barrett: 148 months old

 

Barrett is back in school as a 7th grader this year, and is on the 7th grade football team!  So, it's a different school year start than most, in that Barrett has to be at school super early for football practice (we leave the house at 6:10 am) every day of the week.  He'll have to keep this schedule up until the end of October!  Barrett likes all of the classes he's taking, and is back for Art II this year.  

Likes:  Poppy (he's her favorite too)

Dislikes: getting up early for practice

193 months old

We're back in the school swing, with Britton starting 11th grade this year!  She's already busy with softball Fall Ball, debate tournaments, and academic decathlon. Plus, she's president of her NCL class this year, and just had to lead her first meeting!  September is a busy time, not just starting up school and extra curricular activities, but also Homecoming is at the end of September this year.  For the first time, Britton wanted a mum, and if you're not familiar with the huge mums that Texans do for Homecoming, go treat yourself to some googling!  It was beyond my crafting skills, so I had one made, and it's 3 feet of glorious ribbon fun!

                                                 

Likes: coffee, softball Fall Ball, hanging with friends, driving to school this year - no more bus!

Dislikes: waking up early for school

barrett: 147 months old

Barrett has started the 7th grade!  Unfortunately, he's also started morning football practices, so while school doesn't start until almost 9:00 am, he's leaving the house at 6:10 am in order to get changed into practice gear and be on the field ready to go by 6:45 am.  Football season lasts about two months, so he should be finished sometime in October.  Then it's back to sleeping in to almost 8:00 am and catching the bus in the mornings!

He's continued to be Poppy's favorite person in the house, because he'll get on the floor with her and play with her.  She loves the attention and getting into his lap to snuggle.  

Notice anything different?  Barrett just got contacts!  He needs them because his glasses don't work with his football helmet.  

Likes:  Chick-Fil-A peach shakes

Dislikes:  putting his contacts in

16 years old

                                                  

Britton is 16 years old!!  This milestone birthday is more than a driver's license (test is next week!) and a countdown to official adulthood - it's really hit me how I'm supposed to be making her a self-sufficient person while desperately wanting to hold on.  So, rather than wallow in my self-pity and cry over baby pictures, the hubs and I took Britton and her best friend Jody to Dallas to see My Chemical Romance!  But first, In N Out burgers.

Britton loves live music, and teen me and teen Britton have an amazing amount of overlap in what music we like.  So when we found out that My Chemical Romance were touring and coming to Dallas (but not Houston, boooo) on Britton's birthday, Britton decided her birthday plans had to include a road trip and concert!  We did have a little get-together with her friends and Memaw and PawPaw before we left, to have cake and presents.  

Likes:  her new car!

Dislikes:  waiting until 2 days before school starts to do her driver's test - hope she can still get a parking pass!

barrett: 146 months old

Barrett has been having a great summer!  He went to "Sharks and More Camp" at Sea Camp at A&M Galveston in June, and had a fantastic time.  This was his second time going to that camp, and the first time he went without Britton.  We went down for his celebration ceremony, closing out the week of camp, and got to take him home that night.  

He's also still doing his conditioning camp every day for two hours, and really enjoys lifting weights. He does not like the box jumps, but then again, I never have either, so he comes by it honestly.  Afternoons are spent riding bikes with friends around the neighborhood, playing in the pool, or relaxing his his iPad.  He's currently reading "Salt to the Sea," and historical fiction book about the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff in 1945.  He was telling me about a shipwreck he had found online, and when he mentioned the ship's name it sounded awfully familiar - because I had read "Salt to the Sea" a few months ago!

Likes:  Chama Guacha (steakhouse)

Dislikes:  when Poppy bites his hair, and when he has to clean up Poppy's pee accidents indoors

191 months old

One month until Britton turns sixteen!  I can't believe how fast these years have flown by, even when the days felt like they would never end.  In anticipation of Britton's birthday, the hubs got to investigating what deals he could get on a car, and we got the Subaru Crosstrek that Britton really wanted.  If she gets a parking pass, she will be able to drive to school and stop having to haul all of her softball gear on the bus - win!  

Likes:  her new car!

Dislikes: being hot and sweaty - which this summer is turning out to be - and humid!

 

barrett: 145 months old

Barrett has been a super helper when it comes to the new puppy Poppy!  He gets on the floor with her, lets her chew on him and climb all over him, and will rub her belly as much as she wants (which is a lot).  He's getting her used to walks and her harness too.  He really was made to have a dog in his life, and he's taken to Poppy so easily.

Barrett is also doing conditioning camp this summer for football!  He goes 4 days per week for weight training and football drills, and will be ready once the new school year starts up and football tryouts are scheduled.  He's enjoying the weight training more than he thought he would.  He'll miss next week because he's headed to Sea Camp!

Likes:  Poppy, conditioning camp

Dislikes:  grape-flavored things