Nick goes to camp

Nick went to church camp again this year (his 3rd year in a row).  I dropped him off on Sunday and picked him up tonight.  He was not happy about going this year.  As much as I tried I could not get a friend to go with him this time.  The first year Nick went he didn't know a soul but I've learned there is a big difference between an 11 year old boy and a 13 year old boy.  He complained the entire drive to camp but I held my ground, the boy was going to church camp - period!  Nick has always made friends easily but this year I was worried.  Thirteen has been challenging for everyone who knows and loves Nick.  He has so many wonderful qualities.  He is a wonderful encourager when it comes to sports.  When he didn't make state this year for track, he went to the meet anyway and cheered on his friends.  He has a wonderful sense of humor and he's well liked at school and does well in school.  But there are two things going on with Nick right now that need desperate attention, and I have done my motherly job in brining them to his attention, despite his dislike in me doing so (if your mother won't tell you, who will?).  He thinks he's an expert in everything and he is highly critical of others or as Nick likes to say, a judgement jerk.  So, fast forward to camp.  There is a boy who goes to Nick's school and also goes to our church.  At one time Nick was in the same small group as this boy and it didn't go well.  When I dropped Nick off at camp we saw this boy in line for registration.  Nick immediately started to freak out.  I told Nick that if this boy was in his group at camp then clearly God was trying to teach him something and Nick had better pay attention!  I dropped Nick off at camp and basically said, "Peace Out, see you on Friday."  When I picked Nick up today lo and behold this boy was sure enough in his group and this particular camp is close quarters!  As Nick and I got into the car I fully expected him to implode but he didn't.  He was calm and said the first two days he thought he was going to explode but as the week wore on he learned to just "chill, and roll with it."  This was exactly the lesson I wanted Nick to learn.  It is okay to not always like everyone but it is not okay to be disrespectful to them or have no tolerance for them.  God has such a sense of humor and as I always say He knows way more than me (clearly).  This boy has been has thorn in Nick's side for 2 years  and I think he has finally learned something from this (I hope).  Overall Nick would say it wasn't the best week but I am confident God was working on him this week and my prayer is the seeds were planted!  God is good, all the time.

This boy

This is how Jay looks many nights when he comes home from work.  On this particular day he had laid sod most of his day.  There are so many things I love about this picture.  First off he looks just like my dad but his dirty hands show he knows what a hard day at work looks and feels like.  He is still smiling so he has kept his sense of humor.  He is still standing so it proves he has bounds of energy.  Most of all I'm just proud of him.  He's working every week day and everyday he sets his alarm, packs his lunch and always gets to work 15 minutes before his scheduled report time.  Working is just part of life but it also helps that he's making really good money too!  Ha.

Our Florida trip

 For the third year in a row my dear Aunt Karen and Uncle Kerry invited us on vacation.  This year we went out of our "box" and traveled to Orlando.  I got tickets for Nick and I to go to Universal Studios.  As a family we are doing our vacations a little differently this summer.  We are taking vacations separately on our own time schedules.  Jay went to TX over Memorial day, Nick and I went to Florida and Mike will be making a trip to TX right after July 4th.  It really is perfect for everyone.  The picture above is Nick with his counsins.  I am so thankful for these times with family.

 The usual selfie of my sister and I.  Kim is so good to me.  She had Craig pick us up from the airport (an hour away from our resort) and she drove us back to the airport.  And she had a drink waiting for me when we arrived at 1:00 a.m. (yes A.M.) on Sunday!  Best sister ever.

 I admit Sunday was dicey.  I was exhausted because I was running on virtually no sleep and these crazy boys wanted to go play basketball.  Of course when we got there Nick complained that they had double rims (whatever that means), Luke complained it was hot, Nick then had to pee and didn't understand why he couldn't just pee outside at a vacation resort.  Then both boys decided all they wanted to do was catch lizards.

