A cool, rainy day...perfect for a few projects!  Finally got the pictures off my phone!

The summer marches on for another week!!  Then it will be 6th, 9th and 12th.  Two in high school!  Crazy.

Benjamin has finally gotten on the line in the kitchen cooking.  He is doing saute and his sandwich shop job has taken back seat.  Still getting about 40 hours a week, not sure what the school year work schedule will look like.  His current class schedule Sports Medicine II, Welding III, English, Strength and Conditioning and currently CAD.  He thinks he needs an art of some kind to graduate, so hopefully he can get it sorted out.  I have always been amazed at the high school senior guys and how they just look so old and like men.  Well, that has been Benjamin this summer.  He has transformed into a man!  He is hoping to get his braces off soon and finally close the chapter on his jaw surgery almost a year ago.

Jacob has started football two a days.  That kid is rocking it.  He gets himself up by himself every morning at 5:30.  He is still slotted for QB.  I guess there are currently three QB options on the Froshmore team.  Will be fun to see how things shake out.  He will also be playing linebacker.  He has been lifting weights all summer and starting to fill out.  Jacob has recently dropped to PT once a week and has things scheduled through early October...so he plugs along.  It was exactly 6 months ago today!  We have purchased his ski pass for this coming year, so hoping for no drama this time around!!

Joseph still hangs out at the skate park and with neighbor friends.  He is doing another refresher 'summer school' right now, before things kick off next week.  His first year in middle school was last year, in 5th, but with Covid, it was anything but normal.  Excited for him to have a 'normal' year, switching classes, being able to roam outside during lunch and recess.

JR plugs along with all kinds of special projects.  He is going on his annual hiking trip to the Wind River Range, going with a friend, in early September.  Then he is hoping to do some Texas hog hunting later in September.

Benjamin, Jacob and I are headed to Seattle in a few days.  We are going to watch an NFL preseason game between Seahawks and Broncos.  We are staying in downtown and will hit all the popular spots.  A very short trip, just on the ground about 2 1/2 days!

Here are photos from camping trip last month.  It was just Jacob and I, along with a few other friends.

Below is a picture of bearproof box, that all food must be stored in!

The really really cold river....that's Jacob with the water splashing up his back.

I recently took Jacob and Joseph, and a friend each to a neighboring town an hour a way.  We made a day of it and went to a water park (every time I type that I have to remind myself that these water parks are nothing compared to what we have in Texas, but the kids here have no idea what they are missing).  We went to the skate park, a favorite local pizza buffet that the boys love, played at an amazing park and then finished the day off with a drive in movie!!

I am always amazed how much fun everyone seems to have when they put their devices down and go play.  So fun to watch the big kid game of tag.  I think there was a part of them that would have missed the drive in to keep playing!!

How smart is this?.....put workout equipment around the play equipment.  Parents can get a workout in while they are able to watch their kids.

The boys all sat in the back with the back opened up.  I managed to sit up front and found an amazing view through the side mirror.  (It was one of those action films, so not anything I was super interested in watching.)

Mid July, time marches on!!!

Benjamin continues to work 30-40 hours a week.  He works at a nice sit down restaurant and a sandwich shop.  Both of them have tried to get him to quit the other job and just work at one place.  The sandwich shop can offer morning hours, which he likes, but loved the kitchen experience of the restaurant.  He has been out paddle boarding and golfing lately!  One of JR's clients gave him a used set of nice golf clubs so I see the links/driving range becoming a more frequent thing.  We have started having senior year conversations and what things might look like going forward.  He is 100% undecided to what next year will hold.  The one thing he does know, it will not include traditional higher education, at least not for next year or two.  I totally agree and support him either working or finding a trade school, etc.  We recently celebrated his 17th bday! Can't believe it.  He and I have been trying to go out to eat once a week.  I told him his Senior year I would love to explore all the many eating options that our community has to offer.  (Eating out is not something we have ever done on a regular basis, so we could easily go every week and not hit the same restaurant twice.

