Photo Journal - Josie Boettcher

It's me and Ben's 12-year anniversary today! Sometimes it's hard to believe that we've been together for so long, but other times it feels like it couldn't possibly be any other way. Does that make sense? Like, I just never imagined myself being with anyone romantically forever. Maybe I didn't think anyone could stay in love with me for so long? I have no idea why I couldn't see it for myself. But as we live life together, I can't even begin to imagine life being any different than it is or me being in any other relationship besides the one that I'm in. Honestly, the thought of it grosses me out. He completes me. 💗 It has been a wonderful day. We started out going to the beach in the morning and it was way less hot and uncomfortable today. There was a little breeze and the sun was less intense. Afterwards, we came home and got cleaned up and the Popescos watched our kiddos so we could go out on a date. It was really nice. We went to a little place c...

Today was a great first full day on vacation. We woke up and hung out for a little while and then Ben took the kids down to the pool while I was getting things ready for the beach. We played at the beach for a couple of hours (exhausting! dehydrating! too sunny!) and then came back for lunch and quiet time. After quiet time, which miraculously worked out very smoothly, we went down to the pool for a couple of hours and then out to dinner at our favorite beach restaurant, Bubba's. Sadly, we weren't able to be seated together, but it was still a good dinner. After dinner, we headed to the pier in Garden City, just two or three miles down the road, and were very surprised by the party atmosphere there. It was super confusing to get onto the pier. You had to pass through an arcade and then through a bar, where they were having karaoke. It was packed and honestly looked like a really good time. There was a water ice vendor out there and then, at the very end of the pier, another bar...

We finally got here!!! We had to drive around for 45 minutes until we could check in, because this rental has really strict policies about check in and check out and it was chaos, of course, getting unpacked. It's 9:30pm and our room isn't even ready yet. But we all made it here safely and we're all very excited to get our beach trip started. After a very late dinner that we threw together last minute because the pizza shop was too busy to take our order (literally told us they weren't taking any more orders tonight), we took a walk down to the beach. It got a little crazy...and a little wetter and messier than expected, but it's so nice to be back here. The ocean is so beautiful and I'm just awed at God's majesty when I'm near it. Looking forward to a full day of fun tomorrow! 

It was the last day of the school year AND we started our trip to the beach today! We picked the kids up from school a little early and were on the road by 3. The trip was mostly good, but we had some rough moments. When we were almost to the hotel, around 8pm, it started POURING rain. By the time we got there, Ben and I were both absolute balls of tension. The hotel is really nice though and we have adjoining rooms, which is great. The kids are so excited to be here and to be going to the beach tomorrow. Hopefully everyone sleeps well! 

I feel like I'm already in beach mode. Or am I just in packing mode? I have no idea, but I'm all unsettled and mildly panicked feeling right now. I've been gathering things up to go on our trip for a few days now and it's not time to get the real packing done, but I really wish I could be more prepared. I hate that anxious, frantic last day before the trip, just knowing I'm going to forget something important, or nothing will fit in the car, or any other number of things will go wrong.  Despite the undercurrent of panic running through me, I had a nice time visiting with friends today. I went to Brit's house and she decorated for me! Anna was singing happy birthday and I had gifts 💖💖. It was SO sweet and thoughtful! I also got to snuggle with Luca, which is always a bonus. I love my sweet, thoughtful friend. Afterwards, I grabbed some Starbucks (which I've been doing a lot lately 😳) and headed to Melis's house for a hang out. The girls had fun togethe...

I went to Jonas's field day this morning. We hired the sitter for a couple of hours so that Ben could still get work done while I was gone. It seemed to go pretty well for them. It went fine for me too, but man, it was exhausting! I led the water cup race, which was wet and funny. The kids had a great time (mostly). There were obviously some snags, as there always are, but it wasn't too bad. Just lots of standing, hauling water, and wrangling kiddos. My feet hurt SO BAD now; I honestly don't know how I'll walk for the rest of the day. So much pain.  On my birthday, I talked to Jane on Messenger and she mentioned a position with BrandSwan that she's looking for someone to fill. While we messaged back and forth, she asked if I would be interested. I am very interested in doing it and will be happy to make some money again, but I'm worried I won't be able to do what she wants me to do. I think she's making it seem like less work than it is to keep me on the...

