Another year in the books

Sam’s orchestra concert 

Followed by jacks university orchestra concert (AMAZING! And Jack did it on the violin, not the viola, which was his high school instrument) 

We saw the cutest movie (we are reading her books )

Jack got a calculus award at the university 

And he finished his first year

Mother’s Day and my birthday 

Last day of 6th grade 

Last day of 4th grade. 

Bring on summer break! 

 

Let’s Easter

I made fluffy little chicks instead of bunnies this year. 

I’m crazy about this pic of the kids. It’s just such a great pile of beautiful, happy kids. This mothering job can be so hard for so long and then the load sort of starts to lighten without you noticing as the years go by. The next thing you know there are these beautiful glimpses of them growing into themselves and becoming amazing adults. 

 

Hapde burfday Sam!

Dear Sam, 

12! A growing up young lady. 

You asked to try a new Korean restaurant for your birthday dinner. 

You wanted a new haircut - a “wolf” haircut. 

And a Kentucky derby pie! 

 At 12 you are: 

Getting interested in fashion

Into jewelry and nail polish 

Trying EVERY SINGLE craft known to man

Still in love with the cats (and all animals) 

Taking advanced 7th grade math (one of only two sixth grade kids- and KILLING IT) 

Still very into art and constantly drawing 

Found a BFF up the street 

Smart. Sassy, empathetic, aware of every social issue I can even imagine, always on the phone (much like my own 12 year old self), messy (we are working on sorting out if that is an attention problem), constantly trying to be a vegetarian (which is requiring REALLY branching on your food choices)

I really can’t imagine our life without you, love you kid. 

Mom 

Novembering and decembering

I have been sewing. 

We went to the nutcracker. 

We ate turkey. 

I made quilts.

Sam had her first orchestra concert. 

I bought things. 

Sam made things. 

I kept growing things. 

We had presents. 

We visited Santa. (A really nice dude). 

We visited another Santa. 

I decorated. 

We took grinch themed Christmas card photos. 

Slightly disasterous - bad light, paint on Sam, crying happened. 

 And Dave and I built these. I love them. 

I decorated everything that wasn’t standing still:

Sewed some more. 

Decorated more. 

And a little more. 

Jack finished his first semester of college (straight As!), Dave’s parents are coming to visit, grant has stopped sleeping which is making everyone more than a little crazy, I’ve been working a little and sewing a lot.