Beautiful!

She actually took a selfie with me! 

Emma had a wonderful day of pampering! Her Grandma and Bop-Bop treated her to a professional haircut, giving her the exact style she wanted for her upcoming big day. It's bittersweet to see her grow up so fast. She's turning 12 soon...it's also going to be a fun age (insert eye roll)!

Fun last day with Sasha... Mom leaves for Cabo soon!

 

Brown Eyed Girl!

Gotta have fun while cleaning and helping out mom! Chloe loved chasing the vacuum cleaner, Swiffer, and the mop. Silly girl!

Horse therapy with Emma & Scooby

Her trainer insisted I do a trust fall! She's heard my breaking heart for my mom and kiddos' recent issues. Scooby is a good boy! Emma urged him to trot into a gallop, scary for me but worth the smiles on her face! 

It can't rain all the time!

Today was quite eventful. I took care of some SAHM duties and helped my mom with her house cleaning. While I was at her place, Dane called me. Eeek... he stepped on a nail while working on the new addition for Emma. He needed some TLC and help finding an urgent care facility that accepted our insurance. While we waited for the doctor, M* and I treated ourselves to Starbucks! After surviving the tetanus shot, Dane continued working on the addition! Ah, the joys of parenthood—'Have kids, it'll be fun!'"

It Can't Rain All the Time

We walked the narrow path

Beneath the smoking skies

Sometimes you can barely tell the difference

Between darkness and light

Do you have faith

In what we believe?

The truest test is when we cannot

When we cannot see

I hear pounding feet in the

In the streets below, and the

And the women crying, and the

And the children know that there

There's something wrong, and

It's hard to belive that love will prevail

Oh, it won't rain all the time

The sky won't fall forever

And though the night seems long

Your tears won't fall forever

Oh, when I'm lonely

I lie awake at night

And I wish you were here

I miss you

Can you tell me

Is there something more to belive in?

Or is this all there is?

In the pounding feet, in the

In the streets below, and the

And the window breaks, and

And a woman falls, there's

There's something wrong, it's

It's so hard to belive that love will prevail

It won't rain all the time

The sky won't fall forever

And though the night seems long

Your tears won't fall

Your tears won't fall

Your tears won't fall forever

Last night I had a dream

You came into my room

You took me into your arms

Whispering and kissing me

And telling me to still belive

But then the emptiness of a burning sea

Against which we see our darkest of sadness

Until I felt safe and warm

I fell asleep in your arms

When I awoke I cried again

For you were gone

Oh, can you hear me?

It won't rain all the time

The sky won't fall forever

And though the night seems long

Your tears won't fall forever

It won't rain all the time

The sky won't fall forever

And though the night seems long

Your tears won't fall

Your tears won't fall

Your tears won't fall forever

My 44th birthday re-do with mom!

Yesterday I had such a fun and amazing time with Mom who is getting her groove back! She spoiled me rotten, and I learned to let her. I loved just being me with the one that brought me into this world! My kids also chewed her ear off on all that she had missed while in the hospital. Next year maybe we'll celebrate at the casino!?

The stuffed mushrooms were delish! 

Busy, Busy, Busy!

It's past midnight, and I'm finally relaxing after a long, stressful day. We rushed Mom to the ER this afternoon due to complications from her gallbladder tube! The ER was so backed up after several painful hours she insisted on being released with an appointment in the morning to have it fixed. Dane cooked dinner for us all, but it didn't go over well with two of our four kids. Hey, at least he cooked, which I was thankful for! I'm worried about tomorrow's hospital procedure with Mom, but I'm looking forward to spending time with her. I'll take her out for coffee and share good company on the way to her appointment. My therapist told me today that change is inevitable, and I need to set aside time for myself. So, I'm looking forward to October...I'll be attending a Christian Women's retreat in the wilderness with my fellow sisters!

She's home!

    After spending almost a month in the hospital, she has finally returned home! We spent some time doing things around the house and then snipped some of her beautiful hydrangeas to take home. Chloe and I loved our time together as well. It was nice to relax and take a breath before returning home to the chaos and sweltering heat! 

Get well soon!

My heart sank when 2 of the 4 pots the kids made fell off her hospital bed. But then I took a breath and so did she! 

Mom's everywhere!

I've shrunk down to 115 recently due to family stress, yet as I sit here in my mom's hospital room I feel guilty that I'm not home. She's been laid up for 5 days, and 4 days ago was one of MY worst days this year. I can't stand the summer heat and the day before she was admitted for pancreatitis pain, there was a cluster of bad events ranging from serious adult kid issues to critters driving me bat sh*t crazy! 

I made this sign and taped it to our door leading upstairs because both the puppy and one of our cats pees on the upstairs landing. Those who know our family understand this causes some OCD upsets!