Jacob has been involved in all things working out.  Still doing PT twice a week and morning workouts from 7-9 M-F at the high school.  There are not a lot of kids and I think he really enjoys working out along side some of the upper classmen.  There is a new coach this year doing the workouts and Jacob adores him.  Comes home every day talking about how he know just how to push athletes for more, encourage them.  I see him as a coach that will definitely build into Jacob's life through his high school years!  This next week, he will be working out 7-9, helping with younger football camps from 9-11 and 1-3, then participating in a high school camp from 5-7.  Makes for a very exhausted kid!  But the best kind of exhaustion.  I love watching him strive to get bigger and stronger.  Unfortunately, his vertical challenges (height) put him behind the 8 ball but I have just told him there are lots of amazing athletes that are well under 6 foot.  He just needs to work harder.  We have also had conversations about his friends who are choosing not to do workouts and how coaches see that and all the work and dedication that kids put in.  He has also been working with JR a few days and really helping him stay ahead of things.  And oh my word, we are starting to have driver's education conversations!!!!  He could start driving as early as September if we go the Driver's Ed route or next March, if we choose to bypass Driver's Ed.

Joseph!  He has found his second home at the skate park!  He will hop on his scooter and be gone for hours on end!  The sun, fresh air and exercise are amazing for him.  He enjoyed his few weeks of summer school (they ran it more like summer camp, but educational).  He has a 12th birthday coming up and discussions are underway as to what he wants to do.  He would love to go to a hotel for overnight, but holy cow, hotels are about 300 a night here!!!  Yikes!  For Christmas last year he just wanted money for extra curricular things (like pool, trampoline park) and he has just recently empties his money envelope.  Now comes the huge life lesson of you either find a way to make money or you don't get to go and play!  We recently got him a phone with restrictions on it.  As much as I wanted to wait a year or two, there is such a peace of mind knowing I can get a hold of him and him me.  I wonder how we ever survived without cell phones...ha.  Sure made life much simpler without them!!

JR has some long days this summer.  He has done a great job of slowly growing his clientele and, in my opinion, learning how to be competitive in this market.  Living in a resort town, service providers often charge 20-30% more than what he does and it is hard to wrap your mind around what people would pay for your service.  I have had several conversations recently where it is stated that people of higher income usually don't mind paying more because they feel like they get more, so they actually look for the higher priced services.  He has a long standing client who is almost fully moved into the new 10,000 square foot home he built and JR will begin to manage that.  It is crazy to think how someone could need that space, and three laundry rooms, but sounds like he basically built three wings so that when his two kids bring their families, everyone has their own private space! 

I have enjoyed voluntarily lowering my hours for the summer.  Of course the money is nice, but I need to be available to go and play with the boys too.  I have been meeting some friends up at the high school track 3 days a week at 5am for workouts!  I really love the early mornings and watching the sun come up, as long as I can get to bed early enough.  Since its summer I don't stress about the boys being up (they are old enough to manage their time, not that they always do, but if they choose to stay up until 2am and miss their early morning commitment, no better way to learn).  So, I have been getting in bed around 9. Sure is nice.  There have been few car rental turn overs this month.  I think there was such a frenzy on rental cars in June that dealerships, etc go smart and started renting vehicles, so market is somewhat saturated.  Again, sure don't mind a slower pace!

We have our annual camping trip this weekend but given schedules, location, etc it is looking very different this year.  I had hoped to borrow a friends camper but that fell through.  Joseph doesn't want to sleep in a tent, so just Jacob and I are going.  Really looking forward to just down time! Might get a hike in on Saturday.  There is no cell service so excited for Jacob as the weekend will be all about being a boy and exploring!

Here are a few pictures from recent outings.

JR and I took out the four wheeler one day.  Rode about an hour back.  Sure was beautiful and weird to see the new electric poles so far back.

Went skeet shooting recently with younger two.  Fortunately we all managed to hit one!!

 Oh my, it has been a long time since I posted!!

We are in full summer mode!  Benjamin is working both jobs and is enjoying the morning shift at the sandwich shop and his same evening shifts at the sit down restaurant.  Jacob continues therapy 2x a week.  He has already participated in a basketball camp and has plugged in with summer workouts at the high school.  The schools offered a 'catch up' summer school, so Joseph has been doing that every morning for the last two weeks.  It has been nice because it gets him up and out of the house early.

I have found a good balance with all my commitments.  I have decided to cut my hours back to 20-22 a week so I have time to breathe.  It is hard to work long stretches when the boys are home and I felt like all I was doing was working in between appointments, running kids, etc.  Trying to carve out some me time too.

After living in Montana for 23 years I finally broke down and bought a small window AC unit.  We only have one for our bedroom, because that is the only south facing room and the hottest.  I have tried to keep the set up pretty portable so I can easily remove it when it isn't 90 degrees!  The first day we had it in, it was amazing the difference.  I never really knew how hot things felt until we had the AC on with the door shut.  Walking from the hallway into the bedroom was a huge difference.  The boys actually enjoy hanging out in our bedroom now!!  (It reminds me of the Labor Day weekends we spent in Woodson growing up.  AC units on with doors closed and how great the rooms felt.)

