Texas 2014 Road Trip

I found this post as a draft on my blog and am going to publish it... 3 years later.  I did write some at the beginning and then loaded pictures.  I meant to go back and add commentary but never did.  So, this is mostly pictures of a great trip I had with Conor.  I am hoping we can do another road trip in the next couple of years sometime.

Conor and I took a road trip to Texas in the summer of 2014 - we had a great time.  It was just the two of us and I had a great time with my baby.  On the way down, we went through Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, then Texas.  We stopped to go to Genevieve's baptism first, then the two of us were on our way.  There were a few issues on the first night, but nothing too terrible.  We tried to stop in Memphis the first night - but all the hotels were booked.  As tired as we both were, we drove into Arkansas.  I'm not sure I will ever go that way again.  Every hotel we saw off the highway looked like it belonged in a horror film.  Conor was tired and wanted to stop and got just a little bit cranky, but he didn't get too bad.  He knew I was tired too - and looking.  We finally called Jeff for help - I asked him to find us a hotel that was half way decent as close as possible.  Closest one ended up being 200 miles from where we were - we made it and went right to sleep.  

Conor loved that we were staying in hotels with pools so he could swim at each stop.  When we woke up, the first thing he wanted to do was swim.  We had to wait until they opened the pool, so we had breakfast and got all of our things packed and ready to go.  Then he swam for about an hour while I read a book.  We weren't in a hurry, we didn't have a schedule to keep, but we did want to make it to Texas that evening.  

We arrived in Temple while it was still daylight - wasn't too late, I believe it was 8pm-ish.  My memory is a little fuzzy after a couple of months.  We got settled in, ate dinner, and relaxed.  

We stayed with Phyllis - a long time, best friend of my mom's.  She, her husband, and her girls were great hosts.

The porch Wayne built after visiting my mom's house and falling in love with her porch.  I love both of them - very relaxing peaceful places. 

Hannah and Conor played a lot of games together. 

And we went to a local water park to swim - I loved it.  It reminded me of the past - just looked like it was from a time in the past.

Conor tried so many times to grab that ring... I don't think he ever got it. 

We had a great time.

Texas was where Conor discovered his love of horses and he took 2 years of riding lessons when we returned home. 

We were there to celebrate Hannah's birthday, too.  It was a fun evening. 

On our way home, we went through Oklahoma, Missouri (stayed overnight there), Illinois, Indiana, then home. 

Conor attempted to climb up the star above, but was unable to get very high. 

The hotel in Missouri:

We revisited a pizza place Conor liked when we went through the prior year.

Swimming, and more swimming - of course. 

Bye Missouri!  See ya next trip - the new preferred route over going through Arkansas.  

Conor

It has been nearly 3 years since I've posted on my blog.  I started posting more on Facebook and writing less about the posts.  Sharing myself became harder.  I'm not all that sure I want to start up again, but... I want to be able to remember.  I love looking at the memories on my blog - remembering.  This year has been tough - the past 3 years have been, really. But I don't want to talk about that now - maybe never.    

I've posted pictures of our grand daughters on Facebook and our weekly activities, and maybe I'll catch them all up on here eventually for myself.  

Tonight, however, is focused on Conor.  Such a bright light in my life.  I'm so very proud of him and the young man he has become.  Tonight we went to his soccer banquet - the first of 4, I believe.  He is a Freshman and I'm sure he will play all 4 years in High School.  The season has been over for a few weeks and he still goes to the park most days after school to practice.  The banquet was a little chaotic and a little long, but it didn't bother me so much.  Listening to the coaches tell stories about each player and honor their accomplishments made the 3 hours go by pretty fast.  

One of the awards Conor was given an award for maintaining a 3.4 or higher GPA during soccer season - he was one of only a surprisingly small number of the two teams (Varsity and JV).  He has worked hard for the past 6 months - spending the summer in conditioning and every day after school practicing.  He does well in school, trying hard and feeling proud of himself for his accomplishments.  He is in Honors Biology, Honors Geometry, and the only Freshman in Algebra II with Juniors and Seniors.  He is really driven to do his best in whatever he is doing.  

