Nostalgic & Summer

I love summer!

I don't even care if it's 110 degrees outside, because I love the slow down.  

No more homework, no more books......

 I won't lie when I say that I love summer but this one has made me a touch weepy.

Y'all I have a middle schooler AND a senior!?!? 

My favorite quote is

'The days are long but the years are short'

(one of the truest things ever). 

We have been working so hard to get our vitamin D in this month.  

I have been to the pool so much, I told Carlee I have to take a break before I get sun poisoning.  

Even with 100 SPF and a hat, my skin really dries out after a pool day

(one of the great things about getting old).

 

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The pool is just one of the few things that make me nostalgic lately.  Each year I look out into the blue and review all the levels from 2 to 10 ft.   It brings back so many memories. 

I see the TIRED mommies with the babies, floats, pull ups, and fifty bags of supplies (the babies are precious).  

I see the next phase of mommies with the kids who are learning to swim while they hold them up and down (in and out/ screaming over the sunscreen). 

My Connor headed to the next phase of the pool. 

The next level(s) are the mommies that are watching their children jump off the side, rope, and slide about a million times.

Finally the time comes where one can land the coveted spot of the "teen section".  This is near the diving board, and this is where you finally get to read and relax and let the kids do their own thing. 

(Of course, at this point one is old, tired, and wearing an XL bathing suit around the youngsters that have gravity free skin 😜).

Speaking of old...

Our boys have been driving, working, and kick-balling it this summer.

One of these fellows is getting ready to start his very last first day of school.

😢 I. Can't. 

                                         

I started this blog in 2011- Connor had not yet began kindergarten.  I had no idea how long I would document or what the journey would bring.   

Back then the few pictures I placed in the blog were a little grainy with mostly stories and gosh awful grammatical errors. 

I limited names and pictures of other kids.  

Technology and social media made an impact, making it easier to share photos with quick notes of 'goings on'.  

This was one of my very first 'blog' pictures of Connor (pre Carlee).

Documenting your children when they are young is a bit easier than when they grow as teens.  I've shared the good, the bad, and the ugly through The Unbalanced Chronicles for 12 years.

I have found people really appreciate and relate to the humor even in the most serious situations. 

babies

Now I have to be more cautious of my kids privacy as they grow while being mindful of how people may also interpret my words.  

I've definitely been under fire for my honesty.

To that I say-

just wait until I retire people.  

I will bring allllll the tea to my empty nesters.  ;)

As time changes, so does my direction.  

Do I want to continue to blog?  

Without always adding the kids- should I share my writings? wonderings? hobbies for old people?

I'm just not sure but my creative juices must be expressed. 

Speaking of change- at the start of summer I got a NEW CAR 

(not new, but new to me)!!!

I decided to give up the mini van.  

Even Brennan was sad to see it go!  He said it was as much of his childhood as anything.  He speaks the truth because despite the fact I haven't driven any boys in a while, I found like 8 balls, not to mention the ten complimentary nerf bullets left in the van.  🤣

Ole red was a good one. 

Darren is the KING of looking for used cars.  He can find the best deals and the best cars.

I wanted to downsize, since basically I'm Carlee's chauffeur these days.  (Another nostalgic miss- talking to Connor in the car and getting all the info.)

I decided on the Mazda. 

Don't worry- no kids were harmed in the making of this photo.

We were moving 5MPH on a country road.  We made Connor get out and take a picture of the girls hanging out of the sun roof like in a movie.  

 

Of course after the purchase,  I decided to "jazz" up the Mazda with a little 60s vibe.

Everyone hates it (which means they won't be driving my car so much)!

Just call me Hippie Cool! 

Since I was car shopping, we didn't get to really go anywhere, 

so we made our annual Dave and Busters trip. 

 

Mario Kart is ageless. 

 Look at this Hungry Hippo game!?!

Some things are forever cool. 

Trying to take a fourth of July pic like...

I can't wait to see what the next chapter brings!

Happy Fourth & Happy Summer 

One Point at a Time

Every week of the school year I usually say around Friday, 'this has been a long week'.  But SERIOUSLY this one had me on a crazy emotional rollercoaster!  I haven't left the house since Friday PM (except to grocery shop in my PJS).   Lucky Darren was perfectly content handling all meal times.

We started strong with a Carlee Style room makeover.  As Carlee says 'this isn't my room anymore, it belongs to Piggy and Oreo'.  Carlee's guinea pigs (and their stuff) had taken OVER her room.  We thought it was time for a change.

