no 317 auto tech

two years ago
i picked myself up and posted about my boy choosing his 9th grade courses for high school.
i was a wreck
missing the little boy
loving the young man
wishing that the sands of time would
slow
a little
maybe
to
a dull roar...
but they didn't
they kept on falling.
ready or
not.

tonight, with my mom (thankfully) at my side
i walked her in
we listened
we read
and
she made her course selection for her
freshman
year.

high school

my baby girl in high school.

it's not possible that two of my littles are so close to being
big.

it makes mr. ben seem even smaller somehow
which is hard to explain

but her
my girl
the doodle bug

there she was
looking down hallways
and quietly asking where one classroom was in comparison to another...

upstairs
downstairs
out the door

i don't know if i can say i'm ready for this transition.
it's arrived sooner than i anticipated
i swear i thought we had more time...
when she gets there,
it means he's gone past
halfway

upstairs
downstairs
out another door

"it's pretty big"
"can we have chinese?"
"i'm so tired mom"

it is a fairly big high school
she will have the benefit of her big brother's watchful eye

we ordered waaaay too much chinese
which brought smiles over smiles over smiles to her beautiful face
she's getting ready for bed
exhausted by jet lag
and somehow i know when i look into her room tomorrow morning i'll see
this face

and the weight in my heart right now will be replaced with all the love found in the moments that got her to
today

i know it will...
my beautiful baby girl
on her way now
opening a door

umarmen und lieben, meine schatz-
umarmen und lieben
momma

(ps...how cool is she...Honors English, Honors History, Algebra I, Biology,
German II, PE, and for electives
Ceramics,
Computer Music,
Painting and
AUTO TECH my daughter is awesome!!)

no. 316 jules, this is for you!

i know how hectic your life is, and sometimes the last thing anyone wants to do is pry open a cookbook to figure out what to do for a family meal-
really
i know!

but
these are all ADA approved cookbooks available on their site that look good to me,
some of the cookbooks that i actually have you can find
here
(i have livin' low carb and LOVE it, but am now super excited about some of these other titles, and as we have established my serious cookbook related issue, i think i've found some "must buys" here!)

and another good choice for crock-pot workout
i have 3 books in the "fix it" series because i am a busy momma and some days the crock-pot is my very best friend in the world!
i know the woman who assisted in putting this book together from the ADA side...her daughter is one of my good good friends and she is serious about healthy choices for feeding your family.

don't give up
keep counting carbs
and breathe
life will sort itself out!
love you and miss you s-i-l!!!
xoxoxoxooox
e

no 315. volcano volcano VOLCANO!

oh my stars
what a crazy few days we've had over here in europe!!!
teachers are stranded all over the world-
i'm back in kindergarten (having the TIME OF MY LIFE)
until the teacher who belongs to these kiddos makes it back from Spain...
she's driving right now, bless her heart!

doodle bug and gaia are eating "wait and see pudding"
(as gaia used to say back in the day)
their flight is meant to leave late tonight and arrive tomorrow.
my take on this:
she is safe and this was a true act of G-d, we wait and hope that she gets home to us sooner rather than later.

team leader is going nuts-
apparently, you can
protect the world from devestation
sneak in and out of nameless places
be "mr. covert" on a daily basis
BUT
you cannot wait for a volcano to chill out.

this is why i work with little kids...
for the patience to live happily ever after with Maxwell Smart!
*sigh*

umarmen und lieben
essie

ps-DoodleBug: we love you and miss you and can't wait to have you back!
safe travels my sweet girl!!

no 314 lame duck spring break

there is only so much cleaning, sitting around, cleaning, laundry, sitting around, dishes, fb-ing, cleaning, sitting around
a girl can do.
talk about a lame duck...
spring break, i hardly knew ya.

umarmen und lieben
essie

no.313 oh my

it's the middle of spring break week...
my allergies started kicking my beheiney last wednesday
by friday night (the best night of springbreak as it was the FIRST night for this break)i wasn't thinking about the possibilities for the week
i was praying for a good night of sleep
and a morning where i didn't croak "hello"

so far

it's been a half week of a whole lotta nothin'

the projects i need to finish
still undone...
the ideas i had for the week
still on paper...
my attempt at pizza crust
didn't even rise..

oh well.
i've still got half a week
and i'm sure the projects will eventually get done
the ideas will come to fruition
and i'll get my crust to rise

eventually!
umarmen und lieben
essie

no. 312 heather might kill me, but, it's worth it

and now-
the first family photo
(minus the harrison half of the family)

Paul, Heather,
MAZEL TOV on the birth of your daughter

Gianna,
the world is a better place because you are here
we cannot wait to see you and hold you in our arms!!!
All our love
Uncle Tony (who promises to teach you all about rainbows)
Tante (who promises to teach you all about savings...and spending those savings on fantastic stuff like pottery, but mostly promises to love you always)
Preston (who promises to teach you all about Europe, soccer, and the big boys to avoid b/c if not he and Ben will be obligated to beat them up)
Dollie (who promises to keep all your secrets and teach you how to find out everything about everyone: "nosy rosy...take 2")
and Ben (who promises to teach you how to ride a bike-seriously-he does!)

WE LOVE YOU BABY GIRL!!!!

no. 311 what it means to feel your cup runneth over

when you are 6000 miles away from the place you call home-
in a new place where you must live your life the best way you know how-
not always perfect
but definitely sincere
to send your child back home
alone...
(even for a short visit)
takes a lot out of a momma.

but, back she went-our girl
back to the place
in her heart
where
the warm, strong, beating heart of her dog
cuddling up next to her
in her bed
in her room
could be enough for now-

until

the loving, strong bonds of friendship
lifelong friendship
filled this momma right back up to brimming full
with blessings!
overflowing
jubilant
adoring
blessings!

celebrating our daughters, our friendship, our love for our families
on my birthday
you took my breath away when mom told me you came and got her
i cannot wait to hear all about it when she calls!

i love you more than words can say-
thank you for the best birthday gift,
with all my love and hugs
essie

(ps-the bonfire birthday has been pretty terrific, i must say that team leader did things right this year, and the boylies have done a fantastic job being "girly festive" for their momma!
life IS good!
umarmen und lieben
essie)

no. 310 big enough but not quite

for me.

doodle bug flies to the states for 2 weeks of Gaia and Grandpadad love today.
according to the airline, she's old enough to fly as an adult
but according to her momma and daddy

she gets the little red riding hood treatment,
with airline support that keeps the wolves away,
until her grandma can take her home...

heart of mine-
how i will miss you.
you haven't even left yet

i love you
momma