The end of the school year post before the beginning of the year post, and I can't stop crying.

I can't even wrap my brain around this blog, and I can't begin to say how frustrating it is to be so far behind. I haven't teared up about having one in middle school and one with peach fuzz on his upper lip until tonight. It took feeling so completely behind to cause the waterworks to start. 

My daughter graduated from 5th grade in the Spring and my son.....2nd Grade.  I'm going to dump a bunch of pictures on here and try to create some semblance of an order. Maybe I'll even add to them as I find them buried on multiple computers. Kids, just remember you had a great last year being together in the same school for the last time almost EVER. You get one more chance as a Senior and Freshman. How's that for crazy?

Spring Violin Recital

 Our friend, Dena.

11th birthday party.

 
So thankful for good friends.

 Our favorite 2nd Grade teacher.

Last day of school.



5th Grade Graduation.



Poppy



Ama

 

We love you, Mrs. B.



New haircut, another recital.






 
Another day, another magic trick.

Catch up post, part 2.

(Continued from December)...

So, school started and I found myself living with a 5th and a 2nd Grader. Kids, here is your year in a nutshell.

Inherited my brother's dog for a while. He eats and stares. All day. Every day.

Son, you were an elephant in your school program.

 I'm obsessed with your ears when they don't have giant fuzzy flaps covering them.

This was over the top sweetness.

Greyson met some people with lots of hair…and electric violins.

This guy with hair started the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

2nd Grade field trip to the pumpkin patch.

For Fall Break we stayed in some spider infested cabins in the middle of Arkansas. 

It was real, Ozarks.

First piano recital in a Dorothy costume. I can't think of a sweeter picture.

Also appropriate trick or treating attire for two best friends, two very distinct personalities. 

Worst costume ever. The headless one, that is.

One Sunday in October. From a Youth Orchestra concert to Dad's Spaghetti Eddie show.

Fancy concerts with Ms. Dena at the Skirvin.

Mall recital.

More staring.

Christmas parties.

G asked for his first hipster haircut. I died a little.

January recital. NEVER doing December again. Perfect time of year!

Christmas break waffles with friends.

Basketball with Poppy. This kid's team only lost one game the entire season.

Valentine's Day Parties. LAST school holiday party EVER. 

Deodorant and Clearasil here we come.

Oh yes, my daughter owns an animal that rarely blinks. It's creepy.

Sweetheart ball.

Living History Museum and friends since Pre-K. 

I figure if I keep taking pictures of these sweet kids, maybe one day they will start speaking. ;)

Snow day last week. First batch of (organized) solo cookies.

2015…..to be continued.

Good grief, the guilt. A 6 month summary for the three people that care (and a new beginning).

The other day my daughter asked me what some of her first words were. And what color and texture her hair were. And when she lost her first tooth, etc. etc. etc. My heart went into my stomach because I couldn't remember anything. I was terrible at baby books ten years ago. I'm terrible at baby books now. A decade ago the cool thing to do was still to head over to a sterile room at the mall and prop your babies up on giant letters on white linoleum floors. We didn't have photographers meet us in the woods, we didn't do lots of frilly things that would make our children giggle and reminisce about warm, fuzzy childhood memories. At least I didn't.

The one good thing I remember doing for my kids was starting this little corner of the blogosphere and documenting every little thing they ate, said, did, didn't do, wish I would have done, trips we took, sicknesses we had, teeth we lost and pets and ice storms and friends and school and and and and and.......

And I got busy. I did so well for seven years and I got an itch. An itch that told me my kids were too old and I had nothing to say. If I did have anything to say I stuffed it deep down inside and dealt with it in my own time. No need to rush over here and post every sappy thing I think or sweet thing the kids say. They are too old, they deserve their privacy, and I'm time-less. Like not a classic beauty timeless, but quite honestly without time. Or care.

It's Christmas break and I have TIME!!!!!. After Christmas break when I have no time, I will make time. These fleeting memories of our lives and childhood(s) are too precious to be forgotten. 

So this is update too long in coming. It's been a great (six) months. You are bigger, you are older, and you are still perfectly messy and insanely sweet all in one breath. I love you, and I promise not to drop the blog ball again. 

Love, Mom.

p.s. After going through pictures, I'm already sweating. A lot. Going to break this up into two posts.

I present to you: Summer of 2014.

End of the year violin recital. Beauties (and the beasts).

Mother/Daughter Bach Double

Charlie, a birthday present for a certain 10 year old little girl.

Arts Festival. Playing violin (and basketball) on street corners.

Church Camp. Everyone came home alive, no third degree sunburns and minimal tick bites.

All in all, a success.

 Back home, pogo-sticking with tarantulas. Pogo sticking was a favorite summer activity.

As was watching first Drive-In Movies. Maleficent....

Erick had an awesome 1978 Ford pickup with no A/C. 

When we weren't sweating to death, we were taking selfies for posterity.

Diaper buddies and a zoo trip. I love these four.

So we went to violin camp in Austin, TX. 

Now all of the siblings are playing violins, and my son finally has a friend to goof off with.

Us.

A week of spending blood, sweat, tears, and $$ at violin camp requires a trip to the ocean.

FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER!!

Galveston

Pleasure Pier

This little girl wanted a haircut. 

She loved it. 

Months later she wants it all back. 

First Church Camp totally away from Moms. They did great.

I blinked and this happened.

Last day of summer, 2014. Frozen yogurt with friends.

First day of 2nd and 5th grades. I'm going to need some Kleenex around May. 

Graduation here we come.

Going to give it a few days to let the dust settle on this post. 

Soon to come, Fall/Winter 2014.........