Dear Son

Happy Birthday, my handsome Teen! I remember the young days when you would follow me around the house. My sweet-hearted son who just wanted to be next to me, sometimes doing absolutely nothing was nothing better. Your sweet little feet and that darling high pitched voice saying, "Mommy?" every time you wanted to chat. You were just so adorable.

And then you started to grow-up and had to go to school. You were not the best fan of academics and it wasn't because you didn't like to learn. Over time I realized that you were just bored. So it was a struggle at times to make you go and stay there. You wanted active, hands-on learning at all times. You weren't much for story time, unless there was a live critter the story was about, and that critter was right there to touch and feel.

Eventually, elementary school came and the pace picked up and you were happy. You enjoyed the playground time, but really enjoyed anything related to science and math, which again was more hands-on doing than reading and writing. Although your stories were always highly creative and I loved reading anything you wrote at school.

By the time late elementary years came, you were d.o.n.e. with one teacher and formal elementary structure. You could not wait to get out and over to the Middle School campus. It was a tough year of waiting, but all the while you kept your grades up and surpassed all that was expected in that regard.

Middle School came and that was your ticket. My, how much you have grown, not only physically, but in your confidence and happiness. Changing classes, harder academic structure, more freedom and independence was right up your alley. Your leadership was pegged early in sixth grade and your first year of Middle School was filled with new responsibilities to keep the school top rated.

This year, seventh grade started with a bang as your team of teachers carried on your leadership role and somehow you are now roped into the Associated Student Body (ASB) team and you are thriving!! You are a key speaker at assemblies to keep the crowd pep'd and enthusiastic, and the flip side of keeping everyone respectful and under control. You are well liked and have a slew of friends; boys and ... ummm ... girls. Plenty of those. Ha!

You continue to be that sweet-hearted little boy, grown up into a big Teen. I pray you keep your sweet side as that serves you well in the big picture of life. Your empathy and compassion is huge for the under-dog, and those that need that extra little pick-me-up. You know right from wrong, and you know how to maneuver through life to make both sides work; not giving up on others, yet knowing where you stand.

Your handsome nature is the best; your zest to take on life with an active mind and willingness to-do, will continue to prove you well with success.

My dear son, it was fun while it lasted - your toddling behind me wherever I went, but I am thrilled and so proud of your independence and confidence as a new young Teen. I love you with all my heart.

Happy 13th Birthday, Son!!
xoxo
Love,
Mom

Thankful

My hands were shaking so quickly that I could barely keep up with the text messages flying between me and my dad on the last blustery Sunday afternoon. I had escaped to my bathroom with a "Just gotta change, I'll be back" to the kids who remained downstairs. I knew that the use of the phone would not be a valid idea, as I was trying to hold it together as best as I could, and one word to my dad and I would have lost it. 

When my husband left for the hospital to "check-in" with his parents earlier that morning; we thought it was going to be just that; a chance to see them, say hello, talk with the medical staff, evaluate what was going one, in other words; simple. They had been in the hospital for 24-hours and all test results were coming back negative. Although things were a little puzzling, it wasn't anything to worry about. But that did not stay the case. 

When the kids and I called my husband, as we were driving home from Church, we realized that things had suddenly changed with Grandpa. The conversation through the phone became personal text messages to me. The kids were being filtered. 

My parent's arrived to stay with the kids as we knew the transport of Grandpa to the world renown Trauma Hospital that is (thankfully) in the our big city was not going to be a quick situation. Although my two are Teens, it was important they have their other set of Grandparent's close by, and that they remained as worry-free as possible. 

My father-in-law suffered from a Thoracic Aortic Dissection (Aneurysm). Anyone want to Google that will find that it is a life-threatening situation that many do not make. I am thankful to tell you quickly that my father-in-law is a miracle as he is one of the lucky ones that made it through. 

Ever been in a pinch-me-horror-movie moment? We were in one as we sat in the stale, colorless, artless, windowless room that read "Quiet Room" on the heavy door; florescent lights, a couch, three chairs, and an end table were our only company while we waited for his life-saving surgery to be complete. 

The room was extremely warm. We propped open the door. The hallway just outside was eerily quiet except for the occasional slamming of a door out of sight, and the footsteps of a medical staff worker. We were in the basement. The basement of a very old hospital building that had quick access to the ambulance and helicopter that were the transports to this Urgent Trauma Center. Nothing about the hallways that meandered our way to this location spelled Happy, Welcome, Relax. 

Check this off the Life List. Been here, done that, we are done. Never again, please. 