Things have been really busy for JR.  He has occasionally recruited Jacob and Benjamin to help him out.  Bree enjoys going to work too.  She gets lots of running around time!

Really not much else going on!  I finally got a good phone now I just need to remember to take more pictures/videos!

 Summer is quickly approaching!  The boys get out June 8th!

Ben will be working 40 plus hours (he is not doing football this coming summer/school year).

Jacob hopefully will find a few shifts a week somewhere to work, doing a basketball camp and 1-2 football camps.  

Joseph has no plans for the summer.  I hope it includes lots of outside time with friends.

We recently purchased a new basketball hoop.  A nice one that has a break away rim, which means you can properly dunk on it.  It is nice to see the kids out front playing on it.  (Just wish our neighbors didn't have nice new vehicles that we have to constantly worry about hitting)  We also have an inflatable paddle board, just waiting for it to get warmer outside.  So lots of opportunities for exercise.

Jacob is currently doing a week of early morning spring football practices.  On Monday he goes for a special PT appointment where they will put him through a battery of tests to figure out where he is still weak, etc.  He also sees surgeon next week, so hopefully he will get a green light to do more workout type stuff.

I am gonna be really busy this summer!  I am back to unlimited hours with work and my Turo gig, has grown from 1 rental car to 4!!!  I am just about driving myself nuts, making sure systems are in place so as not to forget a car.  I am finishing up a financial coach class and excited to see if I can start working with people about being intentional with their money.  Still not sure if I would want to do it as a ministry or for a fee, but going through this class has made me realize even more that I am passionate about budgets, investing, freedom in being debt free, etc.  We live in such a consumer driven society and the borrower is truly slave to the lender.  Hoping to connect with people and help them understand their relationship with money and changes that could be made to make the relationship much better.

JRs work has been pretty quiet but getting busier.  He is going to Honduras to visit his parents the second week of June.  It is a quick 6 day trip.  So he will be trying to get ahead before he leaves.  He is bringing on a few new clients, which is great!

Ben and I recently took a day trip over to Billings...just for something different.  Always love going to the big sports store and getting some hands on practice!

They have a laser shooting range.  I performed very slowly and poorly!
 

My highlight of the trip though, was going to a jewelry store.  Benjamin is one that is beginning to love all things nice.  He has talked about Rolex watches before, but I had no idea how much he knew about them.  He wanted to go try one on.  Thankfully the sales person was very engaging and picked up on his huge interest.  It will be several years before he permanently gets to wear one but he said he wants to save.  The salesperson showed him another brand that was really nice and way cheaper.  I thought he might walk out with it, but didn't.  (He told me he wasn't that impulsive.)  I did not know that Rolexes are investments, they only get better with time.!?  

The look on his face when he had on the stores top of the line model.  Priceless.  There were two small Rolex gift books, so to speak, on the counter and he started flipping through the books and showing me all the pictures and what he loves about each style.  The salesman said "You can have those, if you want."  Benjamin just about fell over and asked if he was serious.  The guy said, "yep, we get a lot of them"  We immediately got to the car and he carefully wrapped up the two books.  

At one point we were looking at some lower end, nice women's watches and Ben asked me if I would ever wear one.  I jokingly said I would never wear a watch like that with sweats.  The salesperson asked why not.  I just kind of shrugged and told him I have never been one for finer things, so to speak.  I think he thought I was nuts, but watches just don't draw me in....I would rather spend my money on other things.  

Speaking of money, I am in the process of finishing up a Financial Coach Class.  Not sure what my long term intentions are with my training, but I do know that one of the things I am passionate about it finances and helping people learn their money behaviors and finding ways to control their money instead of it controlling them!

Jacob plods along with therapy!  I continue all things around the house while my work weeks are limited to 7 hours a week.  I managed to empty out my storage unit, so I can give up that monthly expense.  Did some more painting around the house.  Finishing up my last high school graduation t-shirt quilt for my niece.  Hard to believe, aside from my boys, all the other grand kids are out of high school.