I talk to him about a lot of things - and he listens.  He talks to me - and I listen.  He pays attention to what is going on around him.  He can have an in depth conversation on many "adult" topics.  He is funny and kind.   

That's him up there on the right ^ in a picture that was taken on Homecoming night.  He went with a group of friends.  I took him suit shopping the week before, and we had a good time.  He really liked the red tie - which is a bit strange since he is red/green color blind.  I'm not sure what he sees when he looks at it, but it was the first thing he picked out.  He loves the suit and hopes there is another occasion he can wear it to soon.  He's going to be 15 years old in a little over a month, and he's more mature than some adults I've met.  

I love that he talks to me.  I love that he loves to learn.  I love that he is kind.  I love that he is funny and sarcastic at times.  I love that he is an awesome uncle and his nieces adore him.  I love him.  He doesn't follow the crowd and he makes intelligent decisions.  I really hope he continues on the path he has chosen.  

Grandma

I'm not much for publicly sharing my feelings, but I'm feeling quite nostalgic today.  My grandma passed away last night, January 30, 2015 - surrounded by loved ones.  There were many tears shed for this amazing woman - I don't know if there is any way I could convey how much she meant to me - and to so many others.  I've written a few posts about her, the first one was her 85th birthday:

http://www.alikatcorner.blogspot.com/2006/03/march-29th.html 

That was only (almost) 9 years ago - seems like forever in some ways, not so long in others.  She was still active and mowing her grass then.  Amazing woman.  When I bought my first house, my lawnmower broke and my grass got a little high before I got it fixed.  My grandma was in her 70s at that time - around 74 I'd say - and she loaded a push mower into her car and drove to my house when I was at work one day and mowed my grass.  She also weeded my flower beds.  

First family Christmas picture:

http://www.alikatcorner.blogspot.com/2007/01/first-family-christmas-pictuer.html 

This picture hangs at my grandma's house with a sign under it that says "All Because Two People Fell In Love".  My grandpa died before I was born, but I've always known what an amazing person he was because my grandma loved him so much.  She never stopped loving him.  She told me many stories about him that I will cherish forever, and someday write down so my children can read them and know their legacy.  

Grandma's house:

http://www.alikatcorner.blogspot.com/2007/10/grandmas-house.html 

I had a wonderful childhood, and I have many memories of going to Grandma's house.  Since we went every Sunday and I've lived on the same street as my grandma for most of my life, you can imagine how many memories I have there.  

Growing up in a big family is the greatest blessing I could imagine - but as a teenager, boy did I have a lot of people to answer to when I messed up.  Those same people also were my biggest supporters.  

So many thoughts in my head right now, so many I want to share - more for myself than anything.  This is all I can manage right now. Rest in peace, grandma.  I love you so very much and am so grateful for all of the years I had with you.

Music

Ed Sheeran is my latest music obsession.  I love a LOT of his songs, this one is currently one of my favorites.  Thinking Out Loud is one of those songs that make you want to slow dance.




Afire Love - he wrote this song about his grandfather according to one of the interviews I read.  When I listen to it, I think of my grandparents.




There are many, many more wonderful songs by Ed Sheeran - I'm not going to post all of my favorites right now.  But I've bought both of his albums and I listen to them a LOT.

Lily and Rabbits

Lily

Lily was helping us garden and we were talking about rabbits eating the beans and not the lettuce and carrots.  Afterwards she was so tired she was lying down in the bed of the truck and encouraging us to do the same.  She has an awesome imagination - love this little girl.  She's amazing.  

Aunts and Uncles

I have always been, and always will be so thankful for my family and friends.  My Grandma - who has selflessly given her life to the caring for of others.  She is, and always has been, my hero.  I'm going to try to do something I've never done here before, and that is list all of my aunts and uncles and say little blurbs about them.  These are my mom's brothers and sisters.