The doctor appeared shortly after our group family prayer. I immediately heard "He is stable" and could focus on what the next 20-minutes brought in the form of positives and negatives for my father-in-laws condition. He was alive, but it was not going to be a skippy-quick recovery. The road ahead was deemed long, strenuous, with a bunch of unknowns. 

But as she talked, I had peace. I knew that she had never met my father-in-law. What she said was valid, but she had never met the man she was talking about. Because if she had, she would have included in the end of her speech ... "But, your husband, your dad, your kids' Grandpa is not an ordinary man. He is a believer, a fighter and a highly positive individual, and this will get him through."   

About seventeen hours post-op the ventilator was removed and my father-in-law did not miss a beat in providing good humor and laughter in his ICU room. The nurses and doctors were smiling, the family on a bit of euphoria that he was back!! While his body has been through an enormous upheaval, his mind is sharp and he is more than ready to fight back to recovery. 

The road ahead will not be the easiest thing he has ever done, but I am thankful that he has what it takes to make the journey. 

"Overcomer" by Mandisa and the theme song to "Rocky" ... that's for you, R!! Love you!!

Birthday with friends

So maybe the birthday just never ended for my girl, or she just planned a really great weekend!! Her dad and brother agreed to take the RV alone on Friday evening to set up camp and spend the night, so that their daughter and sister could celebrate her 15th with friends at the Mall. It made me happy that it was not a hard sell for the boys to understand the importance of squeezing in this plan the day after her birthday, and not waiting for the next available weekend.

My girl invited two friends, one that she has known since third grade but attends a different school. They are best friends and are so much fun together. The other was a best friend from my daughter's school whom she met last year for the first time and became one of those friends that you feel you have known all your life. My girl knew that although the two friends had never met, she was sure that they would get along, after all, her two best friends were almost identical in personality.

She was right - the two hit it off quickly and by late into the evening one said to the other, "You are so much fun to hang out with. Where have you been?!" It was sweet and made my girl feel good that the two really did enjoy their night.

The mall is my girl's favorite mall which isn't the closest mall to us, but it is worth driving to. The girls shopped for a good while; purchasing clothes for school, and having fun trying on Homecoming Dresses, while I thoroughly enjoyed being on my own doing my own shopping before we met for a dinner break.

Since I was paying for dinner, I didn't really know how to handle the dinner-part. Originally I had hoped that my Bestie could join me at another table, leaving the girls at their table, but she had another commitment. So, my girl insisted that it would be fine if I just sat with them and then it would be easy and less awkward to pay the correct amount, and not worry if I had given my girl enough cash.

Three hours later! we got up from dinner. I know, don't flatter myself that my girl invited me to join them - it was convenient, and that we stayed for three hours, but I will say between me and you, Reader, that it felt great and was a whole lot of fun to be included at my girl's 15th Birthday Party Dinner. Shhhh.

I can't remember all that we chatted about, but it was nonstop with a lot of laughs. After dinner, the girls went back to run a few more shopping purchases and asked me to just come along. We eventually left the mall and headed to her friend's house to drop her off, and spent some more time gabbing with her parents (her mom is the Bestie I referred to earlier, obviously it was a fun way to end the evening) and introducing her to my girl's friend.

My daughter and I came home late and had to pack for our camping the next day, so we didn't get to bed until almost the next morning. But the sacrifice of tired was well worth it, my girl and her friends (and me) enjoyed a fun Friday Night at the Mall.

Another Happy Birthday!

Birthday Camp Out!

Every year our family joins our creative minds to come up with a fun activity to do with our extended family in honor of birthdays ~ my daughter born on September 12th and my son on October 6th. When they were little, we had two family-parties within a month time-span, but as they have aged they "understand sharing" and enjoy celebrating together.

This past weekend was packed full of fun, but some will be saved for individual postings. The idea was that we were going to cross our fingers for great weather and reserve a campsite 30-minutes away. We would spend the night on Friday as a family of four and get organized, and then the rest of the family would join us Saturday night for dinner, beach combing, and bonfire enjoyment. The rest of the family as in a combined total of Seventeen. 

It was a large party at our "sight unseen" campsite but it worked well. Typically, we choose our campsites based on a photo or two on the State Park website for each campground, but this particular campground had zero pictures, just a fill-in-the-blank description and a drawn map of the entire grounds. Luckily, upon arrival, we were pleased with the result given, as we didn't have much to choose from in the way of campgrounds within a short drive from most of our homes.  

