Summer Rainbows

Opening Ceremony for a recent Swim Meet

It IS still summer.  It's only mid-July.  But John Robert is emailing his counselor regarding both he and his brother's still unreceived fall class schedules. I am buying school clothes for Spencer and Denver, and it feels like-- despite the heat-- our summer is nearly over.  All the boys will be back to school this August, John and I are beginning new jobs, and I'm wondering how life flies by so quickly. 

Only by scrolling through the photos on my camera do I realize, "Oh, Yeah, We have been doing summertime things!"  We've had cookouts at the pool.  Denver has been diving into summer swim league (his favorite!).  There have been birthday parties, evening dinners at rooftop restaurants with my hubby, and lots of bicycle rides (though not nearly as many as last summer!).  John Robert finally had his long-planned trip to Europe.  He loved it.  He also has his first real girlfriend. I don't love it. 

Aynslee and John on a bicycle tour in Barcelona.

Okay, they really do look happy. 

Spencer and Denver both enjoyed their summer drama camp.  This was a huge surprise to us all! Thank You, Mimi and Paw Paw for encouraging and supporting the boys with this.  Both boys have continued clarinet lessons with Mimi twice a week; and I love hearing them play music on Mimi's screened deck while I work outside two houses away.

How is it possible that little
Pencie is 15 years old?!

Spencer earned his driver's permit, and after a couple of lessons with his Dad, he has been driving all over Newton County with his Paw Paw every afternoon at 2pm.  This is your warning.  Spencer said he wasn't sure if he was doing a good job or if Paw Paw was just letting him fix his own mistakes.  There would be no such uncertainty if I was riding with him-- and that's why it's better that Paw Paw does it.  

A recent race to the finish with Denver in the yellow cap.

Denver went to swim camp at UGA for a week.  He had a ball, learned a LOT, and came home fired up about swimming.  He has continued to improve in all four strokes, and qualified for the Metro Atlanta County Meet and the State Meet.  It is a joy to see him so happy and devoted.  

Denver ready to dive during a relay.

There is news to report about John, too.  He has begun his new job with a private owner and is in St. Louis for a month to get certified on the new, fancy Legacy 500.  He is very excited about it, and we are hoping that after the training, he will be home more and have a more predictable schedule.

Standing with Kel before her first race!

In addition to Ironman training, I have LOVED training my rising triathletes.  It is a joy to see others learning and appreciating what their bodies are capable of.  One athlete just completed her first Aquabike competition (swimming then biking) and won Third Female Overall!, and we have two more triathlons scheduled.  I am incredibly excited for them.  The smiles and feelings of accomplishment are palpable.  I hope to turn coaching into more than a one-time event.  We'll see . . . .  For now, I am preparing to become the Montessori Physical Education teacher.  I don't know how that's going to be!

Where did the summer go?  Where did my babies go?  No more homeschooling.  The homeschool room is slipping away.  Denver is moving weight training equipment into our little library next week.  I have loads of educational texts and art supplies that I know I don't need, but can't yet bear to give away.

Denver and I at Eddie's Garden Party.

Change.  It just keeps coming.  Like an impending summer storm, I can feel it-- but at least there are rainbows.

Shakespeare's Tavern for a Midsummer Night's Dream

Jibby with his girl, Aynslee.

Denver while tutoring children this summer.

Bike Riding with the Boys

Trail Running with Two favorite pals.

Wolf Kisses

  

The End of an Era-- Time for a Party!

Boys and Mud...

Homeschool Day at the Atlanta Botanical Garden

For the last seven and a half years, I have been a Homeschooling Momma. My sons have been not only my favorite students, but also my most powerful teachers.  

My most important choices and considerations were for them:
What to teach, when, and how.  What works and what doesn't.  College lectures.  Field trips for science, history, writing, and art.  Homeschool classes.  Tutors.  Homeschool events at Fernbank, Atlanta History Center, Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta Botanical Gardens, Stone Mountain.  Friends.  Playdates.  Swim Team.  Boyscouts.  Testing.  What hours can I work away from home without disrupting their education?

