A Little Gift

Sometimes gifts come in packages you can't see, can't put your hands on, and are so small you wonder if it's really a gift at all. David and I got one of these gifts on Saturday. It was a returned Christmas card, the only one we got back this year.

As much as I love sending Christmas cards, receiving them is even better. The kids and I watch for the mailman, fight over who's to open each envelope, and then hang them on our card trees. David even goes to the trees first thing when he gets home to see who we heard from that day.

Saturday night, we met up at our favorite pizza place and were talking about the day and of course, I wanted to know if we got any cards. That's when David told me that we got one returned from his high school friend Donny. I wasn't surprised since we hadn't been able to get a hold of them when we were in Michigan, but I wanted to send the card anyway.

For a brief minute or two, we talked about the Lintons and both silently wondered where they had ended up since we last talked. Minutes later, amongst the chaos of the kids, David's phone rang. It was another old high school friend who delivered the news that Donny had been killed in a car accident that morning. It was unbelievable. We were literally talking about him moments before.

As much as I wish that card would have made it there, the "return to sender" gave us those few thoughts of our friend, alive, and enjoying the holiday with his family somewhere. We'll never have those thoughts again.

When we got home that night, I could hardly face that red envelope on the desk. It was a reminder of being too late to get in touch with someone that was important. Then I realized that if it had made it there, it just would have been one of one hundred cards I sent, its' recipient crossed off the list.

So in honor of David's friend Donny Linton, gone at age 40..... get in touch with those friends that you keep meaning to call , send a card to someone you haven't heard from in a while, and appreciate life's littlest gifts.

Rest in heavenly peace Friend.

A Very Happy Soul...Frosty that is.

Camryn entertained us at her very first recital in a jazzy little number to "Frosty the Snowman". There are eight three year olds in her class and each one loved every minute of being on stage. I'm amazed at their lack of stage fright and pure joy in performing. This is considered a "demonstration" at her dance school and preps the girls for their big ballet in May, Cinderella. I just can't wait. Waiting back stage for their"costumes".

Concentrating so hard to stay on that star and plie at the same time.

"A jolly happy soul..."

" He came to life one day....."

(look at that form)

"Thumpity, thump, thump...."

"Over the fields of snow..."

I think we're done now.

Yep, we're done.

Aidan being a supportive brother.

Here she is.

The star of the show (ours anyway).

Just say "Yes"

"Mommy, they're the same shade as you" said Camryn. We were sitting on the kitchen floor, sink full of dishes, pile of dirt next to the broom, laundry piled on the counter. I had used every form of "no" you imagine that morning (without actually saying N-O). "In a minute", "Just let me finish this", "I've got to get this done", "Mommies has too much to do right now", "I need to fold this before it wrinkles".

And here she comes again with the nail polish. I love that about kids. They don't give up.

"Mommy will you paint my toes?" Elbow deep in dish water, I just didn't have the energy to explain why I couldn't, so I just said "YES, I'd love to paint your toes!".

I don't know why, but I've said "Yes" to every little request since. Sometimes it was something so quick, like snapping Barbie's dress, or pushing play on her princess CD. Other times, it took a couple of minutes...holding her hand through the scary part of Snow White, making her a glass of chocolate milk, drawing a self portrait in crayon.

What's crazy is, I think I spent more time telling my three year old why I couldn't, than I did "doing". I still managed to get tons done and I felt happier.

We all need to put our kids at the top of the "to-do" list. Sit down and share their after school snack, color with them, watch their favorite show, let them help cook dinner. These are the things they'll remember. They won't remember a clean house, they won't know their clothes aren't wrinkled, and they won't care if your pedicure is perfect.

When Camryn's nails were done, they were the same shade as me. But really, I was the same shade as her. Why does it take a toddler to bring us back to our true color? How did I get so caught up in thinking "perfect things" were more important than "perfect moments"?

So my new motto is "If you want to see me, stop over anytime. If you want to see my house, give me a couple days notice". In the meantime, I'll be hugging my kids and saying "yes, there's nothing I'd like to do more".

One Thing Leads to Another

Sometimes life is just a chain of events that that gets longer and longer until it wraps around your ankles and you end up face first on the ground. Welcome to my excuse.

