Independence Eve

Technically, I don't suppose Independence Day is preceded by an Independence Eve. But for the sake of this blog, it does.

We decided to celebrate Carter's birthday a day early so we could have his grandparents, aunt, uncle and cousin from the Austin side of the family over. You know I love to bake, but since Carter didn't care what kind of cake he had, I bought one. I chose the red-white-and-blue design since his 18th birthday is sort of his "independence" day. Not that he's going anywhere. I just had to personalize it a bit and call it good.

The thing about 18th birthdays is there isn't much to the gift opening. A few cards. A few bucks. The card we gave him said we were getting him a tattoo. Like it? It says, "I love my parents."

Time for cake and "Birthday Cake" flavored ice cream!

Make a wish! Unless the wish is for Mom to quit taking so many pictures!

I spread out the candles but he still managed to get them all out with one, big breath. No girlfriends! (Yeah, right.)

A snapshot with cousin Colin, who many people mistake for Carter's older brother. Can't argue that they both have that shaved hair, brown-eyed handsome look going for them!

Colin, remembering way back when he turned 18, gave Carter a scratch-off lottery ticket, which Carter can now buy. Didn't win any money, but it felt cool to do an adult thing. Enjoy in moderation, please.

You're not quite independent YET.

Changes in the Air

My sister and brother-in-law officially made it from Texas to their new home in Wisconsin today. Had to get that one last "what were you thinking" reminder about summers here. They'll figure it out soon enough.

Just relieved they had a safe trip and are here to stay. For awhile. Will be a big change for them but I hope it goes well.

In all honesty, there are finally some changes in the air on the weather front. Mostly sunny today but only in the 50s. Still, it was warm and bright enough to go to the Assumption softball game to take some pictures of the girls. Got everyone up to bat and finally a few fielding and action shots. Nothing too fancy, but at least it's something for them (and their moms).

When the girls had their game well in hand, I popped over to the boys game. They were not having as much success against Marathon. Baseball team lost by 10 runs and the softball team won by 10, 12-2. So there were only half as many happy people... even on a Friday... and even in the almost spring air.

A few of us went out to eat afterward anyway. And now we're home relatively "early" since Carter is having a fire and needs some sort of supervision. May have to flip a coin to see who stays up for that.

All the fresh air is making me tired. That, and I'm old, despite young, "new" hair. Ha.

When the Going Gets Tough, It's Time for a Makeover

Who knew 6 weeks ago when I scheduled my appointment with my hair artist that I would need a pick-me-up today!

This has been such a downer of a week. So I decided when I went for my 50 Shades of Gray removal after work, I'd maybe get rid of something else, too.

My current hair has taken forever to grow. Hubby claims it's because I get it cut too often. Really, my girl only trims off a half inch or so each time. Nothing major.

It's not terribly long, but finally beyond shoulder length. Long enough to get into a pony tail and all that, which I do like. I just had this urge to go short today. And I mean short. But the little voice inside my head said, "Uhm, yeah, Jim would not be happy with that." I think he believes women get short hair at a certain age because they don't care anymore or something. Well, I do care. I just wanted a change.

So we compromised and I only got 2 or so inches cut off. All over. So it is still to my shoulders, but feels light and fluffy and like a new look!

Sorry, I look like I'm in a police line-up. I was concentrating on how to get the hair in the frame and show it is shorter. Kind of weird to grab the back and not much is there! But I'll play around with it and see what different styles I can do with this. It seems to "body" up easier. That will be nice.

So there's my excitement for the day. No bad news. Unless Jim doesn't even notice when he gets home. Ha. And the good news is that I didn't take a cue from any of Carter's previous styles...

One month from TODAY and this little guy trades in his mohawk for a mortar board. Uff da. Lots of change going on!

Good stuff.

The Angst Over Angels

For as many times as I've seen depictions of the winged cherubim like those in Raphael's Madonna painting, it's never crossed my mind that angels that look like children could actually represent children in heaven.

I was sadly reminded of this today.

As if there hasn't been enough needless tragedy in central Wisconsin lately, the first news of the morning was of an apparent double homicide-suicide in Wisconsin Rapids – that occurred while most of us were in bed sleeping and possibly dreaming of angels.

As details were released throughout the day, we learned a father had apparently shot and killed his two young children before turning the gun on himself. To reiterate my despair yesterday, it just sickens my heart when a child is taken too soon for any reason. But to be taken in such a violent nature is incomprehensible.