Aunt Judy - the oldest of my Grandma's kids, she has always been a no-nonsense kind of person.  She worked hard to become a nurse.  As a child, I can admit she was intimidating.  When I had Allie, there were complications after she was born and they had her in ICU, but no one would tell me why.  They kept saying "wait for the doctor, he will explain."  Judy came to check in on me and found me upset, and went to find out what was going on.  She came back and reassured me that everything would be fine.  She hosts our Sunday dinners often to give Grandma a break.  I remember riding in her station wagon one day when I was little - I didn't have school and she was watching me.  I can't remember if I was sick and that was the reason I was with her, or if it was just a day off.  She had picked me up and was taking me to her house.  I vomited in the back of her station wagon - I was very young, so I don't remember if it was car sickness or if I was sick and she was taking care of me that day.  She didn't get mad - at least she didn't show me if she was upset.  She just took care of me.  Judy is married to Chuck, who is an awesome artist and photographer, and they have been together since high school. They have 4 kids - Pete, Amy, David, and Gary.

Aunt Betty - an amazing and giving person.  When I was a child, my aunts would pick up all the kids for Sunday school and church.  We all rode together in a van.  One Sunday, I was lighting a candle after Mass and they all didn't realize I wasn't with them and they left.  I walked out of the church towards the Sunday school building and was looking lost, apparently.  I remember a man kneeling down to talk to me and ask me where my family was - it was at that minute, I looked up and saw Betty walking through the parking lot towards me.  I remember the relief and happiness of seeing her - I was probably 6 years old.  They did a head count once in the van and realized they didn't have me, and had turned around to come back.  She calls to make sure everyone is OK during a storm, to see if we need anything, and knows what is going on with everyone in the family.  When the electric went out one night, she showed up at my door and brought me a lantern-flash light.  If you are on vacation, she knows where you are and when you are leaving.  She takes thousands of pictures of everyone, and adores babies.  I can go to her with anything and I know that she will do anything she can to help.

Aunt Maggie - my God Mother.  Always able to make me laugh about anything.  The one who has taught me the most about God as well.  She is the fun-loving aunt, telling jokes, doing crazy things.  I remember going to the airport to see her off when I was little.  She traveled a lot for work.  I stayed with her a lot when I was younger - other than my parents' houses, hers is the only other house key I have on my key ring.  I can also go to her with anything and know that she will give me calm, sensible advice.  She is the one I call when I'm crying and need to be reassured that everything is going to be OK.  She kept Allie for me a lot as well when Allie was young.

Aunt Mary - the youngest of my Grandma's kids, she is also kind and generous.  I always looked up to Mary when I was younger - she was like the cool older sister.  I always thought she was glamorous - I would watch her get ready to go out with her friends when I was little.  When Allie was starting school, Mary bought her a whole bunch of new school clothes.  I don't know if she knew how much I appreciated that - but I have never forgotten it.  I also remember picking Allie up from Molly's one day and she was there at the same time, and I had gotten some bad news that day.  She recognized that I wasn't OK and gave me a big hug.  She lives on a big farm and always has parties for the family.  She is a generous and loving person.  Mary is married to John who is retired from his "job" and is now a farmer. They just celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary by going on a cruise around Hawaii. John is a an amazing person as well - always funny, kind and generous.  They have one child together - Jonathan.  John has 2 children from his previous marriage - Kim and Brian.

Uncle Chuck - not the same Chuck that is married to Judy, but my mom's brother.  He lived with us when I was a child and was just like another dad to me.  After he married and moved out, he took me on vacations with him and his family - I am very close to his daughter and we always played together. There are so many songs I love that remind me of Chuck and the years he lived with us.  He has always had a lifted truck, and I always thought it was so cool.  He is married to Sis, a kind, generous woman, always willing to help out.  Chuck has 2 girls - Emily, from his first marriage - my best friend growing up - and Stacie with Sis. 