This is how I found my way back here after all this time.

Thanksgiving is fast approaching and my Dad is coming from Michigan to spend it with us. I need to have my house decorated for the holidays by "Black Friday". Our attic storage is off of the guest room where my Dad will set up shop on Friday, so this weekend I decided to get out the boxes of stuff to deck the halls and get it all out before my Dad comes. How would I get it done otherwise? Last year all things came together nicely. My creative juices were flowing. This year I felt stuck in the mud and overwhelmed by all the garlands, lights and baubles. I decided to use a cheat sheet and look at pictures from last year and just copy, at least for now. That would be easy because surely I showed off my hard work on blog last Christmas. I logged onto my blog, blew away the cobwebs and intended to skip right to December 2008, make some notes, and run downstairs to re-create.

Then the music started. Man, I love my music. I spent as much time searching for songs as I did on my writing. Every song has a meaning , a memory, an effect on me. I was suddenly in no hurry to go anywhere. I started scrolling and instead of scrolling, I stopped.... and read. An hour later (and a few tissues), I realized something.

I had made a conscious decision to stop blogging when I did. It didn't seem like my family in Michigan was really logging on very much, I wasn't so enthused to keep it "real" anymore, and..... it took time.

Yesterday, I knew that every minute I spent was worth it. Reading back through, it was so clear that I wrote every sentence for me .... from my heart. Every quote by Aidan, every silly thing Camryn did, every commentary on current events, brought me right back there. The weeks I didn't blog still were lived, but I can't get them back in the same high definition. I couldn't get logged in quick enough to capture as much of my life as possible.

So maybe I will be the only one who ever bothers to read what I have to say. There might not be so many picture stories either. It was the words that held me, like secret little notes passed between friends.

So that brings me to this. I never found any pictures of my decor from last year, but my search lead me back to my blog ( which will definitely have a post titled "Holiday Decor 2009). Happy reading...to me, from me.

Random Acts of August

Boosterthon Fun Run...Thanks to all who pledged!

Train of friends.

Dancin' at the "Stokin' the Fires BBQ and Music Festival.

Chillin' and listening to music at "Stokin' ".

The Sloss Furnace National Historic Site in B'ham, AL.

Diggin' in the Sloss dirt pile.

Trying on her dress for Grace and Ethan's wedding.

First day of Ballet.

First day of second grade.

Loving each other.

America's Next Top Model Obsessed

A direct result of watching ANTM Obsessed marathon today while house cleaning. This is a close copy of one of the make-up jobs. This is all her frames. Watch for her on the cover of Three Magazine or maybe Toddler Vogue.

"Lovin' summer, happened so fast."

My Sister,Cindy, and I enjoying the lake at her house.


Camryn and my Cousin Robert resting on the boat.

Aidan's beautiful hair blowing in the wind on Lake Huron.... This morning at camp, all smiles!!

It's hard to believe it's been a month since my last post.

Last ummer seemed to drag on endlessly, and this year I barely have time to breath. We made it to Michigan and back, had friends visit from Cleveland, and (drum roll please..... cut off Aidan's hair). For the record, it was all his doing, his idea, his triumph when I finally gave in and said yes. I really didn't think he would do it when it came right down to it. He did, and I long for it back every day. He looks so grown up. Which brings me to today. Aidan left for camp this morning. What kind of mother sends her 7 year old off to camp? The kind who thought we'd all need a break by now. The truth is, I wanted to stay and enjoy camp with him. It looks like so much fun. He didn't shed a tear, barely had time to hug us good-bye. I'm not sure what to worry about for the next four days. I have two hands and only one child. Maybe my house will finally be a little cleaner. Probably not. I usually wait for the next rainy day, and the pool is calling today. I think I'm just going to take a deep breath and enjoy only having to put sunscreen on one child. Oh gosh, I hope someone reminds Aidan to wear sunscreen!

Quick Thoughts

If I have any regular followers, I'm sorry I've been AWOL lately. Life has been being lived and I've just not taken time out to reflect. So we're leaving tomorrow for two weeks and I have a few things on my mind, some thoughts I need release. Here they are in no particular order.

