Speaking of happy...

We're a bit over halfway through our summer here already (well, it's less than halfway for Noah, who got out for the summer slightly later and starts back to school later). May and June seem to have flown by, and I'm trying to be more intentional about how I'm spending my time. Also, on any given day with these three teenagers, it's entirely possible to start dwelling on negatives, lol. But. I'm trying to avoid that. I'm generally a very optimistic person. So, I'm looking on the bright side and want to share why I'm pretty darn happy about this summer and these teens of mine...

Noah and I have started going to the archery range and shooting together. My shooting earlier this week wasn't great but before that I managed this grouping...which I thought wasn't so bad, considering it had been more than a year since I'd gotten my bow out. :) 

For what it's worth, I feel much stronger than before but still lack aim, lol. Noah, annoyingly, has pretty good aim. :) (He claims it has nothing to do with the fact that he's shooting a compound bow with a sight and I'm shooting a bare recurve bow. Ahem.)

Asher and I have been going to the gym after he gets home from work every other day or so...in preparation for his second degree black belt testing next week. We've been working on cardio and endurance by doing interval drills on the assault bike and rowing machine and treadmill...yes, both of us. This usually has been happening on afternoons after I've already gone to boot camp that morning (boot camp is an hour each time and I've been walking to and from the gym for that this summer due to having two vehicles and four drivers). I don't have any pictures from the gym, lol. 

And Micah and I have been going to the climbing gym three times a week all summer. (We really like Ascent!) He has friends who meet us there some of the time and I'd initially figured I wouldn't climb those days. But. I've been climbing every time and am actually getting better! I don't have high aspirations or anything but am proud to have recently started moving beyond only the "beginner" routes. Here's me on an overhang route that I finally conquered earlier this week:

I'm definitely getting stronger and learning more technique but still have some issues with my dislike of falling, lol. 

So. Yes. I'm a little tired lately, lol. (In case you weren't counting, in one week that's three times to boot camp and three times to the gym to do intervals and three times climbing and once or twice to the archery range.) Things will slow down in a week or two after Asher's second degree black belt testing week is done.

For the moment, though, I'm trying not to think about the fatigue and instead focusing on and appreciating the fact that I'm able to hang with these boys of mine (and hold my own, if I do say so myself, lol)...and that we have the time in the first place...and that they're willing and happy to spend the time with me. :) So fortunate and thankful.