Here and There

As per usual this time of year Team Tully spends 4-6 weeks in a state of unrest and calm, newness and sameness, adventure and ordinary, and connection and separation.  It is a time of extremes and it happens each year at the same time; a time when culmination, chaos, and endings are key themes.  May/June.  All of May and the beginning of June are just bananas.  So full and fun and sad and weird and busy... it's a lot.  I feel like we all need a pre-May pep talk each year.  I know I do.  But here we are, on the other side of May. We survived (I wouldn't say we thrived) and we are here to tell the tales.  Luke and I spent our 6 weeks finishing out the school year.  L and I now have a high schooler.  I can hardly wrap my brain around that.  There were school events and pool parties and sleepovers and field trips and yearbooks and games and concerts and art shows.  There were big emotions and big frustrations and big wins and big love.  L spent his 6 weeks out west wandering and hiking and mapping and teaching and mentoring and guiding and learning in an environment he loves with people he loves.   It was a big month for all of us! 

HERE

I tried to start each morning here.  With big deep breaths and gratitude.

Weekend mornings looked like this.  Finishing 8th grade is hard work! 

Luke is very helpful in the kitchen when he wants to be.  He often uses the spice cabinet in ways I would never and he is always on to something!  This kids loves flavor!

Luke and I went out to dinner a record amount of times!!  4 times in 5 weeks!  That is so not like us but I decided to give myself a cooking break every once in a while!

A random Tuesday night baseball game date!

We won!

Yolanda and I were in a heavy cobbler phase.  Blackberry cobbler for Sunday night dessert.  So good!

Most late May evenings looked like this. Luke studying for finals.  Me reading.  And Jasper completing the couch sandwich.

I took the boys to the waterpark to celebrate the end of the school year!  I parked myself in the shade.  I read an entire book from cover to cover while these kids had a blast! 

First day of 8th grade vs. the Last day of 8th grade.  This transformation blows my mind!

Homemade ice cream sandwiches for the neighborhood crew to celebrate the last day! 

The day after a sleepover guaranteed car nap.  We were only going to the grocery store.  Ha! 

 

THERE

L spent 5 weeks in Colorado, Utah, and Nevada plus driving across the country to get there.  Assistant teaching at the field camp requirement for undergraduate students is a love of his and this year was no different!  A great time with great people in great places. I am sure these photos (of which there are SO many to choose from) are out of order from a field camp chronology perspective but you will definitely get the gist of just how amazing this experience is!

His tent sites alone are envy-inducing.

The leaders

My guy.  I am the luckiest.

This photo might be my favorite.

M and L on their final stretch home. I cannot tell you how grateful I am for this lady!  M is sweet and kind and hilarious and just the best partner for L.  These two make a GREAT team and those students are so fortunate to have them on their geology journey!  Also, you know you are good friends when you can drive across the country (and back) in a rented box truck multiple years in a row.  

Another Crazy May is in the books!  We made it!