First Day of 8th Grade

The first day of school came and went without any big hoopla.

When I asked Brady how his day was he said, "good."

No school shopping for us this year.  The only new thing he wanted was a backpack.

He did say to me a few days later that none of his  teachers 

have really WOW'd him.

I had to laugh because he has always been a tough sell.  I first noticed when in 1st grade he said that his teacher was not as organized as his kindergarten teacher.  He has had some outstanding teachers and some very average teachers...and I know he really appreciates a good one.  He did say that he has a long term sub in social studies and that he can tell that this guy has a real passion for teaching.  Brady even said that he might send the guy an email letting him know that he's really enjoying being in his class.  Again, I had to laugh to myself!

It's hard to believe that his last year of middle school is underway.  I'm praying for a year like last year.  If there is such a thing as a perfect year, last  year was it.  Brady loved his first year of middle school....the changing of classes, more teachers, more independence, very little homework, no friend drama and honor roll all year.  A couple of his teachers told us at parent teacher conference that Brady walks into class everyday with a smile on his face.  And, that, means everything to us.

So, fingers crossed for another good year.  Things are changing around here with a teenager in the house.  I'm learning to adjust...when to press for more information...and when to let it go.  

Here's to a GREAT school year!

My Petunias

How can tomorrow be July already?

I was sitting outside for a few minutes this afternoon thinking about how quickly

June flew by...and how my flowers are still alive and tomorrow is July 1st and usually my flowers are dead by July.  

I only planted petunias this summer.  I wanted to keep it simple and someone told me petunias

are pretty hearty...and I'm proof they are!

Anyway.... I told myself that I would try 

and post once a month on this neglected blog and I'm trying to stick to it...even if that means

squeezing in a post on the last day of the month! :)

June was super busy and kind of kicked my behind.  I'm tired.  I'm hoping things can

slow down a bit in July.  Lots of good things to remember about June so my goal is to do a post

in the next few days....also hoping to catch up on April and May.  

Happy 4th of July weekend!

A New Love

These days, when Brady isn't on the tennis court, he's playing basketball in our driveway.  Basketball doesn't come quite as easily for him as tennis...but he is determined to get better before the next basketball season starts.  He really really likes it.   And one thing that Brady understands is that to get better at anything...you have to work at it.  He reminds me of someone I  use to know.  ;)

The other day I took some pictures with my phone. On this day, he didn't even come into the house after school to change his clothes before he grabbed his basketball.

February/March

I'm going to combine February and March happenings that I want to remember....... those months are already becoming a little blurry so I better hurry up and get them documented!  

So, in no particular order.....

Except this first one...we celebrated my birthday on Feb. 1st.  I laid on the couch all day not feeling well.  So, we actually didn't do too much celebrating....we ordered subs out, I had a slice of cheesecake and I was with my two favorite guys so all is good. ;)

Brady got his brace off and got back to the tennis court.

We had a couple of snow days.

We went to watch many high school basketball games...

which meant lots of trips to McDonald's and lots of driving 

friends home after the games.

Our neighbor had a Chinese New Year party....lots of great food, a photo booth and fireworks.  We really had a fun evening.  Her party happened to be on Super Bowl evening...and I must say that my husband is such a trooper.  He dvr'd the game and watched it later that night...not once complaining.  One of the many reason I am lucky to be married to him. :)

We've been in our home almost eleven years...and we finally

have curtains in the dining room for the first time!  I think they need to be a little longer...but whatever.  We're not too picky over here.  It really does make the room feel more put together.

Hanging the curtains motivated me to put a few other things 

on the wall.  I don't make decisions very quickly or easily when it comes to decorating...but when I saw the cow print at Home Goods, I wanted it right away.  We tease Brady that we bought the picture to remind him not to "chew like a cow."

We kind of like chicken wings around here!  And I'm sad to say we ate almost all of those!

We celebrated Eric's birthday.  I made his favorite (like I do every year on his birthday) biscuits and gravy.

We had an unseasonably warm Saturday and went on a big

hike.  We found a place we had never been to before...and other than my brief panic attack over a very small snake...it was a much enjoyed afternoon.  It's amazing what some fresh air and exercise can do for ones cooped up (over the winter) spirit.

Eric began his tenth season as the high school tennis coach.

(five years with the boys and five with the girls)

He had a record high 17 guys on the team this year and so 

Brady was his assistant and helped with every practice.

Eric says that Brady does a great job and the guys all jump at the chance to work with him.  I have a feeling Brady is going to be an awesome coach one day.

Brady made me this beautiful cutting board in wood shop.

I love it so much and want to figure out how to display it in my kitchen.  Brady doesn't understand why I don't want to "use" it.  It's kind of been an ongoing disagreement...I tell him I want to keep it forever and don't want to ruin it...and he tells me he made it for me to use and that's what it's for.  

We celebrated Brady's 13th birthday.  I talked about it here.

He always looks forward to his kit kat cake!

Brady played in and won his first tournament back after being out for awhile.  He had some tough matches to get through...but he's a fighter out there.  Interestingly, when Brady played his first ever tournament five and a half years ago, this was the boy he played against and lost.  The boy was older and bigger and better...and Brady didn't win a single game.  But, Brady came off the court with a big smile on his face and wondered when he could do it all again.

This time....on this day...the outcome was a little different.

Eric and I attended Brady's conference at the middle school.

(It appears that we were the only ones there!)

