When did my baby……..

…..start with a touch of make- up……

 

add an up-do……..

and with a little help from her “subjects”………

One making her a grilled cheese because she was hungry, and one lacing her up……

become a

~*~Princess~*~

Shining, inside and out.

 

 

Beauty is not in the face,

beauty is a light in the heart.

~~ Kahlil Gibran

Even more proud of the beautiful person she is on the inside…..as well as the outside.

And, every time I turned around, she became more beautiful.

Beautiful and silly…..great combination……

 

I have tried again and again, to write out my emotion and feeling looking at these pictures. On one hand there is the extreme pride and love for the gorgeous woman that she is becoming, inside and out. Beautiful, caring, sensitive, yet strong and independent. My heart exploding every time I turned around and looked at her again.

She has looked forward to this night for such along time, and I wanted so much for it to be what she dreamed it to be, and a part of me knew, it would never compare to her imagination, but would create memories all it’s own.

And.

Then on the other hand, there is the melancholy and *sighs* that come as well, thinking that she is so quickly growing up and away from us. I wanted to tell her all at the same time, please stop growing up but also how proud I am of her, and how excited I am for her to start the next stage of her life. How much I long for her to stay close but how much I want her to grasp every opportunity her father and I have attempted to lay out for her. Don’t leave me, but travel the world! Study abroad, go be that princess in Disney next summer!! Stay tied to home, but travel from home. Expand your world, explore every corner.

Live. Explore.Love.Grow.Give.

Make your mark on the world, but please remember the mark we attempted to leave on you.

I love you sweetheart, more than you will ever be able to comprehend.

Thursday Thirteen

I really really wanted to post Tuesday Ten, but that came and went. So, the only number and “catchy”  title for today would be thirteen. Three just seems so uninspiring.  I have thought about writing SO many times in the last month, then I sit down, and nadda.

1.

We made a trip to Millersville University for

Accepted Students Day!

Someone was very excited! They had students lining the streets into town, waving at us and directing us where to go, for the mile/mile and a half after you turn off the main road. I must say it was definitely cool to see. K was excited to see a PIRATE parrot – of all things! The official school mascot is a Marauder (aka “pirate” I suppose) So this is the new mascot. She was also excited that the school colors are gold and black, ala Pittsburg Steelers, and the Dean of the school is  a fan.  She is very excited about starting in the fall.

2.

And my big news….

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR CHPSW GRADUATING STUDENTS!

The College of Health Professions and Social Work would like to extend warm wishes for our graduating students of August 2011, January 2012, and May 2012.  We recognize that this is a milestone achievement and wish you well in your future endeavors!

Graduation Ceremonies on May 10, 2012!!

No, I did not go to graduation. No need to. I know what I accomplished, and would have had to walk with all of the twentysomethings, and had no desire to fight Temple traffic just for a cap and gown. I am still adjusting to not having to read or write, and have taken a week off of any reading!  This was much more challenging at times than I thought it would be, but also so much more rewarding than I ever expected it to be. There were times I really found myself wishing for a classroom so I could debate face to face! Online is not at all “easy” as everyone seems to think it is! Then there are all the things that go along with a job, teenagers, keeping a house and trying to complete my school work at the same time. But I DID IT.

I must be insane because I am already thinking of the “next thing” ! Just deciding if I want to stay in orthopedics or not.

3.

There is another graduate in this house! Her news far outweighs mine! These arrived on my graduation day – HER announcements. We only had to get a few for far flung friends and family. Hard to believe in three weeks I will be the parent of a high school graduate!!

4.

Took my last field trip in May.

A ton of mixed emotions here. Dude will be starting HIGH SCHOOL next year! No more need for mom to tag along on field trips. So I was SO happy to get to go along on the NYC trip to Broadway. Was so surprised the boys actually wanted to pick Wicked and thankfully Dude got the LAST lottery number for that bus! I can definitely say, taking this trip with these boys was a planetary difference from the trip I took with  Princess Textsalot and her friends when she was in the 9th grade! Those girls had an agenda! see this, do that! Asked the boys what they wanted to do with the 45 minutes we had after lunch, until we had to be at the theater. “I don’t know”….so I tried the best I could with TRU, and the M&M store and Hershey. They were not interested in spending money, and really did not want to “see” anything. So we got to the theater 30 min early! Love his friends! They were so polite and nice, sweet boys. I LOVE seeing first time reactions to the sights, sounds and SMELLS of NYC. Makes me LOL every year!

5.

Speaking of “friends” – Dr Who is big big big around here lately. Total fan here. (and imagine my dismay when Dr Who appeared on the dvd player on the bus to NYC! and even episodes I have seen and trust me I haven’t seen many!) Anyway, he was invited to a Dr Who themed party last weekend. He planned his costume for weeks, down to the pocket watch, and laser screwdriver, I give you The Master. He even downloaded the drum beats The Master hears in his head all the time. AND, he won Best Overall Costume, and bragging rights for a year!