 My sister got mom a scooter for our trip.  We were so thankful mom joined us this year and it warmed our hearts knowing our dad was smiling down on us seeing his girls with his family, celebrating good times.  Mom said during our trip, "Brad would have loved this!"  Nick tried to show nana how to use the scooter but she still had a few accidents with it.  Thank goodness she never hit a person with it.  Ha.

 Meanwhile back at home Mike and Jay were watching four dogs.  Mike said they all figured out really quickly who was "in charge,"  - Mike!

 One day me, Nick and Mom went to Waffle house (see above) and Nick had quite a breakfast. When he wants to, he can eat.  That being said he's on a no pop, no sweets diet and by golly if that kid didn't stick to it during vacation.  Nick throws me sometimes because he has a lot of me in him but so much of his dad too and when he decided he wouldn't drink pop or eat ice cream, that was it, which is so Mike.  I usually give up within 24 hours.  It's kind of annoying.  One day Kim bought everyone ice cream and Nick wouldn't touch his.  Anyway, after we finished up at WH, the three of us went shopping and had a great day.  All of us got things we really wanted and just had a great day together.  We utilized Uber to and from shopping which worked out great.

 The big day finally arrived.  Nick, mom and I were only in Florida for 3 days.  On our last day Nick and I went to Universal Studios and we loved it.  It was our favorite.  I got 20,000 steps that day - just saying!  We truly enjoyed it and had such a good time.

 Nick was our navigator at Universal.  If it was left up to me we probably would have walked around in circles but Nick got us to exactly where we needed to be.

I hate "The Simpson's" but still we visted "Springfield" at Universal and had a ball. 

Nick with his "Flamin Moe" drink.  It literally smoked the entire time he drank it.  He loved it.  

 The "Fast and Furious" simulator was our all time favorite at Universal.  We rode it twice.  I paid extra for the express pass and at the time I hated spending the money because it was expensive but it was worth every penny.  The most Nick and I waited in a line was 20 minutes.  Most lines we only had to wait 10 to 15 minutes.  The express pass was so worth it.

Mike sent me this picture while we were gone.  Clearly Jay had all the dogs' attention.  I owe my husband and son a big thank you for keeping all our dogs while we were gone.  I still have to laugh that my entire family now has vizsla's…..best dogs ever.

Working for a living

My family is in full swing for the summer and our transition from school to summer has been flawless (and I NEVER say that).  A quick report on what each of us is doing.  2019 has been the year of remodels for Mike.  He started a remodel job in January which ended in April, just in time to pick up another remodel job which will probably wrap up in August.  It keeps him busy but can be challenging since he's only one person.  Mike is also working on our concrete patio.  More to come on that later.  Jay is working full time.....I repeat.....working full time, in addition to still running his pressure washing business.  I could not be prouder of him.  I'm so proud of him I'm sure I'm annoying him but really that boy is something else.  He is working for a landscaper.  He gets up every morning at 6 a.m., works all day in the sun and comes home, relaxes and starts all over again the next day, just like a "real" adult.  He tells us he doesn't mind it.  He enjoys being outside and it beats food service, he says.  He is already the color of our dogs - copper brown and he is getting quite buff from all the heavy lifting.  The landscaper who hired Jay is mom's neighbor.  I ran into him the other night and told him how much Jay is enjoying working for him.  He told me that most kids he hires around Jay's age have no common sense and it's so nice to hire a kid with some common sense.  All those summers and odd jobs working for his dad paid off too because Jay already knows what to do.  Today he cut stone - something he's all too familiar with.  The money he's making is very nice!  It gives him confidence and more independence.  Nick is mowing for nana.  With all the rain we've had it requires him to usually mow twice a week.  He is also filling his time with his buddy, Mason.  The two of them go back and forth all day long.  Nick, me and mom leave for FL in two days.  It's a short trip but we are looking forward to it.  I am busy with work but all is good in our house and I'm very thankful for that.