Time Flies

I have neglected this blog.  Certainly not on purpose, but mostly because life has just been flying by the last year. 

The oldest received his Master's in May, 2014 and the youngest received his Bachelor's the same week.

The youngest started working on his Master's in August, 2014.

In September, 2014 I went on a cruise with one of my adopted daughter's to Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel.

The oldest married in October, 2014.

2014 seemed to end in a blur with the holidays and work.

So far in 2015 I have finished the second phase of a big project at work.

My youngest adopted daughter received her Master's in May, 2015.

I have just returned from wonderful trip to Bella Vista, Arkansas.  I fished every day but one, I didn't catch enough fish, but I was relaxed and enjoyed being on the lake.

I am in the process of rearranging parts of the house and doing a huge clean up of old items. 

Life is good.

It is So Hard on the Mama

I really hate that all my boys (biological and adopted as part of the family) are no longer within a few miles of the house.  I know they are adults and have their own lives, but it makes it so hard on me when they reach out to me.

It always seems to start off with a text, no matter which boy it is.  "Are you up?"  I always say "Of course." and then there is the inevitable "Okay if I call?" and I always answer "Yes."  Then there is the phone call 

Sometimes the phone call is because they are angry, but most of the time it is because they are upset, and need a shoulder. The worst calls are when they are crying so hard I can't understand them and I have to have them repeat themselves several times before I know what is going on .It tears my heart out.

I really hate not being able to look them in the eye to assess the situation, and then give them a hug.

I know they have to go off on their own and be the men they are meant to be, but I wish it didn't have to happen so soon.

 

WOW! What's Up with That?

WOW, I heard from both boys today.  The oldest texted twice, and the youngest called and talked to me for 40 minutes. 

Unless I am feeding them at a restaurant, it is very rare for me to hear or see both boys in one day any more.  

Wonder what's up with that?

I Did Good

I must say "I did good" this afternoon, and I had a great day.

The day starting off with Loni and me going to Frisco to the Farmer's Market.  It was a nice cool morning, and I enjoyed walking around and talking to the vendors. I really liked the band that was playing over in the corner, Dr. O's Medicine Show.  I ended up buying some very nice fresh green beans and filberts for me, honey sticks and triple chocolate cake for the youngest since I was expecting him home.

After a brief stop at Lowe's, it was home for the morning and to wait for the boy to come home so he could do a few chores for me and then get his treats.

Around 1:00 P.M. I received a text that the boy was not coming home.  Bummer. I texted back and asked if he wanted dinner at Red Lobster, and received a yes.  I few messages back and forth with Loni and an early dinner was planned.  

I had Loni text the youngest once I picked her up to ask his apartment number and tell him I would be entering the apartment bringing gifts. The oldest has lived in this apartment for over a year and I have not seen it, and I never bothered to see where the youngest lived all last year, so I thought it was time to check it out.

I was quite surprised when we arrived at the apartment to find my oldest and his girlfriend there.  I though they were at her apartment this weekend in another city.  I immediately invited them to dinner too, and they accepted.  I told them I wanted a tour of the apartment first which sent the oldest into a frenzy.  

This is where "I did good."  Oh my goodness.  I can't even begin to discuss all the things that made me want to scream in that apartment.  The kitchen alone ... well let's just say I am shocked I didn't end up in the back of an ambulance with an oxygen mask on from hyperventilating, which is what I do when I am overwhelmed by disastrous  messes.  Now Loni and I have been saying all along it would be like Oscar and Felix in that apartment, but "oh my."  

The youngest's room looks like he lives in a prison cell.  Bare minimum of belongings.  Closet extremely neat.  Bathroom smelled like Clorox, no whisker shavings any where.  Other than being dark, it wasn't horrible.  

The oldest's room, bathroom, and closet ... it is better I do not described what I saw, but "I did good" and kept my mouth shut.

We had a lovely dinner at Red Lobster with fun conversation.  I will admit to asking the boys if they needed garbage bags.  They said they had some.  "I did good," by not asking them if they knew how to use them.  It was on the tip of my tongue though.

After dinner there was a side trip to JoAnn Fabrics where the oldest, his girlfriend and I went in, and Loni and the youngest stayed in the car.  To purchase enough items to get my $5.00 discount, I bought a hanging kitchen towel decorated with candy corn, gag housewarming gift for one of the oldest's friends (guy hates candy  corn).  As we were going out to get back in the car, the girlfriend told the oldest he should get a hanging towel for his oven door in his kitchen.  His reply was "I have one hanging on there."  This is where I wasn't so good.  I asked him "How would you know."  He looked at me and said "You couldn't resist could you?"  My reply was "Come on now, I've been really, really good, but you didn't actually think I would be able to leave you without at least one comment."