No extra curriculars between now and the end of school, which is about 6 weeks away!  Hard to believe.  Really, no set plans for the summer either!  Hoping to do a few day/overnight trips with the boys and maybe a weekend of camping.  Jacob will start football 2 a days mid July.  (There are some local levies being voted on in a few weeks and if the levies don't pass, the school district will be cutting all extra curriculars/sports, except varsity football, volleyball and basketball.)  Ben is still undecided if he wants to play football his senior year.

JR recently bought this for the business!!

After talking about it for a few years, we took the plunge.  We might have to take it out on a few weekends too!  I told him it would be nice if he would move his fort to someplace that we could take this....we could get quite a few miles back then!!

Jbird continues to work hard at therapy.  

 He really has to focus on keeping his hips square and not letting his right knee roll in.  He has seen two different therapists and one wondered if there was some damage done to the MCL and the other wondered if maybe the hip was slightly tilted when they put the rod in.  He has a very slight tilt/limp when he walks so they are not sure where it is coming from.  I am hopeful it will work itself out and not something that was originally overlooked.

And guess what, today when I dropped him off at school.....

No crutch!!!  8 weeks to the day, he finally got cleared to leave the crutch at home!!!

Just a quick post!

Benjamin is finishing up a STEM (science, technology, engineering, math - I believe) and his project is finished!  Pretty cool!!!  We just need to take it to church one day so someone can hook it up to an amp and play it!!!  The base of the guitar came like that, but he had to do some sanding and then putting all the electrical stuff on it!!  He needs to sand down the frets a tiny bit, then I might try to tune it and see if I can pluck out a song

 Jacob was officially dismissed from one crutch today at PT.  Instead of two, he just uses one now!  He was so excited.  He has a free hand when he walks!  He has a follow up tomorrow with the surgeon.  He is hoping at PT next week to lose the second crutch.  It is just amazing to see how much he has had to relearn!

I continue on with all kinds of projects, hitting the gym, doctors appointments....

Hard to believe Easter is almost here.  The first quarter of 2021 is in the books!!!

Spring is here!

I have decided I am going to let go of my storage unit, so I have been purging stuff.  Feels so good to get stuff out of here!  They have cut my hours at work, so the timing is perfect.  I am doing about 7 hours a week.  Not sure how long the limited hours will be, but hopefully I can complete most of my projects.

Jacob continues with physical therapy.  He is going twice a week and probably still has 8-10 weeks left.  I asked him recently if while he was laying on the mountain waiting for ski patrol, if he had any idea what the next few months would hold for him.  Of course his answer was no.  He does pretty well with one crutch but still tends to use two.  The therapist said that his quad is not strong enough yet to walk without one.  It is just crazy to see how hard he has to work to do a leg extension when he is sitting down.  His right foot at times is colder than the left one.  The therapist said it seems that the pulse is a little weaker on the right side.  Something we are definitely watching.  Not sure what could be causing it, but not an urgent matter yet.  We go back to the surgeon early April, so will see what he has to say.

Benjamin took the ACT today.  Sounds like it was required for all juniors, which sounds odd, but that is what he said.  Tonight is his first night off in 34 days.  He was been working every night.  Between his restaurant job and his Jersey Mike's job, he is seeing two very different sides to the food industry.  He gets to do a lot more grill work at Jersey Mike's, which he enjoys.  JR and he are considering a trip in April to either Florida or North Carolina to see family.  Benjamin is just itching to do some traveling but the places he really wants to go, aren't fully open yet (New York City and Chicago).

Joseph has been out enjoying the nice weather, playing hoops and just running around with neighborhood kids.  He has also been on some bike rides with JR.  Sure hope they can log a lot of miles this summer.  He recently ended up at the Chiropractor for some foot issues.  Still trying to get to the bottom of it.  He is also wanting contacts, instead of glasses.  He has done a great job of taking care of his glasses, so it just might happen.

JR is wrapping up the season quickly.  I believe there are 3 weeks left then things drop off.  He is meeting with several new clients, so he could be looking at a busy summer, come June.  He has been back to his fort a few times.  It appears that it has stayed untouched and no one has discovered it.  Sure would be nice if it stays that way.

I am just in my element, puttering around the house.  Still trying to hit the gym a few times a week.  Also staying plugged in teaching Sunday School (3-5th grade) and attending a weekly small group.  

Headed down tomorrow to Texas for a quick three nights!  Will be nice for warm weather and to see the family.