(And this child wants a rabbit and puppy to add to our farm!?! #noway) 

before: desk, closet, and bed dump

We decided we needed to take out the large white desk and replace with a vanity.  Most homework is done at the downstairs desk and it was taking up so much space.  It took many hours to clean out closet, desk, and under bed area.   (It's so hard for Carlee to let stuff go, but she did it.)   

We put in a new vanity and a new little rug. 

Love the finished product.

Tween Living

The piggy cages are off to the side (and not in the center of the room).  Carlee is a very responsible pet owner and continues to clean, feed, and water the pigs daily.  The only time she didn't want to do it was when she was sick (and then I helped). 

I love the vanity her dad picked out and bought.  He even put some lights on it!  #girldad

Have you ever met an 11 year old with Ponds night cream?

Next - we had not one but TWO field trips from 8 to 5pm this week. 

I'm not complaining.  After 2020, to be able to go on trips again is awesome.

The problem is I'm 44 trying to keep up with 10-14 year olds in open space. 

I'm not joking when I say I put on my compression socks and orthopedic inserts for these trips.

I'm proud of myself because I did IT (and had a blast with NO injury)! 

Monday Morning Zoo Trip with my teaching Gal Pals

It wasn't long before I was separated from all humans.  My boy group took me through the entire lands of North America and Africa (no one could keep up)! 

I said 'guys this is like speed racing except zoo version'.  

I finally slowed them down at the Dippin Dots.

If you want to laugh- hang out with some boys.

They keep the jokes going. 

At the end of the week I joined Carlee on her field trip to the Science Museum.  All I could think is-  'did I use to teach elementary school!?!'    So much energy (but also so precious).   

It's good to be around kids who get excited by things that are not phones.

I'm so thankful to be able to go on a field trip with my Carlee Q.  I think it's the first trip I've ever attended with her class since Kindergarten. 

We were able to stay a bit later and enjoy some of the exhibits together.  I got a bit lost coming back looking for a Steak and Shake, and we nearly didn't make it to our second dance class.  ( I needed a SHAKE!)

This week also brought a late afternoon Board of Education Meeting where Carlee was recognized for being in the Newspaper Club.  She worked every Friday during lunch to help put together "Trends and Styles" with her buddies.  In this case, I'm really glad her friends talked her into taking part in this club.  It was a great thing! 

Go Car

This is one of her sample articles explaining "trends" of 2023.

We were mentally preparing for what we thought would be three tennis matches added into this crazed week. 

Sadly things took a turn for Connor after Monday.  

Connor came in from his match (3 hours away- one way) and begin to throw up.  We thought it was food poisoning but then the high temperature arrived with more sickness. 

This poor child rarely gets sick, and yet got sick right before the biggest match of his life- the one that would determine if our tennis team would go all the way to the state championship.

I love our tight knit team!!! 

The morning of the match,  

we knew Connor would beat himself up if he lost feeling weak (not to mention getting worse and spreading sickness before states).  He protested that Michael Jordan 'played with the flu' but we told him he had a ways to go at that NBA level.  We had to make the call- no school and no tennis. 

No kid has ever handled hard news with more grace and kindness.  He was so deeply disappointed but responded with goodness. He never once showed anger or frustration at his parents.  

Did I mention that in the midst of all the drama- a storm took out our power for over +24 hours.  No air condition, no lights, and no internet while Connor was SICK.  

(Yep, currently looking at generators.)

Bringing our A-Game at Gardner Webb University

That afternoon, Darren went to root on our team while I stayed back with the kids.  We ate outside on the grill where it was cooler and tried our best not to check our phones every minute with updates (while we charged them by our cars).   We prayed and prayed over our team.  We would get nervous and pray more.   

I took a picture because it was a lovely moment where we were making each other laugh despite all that was going on.

The Sechrist Fam can always laugh.

The sad news came in about 4 hours later that we had lost by ONE set.  To watch your baby boy struggle with such disappointment while he could not even be with his teammates/coach was killer.  I mean killer.  I'm still hurt for him.

I've known many of these kids since K-2 days

The thing is I adore our Men's Tennis Team.  I adore the coach and his family.  I adore the families who I have known for years.  

The boys were so supportive of Connor.  We know they fought, and it was a bitter disappointment.  To make matters worse, we were against a team who were crude and rude (and I mean RUDE).  I will leave it at that before this blog post turns into me telling telling off a bunch of people who were mean to our sweet boys.  (Not that I would harbor resentment.  🤣)

This season has been great.  Connor is mainly a singles player but I enjoyed watching him try on doubles with differ partners.   He once told me he was terrible at doubles but not true.  He played some great matches trying doubles. 

