My Dad

My Dad had to have open heart surgery this summer. It was a big surgery - one valve replaced and another cleaned. Thank goodness, the surgery went very well and he recovered perfectly! He was having a very high heart rate- so much so that he wouldn't be able to take more than a couple of steps at a time and ended up at the emergency room (something he would avoid at all costs!) multiple times in a short period of time. After his surgery, he spent a week in the cardiac ICU at Methodist and then was transitioned to a rehab facility for three weeks. I made daily trips up to Methodist and then every couple of days to the rehab facility.  I'm so grateful that he recovered so well. 

Sitting in a chair a couple of days after surgery.  Sharon was there almost nonstop and the sitting and trips back and forth took a toll on her as well. 

At the rehab facility - which thankfully was very near their house - once he was able to walk and thought it would be fun to have a pic of him pushing the boys.  Just a week before, he was working so hard to walk on his own.❤️

He is now almost finished with his physical therapy but we went to one of his appointments and the boys got to monitor his heart rate while he was exercising which they thought was pretty fun. 

Then recently the 5 kids threw a surprise party for him and Sharon to celebrate their 25th anniversary. It was very sweet - and a lot to celebrate! 💕

2026 and 2028

First Two Weeks

Great first two weeks of school for the boys! First week was easy and then this past week started the nightly homework and weekly tests. Both boys got 100% on their Wednesday pretests so neither had to take their spelling test on Friday.  Will now has the following tests: spelling, sentence, language, and a test over their story of the week. 

They also had the Barn Hill Preserve visit their school with some exotic animals and they had the chance to have their picture taken with one of the animals. Will chose the baby sloth (how precious!!) and Dane chose the bearded dragon. 

Problems and Goals

Will told me today that he wasn't sure if he wanted his first car that he buys to be a Bugatti Veyron anymore. (Cost $1.5 million by the way). I asked him why and he said that you can only drive about 3000 miles and then you have to replace the tires "and they cost 80 GRAND."

He also said that besides being an NFL player when he grows up he plans to be just like Usain Bolt, but faster. 

I don't think one of the things we need to work on is his level of confidence.  

Will and Nana doing the Bolt.

Michigan 2016 Summer

We were able to take our couple off weeks up in Michigan again this summer and it was as wonderful as always. 

The trip started with us and the Dunscombes over the weekend of the 4th of July.  The kids had a great time (except for one blow up fight:) and we did lots of walking on the beach, watching fireworks, swimming, we hiked the dune, ate at the Brown Bear, spent a small fortune on candy at the Cosmic Candy Co. and the adults had a great time hanging out, relaxing, and an especially fun game of Cards Against Humanity..

When Luke and the Dunscombes left it was just the boys and me for a few days.  I usually try to treat them to an "Ice Cream For Dinner" night and they LOVE it.  They talk about it here and there throughout the whole year.  It's a fun tradition. 

Our handsome boys.

I took them to A.J.'s again this year.  It's another fun thing that I try to do with them while we're up each summer.  We play 18 holes of miniature golf and do a little go-cart racing.  Next year Dane might be old enough to drive his own, but for now it's Will vs. Dane and Momma. 

There were some great waves this year.  Will especially got in a lot of boogie boarding. 

Nana and Grandpa arrived and we enjoyed a few days with them.  This was a fun walk after a hard rain and the boys love stomping around in this corner where water gathers.

Also, the neighbors have two grandsons that are the same ages as Will and Dane.  Actually, the 4 boys are Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades.  We've all been (kind of) patiently waiting for them to want to play together!  They see each other occasionally throughout the years and they've never really connected - until this trip.  They wanted to play the whole time-  Finally!  They played in the woods, they played in the water, they played games of Battleship.  It's so fun to see them finally all hang out and I can't wait for them to get to grow up and see each other up in Michigan through the years. 

The Riveire's arrived a few days later.  One day Chuck and I walked down to the outlet with the boys and Madalynn.  It was the first time ever - ever - that we were the only ones there!  It's hard to see, but I had to take a panoramic pic in order to capture the moment.  It was fun. 

Our great neighbors George and Cyndy had their annual party while we were up.  It was a Jimmy Buffet theme, complete with live Jimmy Buffet music, photo ops, ourdoor bar, etc.  It almost felt like you were entering a different place when you got there.  No detail was left out.  My mom, Tricia and I went over for a while.  I went over to help them prepare the day before, and my mom stayed late to help clean up the kitchen a bit.   They are such dear friends.  We invited them over for a low country boil a few nights later and had a great time. 