 Happy 14th Birthday Jacob!. Growing up I always referred to you as my Texas Tornado, because it seemed you always left a wake of destruction where ever you had been. As you got older, it was difficult to keep up with you, always on the move and blowing and going. Well, that came to an abrupt halt 4 weeks ago, when you broke your femur as you overshot a ski jump landing. Going through all the pain, ambulance ride, a rod that runs from hip to knee, an overnight hospital stay and countless hours of laying in bed, unable to do simple tasks, you have prevailed! The memories you unintentionally created as you soared through the air that day! I can say without a doubt, that the last few weeks have been one of the SWEETEST seasons of my life, as I have had the privilege of serving you and meeting the most basic of needs. The crutches have temporarily slowed you down, but I know it won't last long. You are crushing PT and on schedule to hit the football field late summer! So looking forward to the return of my tornado and all God has in store for you this next year. Happy Birthday Jbird!

 The last three weeks have been all things Jacob!  

On Thursday we saw the orthopedic surgeon at the 2 week mark.  The staples were removed and two of the incisions have healed up nicely.  The third one doesn't look bad, just not as far along in the healing process.  The bone is healing nicely and we are looking at least 3 months before full recovery.

On Friday he had first PT appointment.  The therapist are all really impressed, given how bad the fracture was, as to how far he has come.  He had PT again today and I took two videos (posted below).  One of the hardest things for him is to get his right quad firing.  So weird to see how such a simple movement is so difficult for him.

I have had several conversations with the school and the goal is for him to go back half days on Wednesday.  That will be just under three weeks since the accident.  They have moved his schedule around so he will be there for his four core classes.

Aside from struggling to carry plates, etc while using the crutches, he is self sufficient.  He has figured out how to put on socks and shoes and get himself in and out of the shower. He still has not tried to sleep in his bed.  It sits on the floor and getting on and off his bed is still too difficult.

I know he is ready to get back to school and I am ready for him to get back to the classroom, but am sure gonna miss him being around 24/7

(If you can't see videos below, click on this link  www.welcomeatmyfire.blogspot.com)

Here he is walking and putting a little weight on right foot.

If you look closely at the beginning of the video, you can see his right quad twitching as he is trying to engage it.

Here are two of his three incisions, before the staples were removed.  

This is a video from few weeks ago of Jacob taking a jump at the ski hill.  (The loud boom towards the end is the ski patrol doing avalanche control).  I recently saw this video and was amazed at his ability!  However, that ability Thursday resulted in an injury from this same jump.  Nothing like getting a call from ski patrol that they are requesting my permission for ambulance transfer!  Upper leg injury, most likely femur, but they would not know until they got him off the hill and did further exam in first aid.  Because of the distance, there was no guarantee I would beat the ambulance up to the ski hill.  I went straight to the hospital.  I waited there about an hour before he finally showed up.  I was able to communicate with him twice on the phone and he was in a lot of pain.

This was in the ER room.  You can see how much shorter the right one is.  Femur injuries are all significant, because of the bones retraction, the muscles contracting and then the whole issue of the femoral artery that runs down the leg and depending on break and movement, could cut the artery.

I was somewhat surprised they did not do more of pulling traction. They just put a splint on it.  He was in a somewhat comfortable position so did not want to move it to much.  When it came time to remove the ski boot, they made sure they had drugs in his system and it took about 7 people to stabilize everything.

Here is the xray.  A clean break!

He got to the hospital around 1pm and went in for surgery around 5:30.  He was somewhat agitated because he really wanted water and of course, he could not have any.  We look back and laugh now, because at one point when they were pulling off his boot, he raised his voice, saying I am hurting, really hot and want water but none of you will help me!   Surgery lasted about 2 hours.  They had some complications lining things up.  He has an incision at the hip, where they put pins, an incision just above the knee, where they put pins and then had to make an incision at the fracture sight so the doctor could manually manipulate the bones together.  Here is the rod.

This was my bed for the night.   A chair that pulled out.  It was actually quite comfortable.

He was a hungry boy! (Here he is eating a sub from Jersey Mikes that Ben made for him.  Yes, Ben has gotten a second job working at Jersey Mikes.)

He used crutches and a wheel chair to get to the "stairs" which are behind him.  Since we have stairs, they made sure he knew best way to navigate them.

He has no cast, splint or brace.  He can put as much weight on it as is comfortable.  From the time of injury until being released from hospital, it was about 24 hours, which is mind blowing!  We are trying to manage the pain and it will take a few days for us to get in a groove moving around etc.  

 We are in the middle of a really cold snap here!  These are the days that we have to remember why we live here, for amazing summers!