It's a cool 68 degrees in this room and the thought of making the trek back through heated traffic and my foot walking through the front door is daunting. I love my house, family, and critters, but sometimes it feels good to just sit and breathe. Another thing to thank my mom...DINNER is DONE! I snipped some of her famous leftover chili, Dane and I are off the hook for dinner! I just pray that she gets through this and back to being grandma the great! 

Poor Carly missing her mom...She hates these long "store trips!"

Spoiled Carly Marie

I shot this pic while pup sitting. At this exact moment, she looked up at Maddy! She's so adorable sunbathing!

Finn socializing some more

"I'm sorry Emma!"

    Hanging out at Grandma's eye appointment. The same day he and Emma broke her glasses, it was a busy day of driving for this tired mama! I wish gas prices were lower!!!

Pinknose

 Incase anyone wonders why we dyed our MALE cat pink.....

We kept the one
Ragdoll with the soft fur. 

The last time Grandma watched our critters (beach vacay). She got confused about which cat was the outdoor cat. So she tried to push our VERY ANXIOUS Siamese out the back door!!! Since then, she has tried to build trust with our brat Sunny. 

This time around, Grandma has a cataract! So she has to close one eye to see the world, and she's not planning on getting it fixed until after her next cruise at the end of December! So, the kids are having fun deciding what to do about Pinknose when we go to Disneyland. 4 critters to take care of! One funny was to capture a skunk (we have a black cat). Another plan was to innovate a mini cow (Sam calls the dog a cow because she's black/white and sometimes stinks). Dane and I think we'll make do with a big funny poster and stick it to the front door. But with this family, who knows!! 

Emma's first choir recital!

Emma started a new school this year. I am so thankful to my parents who are graciously funding her new Christian school!

Veteran's Day!!

 Better late than never!!

There's you in everything I do

We're two of a kind. Nature or nurture, that's debatable. What is known is I carry a lot of her traits both good and bad.

Self-Sacrificing  

We both put others needs/wants above our own, sometimes to fault. Showing our love by the things we do. Using our gifts to lift others up. Whether it's a clean house, a creative photo book, or knowing exactly what to say. Thank you mom for all that you do for me and our family!

Scatterbrained 

So yeah, we loose our keys A LOT! We know what it's like for each other having a million thoughts roam through our head. It's sometimes distracting, but always interesting!

Imagination 

Although her inner world always seems to be filled with roses and sunshine, and mine is filled with the POSSIBILITY of rain and ants coming to the picnic. She's showed me reality has limitations, so why not fantasize about what could be! Within your head anything is possible.

Alone time a necessity  

 We're both introverted, but NOT shy.. at least not with strangers. You may see us chat it up with complete strangers, but when it comes to opening up our inner worlds, it takes a long time to gauge who can handle our quirkiness.  Oh, and don't ask her to accompany you to the mall (picture wild animal in cage). But if you must, she will because she loves you that much! 

Patience... what's that?

Mom's time limit for watching the littles is about 2.5 hours. 

I too, loose my patience often, needing to re-evaluate what's not working. My mom however, is much more go with the flow than I am. I strive for others to better themselves, while my mom is more accepting of loved ones the way they are. I believe this difference between the two of us compliments, but sometimes divides. None the less, patience is something we constantly pray for more of! 

Pssst....Mom your craziness is showing

Just like my mom, as I age (not the same as mature) I reveal more of my quirks. She's taught me it's fun to be who I am! 

It's crazy, silly, fun when we do this together.. the kids think we're bat shit crazy!

Faults

We share many and complain to each other the way we wish we could be. More tolerant, outgoing, motivated, will-powered, ect. But we're accepting of each other just the way we are and lift each other up when the other self loathes. We love each other unconditionally, faults and all. 

I love that my mom gave me pieces of herself. I also love that she gives me her wisdom on how to both love and manage this crazy personality of mine.. I am who I am! Thanks Mom!

Mom was an air traffic control - I was a 911 dispatcher

Now I'm a stay at home mom - She is a stay at home grandma

Grandparents Day at Trinity Lutheran School!

Trinity is an excellent school for my kiddos. Christian's 1st/2nd split class has nine students, and Maddy's Kindergarten class has seven. I appreciate the small class sizes, which allow teachers to give more individual attention. 

"When I Fall in love"

 

My small jazz choir in high school was learning this song. One day while absentmindely once humming it my mom stopped me point blank. "I sang that song repeatedly till you fell asleep as baby"!

I passed along this sentimt to my sweet little niece. One night her parents were working down on my in-law's trail, I sarinated the song to her as she drifted off to sleep in my arms. It was a heartwarming momet that explained why the melody sounded so familar while learning it.