I am going to include Jonas's date photos in this post, because it was too much for the last one. Plus, I didn't blog yesterday, but had something important to write down.  Yesterday morning, when I woke up, I had some messages from Evie's first real girlfriend, Ashley, from the night before. In the messages, she was saying that something happened to Evie and she needs my help. The last message said that Evie's in the hospital. I messaged back and she told me that Evie was telling her that she purposely ODd because Lulu (Evie's current disastrous gf) was out at a bar and she wanted her attention (long story short). She was drunk, as she always is now, and begged Ashley to let her come live in Florida with her. Ashley said no and Evie admitted that she had already taken 60 Tylenol, because she knows it won't kill her, but it will be serious enough that Lulu will have to pay attention. So now, the morning after, Ashely heard from Evie again that she is currently i...

Today was a pretty busy day. Last week, I finally got our date schedule done for the kids. It honestly took quite a while to get it all figured out. We each want to get alone time with each child every week, but right now, with the limited times we have available, we're doing twice a month. We started these dates this past week. Today, I had a date with both Ruby and Jonas (separately, of course). I was supposed to have Jonas's date tomorrow, but I found a great opportunity to take a beekeeping class with him and it was offered today, so I had both today!  This morning, I took Ruby to Daylight Donuts. To be perfectly honest, she was going pretty crazy. Lots of screaming, hysterical (one-sided) laughter, and running. But I figure it will take her a while to get used to going out alone with me and Ben. We don't do this kind of thing with her often anymore and it could have been nervousness that made her behavior more erratic than usual.  In the afternoon, Jonas and I went to ...

This is 39.  As I have gotten older, I've become more and more appreciative for life. Just the simple fact that I'm still alive. As I outlive my friends, brothers, cousins, and mother, I see the gift that life really is and how quickly, suddenly, and cruelly it can be taken away. Every day that I am allowed to spend with my husband and children is a privilege (not that I always feel like that or behave like that).  I believe that God is real. I believe that I have an afterlife to go to when my body on this earth dies (Heaven). And I believe that I'll be surrounded by many people I love when I get there. STILL, I'm going to cherish the moments I have here, because I'm afraid of how different the experience is going to be. I know this life and all the sweetness it can offer and want to take advantage of the time I have here. I'm trying to remember to be grateful for it ALL, even when it's hard.  39, for me, means a few wrinkles, a few gray hairs, lots of saggi...

I wish that I could report a huge upswing in mood, but it didn't happen. I DID get out of the house and I did have a very productive day. I had periods where I felt less stormy, but it was still an emotionally meh day.  I ran out to Home Depot and got a bunch of the stuff I've had on my list for a while. I also bought the plants for the garden since none of our starts ever started. I spent most of the day outside getting the garden plot cleared out and then Ben and I put the fence up around it to keep all the wildlife out that lives in our yard. After dinner, I planted all of the veggies and worked on a little flower project with the kids (provided by Home Depot). First, they built the little wooden basket with wood glue and nails and then they got to plant their flowers. They love that kind of stuff and I used to love it too, before life + four kids made me feel like everything and anything extra was too much of a hassle. This is totally my own fault! Not the kids' fault. ...

It's probably too early to be writing this post, but I'm in a terrible mood and I thought it could be helpful to do this. So far, it is not. I can't pinpoint where the mood is coming from. Am I getting my period? Am I stressed about something? Ollie has been especially whiny this morning, constantly begging to go in the pool and I am just at a loss. WTF pool are you TALKING about??? We don't have a pool! We haven't been in a pool this year! Why is this idea in her head and WHERE is it coming from? Why won't she stop talking about it??? I have plans (that I don't want to do at all) for the day and I don't really have time to stop everything and hop into the hot tub with Ollie, but if she's constantly whining and complaining the whole time we're running errands, that could make it a really bad time. I don't know what I'm going to do or if I'll even keep this post because it's so grumpy.  Errands to run: Straders for plants, Goodwill...

 

In true deja vu fashion, we went back to the splash pad today. And it was insanely crowded again. 🙄 The boys went to play in a magic tournament (Ben won!), so me and the girls had the day to ourselves. As I mentioned, we went to a splash pad for a couple of hours and then went to a playground after lunch. It was a good, busy day. I got sunburnt. Later in the evening, Rachel and Mark came over to play board games with us and that was really fun too.