Jacob and Joseph and in the middle of basketball season.  Jacob's grade plays other schools and the 5th and 6th graders just practice and scrimmage with each other.  Amazing how much better things go when they have extra curricular activities.  Jacob has also been on the ski hill most Saturdays.

My mom is coming up for a visit this week.  Looking forward to having her here!

I am still working a lot plus helping a guy with his Turo rental car.  A sweet side gig.  He and I work really really well together, so nice to have the extra income.

Some random pictures.  These were taken the last time JR was at the fort.  Sure would be nice if it could just become a permanent structure.  Pretty sure no one has come across it.

Benjamin's car was recently parked on a street and a kid, who had his license less than a week, was hot dogging it and slid and side swiped his car.  Damage all the way down the drivers side of the car.  Benjamin learned the whole process from calling the cops (the kid got a ticket) to dealing with insurance.  We were pleasantly surprised that insurance gave us about 40% more than we expected.  On the flip side, Ben really likes the car and at this point doesn't want to get rid of it.  It is just a matter of time though before things start rusting.  A great lesson in humility.  

Every February, I anxiously wait for the sun to start hitting our yard.  Look below, it has.  It seems like things start warming up pretty quickly, once the sun appears.  And yes, our new neighbors have moved in.  I was talking with someone yesterday and they told me the median house in our area now is $699K.  Truly unbelievable what Coronavirus has done to our area.  There is zero inventory, for either sale or rent.  I have resigned myself to the fact that we will probably not move into something bigger in the next couple of years.  

 For my birthday, I wanted to go axe throwing...so off we went!!

These two definitely out performed the rest of us!  I did get a bullseye, just no picture to prove it.

They had 6 cages set up and two axes per group.  We were given a short demonstration on technique.  Needless to say, I was much better with a two handed throw.  It is all on your timing and groove.  Joseph actually broke an ax when it hit the ground...something they say happens.  

Fun time had by all!!!!

 The end of 2020 came and went.  We had a very quiet Christmas.  Looking back, I am not even sure what we did the 2 weeks the boys were off from school.  I know there was lots of sleeping in!  There has not been a lot of snow, so it has even been quiet for JR.  New Years was spent with the cousins and some of their out of state family.  I guess our holiday was not too different from most everyone elses!

Jacob has started basketball and Joseph will start in a few weeks.  Benjamin is back to work with no restrictions and has gotten the all clear from his jaw surgery.  Now we are mainly working with the orthodontist to continue getting the teeth where they need to be.  He still has some swelling through his cheek bone area.  Here are some more pics from his surgeries.  (Benjamin really wanted a picture of his hand surgery with the plate in it, so that is included.  If you don't like those pictures, just keep on scrolling.  He thought it was the coolest picture.)

This is a picture before jaw surgery.  Notice the underbite.

This is the after.

Early January I headed down to Texas to spend some time with my dad.  Very quiet week!  While I was there, they got snow. 

I am getting in my annual spring purging mode.  Not sure where everything comes from, especially since I am not a big shopper.  

Jacob continues to hit the ski hill when he is able to get reservations.  He has a good group of friends that he goes with and they all seem to be about the same skill.

School life is back to normal, but I have learned that it can change in a moments notice.  Very fluid situation!  Looks like the snow will be slow in coming, makes all the skiers nervous.  Jacob is so ready to get out on the hill, but looks like he will need to wait a few more weeks.

We had a great Thanksgiving in Ohio.  Tons of family time!   Mostly stayed in and played games and chilled.  Benjamin flew both directions by himself (his request).  His 2 flights out were very dicey.  A huge storm rolled through Denver, so he missed his connection in Denver and was rebooked through Chicago (instead of only one stop in Denver).  Due to mechanical issues in Denver, he missed his Chicago connection and was put on the last flight (for Cleveland) out of Chicago.  He arrived at the airport in Bozeman at 6:15am and arrived at my sisters around 10:15pm!  He navigated things well and learned some of the airport game, as well as talking with gate agents, advocating for what he needed, etc.  I did not realize how much airlines are on top of the game when flights are delayed.  They are often rebooking passengers before they even realize they need to be rebooked.  His first solo flight is done!  He fortunately had no issues going back!

Benjamin has been through the ringer lately.  He had his hand surgery on Friday the 13th.  Had huge issues with the nerve block.  Then on Thursday the 19th, he had jaw surgery.  This has been scheduled for several months.  The white 'lines' above his teeth are the hardware they placed.