I can't conceive a situation or circumstance where a child deserves to be harmed. But I do know that not everyone is equipped with appropriate coping mechanisms. In a perfect world, people would seek help instead of choosing to harm others or themselves. But we don't live in that perfect world.

We live in a world where a 3-year-old boy angel and 5-year-old girl angel were sent to heaven with their father today while their mother, grandparents, other family and friends, are forced to stay on Earth ... and grieve and endure a pain like no other.

It's sad that I know so many people connected to this family and this tragedy. I am reminded that a city of 20,000 can still be a small town. An isolated event can impact so many.

Can there be a positive from such pain? Possibly. If it can call attention to all the resources available to people who need help, maybe it can prevent further tragedies down the road. I pray that will be the case. This is just been too much in such a short period of time.

I think even God has a shed a tear. I can't blame Him.

In more ways than one, we can't blame Him.

Parenting :: The Struggle is Real

Some people think the hardest part about being a parent of a teenager is the moods, the eye-rolling, the drama.

It's not.

The hardest part is our own emotional tug-of-war between holding on to our babies in the safety of our arms and letting them go and grow. It's knowing we can't do both. It's knowing we will always love them but can't always protect them.

And it scares the hell out of us.

My heart goes out to some Wisconsin parents who lost teenagers this week.

In the national news, you heard about a shooting outside of a high school prom setting in Antigo. Two prom-goers were shot and injured. The shooter was shot before he could fire on any more students, and later died. I don't know them. I don't even know all the facts behind the incident. But I can feel the heartbreak of the parents of the shooter, who are trying to understand his motives... The concern of the parents of the victims... And perhaps an underlying fear of many of us parents wondering, "Aren't our children safe anywhere?"

Locally, a tragedy hit last evening, when a sophomore from Nekoosa left a track meet feeling ill and died a short time later at the hospital. A popular (and physical fit) athlete, it has been a shock to her family and friends. I don't know the girl or her family personally. I don't even know all of the facts behind the incident because reports have varied. I do know a lot of people who knew her, played sports with her, and adored her. They are searching for answers. They wonder as we all do, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" I feel their heartbreak.

And at the same time, am so grateful I have my own moody, eye-rolling teenager to hug for today at least.

Thank you, God, for that gift.

Thank you, God, that he is feeling normal again.

Thank you, God, for welcoming Jakob and Brandy into Your safe and loving arms. Take care of their families, too.

God Bless Texas

It has been 10 years since my sister Rayna and brother-in-law Paul moved to southern, southern Texas and 9 years since Carter and I counted down and "blasted off" to our spring break there.

Today, they woke up in their Pharr, Texas, home for the last time and now start their migration north. Not just with the birds, but for good.

I mean, until they decide to move again.

With this cold and rainy spring, part of me wonders if they've lost their minds moving from warm climes back Up North. But the rest of me is glad they have!

Starting this weekend, they will be merely 2 1/2 hours away in Hudson, Wis., on the Wisconsin-Minnesota border. Oddly enough, I'll reclaim my title as the kid who lives farthest away from home (Mom's, that is). On the plus side, I will have family within reasonable driving distance!

So glad my oldest sister lives by this motto:

Happy trails, Rayna and Paul. Can't wait to meet again!

Ain't No Cure for the Sunday Night Blues

I got the blues. In more ways than one.

It's what happens when it's chilly and rainy all day. I was forced inside to do projects that frankly, I never got around to. My big accomplishment was whipping together my mint "dough" for graduation party treats.

Managed to get 100 blue roses done this evening. Will do the white diploma mints at a later time. I made sure to wear food service gloves while mixing and making so that I wouldn't get blue hands.

Had enough of that earlier in the day. A strange but true story...

So Carter gets up around 11 a.m. and tells me not to be alarmed, but... last night his hands were turning blue and it hurt in his chest to breathe. Uhm, OK. I won't be alarmed.

His fingers still had the bluish tint this morning and it hurt in his chest if he took really deep breaths. Not constant, just deep inhales. I would have waited for regular doctor hours tomorrow if it was just the hands that may not have had circulation. But you throw in the words "chest pain" and it's off to ER we go.

We were both surprisingly calm. It helped he wasn't in pain and didn't appear to be in need of urgent medical attention. Carter had Googled symptoms so he figured he had some vascular disease called Raynaud's. He was prepared to hear that. I was only calm because I had to be. Jim was still at church so I had to be the grownup.