I predict I will have nightmares about that apartment tonight and many nights ahead.  At least it wasn't as bad as the one where the oldest lived with 3 of his friends.  I went to the door there one time and when Stewie opened the door all I could see was a huge pile of full black garbage bags.  The dumpster was not close to the apartment, so even though they bagged the garbage they did not take it out.  I told Stewie to send the oldest out, then I turned around and left.  I never went to the door of that apartment again.   

Thank goodness the youngest isn't a slob too.  

 

Badger Badger - Boys

This reminds me of when all the boys are in the Man Cave and it makes me laugh.Yes, we are an odd bunch, and proud of it!

Empty Nest ~ Again

As of about three minutes ago my nest is empty again.

The youngest loaded his car and headed off to the apartment he will share with his brother. An Oscar and Felix situation for sure.

This is truly the end of summer for me.  All the boys have moved on to their "real" lives.

My oldest starts graduate school and his position as a TA (Teaching Assistant). Not that he is around much any way, but we did see a little bit more of him over than summer than we do during the school year.

The youngest begins his junior year of college.  His class schedule is very challenging and he is sure to be stressed.  It is a lot for an 18 year old.  If he stays on this track he will graduate college two years younger than his dad, his brother, or I did.  Should prove interesting.

The dancer, and one of my favs, has moved to Pensacola, FL.  He will be dancing for a living which is what he really wants to do for as long as he can.

Army boy is in Korea for two years.

Redhead is working and engaged to get married in 315 days if I subtract one from the days his fiancee told me last night.

Redhead's brother is going to start his freshman year of college.  (He is a great friend of the youngest and my fav of that age group.)

The nest is even empty of the adopted girls this weekend as they are on one of their road trips.  

Don't be sad for me though.  I have plans for the day and evening.  I have just been waiting for the youngest to get out the door so I can start on my own little adventures for the day.  

All is good, just quiet.  Well, quiet until I crank up my music. :)

What a Happy Night

This was a very happy night. 

It started off with my usual Friday night dinner date with Loni at Los Charros and we were blessed with Mina and Stan's company tonight.  

After dinner it was home because Kyle, our Butler Grad/Professional Dancer, was home to finish packing before moving to Pensacola, FL on Sunday and he was to come to Mama's for an evening with the the gang.  Now I will admit he is one of my favs because I am just closer to him.  He had I have shared some very special conversations and he will always be in my heart.  So I was looking forward to my hug tonight.

Before Kyle arrived, Stewart and Sarah arrived for the evening and brought me a special gift, Stewart's brother Casey.  He is another one of my special boys and I have not seen him all summer, which meant he had to hug me extra tonight.  I love that kid.  He is looking good and will be starting college on the 27th.  

Sarah settled in with Loni and me to work on her quilt.  Loni is in the process of doing some Christmas knitting which includes a black scarf for me.  I was working on ten minute table runners as I had one commissioned for Monday.    As we all worked on our different projects we watched Music and Lyrics.  While the boys played Civilization in the Man Cave.

It was a very happy night for the Mama.  

I will miss my dancer boy something fierce, but I am very happy for him.  

Not sure how Loni and I will deal with the depression come August 26 when everyone has moved back to campus,.  It sure will be quiet around here.

One Down

Army boy's leave is over.  He leaves at noon today.  He was here until 4:30 A.M. this morning.  I didn't last that long, but I was up listening to them all laugh until 2:00 A.M.

He will be in Korea for 2 years.  We are hoping he will be here for the redhead's wedding next summer.

I will miss his stealthy self.  I was getting used to the nightly scare when I would turn around in the kitchen to find him getting water out of the fridge.  That boy never makes a sound.

Yes, I know that at 22 he is really a man.  But they will always be boys to me.  

My Guys

Not the greatest pics, but trying to get these four/five guys to behave for a picture is almost impossible.  First we had to get one to come out from under the table, and then when he did he kept moving so most of the pics are blurry.  The next challenge was to get them all with their eyes open since they kept laughing and the red headed one almost always closes his eyes when he laughs. 

No matter what, they are my guys and I love each and every one of them.

One is under the table

Aww, we got him to come out

The 4 Amigos, All College Grads, All Employed

One More Week

All the boys were here last night except my oldest.  

The laughter was loud, and my heart was full.

It will come to an end very soon.  Army boy heads to Korea after next week.  Dancer boy is moving to Florida. I am so proud of both of them.  

My the end of August my house will be empty again, and my heart will break a little.

