My favorite picture this week is one I didn’t take. But let me describe it for you: It’s got me, Kaleb, and Kendell, plus Jake, Nathan, and their girlfriends (Elena and Bailey). We’re at Red Lobster and half of them are blissed out on all-you-can-eat shrimp while Bailey, Kaleb and I are pretty happy with our steaks.

I didn’t take this picture because A—the lighting inside the restaurant was bad and B—sometimes taking a picture turns an experience into An Event, especially for my kids who hate having pictures taken. And I didn’t want it to feel like An Event, even though, really, it sort of was. Going to Red Lobster for all-you-can-eat shrimp is a tradition. Kendell and I started doing this in 2002, with our friend James; we took Kaleb along a couple of times when he was a baby. It’s since evolved…we’ve gone with other people, and it was the thing we had planned for Kendell’s mom’s birthday, the day after she passed away. But sitting there with my big kids, missing Haley, and with the extra girlfriends…it just really made me think about how our life is changing and how it will continue to change.

It was a good night.

I didn’t take a whole lot of pictures this week because I was sick for most of it. I had a cold that wasn’t really too bad on the actual cold symptoms but totally knocked me out as far as energy goes. And the fever and joint paint were pretty miserable. Wednesday was the only day this week I didn’t take a two-hour nap. But I’m finally feeling better.

Kaleb had a soccer game on Saturday. He scored two goals, and his team won 3-1. He is so much happier with this year’s team and coach, who has been able to see Kaleb’s strengths (even if he’s not the fastest runner, he has a powerful kick and a good aim, plus an instinctual understanding of how to move on the field). Playing forward this year and contributing goals has re-energized his affection for soccer. Plus, it was a beautiful day to watch a soccer game, sunny but not hot and with a tiny breeze.

Kendell had an appointment with the dermatologist, who is helping him with the keloid scarring from his incision, and I finally got Nathan to the podiatrist to pic up his orthotics.

On Friday, Kaleb went with a friend to the carnival at one of our high schools, and then to the football game. I'm not really sure how I feel about this—him doing adolescent stuff! I mean, it's great. I'm glad he's developing friendships and doing fun things. But sometimes I'd like him to just be three again. I'm trying to remind myself to just live in the now and be OK with what is. And it is exciting to see him growing up.

I meant to go hiking on Saturday morning but we got a lovely downpour of a rainstorm, so I ran instead. (Thought the trails would be super muddy.) My only other run this week was with Becky on Thursday. We went on a trail by her house because in September it’s lined with sunflowers. So pretty! It was so nice to talk while we ran.

Nathan is knee-deep in prepping to take the ACT. I’ve been helping him with the English sections and Jake came over on Tuesday to help with the math part. Plus he’s working quite a bit on his self-portrait for his AP art class. He is not loving being back in school. Senior year…classes are easier than junior year but man is it hard to put forth the effort. He’s loving his art class though! And his Spanish class, and he really loves his English teacher. (Awesome because last year’s English teacher was…not awesome.)

Haley got some great news this week about an opportunity at work. She is so busy that we don’t hear from her a lot, so it’s so nice when she has time to chat. Love that she is thriving in her last year of college!

While I was sick, I spent a lot of time working on organizing my photo folders because I was long overdue on doing a back up. This lead to quite a few reminiscences over adorable pictures, which lead to looking through scrapbook layouts, which lead to a list of stories I still need to scrapbook. I know the non-scrappy people in my life don't really understand this part of me. But even though it might seem silly or childish or whatever, I love it. I love making layouts and I love looking back on our memories.

Becky and I met for a super-quick lunch on Friday. I only had an hour so she went to the restaurant first and ordered. I was excited to share one of my favorite restaurants with her, Thai Village. Even if we only had less than 30 minutes to spend there together.

Which makes me realize that we ate out way too often this week: Red Lobster, Pizza Hut, Costa Vida, and Wallaby’s. I really need to start cooking more often but I’m having the hardest time finding any motivation for it.

Maybe that can be my goal for this week: actually cook!

How was your week?

And…what was the last meal you cooked that your family actually liked?