Since Scott had to work most of Spring Break, the boys and I took Grandpa to explore Shenandoah National Park. We spent two nights and three days exploring a really beautiful part of the country. At night, our airbnb had a hot tub and I can’t remember when I have been able to see that many stars in the night sky as we could then. Grandpa is endlessly patient and is always willing to go with the flow the views were amazing and we even saw a little snow.
Last week, this happened.
This year is the first time since Aiden was in 4th grade that his school is allowing field trips. His 8th grade class got a big one too – Washington, DC! It was a 5am start time, 8 hour bus ride up there and back, and three days filled with as many museums and memorials as they could pack in. Guess who was a chaperone? No, not me. Scott! I have chaperoned many field trips with Aiden and Court and was very glad to pass the torch onto him for this grand adventure. And I think Scott is actually glad that he went. Aiden had a good time but he was absolutely exhausted. I am so glad that he got some 8th grade field trip memories to hold onto – it seems like a right of passage that I was afraid he was going to miss!
I think in all the years (14!) that I have kept this blog, I am not sure that I have ever been this behind in posting something! This Spring has been so so so busy. Aiden ran track and played basketball for his AAU team and Court played lacrosse. I have experienced many sports schedules in my day, but I have never had a more unpredictable and constantly changing schedule than Court’s lacrosse team’s. I have just been piecing it together everyday but now that lacrosse is over and Aiden’s track is almost over, I can come up for air and post something a bit more consistently…at least I hope.
My parents recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary!! What a great example of marriage for both of Aiden and Court’s grandparents to have been married for 50 years. Very impressive! We celebrated with an anniversary lunch and board games filled with lots of laughter and cookie cake too!
In our school system, 6th graders are not allowed to compete in middle school sports. They have to wait until 7th and 8th grade to play. But, there are some club sports that are not officially sponsored by our school district where 6th graders can play. So, Court signed up to play lacrosse for his middle school this year! He has no idea what he’s doing but he is absolutely loving it. Many of his friends are playing with him and it is definitely helping him get into better shape. Now I just have to learn the rules so I can understand what’s happening in the games!
For months, Aiden has been asking to go to a sneaker convention that was coming to Charlotte. I was dreading it. Being stuck on a Saturday in a warehouse of people trying to sell used sneakers while it’s sunny and gorgeous outside isn’t exactly my ideal weekend. But, I am finding that even if I am not personally interested in what my boys interested in at this age, it’s good for me to jump into it anyway and make myself learn about it to build our relationship. I know WAY more about cars than I ever thought I would in life thanks to Aiden. I have never picked up a guitar before I started taking lessons with Court in the fall. But I digress. Surprisingly, Sneaker Con was actually a good learning experience. Aiden sold two pairs of sneakers that he had purchased in the past but has outgrown. Court sold one pair of his sneakers and purchased another. The boys had to look adults in the eye and negotiate a good deal for their sneakers and talk vendors down for the sneakers they came home with. Not a bad afternoon after all.
My mom says that when I was growing up, I loved to experiment with cooking, crafts, painting, and anything else that made a massive mess that she would have to clean up. Looks like the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree. Court has been experimenting a lot lately with cooking and painting. Luckily, the Posca markers Grandma and Grandpa gave Court for Christmas keeps the mess to a minimum.
Look who has FINALLY lost all of his baby teeth and is moving on to Invisalign? Court!
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