Since Carter doesn't turn 18 for a week, they put him in a sort of pediatric ER room. (Or maybe it was all they had left.) He was a good boy, though, surviving exams, blood draws and a chest x-ray. While we waited we noticed that the room was painted by the Assumption High School Art Club years ago. Weird coincidence!

Aren't the paintings (and patient) cute?

Even the bed was kid-sized and his feet hung over the end. Totally reminds me of the Wizard of Oz and ruby slippers peeking out from under the house. Yes, I was thinking of weird things to keep the mind calm!

So long 3-hour story short, they didn't find anything. Good news is that he cleared all the tests for potential life-threatening possibilities. Bad news is that the doc didn't know what it could be. He told Carter, "You're a square peg and all I have is round holes." So we were sent on our way and we just have to keep an eye on it and hope it was some fluky thing that will just go away on its own.

Will take prayers. If there ain't no cure for the Sunday night blues, we hope there's at least one for Sunday night blue hands.

Saturday In The Park

Due to fire – make that a campfire that Carter had and I had to chaperone from afar – I got little sleep last night. So I slept in enough to skip Saturday morning kickboxing but got up for baseball.

Today was a double-header at Nekoosa, with games at 10 a.m. and noon.

Took a hundred photos, give or take, just to keep myself occupied and warm. Just had that cool spring day thing going where it felt awesome when the sun was shining and 10 degrees cooler when the clouds came out. At least it was warm enough for a light jacket and dry enough we didn't need umbrellas.

Ended up splitting the double-header with the Royals winning the first game, 12-2, and the Papermakers winning the second by the same score. Weird.

Did manage to get plenty of photos and was home from the ball park around 2:30 p.m.

Found no motivation after that. Lucky I did my chores last night in case the campfire kids ended up inside. Today there were things I should do but didn't necessarily have to since we still have Sunday. So I did nothing and gladly accepted an invite to go across the street for a campfire of our own tonight.

As usual, it was fun and relaxing. But very, very smokey. Darn wind was sending smoke and flying embers my way. Had to shower when I got home so my pillow wouldn't smell like campfire tomorrow. Not that there's anything wrong with that smell.

Just prefer it as an outside kind of smell – accompanied by smart talk and laugh-out-loud moments with friends. That's how we do it on Blue Jay Drive.

What On Earth Day

Do you remember Woodsy Owl? Totally another flashback to "back in the day."

Woodsy Owl is an icon for the United States Forest Service most famous for the motto "Give a hoot — don't pollute!" His current motto is "Lend a hand — care for the land!" Apparently, Woodsy's target audience is children 5 to 8 years of age, and he was designed to be seen as a mentor to children, providing them with information and advice to help them appreciate nature.

I wish people of all ages would listen to his message.

To observe Earth Day today, my neighbor Cindy and I took a walk after work to get exercise and pick up trash along our route. We both wore gloves and brought plastic bags, thinking we'd never fill them. We followed Deer Road to 64th Street to Townline Road. We didn't even make it a half mile on Townline and our bags were basically full. And we still had the trip back on the other side of the road.

What did we find? Well, typical of the "spring thaw reveal" there were plenty of cigarette boxes and empty plastic bottles. I also stumbled upon a dirty diaper early on that started to stink later. We found a pair of underwear, too, and the normal mix of fast food wrappers and other trash in between.

We wanted to give the litter bugs the benefit of the doubt, like maybe it blew off their garbage on the way to the dump. But most people get their garbage picked up at their homes. And it had the appearance of being thrown out windows, according to us Woodsy wannabes. Just don't understand that level of disrespect for Mother Earth.

Our bags were filled to the max. Thank goodness we wore gloves. Yuck. Glad we could do our part for Earth Day. We encourage you to do the same.

The sad thing is that I went into town not 15 minutes after we got back and I noticed already that someone had littered along our route. Are you kidding me?

Sigh...

We don't necessarily need to leave a better planet for our children. Maybe we need to leave better children (and adults) for our planet!

Please give a hoot!

Parties Weren't Meant to Last

As a teen of the '80s, Prince played a major role in the soundtrack of my life.

I reminded a classmate today that it's so weird that 30 years ago we were about to graduate from high school and "party like it's 1999." And 1999 seemed so far away. So futuristic. Now, it seems so long ago.

Especially when the life of my "baby on the verge of adulthood" has spanned that entire time.