It was the first time he had general anesthesia and had a horrible time as he was coming out of it.  He was very combative and ended up really swollen.  (The Doctor had indirectly downplayed the recovery time, so we were both unprepared for what followed the first few days after surgery).  However, a lot of his swelling has now gone down but he is still unable to chew his food.  He will continue on soft foods probably until the end of the year.  I have told him a huge steak dinner will follow when he has permission to chew!!

I am putting my head down for the next three weeks and trying to work long hours before Christmas break hits. 

 Thanksgiving 2020!

A year that will forever be etched in the hearts and minds of everyone, world wide.  Who would have ever known a year ago, what we would face a few months into 2020.  There will be residual affects for years to come.  What am I thankful for....

*A God who is in control and bigger than anything that we would ever face.  Doesn't mean it will be easier, but anything difficult and yet in His will, is better than anything outside of His perfect design for us.

*The fact that JR and I never saw a blip in our jobs/income through Covid

*Candles

*As much as our 1500 square foot home tends to feel like the walls are closing in, it is adequate and I am realizing the bigger the house, the more it will drive us apart, as we all would tend to retreat to our own little corners.  So yes, thankful a larger house has not become a reality.

*Toaster ovens

*Church leadership that was not afraid to seek out health department recommendations and pull out all the stops to keep us meeting weekly

*Watching my boys turn into young men

*Technology that somewhat allowed the boys to continue schooling, even though it was not in person

*Sweatshirts and leggings

*Boys that enjoy being in the kitchen and cooking

*Day after day of 'lockdown' and we all survived, and quite honestly, thrived more than I would have anticipated

*All extra curricular activities, and life as anyone knew it, came to a halt and forced us to focus on the bare necessities.  Included daily family walks and board games

*Conversations with Ben as he is thinking about life after high school (he is a junior)

*The internet that provided amazingly fun ideas and on some days, hours of entertainment

*Watching football games with the boys

*Health - Ben recently has been through two surgeries and so thankful we are not forever tied to lots of medicines and doctor appointments

*Going to the gym with the boys

Happy Thanksgiving.  So much to be thankful for, even in the midst of chaos, uncertainty and lots of fear. 

 Joseph finished his quarantine and the day he went back to school, Jacob started a quarantine.   Benjamin is still home for the month because high school didn't have enough subs to cover the teacher absences.  This alone has created a huge issue within the school district.  Not sure how they will solve this one.

Last weekend I was hit with a very short lived something or another.  The fatigue lasted longer than any other symptoms.  So, had a pretty chill week last week.  I think I left the house maybe twice all week.

Last weekend Benjamin and Jacob were horsing around and things got ugly.  Jacob kicked Ben and ended up breaking a bone in his right hand.  We were at the hospital at midnight last Friday.  Ended up at the orthopedic surgeon this past Thursday and they did surgery the following day.  Benjamin was very excited to get it taken care of.  He is ready to start working again.  The surgery went well, they input a plate.  He had a nerve block, but it did not take.  It became pretty obvious when the surgery was started that something was not right.  Poor kid, he was a mess by the time I got back to him.  In a lot of pain.  The nurses, doctor, etc were all incredibly impressed with how well he did though.  Such a trooper.  He had about 3 days worth of pain meds and that was it.  On Wednesday he will go to the PT to get a removeable splint made.  Then the following day, Thursday, it is jaw surgery.  Two major surgeries in one week!

This next weekend the boys and I head to Ohio for Thanksgiving.  Looking forward to lots of lounging and just being with family!  Looks like they are in for some decent weather!

 Two months gone!  Benjamin and Jacob both had a shortened football season, but at least got some games in.  It seemed like it was hit and miss a few weeks, with COVID issues...limited number of spectators, few games cancelled, etc.  I did not even get any pictures this year, not even in their uniforms.  Jacob was his favorite, #2, and Benjamin was #59!  Fortunately, we only had one really chilly game day!

Joseph was sent home this past week to quarantine.  One of the girls whom he sits adjacent to, tested positive, so as a precaution he was sent home.  His quarantine will only last for 7 days.  And starting tomorrow, the high school is sending all the kids home for the remainder of November because there is a substitute shortage.  With teachers having to be out, due to quarantine or their own kids quarantining, or just plain sick, they don't have enough subs to pull from.  (Our community traditionally votes down any levies, which is money for everything inside the buildings, including staff, and we pay considerably less than other nearby school districts for subs, so....)  Will be working really hard to get Benjamin on a schedule.  I do not want to slip back into summer routines of staying up late and sleeping in.

