A Touch Of Tyrell

When we first moved to Utah, last June, I met a mom that has the same number/age/gender of kids as we do. I asked her about sports and she mentioned that her son played lacrosse and Everett should sign up.  She sent me the link and I signed him up... and then I told Everett.  He asked me what lacrosse was and I said "I don't know... we should youTube it!" *back row, black adidas shirt+backwards hat) He played that Fall and then again in Spring. And he's playing again this Fall.  (I told him he couldn't have screens unless he played a sport!) It's been REALLY good for him in a lot of ways.  Last year was a bit easier because it was 5th/6th grade but this year it's 7th/8th so the competition is a lot stronger. He's still one of the biggest boys on the team but he's just so kind and gentle... and I can't be mad about that!  Lacrosse is a REALLY fun sport to watch and we've really enjoyed watching Everett play. 

In the act of juggling life and all that I want to get out of it, the blogging ball got dropped. And that's ok. Kindergarten, 3rd grade, and 6th grade for my kids might just have to exist only in their memory because I didn't do a very good job at documenting it. I've been busy this last year (I mean, I did only post 6 times 😅) moving again, establishing ourselves again, raising kids, etc but this year has brought a lot of opportunity for emotional growth. It's been a lot to sort out and experience and I don't really know if I'd want that experience heavily documented or to have accessible to the general public.... however few might stumble upon it.  I think the best option I have is to just start back up where life is now and catch up on important things as I'm able.  The second half of August marked the beginning of school. Everett started 7th grade/middle school. He's been reading Diary of a Wimpy Kid since the 2nd grade and has been excitedly lookin...

Brace yourselves.... Everett turned TWELVE. And he's officially taller than me.  He's a really neat kid. 6th grade was pretty interesting for him socially... I think he's finally learning the value (and how to value) friends. It's a work in progress. Sometimes he blurts out rude things without thinking (he gets that from me 😓) and it's caused some arguments and sticky situations. But that's what middle school if for, right?!? To expose all shortcomings and make a complete fool out of yourself... Jake took him and two of his friends to Labrynth (an escape room) and maybe even to the movies. I can't even remember! He's still into video games, his oculus (virtual reality), and youtube. If it has a screen and can entertain you... he's all about it! He's getting a little mustache and is loving being taller than most of his peers. 

Everett, his friend Lincoln, and Lincoln's cousin Braylon, all played on the same soccer team this season.  They won their first game and then lost all the rest. They had several players that also played baseball at the same time so they were often playing down a player or two! Everett played in a defensive position and by the end of the season had some great moves I was so proud of! He's not aggressive by nature and so he really has to work hard.  The three of them had some fun times together. They swam several times together in Lincolns pool (I got a good kick out the times they hung out in the hot tub and chatted for hours!) and even had a sleepover.  It was fun to see the three of them play soccer and hang out together.   

For Everett's birthday we went to the Lego store. Everett has been picking out Lego's for his birthday since my grandma sent his $20 for is 4th birthday and he picked out two police cars. He was so adorable with his big toothy smile and focus as he followed the instructions and put them together.  I've always loved Lego's so I don't mind "investing" in them. I feel like they are memory-keepers in a way and a gift that keeps on giving.  He was debating between the Ford Mustang, the Ghost Busters car, or the buccaneers pirate ship.  He decided on the mustang!  He started building it right away... you know it's good when he chooses a toy over screens!!! He told me I didn't need to do all the decorations and stuff but I told him I had to! He needs to know he's special and worth decorating for (no matter how old he is or if he thinks it will embarrass him infront of his friends.  He decided on a party at Elevate (trampoline park) and an ice cream ca...

Everett has been in the 5th grade band all year. I love that he plays band because it's important for him to have music in his life... and learn to read music. Plus I know it's good for him in other areas.  *aaaallllll the way on the right... in the white shirt* Because of COVID, they didn't get to have a Christmas concert. So their spring concert was their first one.  Everett had emotionally quit band at least 10 different times and declared that he wasn't doing band next year. I was totally fine with it. I'm just glad he tried it. But, after the concert, he changed his mind! And I am SO SO SO glad he did!  In fact, the other day he wanted to make sure I sent an email telling the school he wanted to do band for 6th grade.  I'm super proud of him.   

Everett has been walking funny for quite some time.  Every time I asked him why he was walking funny he'd say because his feet hurt.  I thought he just needed to spend more time on his feet. Strengthen his muscles.  After a while, he starting walking even more weird.  I was getting worried because I had no idea what was going on.  We made sure his shoes were the right size. Nothing improved. Months and months passed.  He said his heals specifically were the problem.  Turns out he has small hair-line 'fractures' in the growth plates in his heals.  The white curve looking 'fracture' in the growth plate. The pediatrist made sure I knew they weren't actually fractures because it is in the cartilage. His right foot was worse (where the red arrow is) but both heels would require custom made orthotics.  He has to sleep with a special boot on his right foot and this orthotics are almost done.  They has to make a cast of his foot and then make an...

