Another year's gone by . . .

Ian,

I couldn't let this day go by without acknowledging how special you are to me. Today, you turned 11. Wow. It's hard to believe you've been in my life that long! I still vividly remember when you were in the womb. At the time I was teaching, and the kids would laugh because they could see my stomach roll as you moved around in there. I remember first meeting you. How happy I was that you were finally here and we could begin our life as a family.

Over this last year, you've grown so much. It's sometimes hard to see the little boy that you once were. And, in a way, I'm sad you're not that little boy anymore. Each year that goes by is one year closer to when you'll leave home, start out on your life's journey on your own . . . and I don't want to let you go.

Thankfully, you're still cool with me hugging on you. I know that will probably become "uncool" one of these days here, but for now, I get in hugs when I can. I was shocked when you let me hug on you this morning at church at the end of VBS . . . wow, hugging in public!

Your elementary school years are behind you. You learned so much and matured. We end up laughing about how you started kindergarten as this sensitive kid who had to be consoled and all that we did to figure out how to get your emotions in check. The last several years have been so much better . . . then we ended up back at that point again sometime over this last school year. Along with most of the other boy's parents. I had no clue that the hormone change brought that out in boys. But you seem to take it more in stride, work through things faster.

You continue to amaze us. You do so many things that are unexpected. You recently took the exam to skip 6th grade math. When getting you ready for it, we discovered the only thing you didn't already know from the 6th grade math TEKS was how to find circumference! I told you the equation once, and it was solid in your mind. You were insulted that I'd quiz you on it again later . . .as if you might've possibly forgotten it.

I know it's sometimes hard for you as the oldest kid and the only boy. We probably expect more from you than we should, and sometimes you've gotta feel like the odd man out. But, for the most part, you still take it all in stride. I hope that in time, you will be able to see that there is a lot to be said for having sisters! I hope that you'll be able to look past what you think is annoying (I know you hate it when Alaina uses your full name), and see that having a good, solid relationship with your sisters will add so much to your life. You still treat them tenderly a lot of the time, and for that, I'm grateful. I won't soon forget how you tried to comfort Allison when we announced our surprise Disney trip (Oh, how bad that plan went astray!). She announced her worries, and you instantly said "Don't worry, they're just joking." (tehehe . . . only we really weren't!)

Over the last year, we've seen big changes in our family. And with each change, you have shown what great character you have. Uncle Chris and Aunt Brooke decided to start fostering kids, and you announced that you couldn't wait to meet all these new children that would come into our lives. We learned of Aunt Elaine's cancer diagnosis, and you began to pray for her and expressed concern for how she was doing. It makes my heart glad that you can see past yourself into what matters to those around you.

Now, as you're on the cusp of starting middle school, the Mom worry seems to be going into overdrive. I worry that you'll have a hard time finding your way, not around the building. . . I know that won't be a problem. But finding your way through that weird social scene that is middle school. I worry that the fact that you are so much younger than other kids will be detrimental to you. That you will become lost. I worry that I haven't equipped you well enough as to how to make new friends, how to deal with people you don't agree with (in regards to their behavior). When I was up at the school the past spring eating lunch with you, several of the boys at the table expresses the worries they had about middle school. I was able to calm some fears (no, you won't have a locker next to an 8th grader!). What you won't realize for so many years, as I know I didn't until the last few years, your mom probably has as many worries and fears about middle school as you do! Hopefully, we'll figure out a way to maneuver through these next few years as a team. With the end goal being a happy kid and good memories of your middle school years.

I will be praying for you. For you to make it through these difficult years with dignity . . . and happiness . . . and courage. All the while still having that kind spirit that we have come to recognize as being such of integral part of who you are.

Ian, my son, thank you for being such a wonderful part of our lives. For teaching us so much and giving us so much joy.

I Love you Ian.

Many hugs and much love,

Mom

{sigh} Middle school

I can't believe Ian's headed for middle school in the fall! I remember holding him in my arms, him learning to crawl, his little boy birthday parties. {sigh} I'm going to make myself cry!

Last night, we went to the middle school for band instrument selection. Four different band personnel asked him what he came in wanting to play. He told each of them that he "didn't know. He came to figure out which instrument he could do the best and thought he'd enjoy." tehehe . . . not sure how much they heard that! Every one we know went in saying there was something specific they wanted. Think the only person that didn't surprise is the band instructor (not at our school) who happens to go to church with us. Guessing he's used to hearing the stuff that comes out of Ian. He tested Ian in brass instruments and said he did a great job with the baritone. The woodwinds guy kept trying to convince Ian to play the FLUTE! (@@) The percussion guy said he'd do well with that. In the end, his first choice was the baritone. So that's what he'll be playing next year.

