The Superhero Rides Again...

As a quick follow-up to my recent post about my daughter, Abby, I wanted to take a moment to brag. Abby just completed her first 5k. Let me just give you a bit of background here....neither Tim nor I are runners so she had to pull this one off all by herself. She has been working hard and running with our neighbor, Casey. This was a big milestone for her and Tim & I couldn't have been more proud.

Seeing her come around that corner and cross the finish line was so fulfilling as a parent...it just goes to show "if you dream it, you can achieve it!". Hats off to you Abby! We are, once again, very proud!

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My Daughter the Superhero!

Wow....Today is the last day of Abby's sophomore year in high school. Where has the time gone? I can still picture her getting on the school bus the very first day of school. She was wearing a little red dress with Scottie dogs on it & tiny little patent-leather mary janes. Tim & I gave her a huge hug and she never even looked back. I should have realized that would be a sign of things to come.

Abby has been moving steadfastly forward ever since. She is constantly blowing me away with her positive attitude and easy determination to make all of her dreams happen, seemingly without effort. How does she do it? I only wish I knew. I would love to say is is because Tim & I have been the most loving, supportive, and devoted parents a girl could have but I think it is something much deeper within her.

I have no worries for my fifteen year-old daughter...only daydreams and imaginings of what her life will be like. All things are possible for her and she has done it all on her own. Taking each move to a new city or school in stride, walking onto soccer fields where she doesn't know a soul and quickly make a place for herself, casually making awesome grades at school.
Monday, she starts her orientation for her volunteer position at the Humane Society. She dreams of working with animals perhaps as a wildlife vet at a zoo. If she can dream it, she will do it!!

People talk about famous people that inspire them and help them reach for the stars....I'm inspired by my daughter. If I needed her to, I think she could reach up and pull down a star just for me. Love ya' Abby!

For The Love of Nature

My son, Ty, is an honest-to-goodness nature lover. Right now he is particularly taken with birds. Last fall he begged me to get a bird feeder for the yard...I made this purchase with something less than zeal. He is a typical 5 yr old & his whims swing wildly from moment to moment....day to day but this bird thing has really stuck.

Here we are six months later & he peeks out the window diligently looking for different birds & keeping a sharp eye on the feeder, concerned that the big black grackles are keeping away a small mommy & daddy finch we haven't seen in a bit. He is single-minded in his interest. He will not be swayed. We have borrowed book after book from the library to pour over the pages in hopes of identifying all the feathered friends we spot in the yard.

Yesterday, we went to our local park, Tanglewood, and explored their "nature viewing area". Not much to write home about....a small marshy area with a dozen or more different birdhouses staked out. He was in his glory. Armed with his backpack & his library books, he watched for the birds & tried the to identify them all. After dutifully walking along, Abby was getting itchy to head home and my mention of a lunch at our favorite Chinese restaurant had her walking at an especially brisk pace. When Ty was dragging behind, she yelled back...."Stop looking at those little bugs & hurry up!" He replied, "It's nature Abby!!!!"

It was so great to watch this....I think love & respect for nature is a great gift we can all give to our kids. How wonderful to turn off the tv, go outside and listen to the bees buzzing and the birds chirping. I'm thrilled at his love for all creatures and want to nurture that as best I can. There will be plenty of time for texting and internet and email. Let's get off the grid and enjoy all that Mother Nature has provided for us....right outside our back doors.

A Whole Year...Are You Kidding Me??

Wow...I can't believe a whole year has gone by since I have added to my blog. I always thought I was a Mom who savored the small moments, took time out to have fun & not worry about getting the housework done or the lawn mowed. Those of you who know me well know this is very true. There is always at least three dirty dishes in my sink. I don't care about that....I'd rather sit on the deck & watch Ty and Abby bounce on the trampoline. Those dishes aren't going anywhere.....they will be waiting for me when I come back inside.

That is why I'm so surprised I let a whole year pass without checking in on my blog. I started this when we were making the big move from St Louis to NC and I needed a fun release for all the tension that goes with selling a house & moving across the country. It turned into great fun & I really enjoyed it.....

I want to start again with a fresh outlook....no longer frazzled from the move....no longer looking back at what was & how much we loved St Louis....but looking forward to all the little moments and enjoying each one as it comes....moment to moment....day to day!

The Dirt.

Spring has sprung & summer is around the corner. We are creeping up on our one year anniversary here in NC. I can't believe how the time has flown by. Abby is already dug in with her school work and making the high school soccer team (Go West!!). She completed her soccer referee recertification so now she is on the fields as player & ref. She makes a nice piece of change for a 14 yr old & I'm really proud of her. It takes a lot of spunk to make the calls when all the parents are yelling & the coaches are fumming. She is a rock solid kid & I couldn't ask more of her!!!

Ty is growing like a weed. He is perpetually filty, with holes in the knees of every pair of pants he owns. To sum it up....All Boy!!! I try to keep him all spiffed up with the coolest clothes & sneakers but he always manages to find a puddle, patch of dirt, greasy spot, or other manner of impending grime & dives right in. I love him in spite of the fact that he appears to be a homeless kid 50% of the time. What is a mom to do??? Keep the laundry machine going at full power at all times......that's what a mom does.

A few weeks back, I was out on the back patio & I heard this terrible banging/thumping sound. I ran in the house and was rushing around trying to figure out what the heck was happening. I realized the sound was coming from the laundry room & went I attempted to open the door I realized the washing machine was out of balance and the whole machine was thumping and banging and whaming it's way around the room. I believe it was sick of all those disgusting little kids clothes & decided to make a break for it. I'm not kidding in the slightest here....You know in movies & on TV when the washing machine is coming down the hallway (think Mr. Mom). That is exactly what was happening one fine day at my house!! And people say the life of a stay-at-home mom is dull.....How is that for excitement!!!

Well, the dryer is buzzing....time to fold another load. So long for now....

Santa Rides Again...

Well, Santa has outdone himself once again. Abby & Ty had another wonderful Christmas & I was treated like a queen by my husband. We had gifts o' plenty. We were missing our family though. Every year we travel to NY to be with all manner of relatives, hauling suitcases & gifts through airports or fighting the traffic on the I-495 beltway around DC. This year we opted to stay here, at our new home in NC. It was very relaxing spending a leisurely morning opening presents in our pjs and having a late breakfast still wearing our slippers.

No dinners to rush off to, no schedule to keep. We were going nowhere and had all day to get there. It was a nice change of pace. Unfortunately for Tim, a bit of duty called & he had to run to the hotel for a while in the afternoon to manage some minor disaster but it wasn't too bad.

Ty was overwhelmed by all the gifts including a shiny new bicycle from Santa! He is already an expert at whizzing down the hill in front of our house & I'm sure he will have those training wheels off by springtime. Abby got lots of clothes & gadgets befitting a teenager and was very happy with everything. Santa brought Tim some camping equipment that he can use when he goes off to his BBQ comptetitions this spring & I was treated royally to everything I put on my wish list and more!!!

This seems like a great time to count all of our blessing and remember how fortunate we all are for our families, our friends and all the trappings of the good life. Happy New Year!!!!