Where does the time go?

Wow, it has been a long while since I last posted in here.
I really don't like for it to go that long, but life interferes, and with new options for documenting life such as Instagram, I feel the need to write down everything in here less and less.
But, not being able to go back and read these will leave a hole.
SO, what's going on with us?
Well, Cole recently turned 8, and is growing like a weed. Every time I turn around, I feel like I am switching out his closet. He played basketball and indoor soccer this winter, and is playing soccer this spring, and looking forward to basketball and golf this summer.
I remind him he is my baby, but he is no baby anymore, and really not even a little boy. He's reading chapter books for school, and I love watching him learn, and find new things he is interested in and good at.
Jax is Big Man on Campus, being a 6th grader this year at Oak Grove Elementary.
We have struggled with 6th grade! There is so much homework. We were not mentally prepared for that! But, we are powering through and now only have a few weeks left before he is a big middle schooler. How did that happen? Didn't they just announce "It's a BOY" and hand his little newborn squawking self to me like yesterday? Time flies, as they say.
Jax played basketball this winter and had a great time, but is really excited for golf this summer.
He has chosen to play in an individual tournament series, and on a team for a separate tournament series. This should be a fun and busy summer.
Also, I think I should mention, that any morning now, I will wake up and he will be taller than me. He's staring me in the eye, but I've still got him by about half an inch.
This is one of the things about parenthood I wasn't able to envision. For some reason, for their entire childhood, it is hard for me to picture them bigger than me, or as grown-ups.


Last summer, the boys went to a childcare facility on the days I worked, but this summer Jackson had aged out of that, so we decided to go the nanny route again. Kenna O'Riley, a local high schooler, will be keeping them a couple of days a week, and they are super excited. This means pool days, and sleeping in, and hikes, and fun! I'm even excited for them.


We have a family vacation coming up. We leave for Puerto Vallarta, Mexico on Jackson's birthday, May 29th. TJ had requested we have a "down year" for vacation in 2018, and I was doing my best to comply, booking us for a stay in Branson toward the end of May.
And then, we were at a charity auction late last fall, and this trip was on the auction block, and I said, "that would be perfect with the boys!" I barely got it out of my mouth, and TJ went to bidding, and before I knew it, we were the proud owners of a 7-night vacation with choice of location. So much for low-key 2018 vacay. Well, that escalated quickly!


So, we are staying busy. And having fun!
That's the key, I think.


Our family is a little bit of crazy, a little bit of loud (ok, maybe a lot of bit) and a whole lot of love.