Our beach combing was done after an adventurous walk to the beach from the campground. Nobody had driven the route to see distance and terrain, we all just saw the same arrow pointing West when we all drove into the campground. The terrain of the walk was all cement, but the distance was long and all downhill. We all knew that going back would be climb, and guess what ... only my hubby, myself, and the dog went back via foot! How did that happen? Oh yeah, we had to get dinner started and left them on the beach.

The grandparents were the smart ones and drove their cars to the beach, which worked great to get the crew back. But in all honesty, the climb back up was much shorter than what I had anticipated ... something about going someplace the first time always seems longer than the return trip. It was no big deal and everyone could have done the same; but I'm glad they had a lift so the Grandparents could enjoy the beach too. 

A traditional barbecue dinner followed by gifts and cake around the campfire rounded out the evening. The adults, minus my hubby and me, took off for their comfy beds at their homes while we hosted the Teens to a camp-out. We know that our mix of boys and girls could handle sleeping in tight quarters together, since they are all awesome kids and all related ... but because our RV does not sleep nine, we had to split up the party to sleep. 

The two boys and my husband slept in the Tent and the word from the boys was that it was really fun. But I guess what happens in the Tent stays in the Tent because no boy was talking the next morning. It took awhile for the girls to rotate through the bedtime routine sharing one sink in one bathroom, but it was a lot of fun hearing their chatter as they were getting ready for bed. Eventually, all five were done and figured out their sleeping arrangements.

My bed was now clear of all their blankets, pillows, and "stuff" so I shut my bedroom door and crawled into bed. I had anticipated that the girls were going to talk all night about school and boys and that I would secretively hear (because the door isn't that heavy and you can still hear everything - after all, we are close quarters in an RV), but to my disappointment (wink) they turned on a movie and either actually watched it, or fell asleep because the next thing I know - I woke up to my alarm clock going off.

The morning brought fog and mist and the day started charming. My husband made a nice roaring fire, the boys came in to ambush the girls with an early wake-up call, and it all began perfectly. My hubby and I started making breakfast of eggs, pancakes, and bacon with an assortment of drink options, but by the time the meal making was complete the weather had dramatically changed to Thunderstorms and a downpour of rain. We quickly grabbed all the picnic attire, the dishes, the chairs, the tent items, etc etc etc and threw what was absolutely necessary to keep dry into the RV - and tossed all the bedding that was still out, onto our queen bed in the back, and squeezed seven Teens into the small RV kitchen table. That was breakfast. 

Gone was the nice morning walk, the fireside chatter, the tossing of football or the kicking of the soccer ball in the open field in the middle of the campground. But the memory remained positive and all the kids enjoyed their time before it was ready to breakdown camp and head back home. 

We are so thankful that our extended family is adventurous and ready for spending time together. We have fun as a big group, ready to laugh and joke, and have serious conversations too. I am most grateful that my kiddos have Aunts and Uncles to help guide them in their life, and cousins to relate to, and Grandparents to spoil and love on them so deeply. We are thankful. 

Happy Birthday, Children!! Your constant smiles and laughter were proof that this was a great weekend! xoxo  Thank you, Family!!

Happy Birthday Daughter!

Her birthday cake is in the oven, a request of Red Velvet with Cream Cheese frosting like "my Aunt" makes. I, of course, cheated and bought the cake in the box to mix and add to the oven. She knows this and she knows this is what her mother is capable of doing. The love is there - I will be decorating it myself.

My girl turns 15 today. I am not sure how exactly we got to this day, at the edge of distant memories and just like it were yesterday moments. My girl who genuinely smiled at a rapid days-old has never forgotten her catchy smile and sweet personality throughout the years. She is one that fights for what she believes in, to the point where we sometimes have to talk her down to breathe and look at all sides. I never want her passion stomped out, I want her passion to grow and mold her into the person that she will continue to grow to be.

15.

I am not sure if Driver's Ed will happen as quickly as my girl anticipates. That will yet to be determined as neither her dad nor I are anxiously waiting to be the first in line to register her for class. My girl behind the wheel. Do I really want to take that giant leap of faith just yet?! I prefer her on the Right Side of the car, safely buckled in without a worry of her being in control of anything mechanical. She is capable, but I am not sure her parents are emotionally ready. I hear it is the biggest step of faith in parenthood. I believe it.

We ceased the Themed Birthday Parties awhile ago. Looking through our photo books, and this Blog, it was always so much fun to spend the time and creativity of pulling off a Theme she had picked. It was never a surprise, she was always in on the planning, and that made it very fun. She would sparkle when it was time to plan her parties.

