Sassy

This is kind of how I feel right now.  I think I'm getting sick.  Anyway, I realize I have a lot of catching up to do.  I'm hoping to find some writing time during this holiday season.  Maybe. 

I have been playing around with my camera again. Lynn has inspired me to try some new stuff.  Only instead of doing the new stuff with film (like she is) I'm choosing the cheaper and more convenient digital route. 

I used saran wrap today.  Wrapped it around my fixed 50 and started shooting.  There was only one small spot in the center for catching a clear spot. I'm going to have fun with it when someone is in a better mood. I love how it blurs random parts on the sides.  But ^ she wasn't having it today.   Though she was intrigued for a quick second, she got irritated very quickly and I only got 3 shots.  But this was one of them.  And I can't help but love it. 

Beautiful Girl

I have to sneak photos in whenever I can. She doesn't know she's beautiful. She thinks she's ok. But she's wrong. She's much, much better than ok. 

Underwater!

Hailey got a new waterproof case for her phone. She refused to pay 80 dollars for one so she found one on eBay. It was about 10 bucks. She tested it out first (Put paper in the case and submerged it for about an hour. Paper came out dry.). 

So here are the photos she sent me...

I MUST get one of those waterproof cases. 

The Boy

I can't begin to tell you how much my boy has grown this year. He may not have grown as tall as he would have liked...but he sure has grown up!! 

He started this year with a slightly beat-down attitude. He was a little negative and didn't feel that smart. Thanks to a supportive classroom teacher and a wonderful language arts teacher, things really turned around!  His reading and writing improved tremendously. But best of all, he knows he's smart. And talented. And funny. His attitude is great and he's so much fun to be around!

He has started talking like a grown up lately so I've written a couple of Finn quotes down...

"You know how you can sometimes define a person by a first impression?  Well. I don't want to be one of those people."

"These fries are completely compelling but MAN they are ridiculously HOT!!"

"I don't think I want this year to end. I've settled in quite comfortably. " 

  

"I love you mom. You're the best. Some kids just say that but I telleth the truth."

Who is this kid??? 

I'm so proud of my boy. 

Proud Mom Moment

Tramp's Last Days

We will soon be getting rid of our trampoline.  It needs to go.  The net has come down already...because NO one was using it. 

Well guess what?  Stella won't stay off of it now.  So here are a few last shots before we get rid of that thing!!

Here We Are...

So here we are.  Exactly one month past Hailey's 18th birthday. I feel both sad and ashamed that I didn't do an appropriate birthday post for her.  I can only hope to make up for it in the Spring when I do a dedication post in  honor of her upcoming graduation.  I've already started working on that one...so HOPEFULLY it will be ready in plenty of time.

In the meantime, I have to say that this has been the most difficult birthday for me yet!  I am really an emotional wreck about it. It's both so exciting and so upsetting all at the same time!!  It's not upsetting because I'm old enough to have an 18 year old.  I'm actually kinda proud of that...wrinkles and all. And I'm so proud of the fact that I raised one up to reach 18 without going completely crazy or shipping her off to boarding school! 
It's the fact that she's driving everywhere and independent and LEAVING HOME SOON. 
It's the fact that she doesn't reallllly need me anymore.


I really hope I can yoga my way through this one because as of right now, I can't think about it without crying. Seriously.  I'm fine when she's around.  Fine to talk about it with other people. But if I'm alone and happen to think about it...I lose it. 

And I just can't help but think...This is the one kid that has ALWAYS liked me!!!  (ok there's still hope for Stell)   Always wanted to be around me.  Always trusted what I have to say.  (That's not all totally true..haha...she had her tween moments like most kids do.)
She has grown into my little piece of calm in our ocean of stress.  She's a rock.  She's an achor.

 She's my big ole first born baby.

I honest to God don't know what I'm gonna do without having her around everyday. 


On the flip side....She's ready.  She's smart, beautiful, independent, confident and READY to fly. 
Pretty soon that little bird will flap on out of here.  In the meantime, I'm going to pray, meditate, do yoga, cry in the shower...whatever I have to do to help her take off successfully!!  OMmmmm

Happy Birthday Maddy!!

Happy 15th Birthday to my sweet, sweet Maddy!!!

From a precious chunky baby to a smart beautiful young woman!

Time goes by sooooo fast. *heavy sigh*

The difference between 1 and 2

Here are some of my communications with Number 1 about the JB concert....

 

and here's my communication...or lack there of...from Number 2....

 

 

And there you have it. 

Numbers 1 & 2 in separate text conversations. 

