Little Cabin In the Woods

 Andrew's cabin in the woods~ not quite done, but mostly.

It's hard to take pictures of the space with my camera because it is a small cabin and I don't have a wide angle lens... but you'll get the idea.

(bet you now recognize that picture on the shelf)

This is the loft space.  It has two cots and a hammock suspended from the ceiling.  It is suspended out and over the loft floor, hovering 12 or 15 feet over the lower level so it is a leap of faith to sleep there.  

Of course, that doesn't stop Andrew.

The stone underneath still needs to be finished.  

I believe they plan to add battens eventually too.

There is no electricity in the cabin so Andrew got solar powered lights for his birthday.  

Ambiance is important for all those guy campouts, after all.

And when your son gets annoyed with all the pictures you are taking, you take even more in rapid succession until he can't help but laugh.  Because his real smile is worth it.

And then you make a gif out of it.

Because you are THAT kind of mother. 

My Little Panda

 Andrew was delivered at midnight to begin a commute into NYC to catch a flight to Idaho in order to attend a week-long Christian conference there with two other, younger guys.  This will be his first time flying (where he will remember the experience) and he'll have to navigate the whole airport experience/travelling/huge conference, not only for the first time but as the 'man in charge'.

The whole thing has got this Mama feeling nostalgic and sentimental about the little Panda that is almost all grown up.

All of this made me think that I have not yet posted his 18th birthday photos (from back in April) OR the photos I have taken of his cabin (I know some of you have expressed interest). 

 It seems to me that now might be just the perfect time to do so. 

I miss him already.  

Homemade donuts for dessert

Papa and the Newman men joked that he ought to give a speech, given that he was turning 18.  In true Andrew form, he took the joke and made it a reality.  

(Take note of his podium... he has an affinity both for shoes and keeping the boxes they come in.)

It was a good speech and it made me cry.  (surprise, surprise.)

Also- I was impressed with his public-speaking... even though he was addressing a room full of family- he made eye contact with everyone as he spoke, included jokes-but avoided silliness, spoke succinctly and loudly and had a commanding presence.

And he didn't have to do any of it at all.  It was a sweet moment.

He's a funny bird and enjoys making people laugh.  (As you can see here)

He also loves Haribo.

Aunt Holly and Uncle John's birthday card included a photo from a Christmas performance he did.

That too, was an idea he had, just for the pleasure of being witty, funny and charming.  

Hat tip to any who recognize the performance!! 

I love that Andrew doesn't shy away from being the center of attention but also doesn't need to be there all the time.  I love that he does not take himself too seriously but that he takes seriously other, important things.  

I love seeing the manly man that he is becoming and yet so enjoy that I can still see glimpses of the sweet, mischievous little boy shine through every now and again.  

And I am so incredibly thankful that he (with nary an eye roll or complaint) still lets me hug him long and hard when he is about to embark on yet another grand adventure.  

In fact, he hugs back.

My Peanut

Andrew celebrated his 15th birthday a few days before Easter with a simple request of calzones, Doritos, funnel cake and staying up late to watch the movie Jurassic World.

He also requested an almost $200 crazy expensive Spotify watch but ain't no way that was happening (and he knew it!).

Thankfully, he is the sort of guy to be just as happy with a carb filled movie night.

The best gifts this year were from friends (the last three photos)-one even came in the mail!- and it is clear they know exactly what makes the boy tick.

He asked me later in the day why I kept taking pictures of him all day long....but doesn't a mother have a right to be sentimental about her boy?  He is growing before my very eyes and I love it and I hate it at the same time.  I want to see what is in store for him and also simultaneously to freeze time.   I am so proud of the man he is becoming and I love the boy he will always be.  

Grow those muscles, do!  And use them well for the glory of God.  

Your Mama loves you.  (And your Papa.)

Smartie Pants

 

Peanut at 14

This cool cat turned 14 at the beginning of April.    His birthday this year was abit overshadowed with COVID19 and so no one came to share dinner and cake with us in celebration but he took it like a champ, as almost-men are wont to do. 

His body has stretched to surpass his Mama (that's a feat!) and his feet have grown to surpass his Papa's.  He gets paid man wages for mans' work and does the job well. He recently pruned a neighbors entire orchard in exchange for a shotgun.  He is passionate and enthusiastic about new things- he dove right in to making maple syrup this year.  He handles the cow with the ease and comfort of an old cowboy.  He does quite a bit of the mans' work around here, even when Matt IS home...like bringing in wood and mowing the lawn and splitting kindling.  He's just a reliable guy.

I love all these things about him.