And now Prince and that party that wasn't meant to last are gone.

If you are around my age, you may have some similar Prince-related memories...

As a border town in Wisconsin listening to and watching media based in the Twin Cities, we all had some ownership of this rising star named Prince Rogers Nelson. Almost like, "Yep, we know him. He's from Minneapolis." So the more his stardom rose, the more we smiled, sang and danced with pride. He was ours.

Back in those days, because I am old enough to reference back in the day, we didn't have a disposable income. In fact, not much of an income at all. I had just enough babysitting money to get by. So many of us could not afford to buy records or cassette tapes. Instead we'd get our cassette recorder positioned by the radio speaker and try to record our favorite songs – like 1999 and Little Red Corvette – with the hopes Casey Kasem wouldn't talk over them during his Top 40 Countdown. (I hope the statute of limitations for pirating music has expired.)

When the Purple Rain movie and subsequent soundtrack came out in 1984, it was an amazing mix of tunes. Not only could I not afford to buy the album, but I was 16 at the time and couldn't even see the R-rated movie! Back in those days, it took many, many months before a movie came out on video – as in VHS. And you had to rent the VCR because only rich people had them! Needless to say, we may or may not have had a slumber party at my friend Amy's house to rent a VCR and watch Purple Rain before we were 17.

I never did get that whole album recorded on Sunday night countdowns. In time, I rectified that. When I got to college and was brainwashed by Columbia House to buy those 12 cassette tapes for 1 cent, the Purple Rain soundtrack was among the dozen! When technology advanced, I even burned a copy to CD. Oh crap. Is that pirating, too? Plus it's still in my "running mix" on my MP3 player.

Naturally, I had to swing home after work and grab that CD to listen to while I ran errands. Went to Shippy Shoes to buy new running shoes. Stopped at King Cone to have some ice cream with purple in it in Prince's honor (Blueberry "Yes, Please" Cake). Then to balance it, I went for a 3-mile in my new shoes. I just missed the rain storm but saw a rainbow in the home stretch.

I guess that's what it looks like When the Doves Cry.

Senior Moments :: Reality Checks

When I saw this display at Wal-Mart tonight, reality hit. I can no longer just walk on by a graduation display thinking it's for other shoppers. It's my turn.

This "stuff" is getting real!

Typically, my first thought would have been, "Oh I'm way ahead and bought my partyware already." But instead it was more like, "Ohmigosh. 2016. It's here. And it's very, very close."

We had one of our remote employees in the office yesterday and today. When she was ready to take off for home in Minneapolis, she mentioned she wouldn't be back until June. I said, "Wow. Next time I see you I will have an 18-year-old AND a high school graduate!)

Again, that's not that far away.

Just 10 days to adulthood (any gift ideas when we'll his big party less than a month later?). Uff da.

When I mention to hubby about things I still have to do, he says, "I think you're putting way too much into this party." To which I reply, "It seems like it because I keep mentioning the things I have to do but haven't taken time to DO them!" It's not more, just the same old "To Do" list that is not getting "too done."

Now that I've had a dose of reality, I guess it's go time. Only 5 Wednesdays to Baccalaureate. If I want to start counting that way. Basically, it means, get off the computer and DO something. And I will.

But the Twins are playing the Brewers again so they are on TV here again. Either I find something multi-tasking friendly to do while I cheer them on, or I figure out a way to pause time for an hour, maybe a week or month or longer.

This stuff is getting too real for this momma.

Forecast: Fair Weather Fans

I didn't want to be a fair-weather fan today. It just sorta turned out that way.

I knew in advance it was going to be cooler today. Like way cooler than the 80 degrees yesterday. Forecast called for 50s and about a 50 percent chance of rain. Still, my plan was to go from work to the 4:45 p.m. Assumption softball game nearby, then go the the 7 p.m. baseball game.

During the National Anthem, I already realized I didn't have enough layers on. Still, I weathered it out and got pictures of all the Lady Royals at bat. Thankfully, they went through the order in two innings. By then, my fingers were freezing and it was sprinkling out. So I put my good camera back in the car and toughed it out awhile longer. The girls beat the other Royal Blue team, Auburndale, by 15-5.

Not that I saw the end of it. I got a text from a dedicated mom! (I do vow to go back on a warm, sunny day to get more pictures.)