Tonight, we went to the registration meeting for classes next year. Looks like we'll be able to get him tested for possible placement in 8th grade math for the fall. Depends on how he does with it. Would be nice, as math has always been something he's been so advanced in. That'll be a multi-test affair .. . first they'll check passage of the 6th grade material, then they'll test him on the 7th grade material. We won't know about placement until school starts in the fall . . . or perhaps next spring.

Sweet and Sassy

Sounds like my descriptions of my 2 girls. Sweet, yet oh so sassy sometimes. However, this is actually the name of a new party place/hair "salon" (I have a hard time calling something for kids a "salon"). Allison went 3 days in a row, Alaina did 2 of 3 days. Andy took the girls over to have their haircuts on Friday (they did a good job). Allison went to a birthday party on Saturday, then I took the girls to browse while Ian was getting his hair cut on Sunday.

You gotta understand this place . . . it's $450 to have a party (up to 30 girls. . . .what a bargain) where you do hair, have a facial mask, sing karoake, and have cake/open gifts. The girls had a great time, just not in my party $ league!

The place has a pink limo . . . a hot pink limo. A $125 per hour hot pink limo. I walked into the store Sunday, looked around and someone came up to me and asked if I was waiting for the limo. I'm thinking, "WHY would I be waiting for the $125 limo?" and responded no. At that point she explained they were doing free limo rides around the block and doing some drawings. The girls were THRILLED to be in the hot pink limo. Guessing we won no drawing. Oh well.

Allison's Brownie troop has "Brownie Bear" She gets to stay with you from the time you host a meeting until the next meeting time. You're supposed to get your picture with Brownie somewhere different and the girls have to guess where you're at. I was having a hard time figuring out what we were going to do. Our days consist of soccer and dance! I sent Andy home for Brownie and my camera. . . got the Sweet and Sassy girls to let me slip her back into the limo and took this:



Then this one to show if no one guesses:

February 2

I thought I'd have 3 sets of pictures to take today. . . .it snowed in the middle of the night. Nice, almost complete blanket of snow (still had some grass poking through). The kids still had school . . . .figures! They get to play in the ice, but the day it snows, it's mostly melted before they get home from school.



And it's groundhog day. Allison came home and informed me that Phil says we'll have an early spring. Has he checked out the weather here???? Each year, I've planned on taking pictures of one or more of the kids checking out their shadows. I remembered this year, there was snow. . . figured there'd be a great picture opportunity with Alaina. Results . . .not so great. The kids have been passing around some stomach virus and Alaina. . . she was a little green around the gills and NOT her usual social self.



Which leads to the 3rd set of pictures I'd thought would get taken today. Allison was supposed to dance at the basketball game this evening with the high school drill team. I took Allison and Isabel (my neice), got them all squared away with their drill team buddy (btw, the daughter of the teacher Ian had in second grade) and went up to the stands with some other parents from church. About 15 minutes into the game, I'm hunted down . . . .Allison's sick too. {sigh} Take her home, deposit her with Andy, then back to get Isabel . . .missed her dancing by about a minute. Sigh.

My favorite Youtube offering

I know that this has made the rounds among most of the people I went to college with. . . but had to post it anyway. Heck, I figured out how to post youtube in my blog, which is in itself a feat!

I know, I know . . .

Not like anyone is STILL checking in, but there are just things I want to record, to remember. Today . . .today it's snowing. Again. More than usual for DFW. Allison informs me that this is the fourth time it has "snowed" this winter. I'm actually surprised it's still snowing, as it went from rain to sleet to snow in 15 minutes' time.

I remember being so thrilled whenever it snowed when I was growing up. I remember the ice storm we had in the Dallas area when I was growing up. Details. . . such as the year, month, etc . . . escaped me. I went looking online. You can look at the ice storm of 1978 at this site and see some video of it. I remember getting on the old white rain boots . . . you know, the kind you put on over your shoes, and going out to play. We kids just didn't get the idea of how much you could hurt yourself playing on ice. I went "ice skating" on the neighbor's circle drive and fell something horrible. . . I'm surprised I didn't break anything!

Now. . . not so thrilled with the weather. . .I hate it hot, I hate it cold. I like me some 75-90 degree days. So, today, I sent the kids out to play and stepped outside to snap some pictures. So here are a couple shots of the kids. . . didn't get a single of Ian, he's hitting that "too cool" stage for a lot of things. I had a hard enough time getting a picture of the 3 of them. Hmmm . . . funny, Mom and Dad have a photo of us in 1978 . . . .my brother's 10, I'm 7, my sister would've been about 2.5. I'll have to find a copy of that one and scan for a side-by-side comparison.

I will be posting pictures from Oct-Jan below this post .. . you know, trying to get caught up.

