Touching and Beautiful

The mom of one of #1's classmates died a few weeks ago. Last Tuesday the 5th graders had a beautiful tribute to her and her two sons at our school playground. She has a son that is in 5th grade and one that is in 7th grade. Both of the boys attended our school through all of the grades (K-6).

The 5th grade kids worked on digging a hole on Monday and Tuesday during recess and then on Tuesday night during the memorial, they planted a tree on the school playground. We go to a relatively small school where there are only two 5th grade classes. It appeared that 90% of the 5th grade kids/parents made it to the memorial.

After the tree was planted, kids and parents took turns reading beautiful poems and sharing wonderful memories about the mom and the two kids. Our friend Sara was there with her guitar and we sang beautiful songs. All of the 5th grade kids made a book for their classmate and presented it to him since he will be going to live with is dad and not going to our school any longer.

The service ended with an incredible few rounds of 'You are My Sunshine' where everyone was wrapped in a circle of love and there were no dry eyes anywhere around.

How beautiful and touching. The sky was incredible and the friendship and love were unbelievable.

Bath Tub Quotes

I was helping #4 in the bath tonight. He was mad at me because he didn't want to take a bath and for many other things that I don't even know I did.

Based on what he was saying to me, I think he thought he was getting even with me. Here are some of the things he said to me in his most pouty, put out, grumpy, gripey voice.

1. Life isn't short.

2. I am NOT close to being a parent.

3. Life ISN'T good.

Guess I must say the opposite of those things pretty often. ha ha.

136 and Still Going Strong

Tonight I went with my Throw Down girls for a little beginning of the week card playing. We play our old standard card game - HECK - and we eat, drink and chew the fat.

We have all kind of found each other in a very organic way. We all have kids (or grandkids) that are the same age and play on a soccer team. Over the past few seasons, we have kind of migrated towards each other. We enjoy each other's company. There are no limits as to what we can talk about or bring to the table. We can drink too much, cry too much, gossip too much, laugh the whole time and at the end of the night all walk away with a warm calm feeling inside.

These ladies make me smile. They remind me of life's simple pleasure.

So tonight after my gold medal ball game, I dropped JC and the kids at home and went to Joanie's house to throw some cards. As always, I was greeted with warm hugs and a safe forum to share whatever was on my mind. Not long after being there, Ruth walks out with a beautiful surprise.

She had gotten a beautiful delicious birthday cake to celebrate our November birthdays. I am overwhelmed with the generosity of these women. I can't remember the last time I had birthday cake with my name on it. And to be sung to and celebrated and waited on like a queen - and by my good friends, it just doesn't get any better.

You'll notice the terms of endearment that were put on the bottom of the cake...sometimes when the drinks are flowing (or not) we get a little rowdy and use a few choice words! Ruth didn't have the nerve to ask the cake gals at the Costco to write it, so she bought some icing and did it herself.

I am so blessed and so thankful.

P.S. Liz and Sarah - we missed you!!! We've saved lots of cake for you both to eat next week! So get ready you bitches and whores - I'll be way less emotional next week and will be really ready to take you on!!!

Gold Medal Moments

JC has been playing softball on a co-ed team this fall. It is so much fun to go and watch and I am proud that the kids get to see him do something that he enjoys.

Tonite, we all loaded in the car to go and watch his last game of the season. We were all very excited. It is fun for the kids and me to cheer on the one we love.

Well, sure enough, we get to the ballfield, and his team is down a woman and cannot play if they don't have someone fill in. So they asked me. I said yes in an akward sort of way and then just kinda thought it must be a joke. The team is warming up and getting ready to start the game and his team manager pulls some tennis shoes out of her bag and kinda says, 'here, see if these fit'. Oh, I guess they are serious. Ok - I CAN DO THIS!!!

They put me at the end of the batting line-up. And somehow my turn actually came up. At this point I am still in disbelief that this is actually happening. I get up to the mound, not really sure how to hold the bat and definately haven't given any thought to how I might react if I actually hit it!

Low and behold, the first pitch was thrown and I hit that ball. HOLY COW!!! I actually hit the ball. UNBELIEVABLE!!! I can hear the people cheering for me. I am running as fast as I can and I make it to first. WHOA!!! Did that just happen??? Needless to say, I got out on third.

Well, my turn to bat came up two more times. Each time I was able to hit the ball. What a wonderful triumphant moment. I did it! I put my mind to it and I did it. I never actually scored, but I tried my hardest and didn't look like a weenie out there!

For me, hitting the ball, hearing the cheering and running as hard as I could was almost like being Marion Jones, Mary Lou Retton or Dorothy Hamill.

The very very best gold medal moment was getting in the car and hearing all four of my kids saying how proud they were of me and telling me that they thought I did a great job. :)

A Friend In Need...

...is a friend indeed!

Today was a pretty crummy day for me. I was in a pretty bad place this morning and needed someone to talk to. I called JC and we talked and I calmed down. Then I called my Heather.

Man-o-man, do I miss my BFF Heather.

Even though she is a million miles away and 7 hours ahead of me, we were still able to connect on that spiritual level where we can be raw and real. She listened while I talked on and on and on. Then, she talked. She was in the trenches with me while I tried to work through my feeling. She was fighting with me and for me. She held my hand and my heart at the same time and helped me to remember that I am not alone. She reminded me of my good qualities, and helped me work through the burden that I was holding. There is nothing more important than a best friend. The love that I feel for this woman is overwhelming. Who could know that 20 years later we could still have this beautiful real friendship and love for each other. I am so blessed. And I am so thankful.

She is home for me.

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

This morning we were hiking around Pedernales Falls State Park when Grace screams there's a snake!, THERE IS A SNAKE!!!!! Tam, Max, Miles, and Sam had all gone over it and Ella and Grace were next. Grace yells and sends everyone into panic mode - most especially Ella. After we all got together and could all see the snake (he blended in well with the rocks) we took a moment to inspect him from afar and took these photos. Thank God for Grace and her excellent spotting skills!

Equal Time for ALL Holidays!!!

The kids and I were laughing this afternoon. It was brought to my attention that we are celebrating three holidays on our front porch! (Christmas, Thanksgiving and Halloween)

I guess I just get so excited that I want to decorate way before the holiday comes and long after it is past. :)