Life update -Billy

 Billy is living his best senior year life. Taekwondo, work, college, prom, choir, friends...you name it, he's not afraid to get up early, be busy and put himself out there.

Taekwondo is going well, Grand Champion in pomsea in Iowa this week with 2nd place in sparring.  Both in the adult division. The guy he fought beat him last year and is a beast. He got Billy in the family  jewels twice in one round and I was worried we were going to have to take Billy to urgent care when he was still walking funny 5 hours later. But, he held tough and earned that silver medal!

Every night he is at taekwondo for hours, taking and teaching classes, including doing lesson plans.  They gave him a key to the gym so he's basically in charge. Everyone calls him Mr Murphy. URGH!!

He also asked a girl to prom (Vivian). It wasn't a sure thing, they aren't dating, but she is in choir and they have friends in common. She said "yes" but wants to meet him at prom, not wanting to give up photos and dinner with her friends before prom. I get that. He's got plans with his friends and it all seems to be working out.

He's also busy doing this college prep check list and we are currently signed up for orientation for 2 days in June where he'll also register for classes. He's put the LGBTQ and Engineering dorms on his priority list (no, he doesn't have anything to disclose other than he has friends in the LGBTQ dorm) and is very non-interested in vetting a roommate, he said he figures he'll just get along with who ever he gets. He's excited to play rugby in college and a little worried about how he'll keep up with taekwondo. Not to mention, he knows how hard this will be (class-wise) and I think he's trying to make the most of high school.

He submitted to be a flag carrier for graduation (South Korea) and is singing "Fly me to the moon" in the May 8th concert. Definitely putting himself out there!

He works at BLVD Kitchen and Bar and signs up for shifts whenever he is free. He really likes his coworkers and seems to enjoy the work (and tips when he's wait staff assist). Its fun because a lot of our friends go there for brunch so they are constantly sending us selfies.

The Meadowbrook friend group has a senior road trip planned in July to Yellowstone and the Badlands. They have a whole itinerary including a savings account they've started. WAY more organized than I was in high school.

Billy pretty much has the world by the tail. I love how much he throws himself out there, his quiet confidence and his amazing generous & patient heart and smile.

Happy Joes for a dinner that did NOT agree with the boys, who eats buffalo chicken the night before a competition?! 

Super random but Fulton Ill, has a full size windmill and 3 days of celebrating al l things Dutch in May

The crew or "bars" as they call themselves. 

1st place 

This team rocks! 

John's look is hysterical! 

Oh...and he donated blood

Proposal 

Kris, former TKD mom at BLVD

His sparring division, tough & fun group of guys 

Life update - Kay

 

Kay probably has the biggest life change of them all! She moved out! Yes, we thought it would never happen but Mary F assured us years ago, 'she'll move out before Billy goes to college, she won't let him beat her".  True that!

After planning and looking at apartments with her friends (Oliver and Nicole) all winter, Olivers dad finally came to the rescue. He bought a house and told them they could pay the mortgage and help fix it up. And, they did! Bathroom remodel, painting, floors, even a major cleaning job on the kitchen. 

Of course she had lists and lists and plans in her head and it was a manic ride in the weeks leading up to it but...they pulled it off! The house is darling and they moved in 2 days ago.

In equally as big news, she actually made it to work on time both days, so far!

I think it helps the both Nicole and Oliver have full time day jobs. Oliver is an electrician and Nicole is a CNA. While all of them are 19 going on 20 yo, they do seem to be figuring it out.

I'm sure we'll have some minor and major set backs and we do have some safety nets in place (we text her twice a day to remind her to take meds, Tom sees her at work everyday and checks on how she is, she's agreed to come for Sunday dinner each week and the house is only 8 miles away).

Totally different stage with her, I'm scared, excited, anxious and proud of her.

Send her all and only good and help her see/know that she can do this!

Love her ability to surprise us and keep us guessing. Love her tenacity even more.

Life update - Jimmy

 

I thought about titling these, Kid Updates...but..they aren't kids anymore! Waaa!! They are all adults and doing a great job of transitioning to adulthood. 

They each do have some big life changing, right of passage decisions and events in the near future so I thought I'd share a quick run down on each of their paths.

Jimmy is a junior at VMI and is having a killer spring football season. He's been getting a ton of reps at practice, his coach believes in him (he was on a similar path in college) and he won Dog of the Day. This is a daily award (1 for offense and 1 for defense) for the player that has the best practice.  He got it for 3 sacks in one practice, including his friend Grant (quarterback).  The coach also asked the defense, who works hardest in practice, every day? The team unanimous replied - JIMMY!  This makes us prouder than any game play he could ever get. Tom has a bet that Jimmy will be the only captain voted by team that never played a down in a game.  

He is also finishing his thesis for his minor (dont ask me the title, something about lobbying efforts) and has another internship this summer in DC with a lobbying firm. He's thrilled!  The trifecta, House, Senate and now lobbying. He does need to get a sublet figured out, but I'm sure that will fall into place. 

He'll be home for 5 days in May and then 2 weeks in July.  

He's also studying his butt off for the LSAT, he took it in April and was doing great until loud people in the hallway broke his concentration in the final part of the test. I'm sure he did better than he thinks but wants to retake it in June, just in case. He's got a list of law schools and JagCorp picked out and my bet is he does marines and Madison...we shall see.

I should also mention. He's been consistently getting a 4.0 each semester (with the exception of rat semester when I think he had a 3.8). and...is playing in the jazz band, when time allows.

Next year, he's in charge of all diversity training for the cadets under Title IV.

There you go. His coaches have all started calling him Senator Murphy.

Love his focus, work ethic, sense of integrity and drive.  but, love his heart more.

Mom;)

Weekend updates!

 Damn - more snow and general busy-ness and mayhem 

Updates by person 

 Kay baked and decorated fir 3 straight days so she could sell Easter treat boxes, $25 each, she sold 17!

She and tom also worked all spring break and she organized and ran a candy day at school - right up her alley! They’ve also been busy cleaning and painting the house they (Oliver Kay and Nicole) are moving into in May!!

Billy had his taekwondo  and was male black belt of the year plus keeps running into friends at the restaurant he works at. He’s truly making every minute of his senior year. 

Tom and i celebrated Wendy’s birthday at a jazz concert with her favorite singer. I also was the 10th caller and won tickets to a micro show - Sports Team. We have a Hollywood glamor dance/Dj at work and it was a gas - lots of live music in our lives right now 💕

Jimmy is in Charlotte with the Swineheart’s for Easter and they are Detert only allow him to study all weekend and have some fun- football is going well and he’s currently getting reps at practice

Hope everyone is making the most of every minute 

Xoxo