Michael is 15

Nothing says celebrate like having the dulcet tones of your parents voices singing in unison that perennial favorite "Happy Birthday" at 7:30 in the morning. 

It helps if the first item on the agenda is getting your second Pfizer shot. Yeah, you read that correctly.  I scheduled Michael's second shot for the morning of his 15th birthday.  In my defense, getting the shot on his birthday pretty much guaranteed that he wouldn't feel sick from it on his birthday. But, sure, not the best start to the day. I did sweeten the deal by getting him chocolate milk and a couple of cinnamon rolls on the way home.  (PSA: McDonald's does not serve milkshakes at 9am)

Also, I convinced Nana to volunteer at the shot clinic and managed to have her be the person who checked him in. Which turned out to be a little awkward because she was checking someone else in when it was our turn so I asked to wait for her. Michael couldn't see her up ahead and couldn't figure out why I was asking to wait for the next volunteer and thought I was being really weird. But it was pretty fun when she did get to walk up to the van window and get him checked in. Though, she didn't ask for his photo ID and proof of his date of birth. Maybe because she was there....

The bulk of the day was then filled with school stuff until dinner. We ordered pizza and he got his new favorite: ranch, mozzarella, chicken, bacon, and tomato (we keep telling him that's a sub sandwich not a pizza). We started watching Wonder Woman 1984 - that didn't last.  We actually contributed to a purchase earlier this year as his (early) birthday gift, but so he would have something to open got him a dog. Back story: he's been asking if we can trade Jason, Josh, and Isaac (who are allergic to dogs - though Jason isn't actually allergic so that's awkward) for a dog. That's a NO GO, but this seemed like a good compromise. His name is Gerald and he doesn't bark, poop, or shed.

Saturday morning, Michael woke feeling some Pfizer side effects but pushed through to go with me and Jason to drive around and check out garage sales in our neighborhood because he had birthday money burning in his pocket. He must live a charmed life because we didn't find much except a house where a guy was accepting any offers and Michael got this guitar for $5 . Because he already has a bass, but he needs a guitar.

AND the VERY LAST house a guy was selling the VERY thing Michael was looking for: an electric piano with a stand. Because he has a midi keyboard and we have a nice piano, but you can never have enough piano-like instruments. Oh, and an amp. Because he already has one, but you can never have enough amps.

So Happy Birthday, Michael!  Looks like it was a pretty good one!

Very Berry Summer

She can't eat them herself, but Nana is kind enough to plant berries for the enjoyment of her grandkids. Well, for two of them at least.  So with a little bit of fanfare this week, the first berries of summer (okay well almost-summer) were consumed by Ben and Isaac. 

Ben had the first one last week and, by the look on his face, it was none too soon. 

I think he approves.

This afternoon Isaac was invited over for some sun-ripened goodness.

And another happy fruit consumer in the family. 

We have high hopes for more strawberries and possibly some blueberries and raspberries this summer.

Weekend Hikes

It is almost summer and the sun is shining so I just had to schedule some hikes with some unwilling family and willing friends.

Saturday morning I took the youngest minions to Bob Bammert betting that there would be few people there. I bet right - we saw no one. But we did discover that if Ben discusses his fear of heights in the car on the way to the hike, Isaac will inexplicably develop that VERY SAME fear on the hike. It only took about 20 minutes to convince him that he wasn't going to spontaneously fall off the side of the not-really-all-that-steep-mountain-side and die but we did and the rest of the hike was lovely.

This is definitely not a very long or strenuous hike, but we did find the very first salmon berry of the season. Of all the edible berries, this is not our favorite BUT it is a sign that all the good ones are coming soon!

Monday afternoon found me in my friend's car appreciating her ability to navigate some serious potholes while driving her tiny car that is a stick shift.  To be honest, we've driven on worse (I'm talking about you, Staircase!) but not generally in this kind of car.  We did a fair amount of research about the trail, but not so much about the road up there. Eventually, we arrived with the car caked in dust and the engine intact.  After admiring the large parking area with covered pavilion and pit toilets, we set out with her two boys to traverse 8.4 miles of mostly shaded (the clear-cut areas were brutal in the heat of the day sun) trails. 

It was a lovely and exhausting day that ended with mint chocolate chip ice cream.

Memorial Day Morning

Breakfast on the lake? Early morning wake up call for the teens? What better way to spend a holiday? Well, don't ask the older boys, because I can imagine they have a different answer than their parents do.

 

May on FB

What do you think is the best way to determine how many people actually live in your house? (keeping in mind that I have teens who who don't like being extracted from their caves, er, um, rooms)

A) # of people you see a day

B ) # of cups used per day

C) # of loads of laundry washed per week

D) other 

The card I got from my kids yesterday, signed by all of them - I'm no legal expert, but I'm pretty sure this is a contractual document.

There was that one time when Isaac said the word "damn" and the other boys all looked at me cuz, let's be honest, he didn't learn that one from Jason.

Next time you start to judge a mom for a messy car, realize that having that bag of stuff that's supposed to go back to the library but is late could be the one thing keeping everyone in the car sane when a quick trip to a the drive thru vaccine clinic turns into a grueling TWO HOUR test of your ability to sit in your parked car with your kids.

4/6 complete

Background: I strained my back and was getting advice from Jason, the backpain expert

Jason: If you have to lean over, I find that it helps to squeeze my butt muscles when standing back up so it doesn't hurt my back.

Me: Yeah, I think if I squeeze your butt when I'm trying to stand up I won't feel as much pain either. Let's do that.

Jason:............

I love this quote and hung it up in the hallway. Apparently the boys take it literally - they have all told me they agree with it as they are never ready for the morning because they wish they could sleep longer.

That horrifying moment when you realize your kindergartener has taken his Friday morning zoom class on an unplanned field trip through your house - you know, the one you gave up on 6 months ago after everyone was there all day every day for the better part of a year.

Protip: if you're out biking when there is a copious amount of cottonwood pollen wafting through the air, I strongly recommend breathing through your NOSE

Josh is 17

 

Wildcats

The Wildcats did it again - another successful season (8-1) on the books.  Of course, for all the teams they've played against, it's the skirmishes at practice against the Orcas where these kids really get a challenge. Beating the Orcas is what Ben is usually most proud of in any given week.  In any case, we're looking forward to the fall for another season with the Orcats.