Jake hiked Camelback with the Young Men one morning. I was a little jealous... except they did a sunrise hike and woke up at 4:30 😴 He said it was really fun, a little challenging but the views were amazing.  I really need to do it one of these Winters.  That evening Everett and I went on a mother-son date and went out to Frost. It's a REALLY good gelato place and we both got toasted marshmallow as one of our flavors! Like mother, like son.   

I know this isn't a picture someone would love of themselves posted on the internet... but I was showing a friend a picture of Everett's hair.  We happened to be waiting in the parking lot of the doctors office. Everett stayed home all week due to the common cold last week. I thought it could have been strep... well, actually our neighbor (whom I consult for all medical related things) thought she saw white bumps in the back of his throat.  Turns out, he just blew his way through 3 boxes of tissues and watches at least 20 hours of tv... He would have missed 2 baseball practices and a game but the weather canceled a practice and a game anyways.  Everett has a friend on the same baseball team and they got into a moment of hurt feelings. Being 10 is hard. Learning how to deal with emotions is also hard and it's revealed a little bit more of an issue for Everett.  He's having a hard time learning to be humble and apologize. It's been extra tough for him. But I'm gue...

Breckie is amazing a writing notes and drawing cute pictures. One day she randomly wrote Everett this note and but it on his pillow.  It was such a sweet gesture.  Even sweeter that Everett turned it over and wrote a reply!   I'd have to say, the kids are all at really amazing ages right now. They play well and get along for the most part. We're really lucky to be a family!

At the very beginning of quarantine I bought lots of PE type things to help encourage the kids to be active and outside (dodge ball, kickball, baseball & bat, jumprope, relay race activities, etc).  That's when I discovered that Everett was really good at hitting a baseball.  *He's the tallest kid next to the coach. Once sports teams opened back up we got Everett on a team. Luckily Jake was able to take Everett to every practice and game. He was barely young enough to get on a coach-pitch team (to practice and build confidence). They never kept score at the games so it was a nice introduction to the sport for him. We're thinking it's going to be his sport 😁 He really enjoys it and seems to have a knack for it. He even used baseball as the topic for his paragraph of the week (that I dug out of the recycle bin to read!) I love that he has a sport and that he and Jake can connect over it!  

I remember getting braces in 5th grade. I had them from 5th-7th grade.  I sucked my finger as an infant/toddler... all the way 'till kindergarten. I had a side-overbite because of it and needed braces.  Everett has always had an adorably wide, toothy smile and we knew at some point we'd need to bring them all together. Jake never had braces as a kid. He was blessed with mostly straight, good-looking teeth. His teeth on the bottom were a little crowded and crooked... so Jake and Everett went in to get their teeth check out together.  And a week later, they were getting braces! Turns out, we were right on time for Everett. The x-rays showed that his canine teeth were trying to come in but his front 4 teeth needed to be closer together to make room for them.  He was SUPER excited to get braces.  They currently aren't causing him pain or discomfort at all.  Jake is entirely a different story! His face hurts, headaches, it's hard to focus his eyes...  Evere...

I can't remember if I ever posted Everett's letter to the Easter Bunny... as if the Easter Bunny takes special requests like Santa!  Luckily the Easter Bunny delivered his special request and we were playing catch and practiced hitting balls before it got too hot.  I guess it's a beautiful thing that they still play baseball in the summer here... it makes us tough!  And dehydrated, lol! Everett has only been to two practices and two games but he's been LOVING it!!!  I am so happy that he's finally found his sport. I think he also LOVES that Jake has been able to be the one to take him to his practices and games so he gets to spent extra just him and Jake.   

The kids got to go to school for real today! All day I was feeling grateful, relieved, thankful, glad.  It was a big milestone and I'm so grateful that we were able to do it. Breckie thrives on in-person learning and online learning was ALMOST the death of our relationship.  Everett exceeds either way but MUCH prefers going to school in person.  They both came home SO happy and full of energy.  They are both happy with their teachers and both said they made a new friend.  It's good for everyone in our family that school is back in session (some families are nervous and would rather continue online learning).  Roxy watched the iPad for 6 hours while I cleaned my heart out.  (I do this any time guests leave our house. I clean and clean and clean.) I cleaned for all 7 hours they were gone and it felt amazing. I LOVE a clean, quiet house!  

So much has happened in the last month. It's all really great stuff... I just kind-of feel dumb for 'wasting' all of the quarantine time and just not getting caught up then.  Like taking Roxy's 4-year pictures.  I took them two months late... and literally took them in the park behind our house 20 minutes before Jake and I went on a date. That's just how life is sometimes, I guess.  After all of the emotions early July brought (the 10 days in Colorado + all the healing that went on in the days since) I was feeling a little sad for myself.  I was just feeling like I didn't have very many friends.  I reached out to an old friendship that needed mending, so I had that 'girl date' to look forward to. I was still feeling pretty low when two other friends invited us to meet them at the community pool. It's not our most favorite place to go (it just seems like it could use a little extra cleaning :) but I felt so special being invited! It was good to reconn...