6.

Am I really only at #6?? My toenails need painted…now on to better things.

7.

Dude attended his first “real” dance! 9th grade dance!

He was stoked to wear a suit, and his new “zipper tie” – yes, it has a zipper up the tail that tightens it, and you can not see it at all! No tying! Size 46 reg jacket!!

SO proud of the young man he is becoming. So sweet, kind hearted, funny, sarcastic – I don’t know where he gets that? – curious and smart. He has lots of “girl”friends, but no “girlfriend” yet. But a few crushes….shhhhh…don’t’ tell.

8.

Mother’s Day was low key, just like I like it. Roused the night owls out of bed, to have breakfast at the market Café, and then Sir Fartsalot and I were planning to ditch the spawn and go to Longtrout Winery for some adult time alone (been a rough week here) , but as we were leaving, The Sir remembered that he heard about a flea market in Fleetwood, did we want to try to find it!? Sure came the cries from the back seat! well,let’s say we struck out on a few fronts that we tried to find a flea marker, which resulted in some driving around, but lead to winding up at the ice cream parlor! can’t argue with that!  We did then ditch the kids and hit the nursery for some plants, and spent the afternoon napping and planting. Perfectly fine  with me! MD is still a rough holiday for me, even after all these years, and I do not fancy the brunches and packed restaurants and expensive menus, so have given up even trying. I just didn’t plan a big day trip this year.

9.

This girl continues to be silly and fun! Challenges me almost daily, and is probably the sole cause of every grey hair on my head, but is growing into a strong young woman that we are so proud of! Can’t wait to see her pottery on display somewhere some day!

10.

She made this piece for me recently. Matches a lamp I have. I LOVE it.

11.

The frogs in the pond this year are INSANE!  They are multiplying like rabbits, talking up a storm and we found more tadpoles in the skimmer! I will most likely not have baby fish this year, as I am sure the babies won’t out swim these guys. I am so grateful that Sir Fartsalot surprised me all those years ago by digging this “hole” for me. He knew how much I wanted it.

We are losing count and are trying not to think of the Egypt plagues most days around here!

12.

Someday hopefully, this will be a blanket for Princess Textsalot to take to school with her. She is obsessed with blankets and can’t have enough. I was so pleased when I cautiously asked if she wanted me to make her one for her dorm, she said yes!

13.

I made it! 13 things! bored you all to tears, but I am on #13.

 

The foot isn’t looking to bad, and is FINALLY working pretty well. Has it’s moments but I CAN WALK again with little pain! That is always a nice thing!!

The heart is coming along but we will address that another day!

Memories

Does this happen to anyone but me?

You are tooling along in your day, minding your own business, and suddenly – a picture, a smell, a sound, triggers a memory so vivid you can’t help but stop and just appreciate it?

Picture credit I am not sure. “Notesformyfuturefarm.com” was the link on Pinterest, but it did not work for me to click on it. So that is as close as I can get.

So, my freshly painting nails were drying and I decided to bop around Pinterest to waste  spend some time waiting.

This picture pops up on the screen, and immediately I am transported.

When I was a kid, my grandmother’s parents and family lived in Saxton, Pa – near Altoona. We spent a lot of time there when I was young. My great-grandparents and great-aunt Dodie lived right next to each other. Literally with just a driveway between. Man, just now, I can realize there are so many memories wrapped up in those two houses – the smell of the linen sheets, the ancient bathrooms, and wonderful lovely tiny 4 ft arthritis gnarled Aunt Dodie faithfully making a HUGE pot of chicken and dumplings every time we visited. But those are memories I will visit another time.

If we weren’t camping at a campground nearby, we split our family between those two houses to sleep. I even had the blessing of knowing my great-great-grandmother who lived with  my aunt. There are so many wonderful memories surrounding those two houses, but the one that this picture triggered – Aunt Dodie’s porch swing. I think of it often. I think it is a source of my love and affection for a lovely porch and porch swing (neither of which I currently had) It also, I think , instilled a love in me, of just sitting and appreciating the moment.

We used to pad back and forth between those houses in our jammies in the morning, to go to one house or the other for breakfast, and eventually at some point in the day wound up on that swing. I am sure at that age, accompanied by the phrase – “It is so boring here!”

I can close my eyes and feel the wicker, and hear the slow creeaaakkkk, crreeaakkkkk

as the chain rubbed the hooks as we swung.

Sometimes we would see how high or fast we could go.

Sometimes we just laid there and listened.

I never could possibly have realized then, how much those moments would play out in my mind as an adult and the joy that would fill my heart.

One thing that I loved the most was when “Uncle Ross” would visit. “Uncle Ross” was one of those adopted uncles, beloved friend of the family, always had a smile, teased us , and always loved to swing on that swing with us kids.

