Freshman!

As promised, pictures of the first day of high school. To say it was a bit rough (for the both of us) would be an understatement. I cried on and off all day just thinking about my baby being big. She is having a hard time adjusting to it all and it breaks my heart.

Noodle is just a small fish in a great big ocean and is learning to swim all over again. It will get better.

I must thank Mama B for talking me off my cliff several times yesterday. She reassured me that Noodle will be fine and we made decision that we thought would be best for Noodle.

And whoever you are Rose, thank you for asking my girl to sit with you at lunch.

Please cross your fingers that my girl comes out of her shell and makes friends soon, it would make her feel so much better and help her mama’s broken heart and puffy eyes.

 

 

 

P.S. Vixen , I wanted to take pictures on the porch but she would only agree to the backyard. I took what I could get. 

A New Chapter

Tomorrow my sweet girl Noodle starts high school. HIGH SCHOOL! She is taking it all in stride (and much better than I am) about going to a new school and not knowing more than 2 people.

 

I cried everyday that I dropped her off for a freshman camp that they had. Friday they had an orientation day. The minute she walked out the door I ran up the stairs at lightening speed, to watch her walk all the way to the corner to catch the bus, from her bedroom window. I drove by the bus stop THREE  times on my way to work. Yes, I said 3 times. From our house to the corner is about 100 yards. This is going to be way harder on me than it is on her.

 

My heart is pounding out of my chest just thinking about it. 

 

Even if its not cool to stand on the porch and let your mom take your picture once you are in high school I am sure there will be some. Its either the porch or I ride the bus with her. 

Fun In The Sun

What could be more fun on a hot day than cooling off with friends?

 

 

I’m not sure who had more fun….

 

The little ones………

 

 

The middles……..

 

 

Or the bigs………

 

 

 

A friend has a side business that rents slides and jumpers out. No one was using the slide this weekend so it was all ours!

It was the most fun we have had in a long time and we will be doing it again soon!

 

Utah In Pictures

We went to Utah for Great (or Great Great in Noodle’s case) Grandma’s funeral. It may have been the quickest longest trip of my life. MIL rode along. We left Tuesday night about 5:30, arrived in Utah at 6:00 Wednesday morning. We left Friday morning at 7:00 and were home Friday night by 6:00. MIL and I do not see eye to eye on ANYTHING so it was interesting to say the least and because its my blog and she isn’t worth the effort that is the last she will be mentioned. So there.

 

Although there are no pictures to prove it, we did all clean up and put on our Sunday best for the viewing and the funeral. (Except for the person we aren’t mentioning, but that is another post on its own. Maybe.).

 

This is Bridal Veil Falls.  I make Hubs take me every time we go to Utah. The pictures don’t do it justice.

 

  Our alarm clocks. Hubs and I slept out in the camper and these lovely little bastards birds were up early and the roosters were sure to let us know.

 

Baby pheasants and a big boy pheasant. I think he is lovely but he was molting, so not a pretty as he could be apparently. Hubs uncle must have 20 -25 pheasants not counting the babes.

 

Hubs and I with my favorite uncles of his.

 

 

I was trying to hide my drink behind my back and cousin next to me was trying to make me spill 🙂

 

The view from the back porch. If you look closely you can see snow still on the peaks.

 

My girl.

 

Red and I. The only thing I know we were doing for sure were shots of whiskey. These photos leading up to the shots? Its hard telling.

Here’s Your Sign

Hub’s great grandma passed away this morning. Even though it was expected it still hurts. Once again I am amazed at those who when they heard the news (those near and far) immediately offered assistance in several ways. I guess I am equally amazed at those who didn’t. The same ones who would expect it and receive it from us if they were in our shoes. I’m tired of it. Friendship should be a two way street. I obviously made a wrong turn somewhere.

Not My Favorite Way To Start A Sunday

Someone wanted to get up and going hiking this morning. Someone else agreed to go. The someone who agreed to go thought the other someone meant hiking the trail at the mountain less than a mile from our front door. Not the case. The someone who wanted to go wanted to drive 45 minutes across town to hike at a different mountain. Which meant the someone who really didn’t want to go in the first place had to get up even earlier than if we had gone to our very own mountain.

