Hey gang! Last weekend Luke went fishing in Pulaski. This is a twice a year event. I know a lot of drinking and debauchery happens but I’m not certain how much fishing actually happens. I hear a lot of stories but I don't always see a lot of fish in the freezer. Regardless, it seems to fall on a kid weekend every year. 

It all started in January (don't worry this won't take long but I have to set the scene) when our friends Katie and Josh mentioned that they go to Great Wolf Lodge every year in February/March to break up the winter.  I immediately had a temporary lapse in judgement and thought it would be an excellent idea to join them with our family.  For as long as I have loved Luke, I've wanted to be able to vacation with Mason but always a bit worried how it may go.  What could go wrong?  

I'm honestly not sure how to make it through the teen years and I'm NOT EVEN THE TEEN!!!

I'm not sure how it's been nearly a month since my last post.  However, I am sure that I have not been traveling the world.  What have I been doing?  Handling the business of the house including, but not limited to, 1,386 loads of laundry, 13,267 dishes (some of which I decided to take from people while they were still using them), making more than just my bed because...these kids, wiping down more mirrors and windows than anyone should have to, sweeping and vacuuming dog hair everyday (yes, I love them to death but I think at this point I just need to go directly to the source and vacuum them rather than the floor), and finally collecting all the documents to do the taxes.

This past week I was so incredibly fortunate to attend the 2025 IBTTA Leadership Academy. The class of 2025 was the 17th class of leaders working to be better for themselves, their organization, and each other. This academy is an executive development program tailored specifically for senior-level management in public and private sector organizations that serve the toll industry.  I felt like I somehow got an invite to the VIP party but was nervously waiting for security to tap me on the shoulder because I do not belong.  

It’s time to get real. I am genuinely curious what it feels like to live with the normal (not even sure how that is calculated) worry of raising a teen(s)?

There is a feeling you get when everyone is your house is sick and you know you're immune system is made of steel but you're also low key worried this will be the time it fails you. It's a mixture of confidence and paranoia.  The only visual I can think of is a squirrel in the middle of the road not knowing if it should keep going or go back so they just keep shuffling back and forth hoping not to get hit.

I've been thinking about starting this for a while now. Mostly because I need an outlet to get my thoughts about raising some neuro spicy kids out and thought maybe there is someone out there sharing similar experiences and we can laugh and cry together. I wanted to start the first week in January...because as they say 'new year, new me' and I thought the new me part was something like this. As I thought about it, I came to the decision I'd start in the New Year and post weekly. After I missed the first 2 weeks, I adjusted the expectations a bit. At this point, we will be both be surprised by the frequency, assuming you'll stick around to read more.