Swimming

We are almost to the end of short course season and also high school season. Colin has been swimming sometimes both practices a day.  A few weekends we have been in Williamsburg on a Friday for a few events, driven home for the high school pasta dinner, back up to Williamsburg Saturday morning to swim 3 more events, home Saturday evening for high school meet, then back up Sunday morning for his remaining events.  It's a lot of time driving but it's fun to watch him swim. And I'm enjoying all the time with Colin.  I take him to his Williamsburg meets because we have to leave the house at 5am and Brent is more than happy to stay home and watch online!  One day I had a missed voicemail from Joel.  He had tried calling me but then forgot when I didnt answer and its a 4 minute discussion between him,  brent and Norah about cleaning.  All of a sudden in the background I hear Norah yelling at Joel, "Just because you are hitting puberty does NOT give you an excuse to be so emotional."  So that day an early morning wake up call was a gift to avoid all that.

One meet Colin made finals in 100Fly so we went and crashed at Jeffs house for a few hours between sessions.  We also stayed with him one night so we could sleep in a little longer. That has been fun and we love seeing Jeff but we will be glad when long course season starts. From what we can tell most of the meets are on our side of the bridge tunnel.

I'm glad he is enjoying it.  

 

Joel

Joel never got to finish his notes to me telling me his depravity with no xbox.  His school went virtual because so many teachers were sick and I let him back on the xbox in the afternoons to talk to his friends. 

This time it was just Joel home for a few days without the others. And I'm pretty sure he would've thrived being an only child.  He was so calm, polite, happy.  He had about 5 minutes between his classes so he would come downstairs and talk to me then go back up. 

He would sit in the middle of all these lego bins while he would log onto his chrome book.  He would sit and build while watching his teachers. This part of the room is fillled with sunlight during the day, so I don't blame him. for sitting there in the sun.  Except he didn't put them away at the end of the day.  

One night Colin was turning out the lights and tripped over them leaving the room.  Joel made a point to tell me the next day that he cleaned up COLINS MESS.  I said yes, but whose fault was it that Colin made the mess.  Without a beat Joel said "Colin of course.  He needs to be more aware of his surroundings." 

One step ahead

Remember when Joel got this xbox coupon in his stocking last year?  He has faithfully held onto it all year.  I kept asking him when he wanted to use it. And honestly thought he had forgotten about it. He was just saving it all this time.

 Well, on the way to Jeffs for our black-eyed peas he got in trouble.  And got the xbox taken away from him.  On Sunday morning as soon as I woke up, he was waiting in the kitchen with a big smile on his face.  He quietly handed me the coupon and sweetly said since we had church could he add the time we were in church to Monday.  I wasn't awake yet to read the back of the coupon, so I agreed before reading that it was nontransferable over days.  

He ended up playing xbox the entire day.  Didn't have to help clean up the house from Christmas or take down any of Christmas.  I had done 5 loads of laundry and he couldn't help because "coupon mom"

Colin wasn't thrilled that he couldn't get on the xbox his last day of vacation. He was also amazed that Joel played the entire day.  At 9:30 when we made him get off because he had school the next day. He came and got me and asked to go outside for a walk because, "sitting all day doesn't make me feel good mom." He actually admitted that he got bored playing the xbox but stayed playing because of the principal of it all.  

I'm not sure Santa will be bringing more of those coupons but I had to laugh that Joel really used it on the best day. Well played Joel.  Well played. 

He wrote me a note on Tuesday. His first day with no Xbox

Day 1 of  no Xbox

Gamer fuel supply: low

Morale: 13% and falling 

Chance of depression: 29% and rising 

Positive thoughts: falling

“Soon my own mother will become my enemy. I’ll log in tomorrow, Joel signing out.”

He hasn’t logged in since. So I don’t know where his percentages are at currently. 

Snow

The kids went back to school on a rainy Monday.  When I went to pick them up from school it had started snowing.  It was too warm for it to really stick but fun to watch for the hour it came down.

 

Thats all we got. Nothing to even cover anything.  But we loved living in a snowglobe for a few minutes. Hopefully we will get a real snow day this winter. 

Happy New Year

Happy New Year! It's crazy its already 2022. I feel like we just entered 2020 in some ways.

We headed to Jeffs for our black eyed peas and collards.  We want lots of good luck and wealth this year.  Sarah was visiting friends in Richmond so she drove down.  And Capers joined us which was a lot of fun (Capers we need to see you more! Its always a great time together!)

Joel only ate one collard leaf.  He said he was set on money for now.  He also has life long goal, not necessarily a new year's goal, of having pinpoint accuracy in every weapon he touches. The only weapons he has are nerf guns but I guess thats important to have pinpoint accuracy.  

I'm not sure Colin ate any collards and he is the one who needs money. He has been saving and slowly building his own computer.  He has researched for a long time and finally started buying parts.  Somehow, they will all work together. Brent and I know nothing about it and leaving it up to him. He should've eaten at least one leaf I think! 

I ate more collards than beans.  I hope for lots of hail this year! 

A great start to the year.