How things have changed

Over the last 2 months, my sister-in-law Elaine has been diagnosed with a rare liver cancer. She's now fighting it towards remission. She's on her second round of chemo. . . and you'd never have any idea she wasn't 100% healthy. She's determined, she's stubborn, and she has an amazing will to live. And there are prayers . . . lots of prayers . . . .being said for her.

New purchases

I have some shots of recent purchases I specifically took to share on my blog.

Most favorite recent purchase:

I LOVE this purse . . . I may never use another one! I purchased it at snaptotes for myself before Christmas. The pictures were taken November 2005 (outdoors shot) and December 2006. And the inside is HOT PINK! Love it!

Most expensive recent purchase:

I'd love to say I bought a new car, or a house, or something spectacular. . . but no, my most expensive recent purchase is nothing spectacular. We recently paid for invisalign braces. There are some studies that indicate that dental problems can cause migraine headaches. After seeing 2 dentists that said I had both a bite that needed fixed and a maloccusioned (if that's a word!) tooth, we decided to give this a chance with hopes that this would at least lessen the amount of migraine meds I have to take on an all too regular basis. Look closely . . .this set is only on my lower teeth. I can also use these trays as bleaching trays . . . so I'm looking forward to having an upper and lower set at the same time to do that . . .. hate my yellow teeth!

Most utilitarian recent purchase:

To further aid in the above treatments . . . I bought a gross of pre-pasted, one use toothbrushes to carry in my purse, and something called the aqualizer to further help with the migraines. I pop this thing in my mouth when a migraine starts and within a few minutes, the migraine's gone. Unfortunately, this doesn't seem to work when I have a full-fledged migraine. The toothbrushes . . . you've never seen kids so excited about toothbrushes as my kids were about these toothbrushes! tehehe

Most recent purchase for the purposes of organizing:

I'm trying to get all my thousands of photos organized with Stacy Julian's Library of Memories method. With as many pictures as I have, I needed CHEAP 3 up albums to help me organize photos. Found these at Target for $8.99 per 2 pack. Not the most beautiful albums ever, but do feel like they'll suit my purposes here. I bought 6 sets of them.

Not such a new purchase, but love it the same:

Thought I'd post a picture of some of the albums I've finished from my friend Terri's store. . . Simply Scrapbooks. I love her album classes! I bought some baskets to store/showcase some of the albums I've completed.

What's happened over the last several months?

Just a quick photo tour through the last several months:

Ian (and well, the rest of us) went to the book signing for The End, the last Lemony Snicket book. "Lemony" is a stitch . . .we enjoyed hearing what he told people as he was signing books. He suggested running away to the kid in front of us. To Ian, he told him he survived life. tehehe . . .it was funny in context. Then, of course, he told him what it would take to survive life. . . watch out when you cross the road, eat well, don't talk to strangers. . . at which point, he said an abrupt "Goodbye" . . . as LS was a stranger.

I mentioned the end of soccer season in a previous post. . . . it's about to start up again. Andy will be the coaches for both the girls' teams. EEK . . .not sure how that's going to work out!

I took pictures for our Christmas card. I wasn't just thrilled with the results. Had I had more time, I would've done a few things diferently. But still thought they turned out fairly well.

We spent Christmas Eve at our house . . .as usual. Mimi and Dad-Dad (my parents), Aunt Brooke and Uncle Chris (my sister and bil), and Erin and Dave (Erin has spent most Christmas Eves with us since 1999) all came to share the evening with us.

Christmas morning was spent opening gifts at our house and eating breakfast, then moving to Mom and Dad's house for lunch (and an appetizer dinner) and more gift giving.

My birthday . . . January 13 . . . we went out to lunch with all of my family at Texas Land and Cattle to celebrate both my birthday and my brother's (whose birthday is January 14). Tehehe . . .ended up with a lot of "flat gifts" . . . ie. . . money and gift cards. Means I've got some shopping to do! Mom and Dad did give me this star filter I've been wanting. Took pictures of my family room light for samples. Photos are without the filter than with the filter.

Then we had our first "bad weather" of 2007 on January 17th. I couldn't believe that they canceled school for the day. A late start would've worked fine. Instead, the kids stayed home and played in the ice (see Feb. 1 post on my ice playing memories!). I found it very funny that the kids were scraping the streets with a shovel trying to get something out. And the girls attempted snow angels on the ice . . .. needless to say, it didn't work.

We had a celebration to commemorate the fact that our school is a 2006 No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon school. They shared photos and stories from their trip to DC with us.

Just a few quick snapshots of what we've been doing.

ROFL . . . Remembering October

So laughing. I had such good intentions when I posted Remember October 2006. Going through photos right now, I couldn't figure out why I had some of the strangest photos for that month. ROFL . . . guess I know why now. Not sure if I got photos for each day, but KNOW I didn't journal for each day. Hey, today's Feb. 1, I've already taken pictures . . . maybe I'll try again!