Uncle Mark - he's the one who tells all the stories about walking 10 miles to school barefoot in the snow as a kid, and how rough they had it and how easy it is for kids now.  He always has something to contribute to a conversation to make everyone laugh.  He will tell you that microwaves are bad.  He always says things matter-of-fact that are just hilarious.  He is married to Mary - his high school sweetheart - and she is a perfect match for him. I remember going to stay with Mary when I didn't have school once - it was the first time I had ever spent time with her one on one.  I don't remember specifics about what we did, but I remember feeling welcome and having fun.  That was when they were newly weds.  They have 3 boys together - Charlie, Jake, and Mathew.

Uncle Don - he is the baby of the kids, and he is the one we all feared as children.  He looks mean as hell, but he's just a big softie.  Of course I didn't know that until I was an adult, but he would do anything for anyone in our family.  He has a number of heavy equipment vehicles, so if we need a hole dug, or a fence taken apart, or gravel hauled, he will be the one to volunteer.  When our loved dog, Teddy passed away, he brought his back-hoe over and dug a grave for him.  It was raining, and muddy, and he did it anyway.

There is no way I could ever write everything about every one of them - they all hold so many good memories for me.  I am so thankful and grateful for my family, they are such a huge part of who I am.

Happy New Year!

Anyone have resolutions?  I hear so many people saying they aren't doing resolutions anymore - I believe that is because so many people do not follow through on them.  People have goals or wishes for new years now.  I don't really make resolutions, either, so I'm not judging.  Maybe it is the word.  It is scary to make a promise to yourself that you may not have the willpower or drive to achieve.  Resolutions are too much pressure - you don't want to be disappointed in yourself at the end of the year if you don't achieve your resolution, right?

I just downloaded 4 songs on iTunes, and I'm sure I will listen to them over and over again until I know them all.  It's something to do in the car now that I have a longer commute to work.  The songs I got are:

Lorde - Royals

Mumford & Sons - I Will Wait

OneRepublic - Counting Stars

Aloe Blacc - Wake Me Up

I've heard parts of Wake Me Up several times, but never the whole song and I never remembered to search for it.  I've never heard of Aloe Blacc before tonight, but I really like that song.

I started watching the new show Intelligence last night.  I am a little on the fence about it right now.  I will give it a couple of more shows to push me in either direction.

I've made a few afghans - I really enjoy doing that.  I have 2 in the works right now, and I love them both.  I also have lots of yarn just waiting to be made into one.  I'll post pictures of what I've made and what I'm working on at some point.

I still haven't found the urge to blog more, like I really want to.  It's late now, so I doubt I will write much.  Just felt like sharing the songs I just found.  I could be all over the place in posts - ranting about the things that bother me in this world (watching or reading news saddens me), or write about my new position at work that is causing me many late nights at the office and lots of working at home.  Neither of those things are really what I want to have memories of.

So.  Maybe some other day I will sit down at my computer and write more posts about the things I do want to remember.  Until then... just random stuff.  It's all for my benefit anyway.

Happenings

So it seems the time frame for my blogging is about every 4 months.  I wish I could get back into it, for myself - I enjoy going back over the years and remembering things that happened.  I just can't seem to make myself do it regularly. 

This year has flown by.  So many things have happened, I don't know if I will remember them all to post.  I never did post about Rylee's birth - Ceara gave birth to a beautiful baby girl on January 23rd, 2013.  1-23 should be easy enough to remember!  :)  Eight months old soon - where does the time go?  She changes so much every time I see her.  I have pictures... of course.  Just not going to post pictures with this post.  This is more of a wall of text. 

The rest of the year has been a blur.  Miss Lily turned 2 in May - she is a beautiful, intelligent, wonderful little girl.  She loves to come over and help outside in the garden. 

I turned 40 over the summer.  I had a great time celebrating with my family and friends. 

I play volleyball on Thursdays and Fridays every week - so far the Friday night team isn't doing very well, but it is a co-ed team and we are getting better. We hadn't ever played with one another before.