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Connor stepped up this year as an older member of the team.  He worked every Saturday and Sunday night at the grocery store, he went to school full time, he did an internship with me, and took kids home who needed it after games.   Out of 19 matches he lost 3 this year.

I'm so thankful Connor was a part of something so cool!  

In case you didn't know- we love this boy and could NOT be more proud of him.  

Some weeks bring pure craziness, but God sure has blessed me with this crew.  

I love My FAM!

Team Sechrist all the Way

March/ April Reads

 

March and April have been full of reads, including a movie  from "Are You There God?, It's Me Margaret."

I was delighted that the movie was so close to the book. I read this book at age 12 and Carlee at 11.

It's a true 'coming of age' movie for any preteen girl of any era.  

We had a great time.  

We give it 10 out of 10 stars.

 

I'll try to make my synopsis quick.

This series is a young adult trilogy.  It tells the story of Jude who was seven when her parents were murdered.  She and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the High Court of Faerie.  The sisters face horrible backlash growing up in a land where they do not belong.  

Prince Jude (our Evil King) is the worst to Jude but as the series continues an unlikely relationship forms.  I really like how tough Jude was during the whole series.  I know I'm getting old because this was  just a little too "young adult" for me.  

First two books- 4 Stars

Last book - 3 Stars 

Sweet Summer is best friends to Carter Wilson (whom she has also harbored a crush on most of her life).  In order to help the Wilson brothers save their business, Summer agrees to marry Carter.

Via the family will, Summer ends up having to marry Lincoln the obnoxious older brother.  Summer was WAY too nice in this story, but Lincoln and Summer provided plenty of entertaining heat.  🔥🚒

4 Stars

Brinley Knox is looking for a little fun in Vegas, and she finds it in an old flame.  This old flame happens to be her first love and he happens to be obsessed with getting her back (oh yes, and he happens to be filthy rich now).

This is a typical rich girl meets poor boy story.  It was entertaining but had a lot more potential.

3 Stars 

Meet Carrie Soto.  

This is my fourth read from the author Taylor Jenkins Reid.  

I actually saw the author at a book talk where we got autographed books last year. 

I'm just now getting around to reading it.  It was perfect timing because my oldest is on his third year of playing high school tennis!

(Boy have I learned A LOT about the game in recent years.)

My Goodreads Review: 

'For about 60% of this book I did not like Carrie Soto, but I guess that is the point of her story. Can a hardworking woman with grit, talent, and skill be known for something more than how she looks or how much she is liked? 

I grew to like Carrie Soto and her laser focus to be the greatest female tennis player ever. I loved the vulnerable parts that began to show as the story progressed. Unlike many of Taylor Jenkins Reid books this ending left me with some closure.'

I checked this audio book out for free on Libby.  I had zero prior knowledge.  

Michelle Zauner is an indie rock star who penned a novel about her experience of loving and losing her mother.  I couldn't help but think about my own children while she was reading her tale, and how they would cope if I left this world.  It was very, very sad.   

Michelle uses food throughout the novel to connect to all the memories of her mother.  Growing up Korean, Michelle's mother was both overbearing and loving.  She describes shopping for Korean food at an H Mart and finally breaking down (thus the title).  

This was a really interesting and poignant tale.

4 Stars 

I've read this book twice with two different book clubs.

This story revolves around Ghost (real name Castle Cranshaw)  who has been given a very unfair hand in life.  He is poor, struggling, and is constantly conflicted due to trauma he experienced within his home.  Ghost's life changes when he encounters The Defenders- a traveling track team. Ghost has talent but he also continues to be pulled into making poor decisions.  

4 Stars 

I bought this book to help Carlee with her homework questions that she was unable to finish in class.  Basically Carlee had to read this book at school and at home.  It was a very deeply moving story.

The author actually came to Carlee's grade to give a book talk but guess who was sick that day?  Yep.  Carlee (and she was probably the only one who had to read the darn book twice).

This is the story of Ann Faye.  Ann Faye is all spunk.  With her father away at war to fight in WW2, Ann Faye takes on the role as the "man of the house".  She prides herself on being grown.  It's when the 1944 Polio epidemic impacts the family that this story pulls on the emotions.  This story tackles history, racism, death, responsibility, choices, and so much more. 

5 Stars