Much of that has now come to a quiet conclusion.  This year is the end of our homeschooling.  John Robert chose to leave homeschool and attend Morgan County High School in ninth grade. He is now going to be a senior!  Next year, Spencer will do the same.  John Robert will drive them both to school. 

John Robert and his girlfriend
at this year's academic awards ceremony.

Denver, always a social butterfly, will attend the Montessori School of Covington where he can hone his academic skills in a group setting.  These decisions happened quietly over the last few months, and yet it feels like a shock.

Denver dissecting a frog in vertebrate anatomy.

Success with his egg experiment
in LEAD high school Physics.

I feel both loss and relief.  It is time for the boys to move into bigger educational circles.  Spencer and Denver loved their classes at LEAD over the past three years, and they have become so independent that they rarely rely on me for daily assistance with academics.  

I am thrilled and grateful for all of the time we've had together over the years.  I have been witness to their marvelous discoveries, insights, and questions.  I already miss the teamwork of learning and discovering together.  

Megalodon shark jaws.

At the same time, I am excited for them to have their own adventures that they can come home and tell me about.  Maybe they will still need me to help with homework.  A little.  

Meanwhile, although a graduation ceremony in homeschool might be a little silly, I do think it's time for a party!  These guys deserve to celebrate their successes.

 

Stone Summit climbing walls.

Spencer reading to Denver.

Spencer programming his robot.

All three boys with a friend.  Programming.

If you are late to breakfast, your seat
may be taken.

For the Love of these Tall, Handsome Strangers

My darlings at the Georgia Aquarium--
ages 1, 4, and 7.

 Who are these tall handsome strangers eating all of the food in the house?  They are no longer the babies I remember.  No longer do they cling to my leg or follow me around the house.  No one cries when I announce that I'm leaving for work.  No one wants to go with me to the grocery store and ride in the car shaped buggy.

I look like a shorty next to my boys now.

John Robert (far left) with some swim team pals.

Instead, they have grown into even more fascinating people than I'd ever imagined. 


John Robert has become a calm, confident seventeen year old who works as a lifeguard, and pays not only for his car expenses, but also for the costs of his many exams-- A.P., SAT, ACT.  He has one more year with us before college. He teaches me something new almost every day-- linking me to interesting podcasts, and simply sharing his observations about people and the world.

Thrilled that his egg carrying device
was successful; even from three stories.

Spencer has become quite the academic.  Always a history buff, he has expanded his areas of interest into subjects that used to overwhelm him.  It is a joy to observe his perseverance.  Two of his teachers wrote recommendations for his high school application.  Their words made me tear up.  They clearly recognized not just his intelligence, but also his big heart.

He has tackled algebra and high school physics with vigor.  But he is also funny and sensitive.  As he grows more confident in his abilities, his smile appears more often.  I was thrilled to read one of his writing pieces recently.  His writing skills are amazing.  It is true what he told me when he was five: "Momma, there is a home in my head for words."  

Denver in Orlando with his new hat.

And Denver, well... he is his Daddy's Mini Me.  Intelligent and sociable, he is always in the middle of every activity and conversation.  Interestingly, this drive to be a part of everything has resulted in pleasant surprises.  He joined Spencer and me this week at the National Archives for a four hour lecture on World War One.  He took notes just like Spencer, and declared the whole event "fun."  He works hard in his LEAD classes, learning about medieval European history, human anatomy, and dissecting animals in vertebrate anatomy.  He is completely dedicated to his swim team, and looks forward to every practice.  For him, it's all about being part of the group and doing what they do.  This makes it super fun to take him everywhere, as he will immediately introduce himself and begin chatting with people of all ages.  SO different from me.

Denver with a large group of our friends at a restaurant last night.

As the days, months, years, and decades fly by, I sometimes cannot believe that this girl who never planned to own a house, marry, or have children, has become a middle aged woman who cannot imagine being without my home with my husband and these boys.

Degonia Mystery Tour 2018

HOW is it possible that I have not made a blog entry since before Christmas?  So much has happened.  The boys are growing and changing, and I am the mom who is falling down on the job.  Not only am I failing to document our family wonders, but I can neither keep the house clean nor the laundry under control.  Oh, well... the dogs have been fed and I think we have a half gallon of milk in the fridge.  Let me tell you about our family's recent Mystery Tour.