Had to go home – I swear – to wrap up some work on a freelance deadline. I was still working on it when Carter came home around 7 p.m. to bundle up before heading to the baseball game. That sort of made my decision for me. I love the coach but, yeah, I think I should stay in the warm, dry house and meet my deadline.

It's just about 10 p.m. and our Royals are leading in the 6th inning. Hoping for a win for the guys, the coaches and those all-weather fans in the stands. You all deserve it, that's for sure.

Another "Sun" Day

There's a lot of pressure on us – and our personal grooming habits – when the weather gets nice.

Today was an absolutely gorgeous "summer" day with highs just tipping 80 degrees and the sun shining ALL day. Awesome!

Managed to get a walk break in at work and it was heaven. Now the weather will get back to Wisconsin April Normal, which means cooler temperatures and rain.

But for those 3 summer days we had, I had to adjust my personal hygiene, for lack of a better label. Jamberry'd my toe nails yesterday so I could wear flip flops and not scare anyone off. Today I wore shorts to kickboxing because I knew it would be really warm in the building. My instructor said he wasn't sure he'd ever seen me in shorts. I said I wore them last summer but not during the winter, so it had been awhile. Plus, I shared, "I finally shaved my legs."

Everyone was grateful, I'm sure.

Would have been a great night to be at the ballpark but no games were on tonight. Well, not high school.

Finally got to see my lowly Twins play. Love when they play the Brewers because then it is televised here! Was actually multi-tasking with the remote trying to catch the game, The Voice and then our new favorite show The Detour (on TBS). Freaking hilarious, in our opinion!

Twins are still playing, hoping to extend their winning streak, so I better log off and get back to enjoying this Sun-day.

Even my Twins logo is sun-shiny sparkly. Let that be enough!

I Heart The 80s

With a high reaching 81, we may have set a record in Wisconsin Rapids for April 17. I know Wausau did, so there's a good chance we did, too. I love the 80s!

Slept in and went to 10:30 a.m. church today. Before I left, I did a 3-mile run/walk – this time walking one song, but running two! Also, before I left the house, Sylvester was already in the window saying, "Places, everyone! This is how you do Sunday."

I took a cue from that later! Brought Mr. Deck Chair out of hibernation. Unfortunately, the front deck had too many hornets visiting. So I spent some quality time with Mr. Deck Chair's cousin across the street. That worked!

Meanwhile, hubby was restoring our living room to a room with a view. Thanks to my 2 black thumbs, I can't grow anything around here. But, for some reason, we've had trees sprouting up in places we don't want them! So Jim borrowed his dad's mini chainsaw and got to work.

This is the "before" view. Granted, it was taken 3 1/2 weeks ago, so the snow is finally gone. But you can see we have trees right outside our big picture window – that should offer a view of the backyard.

Jim carefully sawing the little tree trunks. I had two concerns: One that he'd hurt himself with the chainsaw – even if it was little. Two that he'd disturb a ground bees' nest. It has happened to me in that same spot!

Grateful he only made bit of a mess. Nothing that required a call to 9-1-1.

And nothing that couldn't be cleaned up quickly. We finally have a view again from our window – our clean window (with an accidental reflection). Nice work, hubby! We may need to tackle a few more projects out there before returning the chainsaw. Can't decide if I feel qualified to operate it. I can barely operate a vacuum cleaner. This would be new.

Didn't have much ambition to help. Had some design work to do on the computer, then did some grocery shopping. Somehow I got 10,000 steps again today.

Just another reason I heart the 80s!

Up-Words

When you wake UP and temperatures are UP, you know it's going to be a pretty good day. When you wake UP and check the Twins' score and see they are finally climbing UP into the win column – for the first time in 2016 – you know it's going to be a pretty good day.

When they double their wins this afternoon, you know it's going to a great day! Keep on winning, Twins. You've got a long way to go!

Since I was up early, I went to our new Core-Strength-Tabata class, which turned my legs into jelly and may leave me immobile tomorrow. Uff da.

Came home from that and showered quickly so I could get back into town for book club at 9:30 a.m. Good discussion about the book Atonement by Ian McEwan, which I didn't care for, but we all had varying opinions.

From there, I headed over to Witter Field, where our Assumption Royals were hosting Eau Claire Regis in a double-header.

Since the weather was going to be nice, brought my "good camera" and proceeded to get a picture of everybody on the team, I believe, including my favorite coach! That was the UPside. The downside is that they definitely and soundly beat us both games. Darn.

