Anniversary Adventures

Because the water levels are higher than they've been in seventy years, it's picked up a ton of debris long settled along the shore, sending it floating down the river.  Because of this, and the age of our new-to-us boat, a few days after we bought it, it went into the shop for repairs.  Due to the lack of boat shops in a place that has three rivers and many boats, they were a bit backed up-- 60 boats were ahead of ours to be fixed.  By the time we got it back yesterday, we were ready to get out there and play.  Time is ticking, my friends.

 Brennon still has a hard time wanting to be on the boat.  He's getting better, but there still ended up being some tears.  Heavy sobbing and horrible asthma without an inhaler in the car (I had taken it out the day before, when he found out the inhaler he had in his pocket for Scout Day Camp was actually at zero) forced me to take him home while the other kids played.  I think it worked out well for all of them-- Brennon wasn't complaining about how fast we were going, and the other kids weren't complaining that we weren't going fast enough!  Win-Win!!

 Randy got some great pics-- he is so good to me.  Trying to give them the best tube-catching-air experience, he ended up wearing them all out.  By the time I got back (it ended up being an hour, round-trip) they were all telling me how much their hands, backs, and legs hurt.  Randy admitted that he may have gotten a bit carried away.  I don't see them complaining in these, though!

 They can all barely walk today.  Brennon used it as just one more reason why he's glad he got off the boat early.  The kids asked if we were going today, but since it was our Anniversary (17 years, can you believe it!) we didn't go.  Instead, Randy and I each got a 60-minute massage.  I giggled as I got onto the table, relatively pain-free, thinking of my complaining kids at home.  Brennon actually did an air fist punch when we told him we had too much planned for our day.  Not to worry, we have plans to go tomorrow.  We'll bring the boat, our friends will bring their kayaks, and we'll all have a grand time.

I have commented to Caden many times that we need to take him to get his hair cut.  Because we are trying to fill our days will all-things fun, it has been put off for a bit. 

 I'm debating whether he needs a cut at all, after seeing these!  Look at that handsome face!

The wind blown look has never been so striking!

Shelby woke this morning and immediately told me how difficult it was to even walk down the stairs.  She complained many times during the day about her legs.  It never dawned on me until she was at her Blue Belt Testing, but Oh My Gosh, she was put through the ultimate test to earn her Blue Belt today.  She was expected to do splits (which he singled her out and told her to go lower), a kicking combination that involved some high kicks, one right after the other, and eventually break a board doing an intricate kick after a jump.  Watching her struggle to walk during the day and then barely struggle there gave me a glimpse of just how determined and fierce my Shelby is.  There were a few times I could tell her legs were truly burning, but she did incredible!  The fact that I know how much they had been hurting all day and then watching her perform so perfectly makes me even more proud of my Beautiful Blue Belt.

Red Belt, Brown Belt, Red & Black Belt, and then finally Black Belt.  My girl is determined to earn her Black, just like Grandpa Burrell (even though his was in Kenpo Karate, not Taekwondo).

Master Roach awarded Caden an honorary Black Belt today.  "You've earned this, in my opinion."  I tried my best, but I couldn't hold back some tears.

I'm the luckiest girl in the world.  I'm so grateful for these days of play without cancer pain.  We're playing hard.  And have the sore bodies to prove it!