Conor started soccer - and his two cousins/best friends are on his team - Gage and Grant.  The three of them always enjoy doing things together so having them all on the same team is good.  We also have a small cheering section every game with all the parents / grandparents who come. 

School let out and began again since my last post. Conor had a variety of sitters over the summer - my mom, Jeff's mom, and my brother in law all took turns.  He started the 5th grade this year. 

My mom and I took Conor and Gage on a road trip to Texas to visit Phyllis - my mom's lifelong friend.  We had a wonderful time - very short though.  The boys got to ride a horse for the first time in their lives, and see what it was like on a ranch. 

I did a bit of traveling over the summer - working OT on the weekends at our Kentucky office.  Made for some long weeks.  Over the course of 26 days, I got 2 off and worked 25-30 hours OT on the weekends I was in Kentucky.  It was a different experience, though, and I enjoyed it. 

I got a promotion at work recently as well, so I've been working a lot of long days while training for my new job and still doing the old one.  Driving to our Cincinnati office 3 days a week has really made me aware of how much I hate rush hour traffic.  The Dayton office is much closer and a better drive.  Once the woman we hired to fill my old position starts, my job should be a lot less stressful. 

I have ideas and plans for Christmas - which is right around the corner, so I better get busy.  Every year I hope to finish everything early, and every year I come a little closer to being ready for it when it comes... I hope this is the year I finally am!

I'm re-finishing a wooden rocking chair that has been passed around - from my Grandma's, my mom's, my sister's, and now mine.  I'm excited to get it finished and rock in it.  I'll need a cushion eventually for it, but I'm OK without it until I find one I love. 

There are probably things I'm forgetting to post, but that is all I can think of right now, and it is bed time. 

So many things on my "to do" list right now - and I only get the opportunity on the weekends it seems.  Too many days in between weekends, in my opinion.  :)

I probably have more I can say about all the events, but I will wait to say that stuff when I actually post pictures.  Which I hope to do soon, but... life happens. 

Our Front Yard Garden

We have had small gardens in the back yard, but it is pretty shaded back there.  So this year, we decided to utilize the mostly sunny front yard.  Another reason - besides the shade - is because of the dogs.  Last year they dug up our garden in the back. 

 

So, let's take a tour.

 

Here is an "overall" view from the front porch:

 

 

Below you will see the fancy lettuce we are growing on the left of the picture, carrots are on the right.  Well, at least most of them are - we did have a few rogue carrots that grew in between the lettuce.  I tried to label the veggies using Paint, but you may have to click on the picture to make it larger to see.  Writing with Paint is not the easiest thing to do, so forgive the weird looking letters.

Here is a closer look at the lettuce:

 



 

This is Bak Choy - we ordered seeds and they sent some freebies.  This is one of the freebies that we are excited to try.  It is also known as Chinese Lettuce.

Below, the strawberry patch is at the top of the picture (better picture later) and we have peas growing on the right; tomatoes on the left.  Tomatoes, that is.  Even though I didn't put the e in the picture, I don't want to re-edit it now.  :)

We have lots and lots of tomatoes.  So many I don't know if I could name them all.  I know we have purple tomatoes, yellow tomatoes, Borghese tomatoes, Mongol tomatoes, and ... we'll just have to see when they grow.  

Hmmm, even more tomatoes.

 

Below we have Green Beans and peppers.  The peppers will be planted in another raised garden that we will probably do this weekend.  Or soon.  Really soon.  At the top of the picture you can see our blueberry bushes.  Or buses as I can see I didn't write it correctly on the picture.  Forgive me.  Bushes, buses... not a lot of difference, right?  Anyway, we planted 1 bush by itself and it didn't bloom because it needs friends.  So this year, we got 4 more bushes to join it.  You can't see them, they haven't started growing yet, but they are there.  And we will be doing something with the stones around it soon. 

