Today we get to celebrate Son’s fifteenth birthday.
Don’t know the plans yet, because that’s how he rolls!
Hard to believe he is fifteen, and waaaaaay taller than I am. Ok, that second bit isn’t hard to believe. He is a joy, a warm hearted soul, considerate of others, and full of plans for the future, and no parents could be prouder than we are.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SON!!! WE LOVE YOU!!! 😀
When Eldest was very young, she liked to wear pretty things. Like all girls do. We’re talking flowers in her hair, dresses, frills, the works. I loved to take her shopping and dress her up. It was like having my own living doll. Which was awesome, because most of my dolls were Barbies that I bent in half to make into “guns”.
Then Hubby decided to take over. And the feminine little girl transmogrified into a snake-charming, target-killing, bug-loving, dirt-digging tomboy who, like her father, preferred the comfort of black clothing and jeans. My sphere of influence shrank into a miniscule ring the size of a penny almost overnight. I was crushed, but hey! At least I had Little One still in my so-called grip.That lasted…oh, about two weeks. Once she saw that Eldest had her own unique style, she too, was done with me.
I just gave up...
So, imagine my surprise when Eldest asks me to take her shopping for new clothes. Now, normally I try to instill a bit of influence over what my kids wear. I am adamant about modesty, but have pretty much given up on the whole feminine thing with the girls, since every time I would try to get them in a dress I would get the inevitable eye roll accompanied by the always popular, “Moooom!!!”
Eldest: Mom, can you take me clothes shopping?
Me: Do you need jeans again??
Eldest: I want a new dress.
Me: …..
Eldest: Maybe some pretty tops to wear at school.
Me: You mean in other colors besides black, grey, or more black?
Eldest: *rolls eyes* Yes…
Me: LET’S GO!!!!!!!!
So, a dress, some tops, and heels later, she is enjoying her new look.
I don’t know how long it will last, but I will be enjoying it the whole time!! 😀
This is a great title to my post. Why? Because I am going nuts over all the stuff happening this month here at Casa de Aggie. This week brings dental appointments, tax prep, birthday party, and then, just when I thought Spring Break meant just that, I find that two kids have ROTC commitments and then family portraits, and then Son’s birthday, and after that I may be able to go out of town to visit family and deliver last Christmas gifts.
And this is all before the 18th of this month.
And after they go back to school, it’s Spring Concert season. YAY ME!!
This is what I look like, only with a sweatshirt. And clean shaven.
Sadly, the one thing I had to look forward to is no longer on the schedule, but at least the year is winding down, and the countdown goes on.
I’m just grateful to have coffee.
When is Easter?? 😉
Sometimes we fall short of it. I know I have, many times. I have been a not-so-appreciative wife. I always try to see the upside of things, glass is half full, silver lining, etc. But lately I have been morose and down about not having Hubby home. It shows when I snap at one kid for not rinsing out a glass, or when I get impatient waiting for them to do some small chore. I am so used to having some sort of communication with Hubby everyday, that when I don’t, I immediately begin to worry.
And worry sometimes leads to resentment.
I know he is in a really tough spot, both figuratively and literally. His absence here has made me appreciate how much I took him for granted, and how much I really need him. I try not to resent the fact that he extended due to unforeseen circumstances, all of which I understand. But logic doesn’t help me much when I sit at home alone waiting for a text or a call. It doesn’t help me when I read the news. So, I have to shake this feeling off, and be more compassionate about his worries, and show him how much I appreciate the sacrifices he makes for me and the kids.
Counting down the days may help, but so will counting my blessings.
The other day I mentioned that one Home Truth™ is to never “taste” anything you find on the kitchen island that you have not placed there yourself, because that is the current site of home experiments. I encourage this for the most part, especially when Eldest decides to cook. I must say, she is getting good at the whole cooking thing. I just wish she would do it more often.
Anyway, last night as I was pouring the last glass of wine for the next forty days and forty nights, I noticed that the last “experiment” was still on the counter. Here is the photo of the experiment before:
Pretty innocuous, right? Looks like a bowl of water, which is what I thought it was, and almost dumped out, until I reached inside it:
I have to thank my friend Nicole for this. These are reconstituted “spit balls” she sent Son for Christmas. This turned into a water refraction experiment which they used to explain this to their younger sister:
They get this from their father.
The drama that resulted from me almost spilling this? That they get from me 😉
Yesterday I spent the day driving in the rain. Normally that will set me on edge, because I hate driving, for one thing, and I hate dealing with idiot drivers who have no idea how to drive in the rain, for another. I must have seen the aftermath of four accidents, and several road closures, along with one bridge washout.Needless to say, by the time I got home I was beyond tired, and more than a bit grumpy.
But laying in bed after a long day, there is nothing more soothing than the sound of gentle rain falling on your roof. Thankfully, there was no thunder or lightning to disturb the dogs.
As harried as I have been, this morning finds my soul soothed, and my grumpiness gone, as I sit here and enjoy the birds singing and warbling outside, enjoying the freshness of a cool morning.
Of course, once the kids wake up that lovely peace will be shattered, but it is nice while it lasts 😀
It’s a rough week for me. This week Hubby would have been home from his deployment. Though we don’t do much celebrating for Valentine’s Day, it still hard not having him here.
So I send him a kiss…
And I send him flowers….
And my fervent wish that he comes home soon.
I would send more, but this here is a family friendly blog 😉
Sometimes I wander through the house, looking at pictures on the wall, wondering how Time passed so quickly. I see my children making decisions about what to wear, and how to style their hair, and even what kind of milk they prefer, and wonder when I was demoted from that job. I look around me and feel lost, no longer sure of my job here, or if I’m doing a good job, or even if I still have a job. I see them losing patience with me when I restrict their TV habits or tell them a certain movie is too adult or scary for them. I hear their sighs when they have to explain to me where they will be, and with whom, and when they will come home, and who is chaperoning the event. Sometimes late at night, I cry for what I have lost, knowing I won’t ever get it back, and wonder if they understand that it hurts me to see them splintering the bounds of childhood. Being a parent is not just tough. It’s extremely painful and sad. But it’s also wonderful and full of joy and happiness.
And through the pain and the fighting and the struggles, I know I would never change any of it. I only pray that when it’s their turn that they have it easier. And that they have a new appreciation for their mother 😉
Yesterday was a Red Letter Day here at Casa de Aggie. Both Eldest and Son were promoted in rank in AFJROTC. Getting promoted is a big deal in itself, but on top of that, Eldest made the rank of Cadet Captain as a junior, and Son was promoted two ranks for his service, from Cadet to Airman First Class.
They worked hard and are very involved in ROTC, and I’m proud to say they are fine examples of the program at our school. What they learn will help them achieve success in their future, no matter what path they take.
If only they would work half as hard on their rooms. That would be awesome!!
This morning found me sleeping in well past the time I usually get up, though I did manage to let the dog out at 6 AM and crawl back to bed. I didn’t have much of a quiet time as usual, but I figured the kids wouldn’t be very loud anyway. Which was nice, because at least I got to enjoy part of my day, before Little One and Eldest ruined it for me.
Me: (holding Little One on my lap) I remember when you were a baby, so adorable.
Little One: No you don’t.
Me: Yes, I do!
Little One: No, your memory is not that great…
Eldest: Oh, c’mon! Mom’s like, 50 years old. She’s entitled to not have a great memory.
Me: …..
Girls: (laughing and giggling).
From this day forward, Son is my favorite. At least until such time as he screws up like his sisters did 😉
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