Moving Along

I asked myself approximately a lot of times why, oh, why did I not take any before pictures of our yards.

The update is incredible.

Yesterday, Burke gathered Porter, Kaydon, and Ryker to move more dirt and more gravel. They got the remainder of the pool surrounded by leveled dirt, weed barrier, and gravel, along with a border. The work is tedious and hard, but they got it done quickly.

The weather was really perfect for the work... mid 60's at the end of JUNE!

It looks so great.

They also got the solar cover hung on the reel.

That cover has been in a large box in our garage over over a year.

The backyard still needs more work, obviously, but it's really coming together!

The horseshoe pit behind the pool;

The sod needs to be moved out and taken to the dump;

The dirt needs to be used to continue to fill holes;

We need to plant hastas behind the furniture;

The string lights need to be hung;

The rest of the dirt and gravel needs to be spread.

The front yard has been beautified for a year, or so.

Saturday, I labored in my flower beds and cut down all of the salvia.

It has to be cut down twice a year (once in fall and once in mid-June).

It will be back in no time.

I got the rest of the weeds pulled and laid more snail bait.

Then I planted our late-summer annuals.

The colors make me so happy!

Burke planted a rose garden for me on the side of the house last year.

These roses are SO happy right where they are.

 I need to get them pruned back and weeded,. but I took some time to cut some and place them on my kitchen table.

These have brought me so much joy!

 

In My Feels

I've sent two of my boys off on missions, with the expectation that they'd be on a different continent from me for two years.

I knew I'd be able to talk to them weekly.

I knew that these were their choices, something they really wanted to do and were prepared to do.

It crushed me.

Each time.

Not because I didn't want them to have the opportunity.

Not because I didn't want them to have the experiences.

Rather, because it had always been them and me.

Me and them

Team of five.

Part of me was leaving.

But I knew they'd be home in two years.

Kaydon is moving back to the Dominican Republic in just over a week.

I've known this was coming since he returned from his mission three years ago.

He is in love and is getting married.

On a different continent from me.

With no return flight back home.

And I am in my feels.

As mamas, we are supposed to raise our kids to be able to spread their wings and fly.

My big boys are independent, strong, smart, loving, driven, and hardworking.

They are fantastic husbands.

They are incredible fathers.

They have grown wings and they are flying.

But, man this hurts.

I think that my feelings are all over the place.

I also think that I have been suppressing these feelings for three years and now that it's here, I'm sad.

Sad to see him go so far away.

SO FAR AWAY.

He says they're coming back in a couple of years...

But without a return flight, it feels very forever-like.

I'm so proud of him.

I love him so big.

I know this is what he wants and what he's been working so hard for.

I'm just in my feels.

 

Onto the Championship

Last night, in an extra innings nail-biter, Ryker's baseball team won their semi-final game.

They only had eight players, which has been a theme of this year's team.

*When you only have eight players, you're obviously missing a fielder AND you have to take an automatic out every time the 9th hitter would be batting.

I'm so proud of this team.

And #8 is my favorite.

He's played a solid first base this year.

He is a PATIENT (almost too patient) batter.

He makes me crazy, but I sure love him!

Watching Burke coach these boys (so many of whom we've been on other teams with) is a joy for me.

He is good with the boys and they really look up to him.

Last night, he didn't get to the game until after 8:00 because he was stuck at work.

I had his bags of seeds and a drink ready for him!

Love these boys!
They play in the championship tomorrow night!

 

2026 Family Pictures

I'm completely, totally, infinitely obsessed with these humans.

Our family continues to grow and change and it's really something to behold.

Kaydon moves to the Dominican Republic in just under two weeks.

I needed to get these done before that day... when our family will change again.

Diana has a little nugget growing in her belly.

That little guy will be in our pictures next year!

Next year...

Oh, next year Cooper is graduating.

Aria will be NINE.

Kaydon will be married with a son.

And we'll just keep growing!

 

Father's Day Weekend

This weekend was BUSY.

Gigi is exhausted.

Gigiing is a full-on workout, Friends.

Saturday, Jackson and Isis celebrated their four-year anniversary.

They brought the girls to me at 3:30.

These girls are smart, feisty, sassy, funny, and BUSY.

Add to that three very independent and stubborn (in all good ways), it's a lot of work to keep these girls alive and happy!

Kaya is a good helper, though.

Uncle Kaydon spent time with them.

He's only here for a couple more weeks.

I feel like he's trying to soak it all in.

They built a train set and the girls loved it.

They colored until they attempted to color on Gigi's couch.

That ended that activity.

Papa got home from work and took over.

Thank the Lord for him!

After they left, Syracuse City let off fireworks for Heritage Days.

They do an amazing show.

It's at the end of our street.

So, Burke lit the tiki torches and we cuddled on the patio furniture to watch the show.

Sunday, everyone came over to celebrate Father's Day.

The babies LOVE that the big pool is up.

They swam and swam.

(in floaties and more floaties)

I set up this little plastic thing that was advertised as a sandbox.

Papa bought a better sandbox, though.

So I set this up and put water in it just in case the little ones decided they just wanted to wade in the pool.

It was perfect and the water was so warm!

Celebrating Burke is easy.

He's the best.

The favorite.

The dad.

The papa.

The fixer.

The doer.

I feel unbelievably blessed.