Out of the Mouth of Babes

Last night was midnight breakfast with the boys.  I took the opportunity of having them both with me at once to tell them about my relationship with Randy. 

Their response was very interesting.  They both asked me if I was happy. When I said I was pretty happy they said that was good and they were happy for me.  

I wasn't quite buying the all is good thing by the looks on their faces so I asked a few more questions and this is what it boiled down to for both of them.  They are happy for me, but I should not expect them to like Randy.  The youngest even said "If he is a prick, I am not going to like him." I told them that I did not want them to stay away from me just because they didn't like the man in my life, and no man was worth coming between us.  I also told them Randy has told me repeatedly he will not come between the boys and me. I explained that whether they liked Randy was up to them, but that I did expect them to try to get to know him if they were ever given the chance. 

After that discussion I let it go and we went on to have a loud laughter filled breakfast.

Around 3:00 A.M. I was in doing laundry and the youngest came in to help.  I told him I was a little disappointed that he thought I would be interested in a "prick."  He explained that he had no idea what type of man I liked.  I asked him how he could say that when his dad was not a "prick."  Then my youngest said something that made me so extremely sad.  He said "How would I know that about dad?" The youngest said he didn't think you could really know what a person was like until you yourself were old enough to understand.  He said that he was just now at the age when he could discern what a person was like, so he couldn't comment on his dad.  I spent some time crying over that one.  

Day Two of Birthday Celebration Weekend, 2012

Day two of our birthday celebration weekend started off with a text message from my friend Nancy telling me that the oldest was in the Dallas Morning News again, so I had to text Loni and ask her to bring a copy along with her when she came over for breakfast.

Breakfast was homemade buttermilk biscuits for all and cheesy scrambled eggs for the oldest, Loni and me.  After breakfast it was time to open presents, all of which were very nice. The boys then went to play the game the oldest received while Loni and I talked.  

Once the boys finished their game, it was time for family game time.  A couple of games of Qwirkle was followed by the boys teaching Loni and me how to play Citadels, and then we played a couple of games of Split.  Loni really enjoys messing with the head of the youngest during game play and I really enjoy watching his response.  During all of the game play I also won a stare down with the youngest, not an easy feat these days.  

We all went to Chili's for dinner. I had to laugh because my youngest always orders the same thing and our waiter actually remembered that it had been about five months since we had been there and even where we sat the last time we were there because of my youngest's order.  

Once home we watched an episode of Lost in Space and Loni, the youngest and I had cake then Loni left after the show to work on homework.

Now the boys are playing games and I am watching my shows.  

It has been a wonderful weekend.  I love having both of my boys home!

 

 

Day 1 of Birthday Celebration Weekend, 2012

The boys are both home this weekend to celebrate my oldest's and my birthday next week.  

Now I have really wonderful boys who are very good about doing anything I ask them to do around the house, but it is extra wonderful on my birthday weekend and Mother's Day weekend because they do anything I ask without complaining.  They came home to a list this weekend.  

This morning we got up early to go the Art in Bloom on the McKinney Square.  After the late night run to IHop, no breakfast was required, so we were able to get out of the house at the designated time.  

I will be the first to admit that Art in Bloom was a huge disappointment, but we did see some interesting characters. After walking around the square for about an hour we had seen it all and were ready to leave.  I chose to drive out of the downtown McKinney area by going by my  co-worker's house so I could show the boys she lives with her wonderful husband.  As we drove by, my friend and her husband were out in their driveway so I stopped so the boys could meet her husband, plus she had never met my oldest.  We all chit chatted for a few minutes before the boys and I hit the road again.  

We had already planned to have lunch out, but it was still too early, so I headed over the Lowe's and purchased the dirt and roses I needed to turn our turtle pond into a rose bed.  Now the youngest had the chance to really grumble when he picked up the bag of cow manure and it was all wet and nasty, but he didn't, he just asked if I had something to put down in the back of the van.  I was very happy at the checkout lane to find out that the gift card I had totally covered my purchases.

The next stop was lunch at San Miguel's, my favorite Mexican restaurant.   We had a wonderful meal, and great conversation.  As we were leaving the owner asked the oldest how old he was now.  My oldest explained he was about to turn 22 and then the owner said he thought that was about right because they were getting ready to have their 20th anniversary of the restaurant and he had watched the boys grow up.  I can't believe that it has been 20 years since I have been eating at that restaurant!

We came home after the restaurant and the oldest finished the tax work for me while the youngest planted my new rose bed.  Then the youngest made my Red Velvet cake using my mom's recipe while the oldest finished fixing my phone.  Once all the chores were done I introduced the boys to Twin Peaks, and then they had their friend over and I spent the rest of the evening watching television, hand quilting and baking my oldest an apple pie.