 I also love his grin.  His magnificent EYEBROWS!  The fact that he can make any one of us die laughing with his sense of humor and impersonations.  (He really could be Tim Hawkins' double.)  The times that he is infuriating are far less than the times that he is hilarious.  That he still kisses me good night and hugs me goodbye.  That he still comes and finds me to talk about...whatever.  AND the fact that he is cool enough to wear his little sisters' handmade birthday hat- just for her! 

  I'm sitting here, all melty like.  I do love a little person, big person gift exchange.  I love the look of excited anticipation on the little people.  I love the grace and goodness of the big people in accepting humble offerings.  I'm a puddle.

Grandpa and Grandma did a drive by birthday gift throw onto the porch. 

I exaggerate.  (But only slightly. ha!)  

Andrew's requested birthday cake was FUNNEL CAKE!  And LOTS OF IT.

May the Lord continue to grow you, my boy.  In both strength and goodness.  

May you be a sharpened arrow to serve the King, all the days you are given.  

The Month that Was: March

I've been quiet here on the blog for almost an entire month!

And it has been a very full month!  Here are some the highlights- started with the brightest and shiniest of all:

Andrew got his braces off!  This poor boy had to deal with teeth getting pulled out of his head, metal twisted into his mouth, plastic fake teeth and retainers, months of pain and frustration and about a gazillion orthodontist appointments.  And that was after having to deal with extremely wonky teeth for several years.  And March marked the end of the torture. (For now, anyway...)

Papa took the day off work to come with us as he got his braces off.  Which was special enough, in and of itself.

before the appt.

after the appt.

His goofy 'before the before'. 

Not only did he have two 'extra teeth' come in at the gums and roof of his mouth- but after having them pulled, the true tooth came in exactly perpendicular to all the other teeth.

In about a year, six months of waiting for teeth to come in and six months in braces, he has a whole new mouth.

Mouths and teeth are kind of amazing.

So is the boy.

Happily for all, the braces coming off coincided with tax return season so Papa and I decided to *really* go hog wild.  We took the kids- brace yourselves- out to a RESTAURANT!

And then...as if THAT weren't enough....BOWLING afterward!

Yes Lady behind Matt's shoulder- I AM taking a picture of my family in a restaurant.  Because this doesn't happen.

Andrew, in disbelief that he is not an ignoramous!

Braceless came close to winning...

but he still had his Mama to contend with.  ;-)

And a few more March things, willy nilly:

~ One day my sister in law asked to take all my children to her house for a bit of a playdate.  It was a week when Matt was away.  She gave me specific orders to do something special with my time.  Something out of the ordinary.  Something luxurious.

It didn't take long to realize that the thing I would find most luxurious would be to have my fingers in flower petals after a long, stark winter of none.  So I headed to Wegmans, bought three of my favorite $4.00 flower packets and came home to touch them, smell them and look at them while listening to Jane Eyre on audiobook.  

I made a bouquet for myself and one for the girl who made it all possible.

Luxurious, yes.  Uplifting?  Absolutely.  Therapeutic?  That too.

Flowers do that to me.

 ~ We had a surprise calf show up in March.  The Mama cow, Acorn, had a butcher date already set because she never seemed to 'take' in breeding.  And then, a few weeks before the butcher date arrived, she started to bag up to everyone's great surprise.

Meet Winston:

Animals seem to gather round to greet the new calf and check things out.  First the cats.

Then the chickens.

 I was at first dreading the calf and milking cow situation because I am ALLERGIC to cows and with Matt away as often as he is, I have always had to do milking chores.  Even shoving tissues up my nose and wearing gloves would not help prevent me from being a swollen, draining, itching, sneezing uncontrollably allergy face for the rest of the day.  But, WONDER OF WONDERS, this time around I have children who are old enough and capable enough to do it for me!  Andrew is quite the milk man and even Corynn has taken over when needed.  Not to mention, Acorn (the mama) is a really good cow- unlike her pesky, ornery sister Ellie.  That helps too.

Needless to say, I am a bit more excited about it than I was in the beginning.

*
~ Many hands make light work... it also adds just a smidge of chaos.




~ Spotting wildlife is one of Andrew's passions.  Spotting an entire flock of turkeys down the road is pure gold.

~ This monkey has some sort of sheet-changing radar superpower.  I don't know how she knows when it is time but it only takes seconds of my starting the process before she bounds up on the bed and gets herself properly in my way.

In honor of my troll girl.

 I know you probably think this child never gets her hair combed...but I promise she does.  I just kinda love her crazy troll hair and take pictures of it of it to remember when she is vain enough to fix it.

Another major milestone has been in the works since March, but that deserves a post all its' own.

Another day.  

(Hopefully before another month has passed...)