Will I miss this someday?

Spencer spends basically all of his time when he's not as school, rehearsal and sleeping in our office.  So much so that my five year old nephew calls the room "Spencer's office".  I am not looking for a parent of the year award for this but if you think about it, there are a lot of worse things an eighteen year old kid could be doing. 

What drives me the most crazy about the whole thing is the MESS.  Do you see the container of week old popcorn?  The two half drunk two liters on the floor?  The almost gone soda on the desk?  The two sips out of it water bottle on the desk?  Why does someone need so many drinks at an arms length?   

I am not absent from fault.  The room is a hot mess to begin with.  One of my goals with my new flexible work schedule is to get the house organized and this room is one that I don't even know where to start. 

I keep thinking to myself that someday he won't live here anymore and maybe I will miss his god awful mess.  But will I?   At least that's what I tell myself as I try to resist the temptation to pick up the dirty socks on the floor so I can make him do it himself when he gets home.

The most sincere pumpkin patch we can find

Being completely transparent, two of my three children were not super enthused about going to the pumpkin patch this year.  I may have pulled out massive amounts of guilt like "you might be away at college next year" and "this might be the last time we ever go to a pumpkin patch as a family".  It worked and we set out to the patch that we found last year for a hour or so of forced family fun. 

Once he got in the sunlight and fresh air, Evan started to enjoy the patch a little bit.  Spencer not so much.

How can someone not have fun here?  It was such a pretty day.

Two of my children of the corn.

Someone is always grumpy in the corn maze.

And seriously?  This is not a hard corn maze.  You can basically see the exit anywhere you are in the thing.   Last year in the maze Hailey was seriously hangry.   This year we had Spencer who didn't want to be there in the first place and apparently wasn't feeling great in the tummy (which he didn't tell me until later).

Evan pose?  He didn't have to use the bathroom so I don't know what was up with him.

Forced family fun selfie in the corn!  I am so glad we discovered Bethke Farms last year.  It is just what we want - pumpkins and a little corn maze.  It is just about as bare bones as a patch can be and that is how we like it.

We will be back next year - at least most of us will.  Sob.

Homecoming 2019

I feel like I blew it a little bit in documenting the spirit week outfits for this year's homecoming.   I did get a few of the creations, so here they are.

The HS had a travel theme this year.  Monday was Florida.  Evan decked out in his beach attire.  Spencer didn't really dress any differently. 

The MS had a meme vs. vine day and Hailey didn't want to do it.  Honestly, I am not sure if I even would KNOW how to do it. 

Tuesday was a western theme at both school.  I didn't get a picture of them all together because they are rarely all ready at the same time.

Evan and his horse.  We didn't know if the mask would be allowed so he brought a hat as well.

Wednesday was Rainbow vs. Black/White/Gray day at the MS.   Hailey just wore what she wears almost every day.

The HS theme for the day was Colorado - dress in your ski gear.  Spencer wore our giant snowsuit.  Evan brought snow pants and a hat and other cold weather stuff but was at breakfast with his friends before school.   It was a late start Wednesday.

Thursday was twin or group day at the MS.  Hailey and some friends went as Teletubbies.

HS theme was Oregon(Hippie) vs. New York(Preppy).  Evan went hippie.  Spencer went preppy.

Friday is always Blue and White Sailor pride day.  The boys both went their own directions.  Hailey didn't dress up because she is on her way to visit her cousins for the weekend and got to ditch school.

The boys were supposed to walk in the parade with their Players group but the parade kind of got rained out.   There were about five or so groups still in it, but it was miserable to watch and probably more so to walk in.

At least the rain cleared up for Saturday and the homecoming dance. 

Evan's girlfriend could not go to the dance because she had a previous commitment to act in a show downtown on the same night.  Evan had her over before she had to show up to her call for their own dance beforehand.  How sweet is my baby boy?

Later Evan had all his guys over for BROCO 2019. 

Spencer went to pick up his girlfriend and brought her back for photos so I was able to get a few of them and then my two handsome boys together.

Always so dramatic!  I heard they all had a nice time at the dance so I guess HOCO 2019 was a success.

30 days hath September

It's October first and I am actually doing a September recap!  I am not sure what kind of stars have aligned to make this happen but YAY!

September kind of officially started with the back to school photos of the previous post, but taking off from there...

Evan came home from the first day with quite a load of homework.  I guess that's how they role when you are a smarty pants.  Those advanced classes are no joke. 

Evan finally had some home matches in his JV tennis season.  I love watching him play.  I am always on the edge of my seat thinking there is no way he will make it to to the ball or get the shot.  Those guys are fast!  There is no way I could move like they do.

On September 11th, Evan went with his scout troop to Grand Rapids to the Gerald Ford Museum to participate in the 9/11 Salute.  That day is still surreal to me.  The fact that Evan wasn't even born when when it all happened.  Spencer was six weeks old and we all suddenly thought the world was ending.  Scary times.

Hailey had her first project of the year.  They had to glue pictures of them and pictures of the things that made them unique.  They could use a CD or for extra credit fill up an old school record.  Hailey wanted to do the record which surprised me but was actually genius.  By using the record we could print pictures regular size.  When the boys did this in 7th grade and used the CD the biggest pain in the butt was shrinking everything down.  Big record is the way to go! We found an old record to use at Grama's house and viola!

Evan got all decked out for the Sailor Salute.

This is one of my favorite events of the year.  It is always really cool and so much fun. I love that we can all participate in it together.  This year was even more special because our school was playing Trent's school in football and they invited anyone from RP who wanted to sing to join in.

Evan was one of the giant flag unfurlers.

Hailey hanging out outside and making some art.

Trent and Rich took the boys up north for the youth hunt.  They seemed a little tired on Saturday afternoon.

Evan was successful on Saturday evening and shot a spike.

All of Trent's dreams came true when he finally got a "new to us" car that was for him.  For the past years I have gotten the new vehicle and he took the hand me down.  He LOVES his new truck.

Evan went on a scout trip to Mackinac Island.  Our tracker picked him up on the ferry but it looks like he was in the middle of the lake.

There were loads of politicians on the island with the scouts.  Evan and a bunch of other scouts got to have a photo op with the VP.  Evan's only comment was that the secret service don't joke around much.

Someone celebrated a big birthday in September.

I was looking for a photo of Trent to post on FB for his birthday.  While skimming through old albums I saw this picture of him and did a double take because I thought it was Evan.  Most of the time our boys resemble old photos of me or my dad.  It is rare to find one where they look so much like Trent.

Hailey was insistent that we needed to get the big number balloons for him. 

The day after the big birthday was our 22nd anniversary.  We had Hailey take our annual anniversary photo.  I kept telling her to just take it from the waist up but she insisted on a full body.  She is so funny.

We celebrated Trent's birthday on our anniversary by having a little get together with friends at his favorite brewery.  It was a fun night.

That was our September.  I am looking forward to what October brings.  It is one of my favorite months of the year.