Happy birthday, Big Man!

Something new

Do you know what this is?

An electric hole punch! It cracks me up. I'm not sure why. I just know that I'm amused by the simplest things.

Our Dog Whisperer

MK has a way with her grandparents' dogs, especially Gracie. Gracie
allows MK to handle her in a way that no one else can. However, Buddy
gets jealous and always wants to be a part of the action.

It's 3 a.m., I must be....

Awake! Ugh.

I have a bittersweet relationship with sleep. I really like it, yet
it eludes me. This morning at 3:00, our fire alarm went off. It is
the one that is hard-wired in the house, but not the one that is
monitored by the alarm company. I shot out of bed with the Big Man
close behind me. Instantly wide awake, we checked every room, the
attic, outside and the roof. Nothing seemed amiss. It sounded a few
more times, now it's been silent for awhile. However, I am still
awake at 4:15, and I have to be up at 5:00. There's hardly any point
in sleeping now.

So, I hope you're feeling rested. I'm sure I'll catch up one day.

Perspective

One of my roommates from my sophomore year of college posted this picture on her Facebook page.

















I commented on it, and she said that if I didn't like it, she would remove it. I considered it for about .2 seconds. But that's what I looked like then. It's who I was and part of who I am.

When I see that picture, I cringe a little. I'm wearing a snowflake sweater and holding (possibly wearing) Christmas tree lights. It's just a little too precious, possibly even cute. And if you know me, I don't really view "cute" as a compliment. When I looked at it, all I could find were negatives...the hair, the lack of makeup, the hideous sweater...had I never heard of tweezers? I could go on. One thing though...I've "filled out" in other areas...but the chin remains!

I digress.

I emailed the picture to the Big Man. This picture was likely taken the month we were engaged. He didn't see the things that bother me at all. He named several good things that he saw.

Perspective is a funny thing.

So here is a recent picture that I don't hate. I'm curious how I'll feel about it in twenty years.

Ty and his "Buddy"

The Big Man's parents are in town. MK and T. Willy spent the day at
their "Florida" house. MK came home to sleep, but T. Willy is
spending the night with his grandparents and their dogs. T. gets
along especially well with "Buddy," so here is a picture of them
together.

My dad participated in thehonorrun.org yesterday. He and some friends
rode their motorcycles from Delaware to Cambridge, Ohio yesterday and
came home today. They encountered a lot of rain, but it sounds like
he enjoyed himself.

Hope you had a great night!

Wake up!

Since I get up at 5:00 a.m. these days, staying up until 10:30 last
night felt like a big deal. Due to the Thursday night football game, I
was up later then. I was really looking forward to sleeping in this
morning. I use 3 alarms in the morning to make sure I don't
oversleep. I checked them last night to make sure they wouldn't go
off. I was set.

What I didn't expect was T. Willy trying to go outside and forgetting
that the security alarm was still on. It was 7:00. I shot right out
of bed and turned it off. He was surprised and scared and crying. So
I sat with him and then out walked MK and then the Big Man (who got
home from work at 2:45.) I guess compared to 5:00, we did get to
sleep in.

Hopefully the Big Man will be able to go back to sleep, because he has
to work today. I'm not sure what I'll do. Laundry and cleaning are
calling. We'll see.

MK's hair

MK had her hair done last week. I love it! Here are some pictures:

Pictures of our night

What's happening.

Tonight is the first football game for MK. It is raining, but so far there is no thundering or lightning, so the game should go on!

MK and her friend stopped in my room to do homework until it was time to leave. Here is a picture of them working hard.

















And I'm off to get my hair cut. Ugh...there is not much to do with my hair, but it needs a change. I doubt it will be drastic, but it's always nice to have something new. Hope you have a great night!

Pebbles, is that you?

MK had her hair cut and colored on Saturday. She likes it, but with
the shorter bangs finds it hard to put it all up and away from her
face. This is how she has resolved that.

Can't sleep...may as well blog

Last night I stopped by band practice a little early, because MK
wanted me to watch her practice. They were working on going from the
field into the stands. The band is huge, but their director seems to
have pretty good control of them. I snapped a couple of pictures for
the Big Man. He is going to miss the first game due to work. So T.
Willy and I will cheer on the Bulldogs and MK tomorrow night.

More great days!

We all had good days at school again. T. Willy's had a shaky start.
When the Big Man works early, T. goes to his former preschool for
morning care. I really thought that would be easier than riding the
bus, but it wasn't. He shed a few tears, but they must have been
short-lived, because he said he had a great day! MK continues to like
high school. I'm actially posting while watching her wrap up her
color guard practice. Their first game is Thursday night (it will
usually be Friday) and I think they're all excited about it.

I separated T. Willy's bunk beds recently, but he hasn't had any
coordinating bedspreads. I bought him a set tonight. They were
reasonably priced, so I'm pretty happy about them. And they are
tonight's picture.

Tonight....

I asked T. Willy what the best thing about his day was. He said,
"Well, at first I didn't know Marcus, and then I did." So I'm happy
that he made a new friend. Sounds like a good day to me!

Pictures of today.

She had a great day!

MK

Here is MK walking out the door on her first day of high school!

It's official

From the time that I found out that I was pregnant with T. Willy and did the math regarding his due date, I've known that MK would start high school the same year that he started Kindergarten. That happens tomorrow.

I can't describe how I feel tonight. Emotional, sure...but not weepy, "I wish they were still babies" emotional. I'm thrilled that they have made it this far. T. Willy is so ready for Kindergarten. He reads and does math. Academically, I know he'll do fine. We don't have too many kids his age around us, so I'm eager for him to make new friends. His teacher is great; we are thrilled to have her. It's just one of life's milestones. It makes you stop and think.

MK is having another milestone: high school. This is it. Four years from now, we'll likely be taking her to college. Four short years. But for now, we'll continue to enjoy her. She makes us proud in so many ways. We are blessed.

Tomorrow is a milestone for me too: my first day teaching at MK's high school. I won't have her in class, but it's very comforting to know that we'll be in the same place.

The Big Man will be here in the morning to put T. Willy on the school bus for the first time. Please pray that it goes smoothly. Our neighbor's daughter is in 2nd grade, and she said that she will sit with him on the bus. I know the Big Man is dreading it, because he's afraid T. is going to cry. But he seems excited about it, so I'm very hopeful that he'll get right on with a smile on his face. I've asked him to take lots of pictures, and I'll post all that I can.

T. Willy and I went to the library yesterday. We picked out a special book to read tonight: Curious George and the First Day of School. MK read it to him, and I sat and listened and was able to snap a picture of it too.

Where's MK?

Start counting tubas from your right. She is to the right of the
fourth tuba. One day I'll take an actual camera so I can zoom in. I
usually forget and rely on my phone.

Go Dawgs