An August Up Date for "One of my many Cuzzins"

Are you kidding me? It's September all ready!

The whole month of August seems to be a great big jumble in my mind.

So now what? How do I sort it all out? Where do I start? What do I do?

WHAT DO I DO???

Should I pick up in September? 

OR

 Do I go back to where I left off?

MMMMMMMMM

I think I'll go back. . . Gee, that really was not as hard as you were making it.

Let's see where should I start?

The beginning of August. . . Brought us to another birthday. . .  for Anthony.

11 years old

This kid just maybe the easiest kid in the world to please. If he is asked how his birthday went . . He will eagerly reply with a huge grin and even more delight 

"It was the BEST BIRTHDAY ever! "

and we ask

"???EVER???" Better then the last Best Birthday ever?

There is an ever bigger grin accompanied with an even more enthusiastic

"YES!!!!"

and so it was

The Best Birthday Ever!

Of course the usual crowed would never think of missing the "Best Birthday Ever".

I think these boys can smell cake from miles and miles away!

When "The Amazing Trips and Henry" heard we were hosting the ''Best Birthday Ever" they just couldn't resist and had to stop by. 

There was Gracie who told me she was the oldest of the children; She said, she was the oldest by at least a year. Strangely enough, she is the baby of the Amazing Trio.

There was Elizabeth who has never seen a camera in her life and just didn't know what to do.

There was William, who became Mary Elizabeth very good friend.

AND

 Last but not Least, there was Henry....Who does not share his Oh Henry Bars . . .

There was a soccer game and the men were ready to rumble.

The competition was fierce.

In every nook and cranny in the great yard of Graceland there was something going on. 

Ideas and friendships were being formed. 

The celebration was grand.

There was an obstacle course to test the highest skills. 

Testing balance 

Speed

And Endurance

The skills were amazing! 

Until! 

It was Kathryn's turn.

AND

She got stuck!

Soooo,

Like the good sports they are

the Winners decided to sit on her.

Until...


It was time for cake and Gracie decided it would be best to just roll her away. 

There was cake, fireworks, presents and stuFF and that was the end

 of the "Best Birthday Ever" for  2010.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

And then it happened

There was a comment  left  by One of many cuzzins!

"And where have you been? What's going on down there? Let's go girlie, post an update!

~R :)" 

MMMMMMMMMMMM

  ~ Where have I been? ~ 

That's a good question. . .

Alrighty, here goes. . . You READY?

August was one of those months. . . Those busy months filled with this, that and the other thing! Just one of those "Topsy Turvy" months. You know exactly what I'm talking about. We have all had them. 

To start off with, August is usually the time I get our class room together for school. 

I take all the books we don't want and put them in a pile. Then I take all the books we do want and put them in a pile AND then. . .  I walk away and I let the pile sit there for days because I think, "Why am I doing this again?"  I also think, Maybe I should just set fire to this room and start over FRESH!

 But, then I think 

No, rebuilding would take to long and the smoke would give me headache.   

I then do the same thing with all our papers from last year: I take EVERYTHING we did,  put them in folders and boxes, I make sure all our important papers are properly recorded  and then  I think. . . WOW! We did a lot of work last year.  I put all this in piles on my desk and then. . . get over whelmed and walk away. 

AND then I think. . . Why am I doing this again? Maybe I should just set fire to this room and start over.

No, that would just be to messy and the smoke would give me a headache.

I still have lots of work to do here. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Both cars died! 

But, have no fear!  MacGyver ((A.K.A Mark)) laid the healing touch on them. We are back in business! That man can fix anything. I don't even worry about these things any more. I usually just say, "Oh, you'll fix it." and then go about my life. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That's when August really happened. People and animals were going down all around me. I spent my days taking care of the injured, wounded and sick.

Kathryn fell down the stairs spraining her ankle badly and "tweaking" the growth plate.  

At the orthopedics office we are waiting forever ~ For a laugh, I whip out my phone and take her picture.

 Kathryn was not amused! 