 

This is the someone who really didn’t want to go.We were  about halfway up.

 

 

This is the someone who did.

 

This is us at the top. See? One of us is definitely happier than the other one to be there. This was about 7:15 A freaking M on a Sunday morning.

 

Someone forgot to take a picture of the “view” from the top so you get to see what I saw. Lots of rocks and cactus.

If you really want the full effect stick your head in the oven while reading this. It will be just like you were there with us someone.

There’s Something About Mary

May Crowning is my favorite “church day” of the year.  Here is a brief description.  There are always 3 things I say to Noodle when we are not going to be together 1) I love you 2) Make Good Choices 3) Be Good to your Mother.  She usually finishes saying them before I can. 1 and 2 are  pretty easy to figure out. 3 sounds like I like myself a little more than I should.  Its not that. The Mother I refer to is Mary.  We believe that not only is Mary the mother of God, but in turn the Mother to all of us. And if you are good to Mary, you are in turn being good to God. 

 

 

The 8th graders get all dressed up and one girl is chosen to crown Mary.

 

 

 

They process in and bring flowers to adorn the alter. Prayers are said and songs are sung. It gives me goose bumps now just thinking about it.

 

Its proof that our babies are turning into lovely young ladies and perfect gentlemen.

 

  Its the realization that no matter how hard you try to keep them little they go and grow up any way.

 

Of course I cried. Some were sad tears that it was almost over and some were happy tears that it was almost over.  A double edged sword.

A sword that I would gladly swallow whole if I had to get to see this smile.

Noodle – I love you, always make good choices, and be good to your Mother. Remember these 3 things and you will go far.

Staycation

As much as I love to go away, this kind of vacay is right up my alley. Roll out of bed, stumble down to pool, have cabana boy bring drinks. Now, if Noodle would just peel me a grape. Its a much needed break for all of us at Casa de Mar. If you will excuse me my peeps next door are having donuts without me.

Then Again, It Was Worth Every Penny

 Last Tuesday night was the 8th grade dinner at school. I knew there would be awards and a slide show. I knew there would be tears. I figured they would mostly be mine.  I was wrong. So very wrong.

Towards the end of the evening the principal handed out “alumni cards”.  She called each student up one by one, gave them their card and a hug. When she had 5 cards left in her hand she said I have kept these cards until the end for a reason, and then called the last 5 up all at the same time. The 5 were Noodle and the other 4 who came over from the old school last year. That is when I started welling up.  She went on to say we have tried to skate around ( as in treat these kids like they have been here all along) this issue all year but now something needed to be said. This is when I started the ugly cry. She said “By no fault of theirs, these kids will be getting a diploma with our schools name on it rather than the one they called home for so many years”.  That is when SHE started the ugly cry.  There was more, but that said it better than I could have imagined.

Most of the people at our table were other parents of the “5”. There wasn’t a dry eye at our table. It was the final confirmation that we all made the right decision. 

I went up to the principal before we left to thank her. She said “We are just as happy to have found you as you were to have found us”. I lost it all over again. As hard as I tried I just couldn’t make any words come out.

When Noodle started school it was the destination we looked forward to.

Today it is the journey that we look back upon and are so very thankful for.

Is It To Late For A Refund?

Sunday afternoon we stopped at BevMo to pick up some beverages for the upcoming weekends. Noodle was in a mood. I noticed the good stuff locked up and pointed it out to her. $950.00 for a bottle of something or other?  She did a double take and right in the middle of the aisle with so much inflection in her voice said “Jesus Chr1st!”. I would have been less shocked had she dropped a F-bomb. I grabbed her by the arm and said “Girl, unless you are down on your knees those words had better never cross your lips again”.  I think I made my point.

But really 9 years at Catholic school and $50,000 (give or take a few thousands) later and my child said THAT?

Apparently, someone hasn’t been paying attention in religion class.