My Life: Boys and Books
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| Boy #4 Conner; Boy #1 Caleb, Boy #3 Carter, and Boy #2 Cole |
My boys are back from their travels abroad. Boy #1 saved his money from working last summer so he and his brothers could go to Europe this summer. As a now seasoned traveler, he's become quite proficient at using Airbnb and economy flights to circle the globe on a budget. I gave them food money, so in order to stay in that budget, I hear they ate a lot of cheap pizza and drank a lot of beer. The baby of the family was so excited to be free of the US drinking age limit for a bit.
They were their own tour guides and went from Athens to Rome then Venice, Belgrade, London, and finally Paris. They took over 2000 pictures, but I won't bore you with all of those. The group shots are my favorites, so I'll share a couple of those.
I'm so happy to see my boys get along so well. It's a true blessing. They're close in age- one born every two years, so they grew up as playmates. But I always worried that as they grew older, they'd grow out their fondness for each other. It's good to see they aren't. I've always told them there is only one thing they could do to disappoint me as a mom, and that was to spite their other brothers. I'd rather visit them in prison because they robbed a bank together than to have them hate each other.
When they were teens and preteens, I'd find broken things in the house that were either well hidden or sloppily repaired. Nobody ever did it. Not once did anyone break ranks and rat out another brother. My husband and I would leave it with Nobody being to blame. We still swear, if we ever find that Nobody fellow, he owes us for a lot of repairs.
Cole, Caleb, Carter, and Conner
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You should be very proud of yourself, your part in such a lovely family, Elizabeth 🌹
ReplyDeleteI am very blessed by my family, that is for certain.
DeleteThen you deserve the medal for best mom ever - you did it right! Awesome they are all close. And bet Conner got an education on that trip!
ReplyDeleteI keep telling them I deserve a medal...
DeleteConner did have a great time and he learned quite a bit, especially that he had a certain look that got him extra scrutiny in every airport.
So have they robbed a bank or do they at least have plans to do so? I will happily provide some sort of support in this endeavor. Perhaps I can drive the getaway car. I'll only take a small percentage of what they get.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
You'd make a great get-away car driver until you guys hit the freeway and the car breaks down. lol
DeleteIt's horrid when siblings don't get along, so I know what you mean. Ya done good, Mom! (Wellll, I'm sure Dad might've played a role, too...) Our children are our greatest legacy, and you've excelled at that, sweet lady. Then again, your books are a super legacy, too...
ReplyDeleteHave a super weekend!
When my kids were babies, I had that thought...if I screw them up now, I will pay hell for it later, so I tried to put as much energy as I could into not messing them up. I always reminded myself...these are the people who will be choosing my nursing home, better invest in them wisely. LOL
DeleteAnd you're right. Their dad helped a bit too. When we were dating, I was always surrounded by my nieces and nephews. Not one time did he complain, so I decided I'd make him marry me. I was prepping my nest way back when. LOL
Good for them! And good for you and your husband, too. :)
ReplyDeleteThey're going to have all kinds of great memories, as kids and as adults, ones they'll always be able to share with each other.
Since I've lost both of my parents, I understand how lonely life could feel if I didn't still have my siblings and some very wonderful cousins, aunts, and uncles. The older I get, the more I realize what a blessing good family can be.
DeleteGreat product placement
ReplyDelete(Smirk
My brother and I are 6 years apart. Never were close as kids, as you can imagine. Closer now in our sixties than ever...even though we live 1300 miles apart
Isn't that impressive? I told you- more marketing is coming whether I like it or not. Maybe I could start doing a "This post is brought to you by..." like the old commercials. Hmm. That may be an idea.
DeleteI'm the youngest of five. I had the pleasure of being the baby, which is great family placement because they all took care of me. Talk about a spoiled brat!
That's wonderful they get along so well and can vacation together. That means they really are best friends.
ReplyDeleteHappy kids make me feel better about all the dust bunnies I've accumulated over the years while raising them. I keep planning to clear them out...
DeleteGreat that they still get along so well. Must have been one great vacation. You sure deserve a medal, but the PTA may take it away if they all rob a bank together lol
ReplyDeleteThey can be so judgmental.
DeleteHow wonderful. A trip of a lifetime. Sounds like you're not only an awesome writer but an awesome mom as well.
ReplyDeleteI'm not so sure I'm an awesome mom, but I've bumbled through and raised up some wonderful kids.
DeleteWe all bumble. I can remember once wailing to the HH that I wasn't the perfect mom, definitely not June Cleaver. He calmly replied, "No you're not the perfect mom, but you don't have perfect kids either." That's always stuck with me and put things in perspective.
Delete(Although, I know he exaggerated, of course, they're perfect:)
Perfection is a lie anyway. The only "perfect" people I've ever known were a little on the crazy side. Best to just be good enough.
DeleteBeautiful photos.
ReplyDeletewww.rsrue.blogspot.com
What an amazingly wonderful crew you have and are.
ReplyDeleteI love this.
Nobody is a sneaky one.
Cheers.
That Nobody was one busy, busy guy. Or gal. I suppose I shouldn't be sexist. Girls can be rotten too.
DeleteThat's great your boys were able to go travel.
ReplyDeleteYes, it was.
DeleteWell played Chad & Twinny Seckman. Very well played!!
ReplyDeleteI look at your 4 lads and they are role models for my 3 boys, who are, so far, as thick as thieves (and that Nobody fella lives in Virginia now, FYI :)
It's so fun to see they all *wanted* to spend a vacation together - and came back with 2k pictures, which I'm sure will be looked over in the years to come.
I realized years ago that when they were working against me, they were working together. I think your boys will grow up with the same goal of solidarity to outsmart good ole Poppa.
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