This fall left her on crutches for more then a week. Today she is walking in a boot and seems to be healing quite nicely. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

But! Wait! I'm not finished.

The very next day I am out running. I am on my fifth mile at a very slow pace. 

I am wondering "Why am I doing this again?" 

I have a little over a mile to go  . . . 

Matthew calls.

I dropped Matthew and Stephen off at 6 A.M. to work up at the vineyards down the street. They were cutting vines preparing for the grape harvest. The phone had one of those panic rings. . . I stopped and answered:  "Hello"  Matthew says "Hi, Mom. What are you doing? I say, "Running." " What happened?"

He replies with a cool. . . "How do you know there is something wrong?" I say, "I just do." "Is Stephen okay?"

 

"Well, Stephen cut his finger and it's pretty bad." I tell him, I will be there as soon as I can. 

I was off!  

I ran home,  ran through the door grabbed the car keys, called Matthew told him I was on my way. Pick up my sons. . . take them to my mothers and miss my father terribly. He was the one who always knew what to do in these situations.  

I make some phone calls . . . Our doctor is not in the office today. (( of course! )) I find out the best place to take Stephen is the new medical center down the street. I am told they could handle all kinds of things. I get there, pay my $75 fee ~ they say they will bill for the rest later. 

We see the doctor: She says, "Oh! I can't touch this." and sends us to the emergency room.  

I think. . .  Should I ask for my money back or should I just leave right now for the emergency room? 

I left for the emergency room but I think of my $75.00 often.

At the hospital we are waiting forever. . . I whip out my phone for a laugh and take Stephen's picture. He tried to smile and didn't mind very much. He even thought it was a little funny. Five stitches later and lots of care, he is fine and his finger has healed nicely. 

The next week, Matthew started his college classes at the local college and I think I am so glad he is still home. I get him settled in his school life with books and supplies.

Both dogs were sicks and the fun still did not end. 

This guy hit us hard! 

Alex

Don't let that Opie Cunningham face fool you; He packs a mean virus that should be feared far and wide. Rummer has it. . . He even gave his own mother strep throat. His own mother! 


I really shouldn't say anything. . . because you know, It almost seems like gossip and he is a child and all. . . AND I really don't like to point fingers  ~ I'm just say'n

THE KID GOT US ALL SICK! 

So, my Dear Cuzzin. . . Here's your update. . . Thanks for noticing. . . Thanks for asking.

Love! 

16 ~ How did that happen?

My Stevie Wonder is 16.

Did Ya Know?

Auntie and  Jim celebrated their 1st Wedding Anniversary yesterday?

September 3rd

~ Happy Anniversary Auntie and Jim ~

May you celebrate many, many more years together.

Much Love to you Both!

Topsy Turvy

The month of August has been... shall I say "Topsy Turvy"

William and Mary Elizabeth

I will be telling you all about it soon.

I hope!

AND Then she said....

   A bedtime routine has never been my strongest shall I say....asset when it comes to my parenting skills. I have been known to read story after story, after story to my kids late into the night never establishing an actual sleep time. I figure we home school so what difference does it make?

This strategy worked well for our other three....

But now we are in a dilemma.....Mary Elizabeth, not only likes to read in my bed she does not want to leave my bed....EVER!

Sleeping with this beautiful child is like sleeping in a tea cup ride.

Let me see if I can explain...She is not one of those cuddly types who just snuggles right in and doesn't move.

NO! Not at all!

To start off with....She likes her head on my pillow to get as close to me as possible.

How sweet you say.....Ya, sweet....

But she flips

and she flops

and she turns

and she spins all through the night.

I can hear you ask...."Why don't you just move her into her own bed."

Which is a very good question....and we do.

We really do...

BUT!

She comes back....

The party just never ends!

Our night time routine is almost like a Conga Line...........We go back and forth all night long.

The other day, I sat her down and I had "the talk" with her....

I told her,  I just couldn't do it anymore. I told her she was to hard sleep with her and sometimes it  just felt like she was jumping on me all night long.

