Isn't she beautiful?

How beautiful. I know that I am biased... I know that as a mother you are REQUIRED to think your child is beautiful. But ... all that aside.... I think she is BEAUTIFUL.

Earlier in the week Emily decided she wanted to go to the 7th grade dance. She had been on the fence prior to that. She said she had to figure out who was going. She didn't want to go and stand around...so the "right" group of friends had to be going. You know, the group of friends who are NOT all hung up on having a date or with any certain guy..... after all....they are 13.... too young for all that drama. The group of friends who would just go to dance, hang out and have FUN. The group of friends who would dress cute...appropriately for 7th grade.... and would dance and not worry about who watched them jump around and sing loudly...off key.

.....

Once she decided she wanted to go to the dance... we went shopping. We ran into several girls from her school.... trying on "PROM DRESSES" ..... dresses that they would look RIDICULOUS in.... dresses that I would not let Emily wear if she were a Senior and was going to the prom....

I digress.

She found a very pretty, age appropriate and very flattering dress.

We curled her hair and put on just a "touch" of makeup....

AND SHE IS BEAUTIFUL!!!!

And Emily had a GREAT TIME. She danced, sang off-key, and came home exhausted.....

Another right of passage......

Things that made me smile...TODAY

Today was a typical Monday. As typical as Mondays ever are. I never want to get up and get motivated on a rainy, gloomy Monday morning..... but.... I do....
Mondays are tough at the ole' elementary school. The children come in droves to the nurse's office..... nobody is really sick...but none of them feel well. It is a Monday.

That is why a smile and a giggle on a Monday is so WONDERFUL.
Here is just of the highlights..... from my Monday:

1. Jake asked me to wake him up early this morning..... (at 5:45 instead of 7:00). I didn't ask why- but I woke him up early.... when I went to check up on him.... he was sitting in bed reading his new book..... That is why he wanted to get up early--to read..

That made me smile :)

2. I stopped at the gas station and treated myself to an extreme CAFFEINE coffee this morning(I never drink coffee-but gave up soda for lent: so I am craving caffeine)

That made me smile :)

3. A kindergartner at my school introduced me to her mom today....she told her mom I am the lady who makes her feel better when her mommy can't be at school with her.....and she gets sick or hurt or even sad....

That made me smile :)

4. My friend Sara came to my office.... entering the room like KRAMER. Sharing stories,giggles,and comments (often made in unison and followed by a roll of the eyes)...

That made me smile :)

5. Jake called me on my way home from work. He thinks I should re-think my parenting skills..... He reminded me that I packed FUDGE BROWNIES in his lunchbox..... and that this would not be a problem...except for that he gave up chocolate for LENT...."nice mom....real nice"

That made me smile :)

6. Emily hung out with me in the kitchen while I made dinner.... she and I danced around and acted silly while we waited for the water to boil.....then she snuck pasta behind my back...thinking I didn't notice...

That made me smile :)

7. Rowdy washed the dishes after dinner so that I could go finish writing thank-you cards.

That made me smile :)

8. Emily and Jake can't get enough of the new pencil sharpener I bought. There is somethingabout a NEW, freshly Sharpened #2 pencil

That made me smile :)

9. I am sitting here blogging....remembering all the things about today that made me smile...

That made me smile :)

Nothing compairs to Family and Friends

We all talk about how important family is. We all speak about our friendships and what they mean to us. WE genuinely mean those things that we say....but I think that we FEEL them the most when we are suffering from a loss or disappointments.

This past week was very difficult. I had to accept the separation from a very important person in my life. I say separation...because I am a person of faith ....and I do not believe she is lost....I believe we will reunite again .....we are just separated from one another. One day we will be together again in Heaven..... (God willing).

My family was so wonderful. We gathered together and held each other up when we felt we could not stand any longer. We remembered stories of our lives....stories about Grandma...stories that made us cry....stories that made us LAUGH. That is when you feel family the most.

My friends are THE BEST. They offered prayers,mementos, arms around my neck and shoulders to cry upon. I know that people get hung up on getting too "mushy" ...but I don't. I love these girls that I call my friends.
They make everything OK...even when it isn't ! They know what I am thinking and feeling...even when I am not honest about it.....they are so special.... I hope they know how much they mean to me.

Thank you.

Bunches and Bunches

You will never know how many lives you have touched.
(because the numbers are too great)

You will never know how much you will be missed .

(because we will miss you so deeply)

You will never know how very much you are loved.

(although we hope you felt it)

Beloved wife of One,
Loving mother of Two

Grandmother of Eighteen

Great-Grandmother of Twenty-five

Great-Great Grandmother of Three

Friend of many.

May God bless you and keep you forever in his light.

I Love you...Bunches and Bunches

Snow Day Fun !

This is what Jake does on a snow day. He was so excited that we had a snow day...and that we actually had snow.... enough to sled and snowboard. The snow is really dry and powdery, and not as deep as he would have liked. But it is snow.

After putting on many layers of clothing (enough so that he resembled the Michelin man) he headed out with snowboard in hand. He had so much fun. It was about 14below with the windchill..... but he had fun. And that is what snowdays are all about.... at least for Jake!

Love my friends.

I am sitting here all snuggled up in my bed with my new(Rowdy's old) laptop on my lap. I had a really long day at school. I think the kids felt the snow coming.... I saw 65 children in the nurse's office today. Everyone was sick, or just sick of being at school. I was drained. And then I spent a little time after school with my friends. (One of the foursome is still on maternity leave...and she is missed). I love the laughter we share together!!! I love that we can be ourselves...no matter how bizzare, stupid and ridiculous that may be. I know that no matter what I say to these women....they will laugh WITH me...and maybe laugh AT me..... and they will love me for who I am. And I feel the exact same about them. We all have quirks, and oddities.... but it is
awesome...because ...those oddities and quirks are what make us SO MUCH FUN.

SO to my very best friends in this world (except my wonderful hubby and children)...
THANKS ....for being.... you and letting me be...me.

You make work....ALMOST fun!