The one time we see John Robert
regularly-- dinner time. 
Note: cell phone within
 reach at all times.

It began with John's sudden impulse to take a family vacation.  I think it was seeing how busy John Robert is.  Between work, high school, and friends, we barely see him.  Even when he is home, he is often in his room.  I've gotten in the habit of texting him to tell him when dinner is ready.  All of the boys are growing fast, and we wanted to scoop them up and spend some time together.

After a few thoughtful discussions, John and I decided to take them on a fun trip over winter break, but to keep the destinations a secret.  To our surprise, they loved this idea!  Denver was the only one to push for more information.  He managed to discover that our first destination was about a day's drive away.  After considering the items on his packing list, he looked at a map and speculated that Florida was most likely.  Denver's biggest concern was whether this trip was going to be fun or just educational.  He stressed to me the need for FUN.  


To the boys' delight, our first stop was Cape Canaveral, Florida, and the Kennedy Space Center.  It did not disappoint.  We had watched with fascination the week before when the Space X Falcon Heavy launched.  One of the booster rockets was on display. 

We spent the day going from rocket to rocket, learning more than I ever wanted to know about the Space Center's history.  The best part for me was simply being together and sharing the experience.

An unexpected event in Cape Canaveral was the guest staying in our hotel-- Vice President Pence.  We didn't see or talk to him, but the Secret Service was a fascinating presence.  From their search of our vehicle and the metal detectors at the hotel entrance to the guns and bulletproof vests, they definitely made the stay memorable.

The view from our hotel balcony at the Hilton
in Disney Springs.

The end of our day at the
Magic Kingdom

Our next stop was a fancy hotel in Disney Springs, Orlando. The boys looked at us wide-eyed as we passed a big sign with Mickey Mouse Ears . . . Disney World?!  Even 17 year old John Robert was thrilled.  John and I were pleased that no one seemed too old for the Magic Kingdom.  The boys had little memory of it from their last visit nearly a decade ago.  Other than the incredibly long lines and initial trouble with our Fast Passes, it was a wonderful day.  

I confess, it was also nice to get back to our hotel with a lazy river for the boys to enjoy, a 100 foot lap pool for me, and a hot tub the size of a small swimming pool for both John and me. 

John and I at Sea World.  We spent most of the
day holding hands, and watching the boys
have fun on the roller coasters.

The following day, we rallied the tired troops and made our way to Sea World.  I know this park has been controversial in recent years, but the boys wanted major roller coasters, and John and I wanted smaller crowds.  Sea World was perfect.  We  bought Fast Passes for the guys and they went crazy all day-- riding coaster after coaster-- until even they were too dizzy to go again.  BTW, John and I each rode one of the wild coasters.  And then we agreed, once was enough!

After getting our fill of dolphins, killer whales, penguins, flamingos, roller coasters, and rides that get you soaking wet, we went back to the hotel to retrieve our bags before going to our new destination.  At least, that's what John told the boys.  Instead, he had our bags moved to the penthouse of the hotel where we had two floors and three balconies to enjoy.  We enjoyed the fancy life that evening.  Over dinner by the pool, the boys declared this the best day ever.  Their cheeseburgers, they said, really were Cheeseburgers in Paradise.  

The week was flying by, and we only had one wonderful stop remaining: St. Augustine.  Home of the first European settlement in North America.  We enjoyed seeing the ocean, exploring the fort, and walking the streets of St. Augustine, where the boys located not one, but SIX ice cream shops.  The boys stayed up late swimming in the hotel pool and enjoying each other's company.

All too soon it was time to drive home.  We gazed longingly at the ocean as we drove north then west toward home.  Back to high school.  And homeschool.  And work of various kinds.  Already it seems like a distant memory.  But we still have our new hats!

The Wizard and Goofy

Donald at the Magic Kingdom

Denver and a soldier at Castillo de San Marcos

Spencer translated the Spanish
for me.

All of us at the fort wearing new hats! :-)

Soldiers and townspeople in old town
St. Augustine

The oldest wooden schoolhouse in America.

My quiet Jibber in his Goofy hat.