It was a great celebration day!

Friday the 13th, April Style

I had a lovely Friday the 13th.  

I started the day by picking up my friend Laura and driving McKinney to go to Happiness is Quilting so she could buy some fabric for a wall hanging she is making her brother. I was very good, I didn't even consider looking at the fabric.  After Laura made her purchase, we decided to walk around the square and visit the different shops. It was overcast out so it was not too hot to be walking around.  We went in and out of many shops and met some interesting people.  

After a couple of hours in McKinney we headed back to Laura's where we chopped up veggies and made a very nice salad for lunch.  A little more chit chat and it was time for me to head home.  

Once home I was blessed with a visit from my youngest as he needed Magic the Gathering cards for my oldest for Friday Night Magic.  We sat around and talked and watched one of the shows I had on tape before he headed back to campus,

Since the boys decided to make this our birthday celebration weekend, I went to the store to get supplies for Red Velvet Cake and Apple Pie. I also stopped by work to make sure everything was set up for a Saturday meeting.

Once home I had planned on taking a nap, but I got involved doing something else and then there was no time for a nap because I wanted to get up to TheGallery8680 in Frisco to see the 101x101 exhibit.  About 30 minutes before I was set to leave, Laura called and asked if she could go with me as she suddenly found herself alone for part of the evening.  Of course I said "Yes" and it wasn't long before I picked her up and we headed to Frisco.  There were not too many submissions to the exhibit that excited me, but my friend Kathleen had a green teapot and cups, so  I got to see those, and a couple of collages I liked. We were only there about twenty minutes.

Laura was kind enough to wait in the car while I ran into Target to make a return and then I took Laura home and came on back to the house.  I watched television until the boys came home.  Of course the oldest hadn't been home more than ten minutes before he had to go talk to the girlfriend so the youngest and I watched a favorite show and waited.  During the wait time I determined that neither one of them had eaten, so I suggested to the youngest that we all go to IHop since I hadn't had anything to eat either.  Once the oldest was off the phone, we all hopped in the van around midnight and off we went.  I had one of their light breakfasts with egg substitute, turkey bacon, toast and fruit.  The youngest had 2 orders of buttermilk pancakes, and the oldest had the "Split Decision Breakfast*  A hearty combination of two eggs, two crispy bacon strips, two pork sausage links, two triangles of French toast and two buttermilk pancakes." The youngest ended up not being able to eat 4 of his pancakes and the oldest finished those off too.  It was amazing to watch him plow through all that food.  

Once home we watched the newest episode of "Grimm" before heading to to bed. 

It was a great Friday the 13th.

Words to Live By

One of my tasks at work today was to take a quote A.A. Milne wrote for Christopher Robin to say to Pooh and make agape for Kairos Outside.  While working on the agape I couldn't help but think back to what Winnie the Pooh has meant to my family.  We did not use the full quote on the agape piece, but the full quote is appropriate here:

“If ever there is tomorrow when we're not together... there is something you must always remember. you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we're apart... I'll always be with you.” ~ A.A. Milne.

When I was pregnant with my oldest I read him "Winnie the Pooh" stories every day.  When I wasn't reading to him Raymond was playing classical music to him.  Then when I was alone I would sneak in some good old rock and roll and country, because after all I wanted him to be well rounded.

I still remember the day Raymond took the oldest for a walk around the block and came back with a stuffed Pooh and a baseball bat they had bought at a garage sale in the neighborhood.  I really freaked out to see that stuffed Pooh, all I could think about was germs, lice, bed bugs, etc.  Of course the toddler boy did not want to give it up to me, but Raymond finally convinced him to let me wash Pooh.  

Pooh was soon a favorite stuffed animal.  My mother, GiGi, even made Pooh a couple of new shirts since the one he had was a little ratty. 

We continued to read Pooh stories, and had a collection of Pooh tapes that would play every night as he went to sleep.  When the youngest came along he was exposed to Pooh too, but he never had the attachment that oldest did to the stuffed Pooh we bought him when he decided he must have one too.

That old Pooh still sits on my oldest's bed, and I am know he still brings him lots of comfort.  

The oldest and I cannot listen to "House at Pooh Corner" by Kenny Loggins without bursting into tears. 

It just brings back too many memories of Raymond. 