I'm feeling at peace for our neighbor who lost his painful battle with brain cancer last night and sadness for his family and Auburn University where he was a beloved swim coach.

I'm amazed my little Camryn is swimming like a fish and I'm not exaggerating! Jumping into deep water, surfacing, and swimming to the side where she starts all over again. That girl is wearing me (and my bathing suits) out.

I'm glad the "road rash" on Aidan's face has almost completely disappeared. It was downright gruesome at it's worst. I can actually look him in the eyes without crying now.

I'm now looking forward to two days in the car with the family. As much as I've complained, I realized we haven't had a family meal since David's company filed bankruptcy. It'll be nice to reconnect. I'll probably take this all back before we're through Atlanta, but right now I'm hopeful.

I'm proud to live in a city on a "best" list. We know we love it, now other people can see why.

I can't wait to be with my big family all at once. They fill me with so much love, crack me up like no others, and rejuvenate my spirit. They are what I miss about Michigan. They are "home".

I'm not scared about David's job security. What happens, happens. We'll just roll with it.

I'm thankful to all the people I interact with everyday, that make me smile, make my kids happy, are apart of our lives here in Auburn. We'll miss you while we're gone.

Happy Summer!!

First and Last

The picture on the left was taken this morning, Aidan's last day of First grade. The picture on the right was taken on the first day of school. I thought he'd look so much different. He IS so much different. I'm not even sure how much he's grown in inches, but I know he's grown much bigger on the inside. I really wanted something tangible, something I could see with my own two eyes. I guess I'll have to be happy with the worn tennis shoes that I know are too small now and were too big in the fall, the tired eyes today that were bright with anticipation at the beginning of the year, and the changes in my decor that show that time has passed and life has changed.

Aidan breezed through first grade, loved his teacher, and worked extra hard to keep his brain active. I pushed for harder curriculum, but had to settle for extra work due to testing requirements. Many afternoons when Aidan's friends were out playing, he was sitting inside still doing homework. He never complained about the additional harder work, but gave me heck about the easy stuff. He loves to be challenged. David and I had to stop ourselves from expecting perfection and embrace the fact that he is only seven. What I hope he left first grade with, is not all things perfect, but the love of learning that he has always had. Boredom can be a very defeating monster, but with the help of his teacher, I hope we kept it at bay.

This summer will be about rejuvenating. I pledged myself to my kids and making them happy. No schedules. We are traveling a lot, Aidan is going away to camp, and we're having visitors too, but in between, we're going to be lazy!! I've got to get that sparkle back in Aidan's eye before school starts again. August will be here before we know it.

Happy Summer everyone!! IT BEGINS NOW... if you live in Auburn, AL that is.

You are My Sunshine

Every Wednesday morning since August of 2008, Camryn and I have been working our way toward last night, her very first recital.

I say "Camryn and I", because it was a "mommy and me" class, meaning that I was also in the recital along with the other Moms. We were more like animal trainers on stage, just prompting and poking to get the little two year girls going in the right direction. I have no idea how cute they were. It was over in flash. Every minute spent preparing, was worth sharing this experience with my daughter and she loved every minute of it. In reality, it was worth it to see her in her costume feeling like a real ballerina, literally walking on her toes from the minute she put it on . The performance was just icing on the cake.


Backstage , waiting for their turn in the spotlight.


My first "bun", a requirement for all ballet students.

Lining up to head to the stage.

The anticipation is too much.

Waiting for their curtain call, all pressure off.

Bonding with her dance buddies.

Cracking herself up!

Making silly faces.

Making Libby's face silly.

Getting flowers from Aidan.

Aidan was so proud of her!

Or maybe he just wanted some attention.

She couldn't wait to see her Daddy after the show. And yes she waved from the stage!!

Do I look tired?? My eyes were so bloodshot from the backstage hairspray, that the "red eye" fix on the computer turned them blue. That's what happens when you're in a room with forty girls under the age of six. I think I better get used to this. I danced until I was fourteen. Thanks Mom! Now I know what you went through and I know how much you loved it.

Life is Beautiful

Dancin' her toes off!

Our little fairy princess.... It's hard to believe she'll be three next week.

Today she was my sunshine!