My Little Elf

Last year of holiday parties for this Momma. I will miss it.

 

 

 

That said, I think it's past time for a break from school for everyone.

Winter break means artwork comes home.  This makes a happy, Momma.

This is supposed to be an attempt at a Mona Lisa picture.  Kekoa's (on the left) kind of has a Beavis and Butthead feel to it.  A couple of classics, for sure.

Devil's In the Details

Pure Gavyn awesomeness. Who else thinks of drawing Santa coming down the chimney on the bottom of their paper bag chimney?

Do I Look Tired?

This Mommy business and dressing up on holidays is hard work.  Do I look tired?  And irritated?  I am.  Just overwhelmed with trying to do it all.  Yes, I probably should have skipped out on the dressing up bit.  Hey, it's Gavyn's last year for a party.  (I might have been grumpy with my husband.)

Chocolate Covered Breakfast

#53 of #100gratefuldays:  We got mail. Did I mention we have awesome friends?  Craig's high school buddy, Darryl, and his wife Germaine who we visited in Texas earlier this year sent some chocolate covered mail.  A delicious fruit bouquet. Can't wait for breakfast. The boys are gonna be so excited when they wake up.  Unless we eat it all first.  Feeling thankful for chocolate covered breakfast.  Maybe I should retire?

Framing the Rainbow

Yesterday, I read this blog (written by a woman who only a few days ago was alive and was aware it would be published after her death).  Very timely for me.  Things I took away from her writing...  "Look for the rainbow and frame it." and "You have literally no idea how blessed you are to shout at them in the morning to hurry up and clean their teeth."

Work can wait.  I'm going on a field trip with Kekoa. 

#51 of #100gratefuldays: All done. Thankful to spend the day with this guy. It was a pretty amazing day.

Went on a field trip with my oldest.  Felt pretty zen sitting at the park waiting for the bus of 4th graders to arrive.

We did a little "service learning"... collecting prairie seeds for the park employees... goin' on a seed hunt...

And lunchtime was hot dogs and s'mores...

Followed by our first geocache adventures (which included a little stop to make some stew)....

 Saw a few little critters throughout the day...  And felt very thankful that the wind didn't blow us away...all in all...  a super great fantastic way to spend some time with my little man who is not so little anymore.

Picture Day

So. Today was picture day at school. Kekoa slicked his hair down and to the side with some gel and then came to sit at the end of my bed and asked me how it looked. He then put on a nice shirt (a shirt he likes because it was his cousin, Hunter's) and his new jeans instead of his everyday clothes. He's starting to pay attention to how he dresses... no more character underwear. Nooooooo! Makes his Momma sad. He wouldn't let me sign his cast as Mommy... stopped me at Mom. He told Craig the other night when he went to lay with them at night that he didn't need to anymore. He's taking showers every night on his own accord. My babies keep growing up whether I want them to or not. Not sure if I'm quite ready for this 4th grade business.  Craig is retiring this month and so Kekoa wanted to come have lunch with him one more time while he's still in uniform, so there's that.  It also made me feel good there was a police officer visiting their school in September 11th.  Fitting.  Hard to believe this picture of me and my little cutie is over two and a half years old now...

And while I'm at it... just for a little perspective... here's a throwback Thursday offering:

This was only seven years ago.  I want to cry.  This was at my brother's wedding on September 11, 2006.  Kekoa rode to the wedding with the groom-to-be, Uncle Shawn, while I got baby Gavyn some steroids for his really bad croupy cough.  It was a cold, damp day, but the occasion made it beautiful.  Unlike the day just five years earlier.

I believe it's good to remember.  The most painful thing I've done all day. I don't reflect on it much. After thirteen years it's still too raw. Yes, that was me at the gym crying this morning while observing a moment of silence with so many others around the nation at the time the first plane hit. A year ago, I thought it had been long enough for me to watch the video footage again. I have never been so wrong. The sky and the weather match my mood today.

Which brings me to #43 of #100gratefuldays: Thankful for co-workers who treat me to birthday lunches and Aunt Maude's comfort food on an otherwise melancholy day.  Thankful for turkey chili, vanilla bean creme brulee,  chocolate cookies and sour cream ice cream.

Come visit me someday and I will take you there.

That Purple Satin Jacket

Throw Back Thursday: Back to school, throw back style. That purple satin jacket was da bomb. I think it was right around the same time that jelly shoes were all the rage. And I was a pretty big fan of Garfield, too. We made back to school look GOOD! Sixth grade, maybe?

My Turn

#23 of #100grateful days:  My turn.  First day of school.  3rd & 4th grade. Unbelievable.  A  little happy.  A little sad.  Kekoa... he's moving on... took a shower on his own last night and has developed a penchant for Under Armour underwear.  *gulp*  $20 a pair??!!  Gavyn... he's pleased to be wearing his new Minion underwear.  3 for $6.99.   I want some Minion underwear!

National Siblings Day 2014

Throw Back Thursday AND National Siblings Day??!! Why not? First day of school. I can't believe how much my brother, Shawn, looks like Kekoa. And my brother, Ryan, looks a lot like Gavyn. I love how you can see the sunrise on the sides of our faces.  I  loved that pink jean jacket.  I wish I still had it.

My First School Bag

Throwback Thursday: First day of school a few years ago. I wish I had known then how lucky I was to have a Momma that could sew me my first school bag.  Time produces new perspective, for sure.  Would love to still have that bag.

Speaking of time and perspective...

I've had regrets, but experiencing something I deeply regret has taught me to appreciate the power and beauty of true mercy. I look at others with kinder eyes. I speak with more gentleness. I am more cautious and aware of myself. Only way to go is forward.  *brushes off knees, stands up straight, not looking back*

Feeling human, but thankful.

Grilling Out With Friends

Decided to stick around Texas all day today so we could watch the first Cyclone game of the NCAA basketball tournament with other friends from back home. 

Because it turned out to be a late game at 8:50 p.m., we decided it would be better to leave bright and early in the morning. Craig's classmate, Devon, who just moved to Houston from our town, came over with his girlfriend.  Darryl was the master griller.  We had corn on the cob and steak and chicken fajitas.  Yes, you can be jealous if you want to.  It was delish.  I made my favorite coleslaw (or as my college roommate, Meagnon, so fondly calls it... Lani Salad) with salt & pepper pistachios instead of slivered almonds and sunflower seeds.  It was tremendously good.  I wore my lucky Cyclone cowboy boots and cheered loudly at the television.  This seemed to work.  Proud to be an ISU Cyclone, Baby!  Lovin' the win!

Check out this bag of grapefruit.  $5 bought me a 20 pound bag of Texas grapefruit today.  The melancholy sad feeling of leaving someplace wonderful has started to settle in.  It has been such a good vacation... I'm not ready to leave Texas yet.  Gonna be leaving some big hearted people behind. They really aren't joking.  Everything's bigger in Texas.  Not ready for this yet, but I guess it's gonna happen anyway in just a few short hours.  4:30 a.m. is coming quick.