Science Fair, Grandparents, Tennis Lessons

 Sunday I spent in the kitchen, but because I wanted to -- I just didn't want to turn off Project Hail Mary so I kept thinking of other things to bake and cook. The boys played outside in some glorious sunshine.

Tuesday was the science fair, and the boys worked hard! Camden got second place in kindergarten, and Westin got third place in 5th grade. 

Grandma and Grandpa came into town this weekend so that on Sunday Grandpa can set Michael apart as a high priest. We love when we can have a few days with them.

I woke up at 2 a.m. this week to get tickets to the Anne Frank House for our trip next month. Success! And one night Jamie and Alison came over for our online book club Zoom with Kamala Harris. I loved hearing from her. So much. What a mess our country chose.

We fed the missionaries this week and Westin loved going tubing with the young men for their activity.

The boys plus mom started tennis lessons on Saturday. Camden and Asher are together, then Bennett, then Westin and I do separate lessons at the same time. It's fun to do these group lessons through the city. My goal is to keep both ankles functioning this year :)

Sunday baking when I just want to keep listening to Project Hail Mary.

Kitty...
This is why you put your coat away :)

Second place for Camden man!

Third place for these guys,
and all fifth graders are required to do the fair so this was quite the accomplishment.

1,000 pieces, done!
We're slowly making daddy a puzzle person.

Asher and our neighbor were playing outside together when all the big kids were at school.
This was their first time doing that solo and I thought it was so cute.

Lego boys.

Lately Asher has opted to walk to pick up instead of ride his bike,
and it makes for some sweet conversation while I'm holding his little hand.

Football with Grandpa between tennis lessons.

A rainy walk to school.

Mother's Day with the Bad Ankle

We started this week with Bennett's Old Town Fort Collins field trip, which is a second grade thing here that I just love. They learn about our town's history during the year and in May they go on a walking field trip all through downtown, with parents at different spots all along the route to teach about the history of certain spots. My friend Jamie watched Asher so that I could go teach about the old train station that is now a Brazilian restaurant :) 

Bennett is loving karate. Westin is liking tennis and not loving piano. Asher is a hilarious chatterbox and Camden is such a sweet little guy. These guys all play with magnets together constantly and they're so creative. I think the little boys' favorite part of the week was when we rescued a bunny out of our window well. The cutest little thing!

On Saturday Michael had to go to Denver for the day for a CDA meeting. I ran Westin to tennis, ran him home, put Asher down for his nap, then rushed over for my tennis lessons. I was having SO much fun and just thinking about how happy I was to be doing something new and feeling healthy again after years of not feeling like myself. Then in the last two minutes of lessons I jumped up to return a ball, and came down completely on the side of my ankle. The sound will haunt me. I hit the ground with instant nausea and just knew I had really messed it up. I felt so, so sad. My first thought was, "I don't have time for this."

My tennis people (who are basically strangers, let's be honest) were so kind and helped me hobble over to a bench, then 15 minutes later someone helped me hobble to my car after my nausea had faded. My drive home was full of lots of pain and tears. And I hobbled to the couch and didn't leave it for the next 12 hours. Westin was so sweet. I had pizza delivered for the boys from the couch. I texted Michael a bunch of discouraged messages. I was just so sad that I sprained my summer. And going on walks does so much for my mental health. 

Sunday it was feeling and looking worse so I went to the Urgent Care, but they luckily told me it wasn't broken. Just a sprain that I'm sure will take a while to heal. I sprained my summer.

That was the shortest tennis career... dang it.

But Mother's Day was still really sweet with my cute boys. I think it was considerate of me to need extra pampering on a day I am supposed to have extra pampering. Well-planned. Michael doesn't usually carry me up the stairs on Mother's Day but maybe it's a new tradition.

Morning chatterbox.
I love tired eyes and stories of dreams.

This new mural downtown warms my heart. I love where we live.

One of my forever favorite meals.
Just a greek chicken salad, but always happy to eat it.

Nursery trip with the little dudes.

Asher always tells Michael to stop at Starbucks and check for coffee grounds for the garden.
Michael almost always obliges.

Just want him to fit on my lap forever.

We have never seen anything like this!
We cross this bridge every day to school and the ditch never has any water in it.
SOMEtimes there will be just a tiny bit. 
It rained and rained and rained and the water almost reached the bridge. One of the trees got struck by lightning at the school. Such a wild storm and I just LOVED it.

Oatmeal buddies. Asher wanted to eat like that.

Camden had a farm field trip and he had such a good time.

Spinning cutie. A little girl came up to help me spin him and he immediately shut it down haha.
This kid trusts mom and dad, MAYBE brothers, and that's it.

A new little window well friend! I kept thinking I saw movement when I was vacuuming in the basement and sure enough, there was this little guy. 

I climbed in and rescued him (with gloves and a fast-beating heart because #creatures) and Camden and Asher cheered me on. Really such a cute little thing.

These boys are train obsessed so we went to Sugar Beet Park and had a few good sightings.

My view... swollen and bandaged and feels like I sprained my summer.

I love this bench crew of mine.

Best Mother's Day flowers

Family (Dental) Visits

A week getting back in the swing of things!

Monday marked THIRTEEN years married for Michael and me! I think last week counted as our celebration :)

Michael took Lydia's wisdom teeth out on Monday, sweet girl. She did pretty well and they flew home together on Tuesday. The boys were so sad to see them go and so was I. We were lucky to have that time with them this month!

On Wednesday Ed and Sally came. I feel bad that Ed has had some issues with his tooth but selfishly so happy it has meant seeing them more frequently for some dental visits! The boys love playing games with grandma and grandpa and biking to Sprouts for some sushi.

On Friday night we had an end of year party for Michael's study club, and Diane and I danced basically the entire night with some new dentist friends of ours haha. The DJ just handed Diane his card and said, "I feel like you'll need this at some point." She's just a walking party. I had so much fun dancing for two hours.

Saturday was the first week of tennis lessons for Westin and me. This will be fun to try something new! We're just doing group lessons through the city, but my favorite part was riding bikes there with him and having a picnic between our lessons together. I also loved looking over at him during my lessons -- he was just playing by the little stream, building things with sticks and flowers, throwing any stray tennis balls back over to us. He wasn't bored or grumpy, he was content and sweet. I had forgotten to tell him to bring a book and it didn't even matter. I love that he doesn't need screens. Such a sweet kid with a love for nature.

That night we went to a fish and chips food truck with the Schmidts and then went to see one of our young women in an Addams Family play. She did such a great job! 

Happy anniversary to us! 13 years this week!

We had a cupcake wars night for YMs and YWs and I think these kids are so fun.

Camden man is back in the soccer scene.

He really loves coach Oliver and it's so sweet.

Grandma's rhubarb is thriiiiiving

Grandma and Grandpa came for just a quick visit!
Everyone loves when they're here.

Morning crew ready to roll.
We seem to leave just a little later every day as we crawl to the last month of school.

I love this napping baby who is very much not a baby.

Westin and I started tennis lessons! And we biked the three miles there together and had a picnic between his lessons and mine. I loved it.

This is what Westin made during my tennis lessons. He was so happy and content the entire 90 minutes, alone and outside. I loved looking over and watching him play. I just love that he is content with this type of play.