It was a great conference....the teachers all said similar things- Brady's a leader and helpful to others, he learns easily and he always participates.  And then four out of the five teachers said he is a bit "social."  (And, we all know what that means!)

But, the most important thing I heard was that Brady is respectful and he comes to class everyday with a smile on his face.  That is good enough for me :)

And last but not least...we celebrated Easter.

Congrats if you made it all the way through this long post!

I need to learn to do shorter posts more often...that is the key.

I'm a work in progress!

13

This handsome guy became a teenager on March 19th and I 

couldn't let the month get away from me without posting about his day...even if it is the last day of the month! Sometimes we get busy and my thinking for this blog has become better late than never! 

Brady's birthday was on a Saturday....isn't that the best day to have a birthday?!  I think so.  

I made his favorite kit kat cake like I do every year.  While I was busy working on his cake, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude and happiness come over me.  I later told Brady that while I was making his cake I spent time praying for him and his year ahead.  A hug and an "I love you Mom" came next.   I love that boy of mine so much.

The only thing he wanted for his birthday was Steph Curry shoes.

Brady didn't want to have a party out somewhere or have friends or family over.

We tried to change his mind and gave him lots of ideas....but he wanted it to be just us.  He also didn't want to do anything other than go out for a steak dinner.  Brady is a fairly easy kid in that way...he's pretty low key and doesn't like the focus to be on him.  Sometimes this is hard for me because I only have one and I like to celebrate and make a big fuss.  Oh well...maybe next time. ;)

Eric called me from work the day before Brady's birthday with an idea.  He saw where this 80's rock band was playing downtown at a nightclub and ALL ages were welcome.  It didn't take me long to say YES, lets go!  Let me just say first that Brady loves music and is a HUGE 80's fan.  I think he knows more 80's music than I do!  Actually he knows ALL genres of music more than I do!  Anyway, I was pretty sure he would enjoy going to see this band....

And, we were right!

  I was relieved that he was excited about our plans.   

Look how tall he is!  He's almost 5'8!

So, after his steak dinner out, we headed over to the Chameleon Club.  Never in a million years did I think we would take our 13 yr old into a nightclub.  And, if you think less of me, I am sorry.  Sometimes as parents we make tough decisions....and what might be okay for one family might not be okay for another.  Brady has always been pretty mature and continues to impress us with the choices he makes for himself.  So...off we went!

This is how close we were able to be to the stage. We were obviously one of the first ones there!

The band was so FUN and we had such a good time!    We loved watching Brady sing along and he had a smile on his face the entire time.  Eric and I might not get "parents of the year" but we're okay with that.  

I have several videos from that night and I'm hoping to post at least one of them....but I will need help from my teenager.  So check back!  

And, if you grew up in the 80's like I did, you would love the Reagan Years!

They are from Maryland, but I believe they get around!

100 Wins

.  

This past summer, Brady had his 100th tournament match win. 

Brady wasn't aware of this until we told him after his match.

If he celebrated that little fact, it was for about half a minute.  That's just how he rolls.  

100 wins. 

So proud of you!

Here's to many more!

80's Kid

A few weeks ago I found an envelope in Brady's backpack with

his basketball pictures in it.  At first glance, I thought, nice picture....but something didn't quite look right. Then, I saw it!  

There's a shadow behind Brady's head and it looks like he has a mullet!

mul·let¹

ˈmələt/

{noun}

1. a hairstyle in which the hair is cut short at the front and sides and left long in back.

I'm so glad Brady was in bed and hopefully asleep because Eric and

I had the best laugh ever.  We were doubled over with tears kind of laughing!  We grew up in the 80's so this is funny stuff to us!   I need to find a picture of Eric when he played basketball in the 80's and compare it to Brady's picture.  Eric had a real mullet. :)

Let's take another look at that handsome boy in the 2nd row.

January

If I had to sum up January in two words I would say SLOW and EXPENSIVE.  We had to get a new hot water heater and a new vehicle...among a few other things that I won't mention.  We were also stuck inside for periods of time due to the freezing temps and a snow storm...which made for long days.  But, there were good days too and things I want to remember.  So, here goes...

We went to many basketball games.  Most nights...I watched

four games- junior high, ninth grade, junior varsity and varsity.

That's a lot of bleacher sitting!  It's a good thing I love basketball!

Eric coaches the junior varsity team.  Man, that guy was meant

to be a coach.  He has such a great connection with the kids ...and parents seem to really appreciate how much he cares.  I could do an entire post on Eric as a coach. Two years ago Eric was named COACH OF THE YEAR in our school district.  Brady and I were so proud of him.

Brady had a sleepover with two friends he has had since

preschool.  They both go to school in the next time over.

 My dad came to visit for a week.  We played lots of Scrabble, did lots of visiting and it was fun to go to a couple of

diners in our area. (My dad really likes diners!) Eric and Brady also

took my dad to see the movie Daddy's Home.

Brady broke his foot the day after my dad came into town.

We got over 27" of snow in a three day stretch. School was

cancelled a couple of days and we had a couple of delays.

We did a lot of laying around on the couch....and watched the

entire series of Breaking Bad.  Boy was it a great show!

I did some crafting.  I made close to 100 necklaces.  They were so

fun to make...I just couldn't stop!  But now I need to figure out how to get rid of them!  Craft show?

Eric and I had a date night.  It was a good one!

(Hon, I think we need another one soon!)

Hope everyone is having a great February!