Will has run with me a number of times up in Michigan.  I run a 2.5 mile route and this year Dane wanted to go with me for the first time.  This little one ran the entire way.  No complaints.  Barely winded.  Our boys are pretty incredible.  

Will and Brinks relaxing and coloring one evening.  (Brinks was festive in her leis from the Jimmy Buffet party)

I'm so grateful for our home away from home.  So grateful that the boys will grow up with Michigan a part of them and in their hearts. 

Family Camping Trip

I wasn't great about keeping up with my posts this summer so I'm going to add in the highlights now.  We took a Payton Family camping/roadtrip in late June.  The four of us, Sonny, Terri and Mike, Landon and Payton, and Grandma Party and Aunt Yvonne all caravaned to Missouri.  It was an action packed 3 day trip and a LOT of fun. 

Here is a pic of us before we were leaving (very early) the first morning.  The sun had just risen and the caravan was our Jeep, Terri and Mikes SUV pulling their teardrop camper, and then Sonny's truck pulling his camper.

The St. Louis Arch.

We split up once we got to St. Louis.  Terri and I, Grandma, and all the boys went to the City Museum.  It was so cool.  We had heard amazing things about it and it surpassed all of our expectations.  It was really incredible and we were there most of the day and could have stayed much longer. 

So much fun!

Luke, Sonny, Mike and Yvonne all went to the Anheuser Bush Brewery while we went to the museum.  They also had a great time touring the brewery and of course sampling the fresh Budweiser.

After we left St. Louis, we went to Arrow Rock State Park and set up camp.  It was a very clean and nice campground that is settled next to the Louis and Clark Trail.  Lots of history there including a small town with the original Tavern where people traveling along the trail would stop. 

Boys on a portion of the Louis and Clark trail.

Payton, Will, Landon, and Dane in front of the Missouri River.

We spent 2 nights at the campground and then left early on Sunday morning and headed for Warm Springs Ranch.  It is the largest Clydesdale farm in the world and it was really amazing to tour.  The horses are so magical and large and beautiful.  They are cared for so well it was really neat to see and learn about.  Sonny had always wanted to visit the Ranch and we were so glad to make it happen for him.

On the way home after the tour, we stopped at a BBQ restaurant in St. Louis and had some awesome BBQ.  It was so good and the perfect end to our trip.  I must mention (for the purpose of looking back and remembering) that after we left St. Louis we were rolling down the highway and Sonny's big nice truck began having problems.  (definitely not the vehicle we expected)  We all pulled over at the next exit that happened to be the perfect place.  It was safely off the highway at a gas station.  During the 2 hours we were pulled over and were trying to figure out what we needed to do, a huge rainstorm rolled in just as we were shuffling cars and people and bags.  All of us except Sonny and Terri headed back home sopping wet and it continued to storm the entire way. Sonny and Terri stayed at a hotel there after we (by the grace of God) found someone to tow his truck to a Chevy dealership in a town nearby.  We left the camper at the gas station and they were able to have his truck repaired by noon the next day and they made it home that afternoon. 

It was a really fun trip and one that we will remember for a lifetime. 

My Pillar

I went to have lunch with my little loves on the 2nd day of school - knowing that my options to have lunch with them once I start work next week will be limited. When I walked in the school, the first thing I saw was Danes picture on the wall in the front entrance of the school for being awarded Pillar of Paragon from last year. His picture will remain there until the new Pillars are awarded after the first 9 weeks is over. Way to go Dane!!!

First and Third!

The summer goes by in a flash. In fact, the last 9 years have gone by in a flash. I simply cannot believe my little loves started school today for their 1st and 3rd grade years. They came home with big smiles and told me all about their first day. All went well and our hearts are so happy.  I'm so excited Dane has Mrs. Baker, the same teacher Will had for first grade - we loved her. Will has Mrs. Green and she seems great so far as well. Will is in class with ALL his friends. Not sure how they lucked out like that but we're saying some extra prayers for Mrs. Green this year 😁 

We've been pretty spoiled this summer and the alarm clock rang earlier today than what we've been used to. Rosco wasn't quite ready for the first day of school. Poor Big Dog. 

Football!

Football season has started and this little football player is the cutest! He is having so much fun and really enjoying it so far. He had football camp for a week and is in the 2nd week of practice and each week it's been from 6-8 Monday-Thursday. The practices have been long and it's been HOT.  They've been troopers, practicing in full pads and helmets when it's been so hot. He has his first game on Saturday and we're all pretty excited about the season starting. Go Jets!!