Tuesday, August 19, 2025

Back to School 2025

Yesterday was the first day of school for these two!
Cooper is a junior.
It's always so wild to me to look back at the previous years' pictures and compare them.
He's a different human this year!
Still my protector, my helper, my sweet boy.
Also a varsity defensive end, a track runner, and a messy-room keeper!



Ryker is a seventh grader.
This one stings.
He's the baby.
He's been a bit nervous.
Me too.
I HATE junior high.
Ryker is my snuggler, my joke-cracker, my non-morning kid, my magnet.
He is also a linebacker, a second baseman, a basketball player, a game-player.




Last night, we charged their laptops and readied their backpacks as much as we could.
I pray this is a good year for both of them.
I always tell them that who they choose to be in their space is one of the most important decisions they will make at their age.
Here we go!

 

Monday, August 18, 2025

Weekend Football & Girlies

Have I mentioned my days are busy?
Full. 
Exhausting.
Worth it.

Cooper's first varsity football game was Friday night.
Friday night lights are special.
We are living in these moments.
Grateful.
Cooper is #95.
We sat in the stands.
Braxton and Mia and Hudson showed up.
We cheered loudly.
Ryker hung out with his friends, as you do when you're 12!
Hudson pointed a lot and yelled, "Der he is!!!!"
Syracuse beat Woods Cross.



Saturday morning, I hurried to the gym.
Then hurried home.
Ryker was waiting for me.
We went to breakfast.
Just the two of us.
Pre-game meal.


We went to Northridge to warm up for his first game of the season.
I set up all the things: banner, drinks, whatever the coaches needed.


I'm excited about Ryker's season.
It feels like he is much more engaged.
He has great coaches.
After sending a message to the parents the night before about OUR behavior as parents, I felt like we had a great game!
Sportsmanship.
Fun.
Cheering.
Laughing.
Rooting for these kiddos!
Syracuse beat Northridge.
By a lot.


When Ryker and I got home from the game, Jackson and Isis were there with the two youngest.
We had some Delilah and Melanie time.
We colored.
Delilah colored on Melanie's face while Gigi was getting bottles ready.
Whatever.


We painted.
We made messes.
We ate snacks.
We cuddled.
We went for a walk.




When Papa got home from work, Delilah dropped her bottle and ran to Papa.
"PAPA! PAPA! PAPA!!!!"
Then Melanie climbed into his arms.

Grateful.





 

Friday, August 15, 2025

Matchy Matchy

First game of the season is tomorrow.
This team is ready.
Ryker is doing so much better this year and I'm so excited to see how the season goes.


Plus, this mama got matchy matchy nails for their uniforms...
So, it's basically going to be the best year ever!


 

Thursday, August 14, 2025

Aria Starts 2nd Grade

Miss Aria Jane started 2nd Grade yesterday.
What?!?!
It's one thing when your kids grow older and older.
It's astonishing when your grandkids are growing up!!

Aria FaceTimed me on the way to school yesterday morning.
She was SO ready.
Excited.
Ready!

Her outfit matched her backpack AND her lunch box AND her hair bow!

She is sassy.
She is feisty.
She is all grown up!
She's a wonderful big sister to Hendrix.
She's going to do great things in second grade!!

Gigi loves you, Monkey!





 

Wednesday, August 13, 2025

Kaydon is 23!!!

Kaydon is 23!!!
Kaydon is hard-working, dedicated, loyal, determined, motivated, and is an eternal planner.
He loves his people fiercely.
Love him endlessly!!!





 

Tuesday, August 12, 2025

Family Dinner

Sunday was family dinner time!
Sloppy Joes on the Blackstone.
Easy peasy.
Just about everyone got in the pool.
The babies are getting more and more used to it.
Kehlani is swimming so well!
Lots of snuggles with all the little ones!



Typical Delilah face!

Sometimes we get smiles, too, though!!!!
Melanie, on the other hand, smiles ALL the time!













Aria did some crafts.
School starts next week!



I am endlessly grateful for this family of mine!!

 

Monday, August 11, 2025

Weekend Shenanigans

Have I mentioned our lives are crazy-busy?!
After leaving for work every morning at 7:15, I didn't get home until around 9 every night.
It's a lot.
Friday night, Burke and I met at Cooper's Blue & White Game.
He played the first four plays and then it was JV's turn.
This week is their first game.


It's so fun to see him on the varsity roster.
He's come so far.
He's always put in the work and now it's all paying off!


Saturday morning, I got some Hudson time.
He is SO busy!
We went outside with the plan to swim.
But he was super happy playing with the hose and water gun, along with the tractors of course.
He just played and played.






He is talking so much... even saying, "GIGIIIII!"
It melts my heart.
Love these babies!


A few hours later, I headed to Ryker's scrimmages at Viewmont.
He had two scrimmages back-to-back.
Our team looks a lot better than we did at the beginning of last season!
I got all of my team mom duties handled, hugged my boy, and sent him with his mom for the night.



I love that his best friend, Trypp, is on his team this year.
Love this kid!