Publishing the Draft: Catching Up 2019

I found this draft blog post from an attempt to catch up on the blog in 2019.  Somehow, that seems like a really really really long time ago.  It doesn't seem like it was only 2 years ago, so much has happened since these times.  I wanted to go ahead and post the little bit I managed to get typed out here.  

January

Brody turned 12 in January!  To describe Brody at age 12:  He loves his family fiercely.  His favorite color is blue.  His eyes are an amazing clear blue around the edges and green with gold flecks in the middle.  I call them his kaleidoscope eyes.  😊  Most recently, I've been calling them his ocean eyes - because they are the blue of ocean water with golden sand in the middle.  He is growing more independent every single day.  He doesn't love school so much, but he loves the social aspect of school.  He has lots of friends and a girlfriend named Maddie.  His favorite class is probably gym.  He is still an athletic boy.  He finished up the soccer season in May and starts his new sport, Lacrosse, this week.  When he turned 12 in January, we were in the middle of an awesome basketball season, where his team went undefeated until the final game - the city championship.  He had a really great team and a really fun time.  

Other happenings in January - Brayden was diagnosed with mono and strep.  He was down for the count for several days.  I felt so bad for him.  It was kinda awful, but he actually didn't complain that much.  I expected it to be much worse.

February 

In February's highlight reel, Brayden and his girlfriend, Michelle, attended the Valentine formal.  Scott took some amazing pictures of them.  I'd love to post them all, but I only have two saved on my computer.  

Scott and I celebrated Valentines Day by taking Brody to an ETSU Basketball game.  He promptly left us to hang out with his friends.  We took a selfie without him.  I don't remember if ETSU won the game, but I remember it was fun to watch.  Scott watched the hockey game on his phone.  Ha Ha!  I insisted we *make* valentines for each other.  I'm not a huge fan of greeting card, but I am a huge fan of handmade gifts, so this was a perfect plan for me.  I'm not sure Scott would approve of me posting his card here, so I won't, but I did take pictures of them.  Here is our game selfie.

At the end of February, I went to Sugar Mountain with my best friends from high school, Julie and Kathleen.  Laura wasn't able to join us.  We had an amazing weekend with their girls, Charlotte (Julie's) and Elizabeth (Kathleen's).  I love these girls so much.  I'd like to think we haven't changed much since high school, when we used to have film cameras.  We would try to take selfies but you didn't know if they turned out or not for days.  The truth is, we have changed - we have more laugh lines and tougher skin, but mostly we've changed in ways you can't see.

The same weekend I went to Sugar Mountain, Scott and his friend, Kenny, hiked from Roan Mountain to Hwy 19E in Elk Park, NC.  February was questionable for weather - I think their first day was beautiful, but the second day of their hike brought cold temps and blowing snow/rain mix.  I was responsible for their transportation.  Below is the before and after pics!  I could have done without the stinky post-hike transport, but I was glad to see them come walking down the path!