Yes, Pooh will always be a big part of our family life.  I am going to repeat the quote here because I think the words in this quote are what I would want my boys to remember if we were no longer together, and I know from my discussions with Raymond that he hoped that the boys would live their lives by these words:

“If ever there is tomorrow when we're not together... there is something you must always remember. you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we're apart... I'll always be with you.” ~ A.A. Milne

I wish my boys still had their Christopher Robin.

Very Proud Mama

I am a very proud Mama tonight.  

All of my college children are doing very well. 

Loni has gone back for her Master's and is acing her homework assignments as in receiving 100, and 100 this week.  

My youngest is doing very well in a challenging semester.  

My oldest was involved in developing a Facebook app called EnemyGraph that is getting great attention. It has been mentioned in a podcast on the BCC and today was a feature on cnn.com.  Granted he was not the principle developer, that was a grad student, but there were only three people involved, and he was the undergrad.  It is exciting that this app is getting so much attention and this is a group that my oldest will continue to work with as he enters graduate school next semester.

Yep, a very proud Mama.

Handy Men

My boys spent their last day of Spring Break being my handy men.  

I have had art lined up in my hallway for over a year that needed to be framed and hung.  I also had a couple of pieces in the living room to hang.

The boys spent several hours framing, hanging, vacuuming, and dusting for me Sunday. 

I am very happy with how everything looks.

Spring Break 2012

Since we have the big trip to Alaska coming up, I was not able to take any days off during the boys Spring Break, but I enjoyed it very much.

It took a little getting used to having people back in the house full time, especially the sounds after I would go to bed, but once the initial impact was over it was fun.  

I will admit there were a couple of nights when the family wanted to smack the oldest, but after that everything was like old times.

Of course having the boys in the house also means having their friends in the casa, which always makes Mama happy.  

Unfortunately two of my favorite boys couldn't be here over Spring Break and I had to mourn them a little.  The one is in the army and the other couldn't make the trip home from Butler.  I have gotten used to the army boy being gone, but this would have been the last Spring Break with the Butler boy.  He will graduate in May and most likely end up in New York, or some place else far away.  That is going to break my heart a little.

I am blessed to have such wonderful children in my life, both by blood and through friendship.

How Long Before They Would Notice?

Okay, I get it, my boys are men now, 18 and 21.  The oldest has not lived at home on a permanent basis since he was 16, and the youngest has not lived at home on a permanent basis since he was 15 because of the school they chose to attend.

They both have the own lives and I am proud of them. 

All that being said, I am beginning to wonder just how long it would take for them to notice if I moved out of the house.  

The youngest comes home almost every weekend, but I think if he came home and I wasn't here he would just think he forgot I told him I was going to be away.  

The oldest comes by so seldom, and has so little contact with me that I could probably be gone for months before he would notice.  

If I had somewhere to go, it might be a fun experiment.

I Had a Wonderful Evening

My boys are home for just a few more days.  

During the break I have seen my oldest some, but not as much as I had hoped.  He has spent a lot of time with his girlfriend.  

This morning when I left for work I told the boys to prepare a grocery list and then we would shop tonight and fix dinner.  When I came home they had prepared a small list of really no food. I asked the oldest what we were supposed to eat this week and that is when he informed me he was going to spend several days with his girlfriend and therefore did not want to fill the house with food that would go to waste.  I was a little disappointed, but okay.

We decided we would have a spaghetti dinner tonight when we came home from the store.  

Usually when I shop I do my very best to avoid having to talk to people I know, but tonight it was inevitable.  When we walked into the grocery, we ran right into an old friend that was also one of my youngest's teachers, no choice but to carry on a conversation.  After a few minutes we went about our shopping.  We were getting ready to check out when I noticed the stuffed animal display for Valentine's Day.  I had to go look for the ones that play music and was just beginning to have fun playing them when I felt a tap on my shoulder.  It was an acquaintance that I always do my best to avoidr.  My boys even take tactics to avoid her.  No choice but to speak.  The boys, who had been staying away from me because they are embarrassed by how I love to make all the animals play music saw what had happened and were kind enough to come running to my rescue.  We went on to check out.

As we were coming home, the boys were commenting on my bad luck tonight. The youngest said he was pretty sure I had avoided the acquaintance during at least six previous visits.  Then he said that when he moved out and had to shop on his own, he was going to treat the grocery like a war zone and be very stealth in his movements.  Cracked me up.

We put groceries away, cooked together, had a nice leisurely dinner with lots of great conversation and then we put the food away and the did the dishes.  

The boys then had a friend over and I have spent the evening rejoicing in their laughter while IM'ing with a dear friend back in KY.  

A truly wonderful evening, but the best part was when about an hour after dinner my oldest came in just to tell me he loved me very much.  

I truly am blessed.