Seventeen is all about trying out independence.  While 18 is when you are a legal adult, 17 seems to be very similar to learning to ride a bike with training wheels, the skills are all there but a bit of guidance is needed while confidence is built.  Nate and I are attempting to "let go of the bike", we kno…

Summer has an end that seems so clear.  One day it is here and the next day it is gone. Despite the fact that the weather may or may not stay warm and the calendar may say that fall doesn't start for a few more days, our summer has come to an end.   For me, summer ends the day that free careless days are no more …

The kids have been out of school since March, so back to school took on an even bigger meaning this year.  The kids are back but with many new rules and a bunch of changes to make school safer for everyone.  We are not sure how long they will be in school learning, and if or when they will be transitioning into onli…

Trent has loved banana nut muffins ever since we lived in the hotel.  After the tornado, they were his breakfast of choice.  Day after day the kids would go down to the large continental breakfast, Aliya would pick many items (few which she would eat), and aways need to go back for "just one more thing".  Dy…

We had a wonderful time celebrating Trent's birthday! I had to laugh because as I tried to plan his birthday his response to my questions was usually "whatever".  So we decided that this year he had a theme of "whatever, whenever".  He basically wanted to do whatever the day led to, without any…