I walked around taking pictures from different angles and still managed to get sunburned. By the time I got home after 4:30 and sorted through a hundred or so photos, I still didn't get Mr. Deck Chair front and center. He probably won't even be talking to me when I put him in his place tomorrow. 76 degrees is the forecast. Oh I love when the temperature has nowhere to go but UP.

Of course, the nice weather makes us think summer and, therefore, think campfires.

So we walked across the street for a neighborhood campfire / talking smart session. How UPlifting to be sitting around a fire again and not freezing our butts off. The only downside was the sound of coyotes yipping nearby. That is pretty freaky that they are so close.

Hopefully they don't like silly neighbors and campfires, or disappointed baseball coaches, or ecstatic Twins fans. Then we should all be looking UPward and thanking our stars for that!

Tax-ing Day

Although April 15 is typically called Tax Day, it is not a federal holiday or free day off of work. Unless you make it one.

I made a spur of the moment decision at the end of the work day yesterday that I would take today off. When I saw the forecast called for sunny skies and temps in the low 70s, it just sounded like a great day to have the windows open and get some spring cleaning done.

Gasp! I know... the undomestic goddess has a strange domestic side that sometimes crawls out from under the dust bunny.

So I slept in by Robyn standards and went to 9 a.m. kickboxing class. So nice compared to 5:40 a.m.! Came home and decided to wash windows first. Well, after a cup of coffee. I don't "do windows" very often so it was actually a mammoth project.

My tools of the trade were these three items from Norwex. No, I don't sell it. No, I am not having a party. I am just sharing the environmentally friendly and EASY way to clean windows. No smelly chemicals to ingest, just water. Simply wash with the green microfiber cloth and wipe dry with the special purple window cloth. Then, get the dusting glove wet and wipe across the screens. Easy, peasy and they're clean!

We have 6 windows in our bedroom alone. See the windows on the right, which are cleaned with my tools. The left are still dirty and dusty and not a completely clear picture.

Wa-laa! After water and my magic cloths, kitty has a clear view out her favorite window!

Since our windows can be "flipped" open to wash both sides from inside the house, I only had to wash a few windows from the outside. Inside I battled Asian beetles and outside it was the wasps making their spring appearance. (If anyone has tips on how to eradicate those beetles, please share!)

At least they gave Sylvester something to watch while I slaved away.

After 3 hours, 18 windows and screens were all cleaned, inside and out. It was about 2:30 p.m. before I finally took a shower. Jim had already left by then to go coach the baseball game up in Wausau. I knew I wasn't going to go because I had more to do and I can make their home game tomorrow.

When I sat down finally, after the shower, though, I was beat. I realized I'd been on my feet for hours! I had a hard time getting back up but I knew I better get more done if I took a day off to do it. So I got my dusting and sweeping and vacuuming done and some laundry. I actually hung up the clothes on the drying rack and carried it outside. Almost like a clothesline. And they dried quickly.

I know. This is sounding way too domestic to be me.

Took a walk later when my neighbor got home from work and pretty much called it quits after that. I do have a pair of Carter's pants to fix. Yes, it will require sewing. If I'm not careful, this undomestic goddess is going to the dark side!

I'll stop myself before that happens. It's been too TAXing of a day to make a habit of it.

Happy Tax Day!

Double Dipper

Even though we live less than 2 hours apart, my high school bestie and I don't see each other in person as often as we should. Granted, we have gotten a lot better over the past few years – and do try to connect when we are in each other's "neighborhoods," so to speak.

Last week, Julie informed me she was traveling for work in Madison up to Stevens Point for the afternoon (today). So we arranged that I'd book over to the Point/Plover area after work and we'd meet up to chat and chew.

So I got out of work a bit early and we ate at Chili's, which always has a little bit of something for everyone. Since I get there maybe once a year then I had my "usual," the Buffalo Ranch Chicken Sandwich. Nope, not Weight Watchers friendly, but I saved up all my points for that meal.

Even though we just talked at length on the phone last weekend, there is always catching up to do. And it's just nice doing it face to face.

As a bonus, she also brought her Nesco and few supplies for Carter's graduation party for me.

As a double bonus, you KNOW where I took her for dessert! Come on, what kind of friend would I be if I didn't take her to King Cone? Naturally, she marveled at all flavor choices – 36 today. I had a new one called Hanke Pankie, that had a mix of peanut butter and caramel. Good mix! And she had Mint On My Pillow, which is a great after-dinner dessert!