And, Uncle Ross told the story of Little Bunny FooFoo.

It makes my heart swell just thinking about it.

How simple, how silly, yet we all loved to hear it again and again.

And of course giggle when Little Bunny FooFoo got bopped on the head.

I have long appreciated the influence my “extended” family had on my growing up.

One thing that makes me sad for my children is their lack of a big extended family. Ours has grown quite small. But I know, they will have these memories too.

Memories that at the time seemed so ordinary, and probably expected to be forgotten, yet, leave a mark on our hearts forever.

Another month….

…gone already!

Where do they go!

Been a rather interesting, series of events in the last month…..

but one of the most interesting….

This is when my mother-in-law picks herself up off of the floor.

Yes, he decided, all on his own, to cut it. Off. All off.

And, he is liking it.

And frankly, so am I.

Love this face.

Tomorrow’s edition….my decision to skirt all responsibility for Easter this year  and load us into the car for a day  trip.

Yeah, because I am such a rebel.

Knit , Purle, Knit Purle

Before my heart started acting up, I had signed up for a knitting class at a local yarn store.

This is my “practice piece”

I did manage to get there, even though I wasn’t feeling well.

This is what a hand wound skein looks like. Absolutely cool. The thread is sold in loose twists, then when you buy it, the clerk places it on a hand winder and winds it up to a perfect pull from the center ball.

I am an avid reader and one of my favorite series is The Friday Night Knitting Club, and I always had a mental picture of how the shop looked. I can imagine Conversational Threads is similar. Folks this is REAL high quality yarn. Color piled everywhere! Gorgeous. Soft. Makes you want to touch all of it!

I have tried to teach myself to knit previously. Finding it much easier this time around with the higher quality thread. Less splitting etc.  I do crochet, and have fond memories of my grandmother knitting. (One knit and one crocheted)  For some reason, I have rekindled a love of yarn, and have gotten the knitting bug.

Now, I figure what better hobby for someone on old lady heart medicine than knitting! It is also supposed to be very relaxing and have the same effect on your body relaxation as yoga. Nothing , even knitting, but medication has brought my heart rate down, but I figure this can’t hurt. Although learning the knit one purle one, is not as relaxing as it should be!

Looks like I am getting the hang of it huh??

This is the beginner scarf pattern the teacher created using everything we learned in class.

I have a lot of spare time on my hands right now , with all the “resting” I have been doing….I have also been trying to do a little every night to relax before bed.

(interesting lighting tip – these pics are the SAME ball of yarn…..incandescent light vs daylight. Amazing the difference huh? Lesson learned, adjust white balance setting next time I am shooting inside at night. Although neither is an accurate depiction of the actual color.)

I am trying desperately to find a metaphor/life lesson story here, to entertain, but it escapes me. I am simply learning to knit.

I’d like to say learning to appreciate the “slower” part of life, but I am not. Still in the frustrated stage of wanting to do more. I have altered life in the last year or two, to be home more, and have more family time, but I still like to DO when I am home. I am not a sitter. You would think after my foot surgery, and stress fracture I would have embraced it by now!

 

Haven’t given up entirely on crochet. Made this cute little hat for a friend’s new granddaughter.  Took about 2 hours. (ignore the wine bottle prop! btw, of which I have not had ONE drop in weeks. Now you KNOW I am not, and was not , feeling well!)

Dude

A day late and a dollar short is my MO, but hey, I have health issues to blame!

April 1997

Someone around here had a birthday yesterday!

15 years old!! Where did the years go??

Mother’s Day 1997 – Baptism Day

One of my favorite pictures.  I often wonder what she would think and say about my children. Well, I do know what she would say, but I would love to hear it. She would think they walk on water.

Another favorite – the dirt on the face, the look.

So, hard to believe….this little sweetheart….

Who always made sure we got treats for  The Brat every time we were out when she was at school. If he got a lollipop at the bank, we got one for her too. He  made sure of it. Seems like just yesterday, he would sit on the wall in front of the house and anxiously wait for the bus to bring her home.

So easy going. Laid back. So soft hearted, yet all boy.

Lego building, bike riding, dirt digging, “daddy’s helper” ….

Whose hair started to take over sooner than later……

How barely reached his Dad’s shoulder just two years ago……

Now where’s a size 11 shoe and the same size pants as his dad, and has out grown his regular size bed…..

and can now carry his big sister……

Is still just as sweet as ever. Still soft hearted but tough on the outside.  He’s a lover not a fighter.

Loves and protects his sister. Worries about her. Faithful to his friends. Giving and caring.

Video game, computer loving, inventor, builder, creator.

So proud of the person he has become and looking forward to seeing the man he will be.

Love you Dude!! You make my life so happy and full. Thanks for not being ashamed to be see with your old mom yet.

Happy Birthday Baby!