One Year Later

 One year ago today I took my first tennis lesson. 

My friend Erin had tried to get me to start a few months earlier but I was sick and not wanting to do anything. So last March, just a handful of weeks out from a week long hospital stay I took my first group lesson.

I haven't looked back. I have never felt better and I have a core group of friends that I didn't know I needed or wanted.

Thank you ladies for your friendship and fun.

Thank you Mike for making me fall in love with this sport and for pushing me and for making me laugh everyday.

So happy Anniversary ladies!! xoxo

She's 10 ( a little late)

This is me NOT winning the parents of the year award.

My baby turned 10 in December and I'm just now getting around to writing this post.

Happy Birthday to my precious Rosebud.

You keep me on my toes everyday.

You are full of life and spirit and one of my greatest teachers.

I love you with all my heart.

She's IN

Congratulations to my girl for being accepted to every university that she applied to.

But most of all...

Congrats to getting in to the school you REALLY wanted to get into.

I love you ans Dad and I are so very proud of you!!

Gone Fishing

Dear Dad,

I sit here thinking about you and am filled with nothing but gratitude and love. 

Thank you for teaching me about fishing, camping, and sling shots, and finding treasures where no one else looks.

Thank you for giving me some of the best childhood memories a girl could want. Those annual trips to Rock Creek for camping are still some of my fondest memories. 

Ice cream cones and Big Macs. Thank you for teaching Ted and me how to replace windows on an old house. For showing us that almost anything can be fixed... not replaced. 

I'm sorry that you never had a relationship with my kids. They really missed out, and so did you. I'm sorry that we were distant these past several years but I'm glad that we were able to have a nice conversation a few times a year to catch up. I know that you did the best that you knew how. We all did. I know that I would change a few things and I know you would too if we had a do over. We don't get a do-over.

 I'm so glad that I got to sit by your side last week. I got to rub your arms and tell you that I love you. I know you already know that but I do. I will miss you. I will carry on and never forget you.

Rest in Peace Dad.

Say Hi to Nana, Papa, Mimi, Grandad and all the others. I know they were happy to see you. Now go find some fishing lures in the streams and fix something. You surely will have a workshop up there filled with lots of stuff for tinkering.

 I love you.

Senior night

Plus a few other things.

The volleyball team has worked very hard this season.

 No seriously.

that's my girl

My girl in the red.

Her kill went right through their hands. It was awesome.

I mean really hard!

Senior Night

Each senior had a poster on the gym wall.

Then the seniors were introduced along with their parents.

Then they played a game. They won.

That's Ari on the right. And her little sister on the left. She is a goofball. I love her.

Ari was about to slap her. I'm sure of it.

I cooked and served the pre-game meal at our house. The girls feel very comfortable here for some reason. They lay around on my furniture and giggle... and fart.

 There was a parent meeting the other night. After a few minutes of VB business, the seniors got up and surprised us parents with hand written letters of appreciation. They read them allowed to all of us.

She tried to read her letter but started to cry.

 

So her trusty friend read it for her.

Ari tried again to read. Again, she cried so Shannon took over.

They really do work their butts off. I swear!!

See?? I told ya

Oh yea!! That's my girl coming down from another kill.

seniors setting a good example as usual.

Birds of a feather flock together.

That about sums up senior night.

He is 12

12 years ago I gave birth to a beautiful bouncing baby boy.

My world changed for the better.

I felt like I had won the lottery that day.

Happy birthday to one of the funniest, sweetest, and most sensitive boys I know.

I love you more every day Alex.

Love Mom.

20 Years

20 years ago I married my one true love.

Three kids, 3 dogs, 5 houses, 7 moves,

5 states and a bunch of adventures later...

I still love you more than the day we got married.

Happy Anniversary to my super sexy husband!!