Yes, we got the small cup and nope, it is not Weight Watchers friendly either. But I think the points were reduced since I'm sharing the experience with an out-of-towner. Something like a tourism discount.

Hey, it helps me sleep at night!

Either way it was a double treat to see her and splurge with her. That's the value I was counting!

Senior Moments :: Losing It

I came across a blog today entitled: 13 Signs Your Kid is Graduating from High School and You’re Totally Losing It. I thought, what? Me? No way.

I invite you to read the whole article from Soulfeed, but here is the list part of it (and how it may or may not apply to me):

1. You’ve turned into mom-parazzi—obsessed with taking photos and videos of them throughout senior year because you’re haunted by the fact that you haven’t actually completed a photo album since their first year of life. (Tons of pictures, yes. But at least I have his scrapbooks up to date)
2.  There’s a box of graduation announcements sitting on the dining room table, but You. Can’t. Even. Go. There. (Most of those are sent so I don't HAVE to think about them.)
3. You suddenly feel guilty for EVER missing one of their sporting events and have vowed to attend EVERY SINGLE game this spring—even the “away” games. (Even very far away games.) (Pretty much made it to everything, thankfully.)
4. You stare at the atrocity of their bedroom, deeply concerned for their lack of laundry competence but secretly thrilled that they’ll soon have to face this challenge on their own. (He's good at laundry. More concerned about him making his bed AND waking up to an alarm.)
5. You start panicking and make a list of essential life skills you still need to teach them. (Still gotta work on the cooking skills and balancing a checking account.)
6. You take some stealth measurements of their bedroom and wonder how long you need to wait after they leave before it’s OK to turn it into a home gym. (No way am I changing it!!)
7. You realize you can’t afford to buy home gym equipment (or even a gym membership) because you’ve recently discovered the brutal reality of what it’s actually going to cost to send your kid to college. (Somewhat true.)
8. You contemplate setting things on fire while trying to navigate the online FAFSA process (AKA the 8th circle of hell). (Got that out of the way, thank goodness.)
9. You’re fanatically savoring their “lasts”—their last Easter at home, last prom, last practice, last game, last band concert, and their last awards banquet. (100% YES, THAT'S ME!)
10. There’s not a single day in May that you don’t have SOMETHING scheduled that relates to their graduation. (Quite a few, that's for sure!)
11. You find yourself awkwardly inserting random tidbits of “life advice for the future” into every conversation with them. ("Make good decisions!")
12. Your senior brings home a form about “cap & gown” fitting and it totally takes your breath away. (That's pretty much how it went. No requirement to call 9-1-1 or anything.)
13.  You’ve become that person who wistfully advises parents of young children to enjoy every moment because it goes by so very, very fast. (Just said that this week, in fact. Treasure them while they're young. The grow up too fast!)

Good to know I am not the only one "suffering" through this! It is joyful knowing he's moving on and has goals in life. But for now.... I'm KEEPING HIM!

Play Ball!

Waking up to 24 degrees on a Tuesday, as the picture illustrates above, can only mean one thing: Opening day for Royals baseball has arrived!

After a "cold" out last week (as opposed to a rain out, I guess), the boys finally had their first game and it was on home field.

Game time temperature at 4:45 p.m. was about 48, I think. So at least it warmed up. Still needed winter coats and hats and gloves and blankets. At least it was sunny to start. Kind of weird seeing the lineup without my boy as #9 out there, but I gotta let that go. In the photo above, Asst. Coach Austin is on the far left.

Hearing the National Anthem for opening day always brings goose bumps. Well add in the windchill, and that contributed I am sure.

Coach Ryan (left) gives final pre-game strategy thoughts to coaches Jimmy, Greg (top right) and statistician Jason (seated). He's got a great crew. Not that I am biased. And he did a good job as his first game as head coach.

Hubby coaching first base.

Low-five-ing a player reaching first.

While it was a good game, we still came out with an L, not a W. We had some awesome contacts offensively, but Northland Lutheran was one step ahead defensively and they were catching all those great, would-be hits. Dang. Left batters stranded a few times, too, so it could have been our game.

The positive in my opinion, and nobody asked, is that it was only a 3-1 loss and we have our whole season ahead of us to keep improving and capitalizing on those scoring opportunities.

Should be a fun season to watch, even with only one of my guys on the team. Plus, as some point, spring should arrive, right?

Please, please, say I'm right!