human but the kids were pretty good-natured about all of it.  I hope the rest of our summer goes a little more according-to-plan but I'll take as much of the laughing and shrieking (when the rain got a little cold) as I can get. 

I'm off to pick up Will from baseball practice.  Glenn is fishing with a friend tonight. On my way to baseball, I'm picking up Arby's for dinner.  It doesn't get much more summery than that.