The End of a Friendship??

   I've had a very good girlfriend for about 15 years. I love her to death. We got married to 2 guys that were childhood friends. That's how we met. She and her husband got married 2 months before we did. We had our 1st babies within 2 months of each other too. So many 1st's!! 

   Now they're getting divorced. This is another 1st for me. I've never had a very close friend get divorced. Not one that I saw frequently and vacationed with every summer. It has put my husband and I in a tight spot. What do you do when one or the other wants to go on the same summer beach vacation with your family just minus the spouse?? We've done so many things together.

   They were with me when I flew in an airplane for the 1st time. The first time I ever traveled to Montana. We had great plans to go again soon and take our kids. I am really very sad. I miss my couple friends! 

  Now the dating begins. I must say so far, for me, it stinks! My friend is making some really poor choices, in my opinion. She is dating like it's a competition sport. I don't understand it. I pray that when she lands from this whirlwind, she's OK and back to the same girl I have spent so many fun days and nights and weeks with. 

  I have mutual friends calling me and some not so mutual asking me what's going on. How do you help someone that doesn't think they need it?? It's pretty simple. You don't. I have come to the realization that I can't save her from herself. I can try to be there for her. I am absolutely there for her kids. I will do everything to save them. Their home is broken. They will never be the same. It's so sad...

  I know it's not the end of our friendship. I also know that it's very much changed. I hope we can be the same martini drinking, movie going, happy girls we used to be someday...soon! 

Growing up FAST!!

    I swore up and down when our first son, Drew, was born, 13 years ago,that there would be NO guns allowed. Toy guns for him to play with just seemed really barbaric to me. Not to mention my Mother was quite opposed to the whole idea too. She tends to have "opinions" sometimes. :) (Just kidding, Mommy!) But anyway , that did influence my decision somewhat. Plus I just didn't want one those crazy kids running around wreaking havoc and being a maniac. For some reason I thought no guns = quiet, calm, peaceful kid. 

We sold our first house when Drew was 2 and I was pregnant with Jay. My Mother-in-law bought Drew his first gun. We moved into a rental down the street and built a house right across from my in-laws. I was not too happy about this first gun and made it stay at her house for the longest time. My father-in-law is a talented craftsman and made Drew his first rubber band gun. It was all over for me then. How do you say no to a rubber band gun?? This thing was cool! It had a clothespin on the top and we really had a lot of fun with it. 

Drew has turned out to be this amazing person! I am so proud of the gentleman he is turning into. It is such an honor to be his Mom. Yes, sometimes I need to be reminded of said honor. Like when I can't see the floor of his room or he hasn't fed the dragons in a day or two. But overall, I can't complain too much. 

He is happiest outside. Funny because one of his first words was "outside". He thinks he might want to be a Forest Ranger in Yellowstone when he's grown. I think it's a fabulous idea as long as college is completed along the way out west. 

So this past Wednesday, against the advice of my 23 year old self, at 36 years old I went and bought Drew his first deer rifle. He has saved and worked odd jobs and even help cut down trees for his grandaddy to have enough to buy one. He has been so helpful with his new baby brother and sometimes even a little more tolerant of his 10 and 6 year old brothers. All with the hope that Mom and Dad would let him have it before deer season. 

I past my background check. It's always good to know that you CAN pass something with flying colors! :) We, (me and Drew) are the proud new owners of a Marlin 30-30 with a nice Bushnell scope. I just sent him off with his Daddy and 6 year old brother to the hunting camp to try it out! They promised to be safe and to have a lot a fun! 

I couldn't ask for more!! 

  

How many????

       Why is it when you have more than 2 children, people will stop you and ask,"Are they ALL yours?" Like I am some kind of brood mare?? I have 4 boys. So??? They are 13, 10, almost 7 and almost 9 months. When you're under 20, ALMOST counts.

I am an only child. My Mother is still scratching and shaking her head wondering what her harebrained daughter has done.  I am having the biggest adventure of my life! That's what I'm doing. Most of the time I need to be reminded that this IS an Adventure and not some kind of prison sentence. 

Teenage boys are still a mystery to me. I am the proud owner of one though. He is a stellar kid! A great friend and smart. Not so much book smart but tons of common sense and I have no doubt that if we were ship wrecked somewhere, he would be our salvation. The Nature Boy!

The 10 year old is my Brainiac! Super intelligent. Sometimes a little dim with the common sense but hey, that's why he has a big brother. Together they might be unstoppable! He loves football! He's built for the sport too. A real force to be reckoned with.

The ALMOST 7 year old. Let's just say I have earned my stripes with him. He and I lock horns like wild animals at war over territory. He is stubborn. I am stubborn. He screams. I scream. He says he loves me and I melt! Sometimes he can be heartbreaking sweet! He's very smart and super talented. Honestly the kid can do anything he tries, from skiing to skateboarding. He was riding a 2 wheeler when he turned 3. No fear! Any thing the brothers can do, he can do it better! 

The Surprise Baby! My biggest surprise ever! The very best surprise ever! He is AWESOME! I am having so much fun watching to see who he will be. He is stubborn already and quite smart. Very loud when he wants something too. 

Let the adventure roll on. I'm ready! We still have one family vacation left for the Summer before school and FOOTBALL start! So excited about football season! We live for it! Can't wait to see how I'll juggle this season with the baby here. I really ned a backpack for him so I can take all the pictures I want. I'm really NOT ready for school. Don't tell my boys...