 

And here you can see the strawberry patch a little better - but that isn't the highlight of this picture.  Here you can see the Red Raspberry bush and the area we planted potatoes in.  The potatoes aren't all doing well because of the soil, but that's a boring story.  We should get some anyway.  I think 5 of them are doing well out of the... 20ish we planted.  

 

And here are the ummm... yellow raspberries.  I know it says black, but the black ones are on the other side of the drive way and I just wasn't thinking.  I didn't take a picture of the black ones.  But, yeah.  Yellow.  We did get a few last year and they are interesting.  Hopefully it blooms a lot more this year.  I will try to keep you posted.  ;)

And here is the strawberry patch!  It's my favorite fruit.  Well, that and pineapple, but I don't think those would grow well here in Ohio.  The strawberries are doing very well this year, though.  Should have plenty to make some jam!  

Well, that is if Lily doesn't eat them all before I can get enough for jam. 

She loves to pick and eat the strawberries.  This past weekend was the first time this summer there were actually red ones to be picked.  And she found them all.  

And ate them one by one.

Of course we washed them off first with the hose.

 



 

She wanted more, and I'm sure the next time she comes there will be plenty. 

 

Tonight - just 3 days after she ate all the ripe ones - I went out and picked these:

 

 

Mmmmm.  They are so good. 

 

Now I need to learn how to make jam - I've never done it before, but I want to try!

 

 

Also, we have grapes planted this year as well.  Three different kinds - white, red, and concord.  I want to make some jam / jelly from those as well, if they produce fruit this year.  If not, there is always next year!  I know I will have strawberry jam this year, though.  And possibly raspberry as well.  Black, red, and yellow!  :)  

My favorite quotes today

There is a website I look at often.  It has lots and lots of pictures. You can go look yourself and find what you like:  TheBerry

Today, they have an inspirational quotes post.  These are my favorites:

The first two remind me of the saying "You don't know what you've got til it's gone."  And, really... you don't.  The second two and thoughts like it, are what keep me motivated - to do the PX90 and start new things right now.

So, check it out, you might find inspiration on one of the other posts as well.  There are several posted daily.

Ceramics

Ceara takes a ceramics class in school - that wasn't even offered when I was in school!  I love hand made things.  I want to learn how to do it too, but one thing at a time. 

Anyway, she made a mug for Jeff for Christmas.  She was disappointed because the paint is chipping off, but I think she did an amazing job on it.  See for yourself:

Isn't it wonderful? I love it!

The New Year, so far...

Well, until I can post some pictures, you will just have to read a wall of text.  So far this year, I've gotten into a routine of getting up early and doing PX90 workout* - I was doing it a couple of times a week before Christmas, but now I'm doing it every day.  For the past 5 days anyway.  It's going pretty well - I like doing it every day better because I'm building up more stamina for it.  Boy am I sore when I get up in the mornings, though.  However, I feel awesome when I'm done!

I also got a Zumba DVD that I started tonight.  This was the first night I could do it because of other commitments throughout the week.  It comes with an instruction dvd that I had done over the weekend, so I thought I would give the real thing a shot. 

Between the 2 of them, if my legs don't look awesome soon... I want a refund!  ;)  Right now I'm thinking I'll be lucky if I can walk tomorrow. 

I've also began crocheting.  I have always wanted to learn to make afghans, and it looks like I might be able to soon!  If I can get the stitches right.  I'm working on it.  So far, I have one semi-rectangular dish cloth.  I'm working on the second one.  I would post pictures of my attempts, but... see the below post. 

Also coming up this weekend, I am throwing a baby shower for Ceara.  Yes, that's right, I'm going to be a grandma for the 2nd time before I turn 40!  We will be having another baby girl in the family before the end of the month.  Rylee Lynn is the chosen name so far. 

Conor is finally getting back into his school routine, it was a little rough the first two days, but I think he's back to status quo. 

I've actually found a nails and I hung up some pictures.  I'm feeling all organized and stuff.  I still have one frame left to fill, and I hope to get that done after the shower this weekend. 