(wish the pictures contained more texts.  you could see how 1 answered every question,, stayed in touch the whole time and gave me exact details.

and then..how 2 did not. no responses, few one word answers and NO DETAILS ....

 but you get the idea.)

 

Ask me later and I'll tell you all about how Number 2

got tickets, got to the concert and got on the floor. 

ALL in the name of BIEBER FEVER.    

52 photos project

Someone is really tired when she gets home from school...

52 Photos

Our word for 2013 is fun!!! Here's Stella practicing.

Still Grateful

I had a pretty bad day today.  But I didn't come here to write about all of the bad things.  I decided NOT to write about all of the pain-in-the-butt stuff that happened today.  I will just write about those tiny silver linings for which I'm very grateful.  Here goes-

My TOP 10 for today and yesterday- Mostly today...

 

1.  I am thankful that I didn't insult K at City Chevrolet last night by sharing MY opinion on

     what I think Jesus would actually do (or say) in response to his sneaky car dealer ways.  I am so

     grateful that I didn't tell him he was going to need more than a BLESSED tatoo on his neck and  

     a WWJD bracelet to be saved if he didn't start telling the truth more often.  I am also really

     thankful that he let me drive my van home, after insisting I keep driving the loaner that I can't

     really afford right now.  He didn't even pout too much when I got in my car and drove away. 

 He even got his manager to offer an extra 500 for the van!

Maybe he rememeberd Jesus is always watching. 

 

2.  I am especially happy that I didn't have a small heart attack when my van died in the turn lane

     on Sharon at Runnymeade at 7 am.. Especially since MMM and her cohorts were horrified 

     and trying to hide deep down in the seats...so the friends that were passing us by at high speeds and honking, would somehow miss the fact that they were in my broken down van with

the CSA, ODS, and IG magnets on the back. 

Good job girls. 

I think you went unnoticed.

 

3.  I am truly beyond excited and happy that MMM survived school without

 being shunned and excluded by

     all of the cool kids EVEN THOUGH

her mom's awfully uncool car collalpsed. 

IN PUBLIC.

 

4.   And thank you KG for making MMM laugh. 

You totally lightened the mood.  (for real)

You're awsome

  sweet girl.

 

5.  I'm very hankful for Nick for taking those shell-shocked girls to school

to face the dreaded LOCK OUT. 

(and to get them the heck outta my van.)

 

6.  I am really and truly grateful to parent Paula who vonlunteered in my class today so that

     I could leave early and go get a car to drive.

 

7.  I was also relieved and happy when Nick showed up at ODS with Chuck's car and some keys...

     I didn't even have to drive with him to go get it!! 

 (also thankful for Mitch who

 took Nick to get

     the car!)

 

8.  That leads me to my gratitude for Chuck and his extra car...and happy that he is letting me drive it.

 

9.  I am so happy that I remembered half way to Weddington that Hailey's appt was actaully at 3

     instead of 4.  That way I didn't actually have to drive ALL the way to Weddington and face Dr. D

     and company and then leave with my tail between my legs. 

 I got to call and apologize profusely

     instead.

 That's WAY better than the face to face crap.

 

10.  Lastly, I am thankful for being able to whip up a decent dinner on the fly...

even though I didn't want to...
you know...because of my day and all...

even though I dreaded it...

it was delicious!!
(tilapia and some lemon butter sauce i made up. yum.)

See...could have been worse, right??!!! (I'm still waiting to hear how bad the car is. Fingers crossed.)

52 weeks of Gratitude

52 Weeks of Gratitude

Happy New Year!!!!

The holiday season has come and gone, children are back in school, and I finally have a moment to sit down and write!!

I'm always sad when the holiday vacay is over, but I am definitely ready to start my spring countdown, too. I have to try hard not to wish away winter completely. It's pretty easy to do because it literally flies right on by anyway. Competition season starts this Saturday in Asheville!! First Level 9 meet of the year! Basketball is well underway- next game on Friday afternoon. And two very special birthdays will be here well before I'm prepared for them. (That oldest one will be 18! 8freakinteen!!! And Senorita Sass will be 15. GOOD GRIEF.)

So here I sit, devising a plan to help stay grounded and grateful. I'm starting my own little 52 Photos Project. I would love to be able to commit to a photo a day...and i'm actually going to try that on Instagram...I think. BUT, I can't quite commit to a photo a day here...so 1 per week it is. My focus will simply be Gratitude. Whatever I'm thankful for/appreciate/love/admire/respect. One per week, all year long. I think I can, I think I can.....

This week I was happy to have a warm snuggle buddy.