25/52

"a portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2021"

Jackson: This was an unwanted photo at work but I was thrilled to get it. The waitress snuck back and snapped it with my phone when we were eating at his restaurant. 

Lily: Tis the season to jump in the lake. This is surely one of many. 

Father's Day photo with Neil. 

 

23 & 24/52

 Week 23 

"a portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2021"

Jackson: We made our first trip to Vancouver in over a year and a half to get Jackson a grad suit. This wasn't his choice, we will save that for another post, but this was a contender. He tried on several different jackets before he narrowed it down to three then he tried on the full suit. My eyes stung with tears but I pushed them away and tried to keep things light. My boy will graduate at the end of the month. I still can't believe it. 

Lily: She was thrilled to leave town and do some shopping. She got lots of new clothes, some new runners and some make-up. Of course she was happy for her brother but she was just as excited for herself on the way home. 

Week 24

"a portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2021"

Jackson: What would a summer be without jumping Eagle River?

Lily: Going more blonde every time she goes to the salon. 

 

22/52

"a portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2021"

Jackson & Lily: They have both had their first dose. Jackson was in a separate line as he will be 18 this year but we were watching him and taking sneaky pictures as we moved up the line for Lily to get her shot. I felt a little emotional after it was over. It feels like we are steps away from going back to a new normal, one with masks but I'm all for that if it means we can see more people again. 

As ever, joining in with beautiful Donna and others for another week of Living Arrows. 

 

20 & 21/52

Week 20

Week 21

"a portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2021"

Once again, time has gotten away from me and my ability to post here. I need to make it more of a priority as it means so much to me. I'm so glad I at least get the pictures to put here, it's just getting them here that is the problem. Actually, I didn't even succeed in getting the pictures for week 20. I ended up stealing from Lily's IG for her portrait and Jacksons is a send from a day golfing with friends. Oh well. Minor detail. The kids are both healthy and happy but struggling a little for this final push to the remaining 5 weeks of school. For Jackson, it's really the end of school until he decides what he'd like to do in life and possibly return for some higher education. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that he is graduating. Time feels crazy right now. 

As ever, joining in with beautiful Donna and others for another week of Living Arrows. 

 

19/52

"a portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2021"

Jackson: So much has happened since the big incident last week. Since then, Jackson has got a job and a new to him vehicle. This picture is of him at the insurance place putting new plates on his Hyundai Tucson. We managed to find a deal on Facebook that we couldn't pass up. I didn't realize how much I appreciate him having his own wheels. He is a busy guy with school, work, baseball and going to the gym. It's also amazing when he's in town to get him to run by the store or pick up his sister. We are all thrilled. 

Lily: She has a small solo part in her Musical Theatre performance which will be shown virtually for families in early June. She got in some one on one dance instruction with her teacher over the weekend and I embarrassed her by popping my head in the outside door and snapping a few pics. :)

The pic of them includes me this week. It was taken on Mother's Day. I love my babes so much. 

As ever, joining in with beautiful Donna and others for another week of Living Arrows. 

 

18/52

"a portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2021"

Jackson: This week was unlike any other. I wasn't going to post this picture but I believe this is the craziest thing that will hopefully ever happen to Jackson in his lifetime and needed to be recorded. He had baseball on Thursday evening and afterwards headed to the lake to go for a swim with a couple of friends. There is nothing unusual about this even though I personally think the water is WAY TO COLD still but he and his friends go several times a week so no big deal. Anyway, he pulled up where he always does but isn't 100% sure he put his car in park. Here is why the story takes an ugly turn. He had popped his trunk to grab a towel and his car started moving. He tried to hold on but it was obviously too much to hold on to. He ran to the side and considered trying to jump into the drivers seat but fortunately decided to let it go. Off the cliff his car went, slammed on the shore (about 20 feet below) and jumped right into the lake where it started sinking. He made a frantic call to us on his friends cell then ran down the bank and jumped into the water. He told us the trunk was still open when the car was sinking so stuff started spilling out. He collected what he could. We arrived pretty quickly as we weren't far from the lake when he called. We couldn't believe our eyes. There was still a lot of debris in the lake including his spare from his trunk. Jackson swam around and got everything. Thankfully we had some towels in our vehicle from a previous beach trip as Jackson was shaking because he was super cold but also because i think he was in shock. We called the non emergency police line to see what we should do and they said to call a tow because no one was hurt and there was no foul play involved. It was now pouring rain. We called the local tow truck company and they said they would be awhile so we chose to drive Jackson home so he could shower and warm up. Then we drove back to the lake to meet the tow company and figure out what to do. It was dark when we got back to the lake and the headlights on the car had gone out but we still were ale to give the tow guys a rough idea of where the car was.  They said we needed to hire divers to float the car and bring it around to the dock for the tow truck to be able to take it away. Neil met the divers the next morning. Fortunately no amount of gas or oil had leaked from the car and they were able to get it out of the lake less than 12 hours after it had happened. I played the 'what if' game in my head that whole evening. So many factors could have changed the outcome entirely. It was scary but Jackson is safe and no one else was hurt other than his car, his phone and his good headphones. I don't think he will ever not make sure his car is in park and the emergency break is on ever ever again.  And he has a very good story to tell his kids in the future. 

Lily: She was playing with her hair and put on some makeup so I asked her to put on a new dress and earrings for me so I could take some photos with my new camera. I've said it before but I'm so glad she will play for me for my lens. 

As ever, joining in with beautiful Donna and others for another week of Living Arrows. 

17/52

 

"a portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2021"

Jackson: Another week where he went up the lake for the weekend and sent me a photo. The pics he sends  are all very similar but different and I LOVE them so much. AND I couldn't be more grateful for the text when i comes.

Lily: Every year when my best friend's cherry tree blossoms, she texts to invite us over for some photos. I think we got one of the best pics ever this year in the swing. It's fun and happy and I love it!!!

As ever, joining in with beautiful Donna and others for another week of Living Arrows.