Days with the Dorans

  We weren't expecting to have Zach home this summer but when he was on a waitlist for a class he needed, it looked like we would get another summer with him which I was secretly THRILLED about. They actually called him and told him that there was a spot that opened but that was after he moved home and finding a place up there would have been a pain and a scramble.  The good news was that Zach could work full time this summer with no classes on his schedule. Zach has had the most interesting track record with work. First there was the crazy-ness with the boss that wrote a bad check and then didn't pay him after the restaurant went out of business... That still blows my mind. Then when he moved home, he got hired to be a lifeguard and work the front desk at Lakeland. He had to do all the trainings (like we teachers do) and he filled out all the tax info he needed to but time kept going by with no mention of when he would start. He had contacted them and when he didn't hear b...

Elk Rapids has been our happy place for as long as I can remember. I know my parents got it right after I left for college but I feel like every summer we have been lucky enough to take our kids and enjoy Lake Michigan. It feels even more special now that Z goes to school so close and knows Traverse City (20 minutes south of us) so well. Because of work schedules, there wasn't a day when all of us were together which was a bummer. The good news (I guess) is that we didn't have to have anyone watch our zoo. Still I wish that we could have ALL been together. Those times feel so precious to me. So it started out with just Jeff, me and Sean. I walked every morning (5 miles) and Sean even joined me once and we walked to a beach about a mile away that I hadn't been to. Thankfully Jeff picked us up after his disc golf because it got buggy. Speaking of disc golf, I joined a few times (to walk the course and listen to my book). Sean is not a disc golfer so he caddied for Jeff since ...

Joey and friends at South Haven I don't get the pictures I used to of the kids since (to be honest), I'm not around them as much as when they were little so when I get a picture with them, it makes me happy! Joey sent me the picture above the other day and I got pictures of Z and Sean from their friends' moms! I love my boys! And since I don't always get pictures of them, when I do, I'm dropping them here! Scott and Zach at Top Golf Sean and friends at Keith's birthday  

Zach's first year of college went so fast! It amazed me how "easy" it was for him! He met great people, and fell in love with his classes. I can't tell you how many times he would tell me how lucky he felt to live in such a beautiful place! He was hoping to get into a summer class this year but he was on a wait list and unfortunately, no one dropped it so it was time to go and get him! Jeff and I left after work on Thursday. This time we left Sean home and it was a good thing because the car was PACKED! I am still in awe that we were able to get everything home. We did leave two things at the condo (a small plastic drawer system we put in the closet) and a lamp that actually was the EXACT same as two already in the bedroom at the condo. We figured we could take them home when we go to Elk Rapids later this month for Ali's race! (I'm so excited for her!) The boys moved the stuff out and then Z and I finished cleaning the bathroom. We also got to meet Kat's ...

  For my birthday, Jeff got me a box of scratch off adventure dates for places throughout the state. We decided to scratch our first one and see what we were doing. The way the cards work is you can see WHERE something is and some clues about what it could be about (see the bottom of the card), but you don't know what you are actually doing until you scratch them! Well, we decided to head to Royal Oak because it wasn't too far and wasn't too expensive. We did some wheel throwing at the Creative Arts Studio. I didn't even know what "wheel throwing" was but it's basically making pottery on a wheel. We had a private lesson and it was a lot of fun. Unfortunately, my nails were a little too long (I meant to cut them- they grow so darn fast), so I had to use my knuckle but it still worked. We also got to pick out glazes so that when they fire our bowls they'll have color. The lady took a picture of us which was nice. After, we went out to lunch at Ale Mary...

The boys left EARLY!! I'm baaaack! After much too long not blogging, it is time for me to get back in the saddle. I'll be going forward and backward to fill in the gaps because clearly...  a lot has happened. The last post I made, Joey was in high school and he is now a junior in college. Covid did a number on me I think but I'm ready to start telling our story again~ I do love to write and my family is of course my favorite subject! Spied them on social media... Want to know what Z wasn't doing... TEXTING ME! The boys left early! I was sick (later I found out it was Covid) so Jeff dropped them off. I did wake early (2:30am) to get that first picture of them and hug them goodbye! I gave them instructions to update me and send pics like their sibs did back when they went to Disney as a freshman and sophomore. Well... they weren't doing so good. Sean and Hayden. Hayden is the son of two of my high school friends! So fun! They were roomies on the trip and both play cla...

  After Bayshore we had a day to recover and then we headed home so that the Big Boys could march in the Memorial Day parade! You can see a video of them HERE .

Z passed his class and his drives and was able to get his driver's permit! I can't believe we'll have ANOTHER driver soon! Although I'm not back to work and still struggling, I'm now allowed to be around people with my mask on so insisted I go with the boys to the Secretary of State. When they were inside I slept in the back and when they came back, I snapped a picture of Zach and then a few more from the backseat! He really did a great job! Hopefully he'll get better and better and get that license soon! Ehhhh!!

  The Goose has always been our animal whisperer but when we rescued our two birds from abuse, I had no expectation that they'd ever come to us. I just wanted to provide a safe space for them to live our their days. We leave the doors to their cage open but they rarely leave. Imagine my surprise when I saw THIS!

  I can't believe Z is 15. The time is really flying! It was so nice that we could get together for a little birthday celebration! Nana and Papa were able to make it which was nice. Of course Papa had to mark the height. Z got some shirts, hoodies and a microscope! He was a happy kid- about all of it. You know you're getting older when you get excited for clothes! I love that he and his best buddy were born one day apart (albeit many years too). We love you so much, Z! Happy Happy Birthday!!