Tomorrow two friends will be joining her for a night of shopping at her favorite mall. It brings back memories of my youth - it seemed like I was always at the Mall with my best friend, and if it wasn't my best friend, it was spent with my mom. Genuine good memories. I am glad that my girl can start making some of those similar memories of her own.

15.

I love you, Daughter,

I am so proud of every ounce of your character. No one is perfect, and I am so glad that all of your imperfect sides are just ways to grow and change into the young adult you are quickly headed toward being. Your spunk for life, your humor, your charm, the sparkle in your eye when you tell a really good story are all qualities that make me smile and fill my day with so much joy. I look forward to our car-time-chats, you never seem to hold back on story after story, and even though there are times when I "don't get it" I am so grateful that you keep sharing anyway. I am learning as we go. Thank you for being a serious student, for having future goals in life, for being picky, and for being honest. You are an amazing and inspiring person, and your dad and I are very joyful that God gave us YOU!! 

Happy Happy 15th Birthday, Chicka!!

~Mom

No longer toys

I can not tell you specifically where I have been today, but I will tell you it was not in the Toy Department. Gone are the days birthday gifts were purchased on toy store aisles, debating with myself if my daughter would rather have the Fisher Price Doll House Bathroom, or Living Room set. I have exchanged picking up toys strewn across my family room floor, to young women and men's sizes 7.5 and 8 shoes. No longer staying home for Quiet Time at 1:00p, I am still busy running errands with only our toddler puppy in tow.

I used to remember calling my husband towards the end of the day, secretly crossing my fingers that he would say, Yes, I am on my way home, so that the last bit of stay-at-home-mommy-role-with-toddlers was doable. There were days that I needed an instant break as soon as he walked in, and then other days when life just seemed to work and I could manage a good dinner, bath time, and bedtime, while he enjoyed a turn of relaxing from a hard day outside of the house.

Now those end of the day phone calls are made to double check that we are in the right place at the right time whether that is practice, lessons, or classes ... some one in our family has something going on most nights of the week, and sometimes that means tag-teaming. But the check-in are not to say "Help me escape" it is "Let's do this together" while we enjoy the conversation of our Teens.

While I would not replace any part of my children's growing up years: the terrible threes, the whining fives, the giggling sevens, or the attitude tweens ... I will admit that it would be fun to travel back in time and visit their voice, their laughter, heck ~ even their misbehavior for a chance to keep them where they are right. now.

Growing up fast is an understatement. I was reminded of this over the weekend when my oldest Niece drove her mom and herself over in my Niece's new car. Not a Tricycle, but a four-wheel-steering-wheeled-engined-car. And then for my Niece to follow-up in conversation, "Ohh - I can't wait for next year when my cousin will be at my school!!!" Her cousin is my girl. The first and only time the two will be on the same campus pre-College is when my Niece is a SENIOR.

No longer toys.

They do grow-up.

Winner Pickin' Dinner

My husband has been involved in a Fantasy Football League for the past 20-years. That is well before children. The league has changed from time to time, and his involvement went from looking at the Sunday PAPER to get his scores, to online "everything done for you". But he has always enjoyed it.

This year, to my shock and surprise, he decided that he would take a break. I am not sure if the entire league decided this, or just my hubby.

Or so we thought.

It hadn't even been a week of his announcement to me when our son picks up a Fantasy Football instruction page from our Orthodontist. My son filled it out the best he could, got his dad to help him fill in the rest, and we turned it in.

Three days after that, while we were camping over Labor Day Weekend, my kids randomly state that they should start a Fantasy Football League within the family. So, the three sat down and started organizing their teams, and my husband got out our Tablet and started getting the website info all set up for the electronic version of Fantasy to track everything.

(it is obvious I know very little about how this work, even twenty years later).

The next thing I know, they are picking team names, and user names to go online, and somehow they need another team to make it 4 in the League and now I am signed up too.

Today was the opener of the NFL Season. And while our family all supports the same NFL Team (our own city team), there was an added level of interest over players on other "real" teams. Eventually it was mentioned that someone in our family was beating someone else in our family and the good natured teasing began and someone said, "Too bad we don't have any money on the table for the winner of the season!"

So then it was quickly decided ... "Winner Pickin' Dinner" ... the winner gets to choose the dinner, eating out or eating in, so long as it is under $100. Done.

As my son was quickly headed out the door to hang outside he said, "I'll be choosing Top Ramen and keeping the other $99 for myself!!!"

Too smart. So we quickly added the rule that that was not allowed.

So far, my hubby is winning ... but I have no idea how.