And now, it's time for bed - actually, a little past my desired bedtime.  I will try to keep you posted!  ;)

*this is not a resolution, I was doing it last year for most of the year, I'm just kicking it up a notch. 

Ugh, come on Blogger

Blogger won't let me upload any pictures.  Grrrr.  I'm trying to post more, been trying to do another post for the last week!  But I am unable to get the pictures in there so I can't do it.  It is an important visual too. 

Out with the old

It has been a long year of NOT posting much.  So, I'm closing out the year with a post.  I don't know why.  I've often wanted to post more, but just haven't done it.  I do enjoy looking at my older posts occasionally though, so I would like to keep up and know what was happening in my life in 2012. 

Nails.  I need them to hang photos.  Not the ones on the end of my fingers; the ones you pound into a wall with a hammer.  I have them somewhere, but who knows where?  I'll come across them some day - on a day I don't want to hang pictures, but maybe I'll remember to make a note of where they are for when I do want to. 

My camera broke.  Well, it still takes pictures, but will not accept any new memory cards.  So, I have to work with internal camera memory - which is only about 15 pictures.  I take all kinds of pictures until I get down to the last 2 - then I'm very picky about what I will do with that precious space.  The camera is a dinosaur of sorts in technology years.  I've had it since 2005... it has been a good camera.  Maybe 2013 will be a good year to retire it and get a new one.   

Conor got an expander put into his mouth this year - trying to make room in his mouth for all his teeth.  We "turned" it for a month and now he has braces. 

This was the first year without either of my girls here.  Ceara became old enough to work - and work she has.  Sure she had a job in 2011, but she didn't work all the time.  This year she has - working 2 jobs at one point because her first job wouldn't give her many hours, then just going for the second job where she was able to get the hours.  When she comes to visit, it is usually after she gets off work at night (10ish) on the weekends and she is usually tired and falls asleep pretty quickly. 

Allie doesn't come over as often because she lives 30ish minutes away and has Lily and work and all that life stuff. 

Conor got an xbox last year for Christmas and we haven't seen him since.  Just kidding... he does love playing it, but he seems to be able to walk away for other stuff pretty easily.  He started reading Harry Potter this year and loves it.  He's in the 4th grade and has the reading ability of a 7th grader. 

He just turned 10 years old - double digits.  We had a Hobbit party for him - we took him and 6 of his friends to see The Hobbit, then came back home for pizza and cake. 

That's about it for this post.  I'm not making any resolutions per se, but I would like to start posting here again in the New Year.  Hope everyone is doing well and has a great New Years Eve / Day! 

Conor's Berries

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The days are getting cooler as we head into the fall season - my favorite by far.  The beautiful colors, the smells... mmmm. 

I've neglected my blog for so long, I don't know if I should try to catch up, or just go from today.  I'm leaning towards the latter.  Easier to make a fresh start!  Lily is getting so big, so smart, and she is so beautiful.  She is really amazing.  I know everyone thinks their kids / grand kids are all of those things, so you may think I'm a little biased, but... really.  She is. 

Conor has started the 4th grade and even writing that seems like... whooa.  Really?  Didn't he just get out of 1st?  Junior High School is right around the corner!  Scary. 

Ceara is a Senior in High School!  She is almost done!  She will be 18 next month, and that just seems impossible as well. 

Allie is, of course, a mother now and she is finding out just how much you can love another being - your child.  She is navigating the adult world and finding her place in it. 

I've changed a few of the links to the blogs I read - removed some that haven't posted in years and added new ones that I've found.  Hopefully today is the start of many posts to come, but I'm not promising anything. 

Lily Dancing

My aunt has a valentines bear that sings Justin Bieber's "Baby" and when it was playing on Sunday, Lily did a little dance to it.  She likes music!  :)  I pieced together a few videos I took with my phone - she would be dancing, and when someone walked into the room and she noticed them, she would quit.