Strawberry picking

 We ate all the strawberries Joel and Norah picked so we all went back one Saturday. 

We got the call that Joel would be going virtual for a few weeks because his school had a fire in the copy room over the weekend. 

He wasn't too disappointed. 

Sixteen

I am way behind on documenting our lives but this one turned sixteen a few months ago. 

We wanted to do something fun for him so we invited a few friends over for dinner and were going to surprise him after swim practice with everyone. Then his practice kept changing.  So instead, Brent took him out of school early (which he thought was his surprise) and they went to Busch Gardens for the afternoon. 

Then they came home to a house full of family friends. 

The confetti poppers didn’t go as planned….

There's always been something special about Colin.  I was telling someone the other day that I don't think Colin has ever gotten upset for very long with anyone.  Things don't really bother him.  He is very patient with his brother and sister.  His swim coach loves him and said he is always so respectful, never complains about any sets, will listen to instruction. 

We are getting a taste of what life will be like without him his summer.  He is lifeguarding so he is gone all day.  We all look forward to when gets picked up and is home. He gets bussed from the ymca near our house to the summer camp he is working at 45 minutes away.  He gets brought back right after our afternoon swim practice.  One afternoon, driving from our pool to the ymca Joel put his hand over Norah's mouth because she was complaining, and Joel claims he was trying to keep her from getting in trouble with Mom.  She bit him.  Joel starts screaming about getting rabies.  You know the usual afternoon drive with those two. Colin gets in the car and I told him we have to go get Joel a rabies shot and he bursts out laughing and all complaining/screaming/anger goes out of the car. They started laughing too.  He's a good big brother to them.