NHS Induction

Never mind that Ryan informed me of his National Honor Society (NHS) Induction Ceremony less than 24 hours beforehand, and that I had to cancel and rearrange plans. He didn't understand that this is a pretty big deal, and worth celebrating. He has worked diligently, enjoys learning, and has earned his NHS membership. 

I got to give him his cords.

I think this was one of those things that felt more important to me than Ryan, whose event it was. I clearly remember my own NHS Induction. I felt proud, and knew it was a big deal, because my Grandpa Ponka drove all the way to my high school for the event. I'm grateful Grammy & Grampy were able to attend to keep the tradition going.

All around cool kid!

So grateful. 💙

Solar Eclipse Birthday

Ryan was interested in going to totality to see this eclipse since his 8th grade science teacher put the event on his radar 2 years ago. He hyped it up enough so the idea got traction, and became a family plan. We made a birthday event of it in honor of his 16th birthday! We drove to Indianapolis, which was in the path of totality, to be part of the many, many other humans who wanted to experience this unique celestial situation. We also took two of Ryan's friends along.

The hotel was all decked out for the eclipse. They had all sort of fun, informational displays, such as this one.

Walking around Indy, Ryan and his friends doing their separate research on the monument in the background.

Pizza in a tucked away spot. 

Ryan and his friends are below the TV over Evan's shoulder.

Silly Evan sat with us.

the capitol of Indiana

We watched the eclipse at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway!

The boys spent most of their time leading up to totality taking pictures through their eclipse glasses. It was borderline obsessive. I'm like, take a few, and then watch it with your eyes and be present. Ugh. Phones. Kids, these days... 🤣

I really like this (blurry) picture.

I like this one too! 💙

I took this one photo during totality. You can see Venus. The 360-degree sunset effect was very surreal. I was also struck by how much light we get from a very small percentage of the sun. This was a very interesting experience. I'm so glad we went!

A few days later, it was this boy's actual 16th birthday!

Happy birthday, Ryan!

We were grateful that Nana & Lolo traveled to Michigan to share Ryan's milestone birthday with us. We got together with my parents for dinner one night, and were able to take this special picture.

Ryan has since passed his road test, and will legally be able to drive all on his own. Yikes! He has a car lined up (thanks Grammy & Grampy!), which he is grateful for, and realizes it's a privilege to have a car. All I can think about is his growing independence and eventual launch, and I'm both thrilled for him and terrified. He is an amazing human, and I know this is the way of things. Nonetheless... As his (proud and hopeful, yet anxious) Mama, I'd be so grateful if you'd please send healthy, safe, joyful vibes in Ryan's direction forever. 

Arthur Charles

It's been 10 years since we had a dog in our home. After thoughtful deliberation, we went through the process of adopting Arthur Charles, Esq. from a small dog rescue. He is a former breeder, and as such, is very timid. We've had him for about 6 weeks now, and he makes strides everyday, adjusting to his new home/people. We named him Arthur as a nod to Arthur Avenue in the Bronx, and Charles was his name prior to joining our family. We mainly call him Artie. He is a miniature poodle. I thought that would be better for my allergies. My newly incessantly itchy eyes would beg to differ, but I will persevere. 

At the moment, Artie's favorite things are me and the couch. He runs and bounces adorably around the yard, and chases bunnies, though he is clearly not trying to hurt them. He loves to snuggle and he's tolerant. He's crate trained, and house broken. His birthday is May 28, and he'll be 3 soon. 

We're all excited to see how this relationship progresses, and are hopeful he feels more relaxed sooner than later. Welcome to the family, Artie!