Now that football is over, Benjamin has gotten more shifts at work.  He is very thankful to see larger paychecks.  He has found out very quickly how easy one gets use to having money.  Although our community leaders are meeting tomorrow to discuss if we need to increase our covid mandates, which could mean Level 1 and a lot of non essential businesses having to shut down or greatly reduce their capacity.  So, his immediate paychecks could still be in jeopardy.  Benjamin has his jaw surgery coming up the week before Thanksgiving.  Because his upper jaw did not grow outward, he has a weird bite and it is starting to cause problems.  So they will go in and insert 4 vertical plates, to move the upper jaw forward, like 6 millimeters.  The doctor has said there is usually not any pain, so to speak, but more  so swelling and he has to eat soft foods for a week or so.  The good news, when he leaves the house, he is wearing a mask, so the swelling probably won't even be noticed by others. 

I have been working quite a bit, sometimes 35 hours a week, but also trying to balance it with things around the house.  I have taken a break from Crossfit and decided to go to the gym Ben and JR go to.  Jacob is old enough to also go, but he needs a parent.  Fun to see him in the gym!  Joseph is itching to go, but has to wait another year and half.

Over the past few months, I have taken Bree to a facility for single days, just to get her playing with other dogs.  Our yard is so small and even when we take her on walks, she just doesn't burn enough energy.  (She does best when I run her with the car, and she does very well.  Somedays going 4-5 miles!)  I took her about a month ago and while she was there she jumped their fence...their 6 ft fence!  It was not a clear jump, like deer, but she somehow manages to get her front paws over the top and then uses her back legs to get her over.  Crazy.  But she jumps the fence and then runs around to the office door.  So, I took her a few days ago.  When I pulled up, she did not want to get out of the van.  It took about a minute to coax her out of the van.  In the past she has loved the place and literally spends all day running and playing.  Was hesitant to leave her but did.  I called about lunch time just to make sure she wasn't giving them any more troubles and she had jumped the fence twice already.   The owner said she did great for about 3 hours running and playing.  Then he went into where the dogs were and Bree came over to him and he petted her, talked to her, etc.  He went back into the office and within 5 minutes she had jumped the fence and come around to the office door.  He thinks she really enjoys other dogs but loves her humans.  Both times she jumped was almost immediately after he had been around her, petting her, etc.  So, as much as they love Bree, she is not going back anytime soon.

JR is gearing up for snow.  We  had a big dump the end of October, but thankfully his snow contracts did not start until Nov 1.  This weekend the cold and snow return!!

School has started!  All of the boys are doing pretty well.  None of them really complain about the masks but it does seem that they stick to their small cohort and don't intermix with other students/friends throughout the day. I spend the school days working.  

Spending the weekend away with a North Dakota friend.  A slow paced weekend, with shopping and eating.  We did go hiking!  It was 7 miles round trip, but fortunately not a super hard hike, but made it back to a lake. 

I love all the shadows from the rising sun plus the smoke from wildfires.

This next picture, is one I will never forget!  Looking back, a situation that could have gone very bad, but didn't.  Take a look.

See what was on the trail??  A moose.  I came around this corner and saw the moose, facing me.  Probably 20 yards.  We both startled each other.  He had been scared by someone heading towards us, so he was coming down the trail towards us.  As you can see, it was pretty tight and narrow.  The moose was not sure what to do, feeling trapped.  The moose turned his back to us but did not leave.  We decided to scamper up a rock and get behind a tree.  A few seconds later, the moose quickly took off and ran right past us!  We kept replaying the incident and can't imagine what would have happened if we had not gotten off the trail.

On Friday a wildfire started in our valley.  The first time I remember one in 21 years.  Here are two pictures I got off of facebook.  No official word on buildings lost, but assuming there are dozens of homes.  Fortunately no lives have been lost yet.  Three firefighters got caught and had to deploy their emergency blankets and were able to walk away.  It is about 5 miles away from the ski resort so they are trying hard to keep the fire at bay.  There is currently zero % contained.  We have cooler weather with rain but in a few days, it gets hot and dry again.  The firefighters have weeks of work.  It has been amazing to see all the cooperation among all the emergency departments and all the help form the community.  Lots of livestock were roaming free when fences burned and people showed up with trailers, etc.  I believe it is currently just over 7,000 acres.