AND 

"Starting tonight, she just had to stay in her own bed without me."  

This train ride was over!

She listened intently.

She gave what I said a lot of thought.

She even slept on it for a little while.

When she woke, she said to me....."Mommy, I loveS you."

and I said to her....

"Liz, I loveS you too."

Her response....

was an innocent....

"Then why can't I sleep  WHICH U ? "

and I said........sigh...with a smile...."You just can't."

I'll let you know what happens.

The Human Spirit

Remember Joe? Remember the story I told you about the night he was almost killed?

Joe worked hard to be one among the living again........The past two years he has not only worked hard in accomplishing the everyday aspects of life...He worked hard to move forward and make positive changes.

As of today, Joe is a High School Graduate. He passed his test with flying colors.

Funny thing is now he is talking about going to college.

You GO JOE!!!

We are so proud of you!!!!

Sometimes a little bump on the head is good for the human spirit.  

I don't know about you, but, I think we should all have cake.

My Little Boys

This is a picture of the backs of my "Little Boys" and our Priest, Father Theo.

The backs of Stephen, Matthew and Father Theo...In the cowboy hat.

We were at a church party and Father Theo was teaching the boys my young men how to line dancing.

Every time I see these guys standing with grown men I am in awe and I wonder;

 "When did they get so big?".

And

"Where did the time go?"

When I see them from this angle...I think WOW! with a big grin and IT cracks me up every time.

It's not all about THEM

I don't think I told you we had a little company this past week.

My Aunts, cousins and cousins daughters came down for a little visit;

Bringing with them lots of joy, laughter and Anthony.

Aunt Joan

These aunts are my father's "little" sisters and two of triplets.

Among the many things I loved about having Aunt Jean and Aunt Joan here was seeing  

my father's smile again on my Aunt Joan's face.

I never realized it before but this time "IT" took my breath away.

Aunt Jean

I again saw Aunt Jean's kind, gentle nature. But this time we watched as she endured a serious illness. But, she never complained....just like someone else I know. 

In both these woman, I saw their big brother Billy and one of his best qualities....I saw

in them how he would take his time and listen patiently and talk to people from the family no matter the age, size or order of importance.  

I saw how they enjoyed playing in childish games,  

allowing the smallest be the leader of the biggest chains.

I saw how they relaxed and laughed at themselves.

There were songs sung with the greatest emotion followed by dancing in the dining room.

The weekend just flew by.

When it was time for them to leave we were all a little sad to see them go.

Today, as I post and think of these warm, wonderful woman, I think about what makes them so special:  I think what makes these woman the generation of these woman so special is ... 

Everything is just not about them.

Just a "Little" Birthday Party

July started off with a great big BANG!

No pun intended...It DID!

Now everybody knows that homeschoolers never socialize...

Or at least that is what they tell me.  

But, you see....Brian had a "little" birthday party that he shared with his buddy Phillip.

Brian and Phillip were both eight within days of each other.

Just like little boys do, they both wanted to have a great big birthday party. 

AND

They wanted to invite all their home-schooled friends to help celebrate the festive occasion.

Because they are bright and creative women, the mothers of these two guys thought it would be fun to have the parties together. 

One GREAT big BASH!!!

One full day of Fun for everyone!

Lots of Fun!

 

AND 

More Fun!

Phillip and Brian

These guys had a Fourth of July party of a life time.

They played games.

Swam

Everyone came.

 

Strangely enough...for a group that does not socialize...

There were over 35 people at this "little" birthday bash.

All the kids had so much fun! 

 They are  already talking about whose party is next and can we do it ALL again tomorrow.

True Happiness

July 7, 2010

Is when you turn Four and everyone you love celebrates. 

Black and White Magic

At sunrise this morning, I woke up to a small hand rubbing my arm

...whispering...

"Mommy...Is it time?"

"Is it my birthday? Am I four?"

I answered in a soft "YES, my sweet" "Your Four today."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~ Her answer ~

A soft, gleeful...."YES!"

and she feel back to sleep in my arms.