Even the good excitement brings on stress these days. So lately I’ve been trying to remember to stay balanced. This picture reminds me of the most important things in life.
Thank you Keisha for taking this picture!
to feel loved.
I was quietly disappointed that my party was being pushed back a day and wouldn’t be on my actual birthday. But it didn’t matter since Nathan was taking me out to dinner. At the last minute, my best friend offered to let the kids stay the night, so I was thrilled that we wouldn’t have a curfew and could sleep in before leaving for my Harrison party the next day. I didn’t notice that we were entering through a side door to the restaurant, I didn’t notice the vehicles of my friends and family…. there are a lot of things I didn’t notice leading up to the moment that I rounded the corner to see some of my favorite people crowded together yelling “SURPRISE” to me. It took me a little while to realize that THIS was the real party and that the Harrison party was just part of the plan to throw me off. It worked. They had to lie a lot, but between my sister and Dana and Nathan and my Mom, they pulled it off. Like really pulled it off. As in, I didn’t shave my legs or brush my teeth- pulled it off. And it was amazing. And I felt loved.
Then instead of our usual monthly girl’s night, I was celebrated again at one of my favorite Fayetteville restaurants, The Greenhouse Grille. I showed up to flowers, gifts, and another incredible cake, and I felt loved. After staying out way past my bedtime for post-party conversation and Chai Latte with Emily, I drove home in a quite car and thought about this past week…. and really this past year.
It’s been a really good year. I’m so lucky and blessed and happy. I’m so excited about our future, but I’m truly enjoying where we are at this very moment too. I feel like THIS is the best time of our lives, and I hope it just keeps getting better. And I’m more than thankful to say that I truly feel loved. That is the best gift I’ve received this year. Thank you.
Happy Birthday, Emma Grace!
Last night I sat on the edge of Emma’s bed to say goodnight and to carry out a tradition that we’ve had since the kids were little. We reminisced about this past year of being 8 years old and daydreamed about what this next year and being 9 years old may look like. Emma listed some things that she learned or did while she was 8 which included “reading so many books” and “learning to roller skate”. We both got excited about what’s to come this year for our family, and I got a little emotional, like always, and tucked her into bed. I’m so proud of this girl. She’s hilarious. She’s a talker. She’s a writer… an incredible writer. She’s is so caring and sweet. Her favorite movie right now is “Monty Python and the Holy Grail”. She sings along to Adele and loves her brother so much. Most recently, she changed her answer to “What do you want to be when you grow up?” from “President, Scientist, and Writer.” to “A Writer and Survivalist.” She reads every Gary Paulson Survival book she can get her hands on, and she watches “Man, Woman, Wild” as often as we let her. She’s a girlie-tom-boy. The best of both worlds. Happy 9th Birthday, Emma. We love you so much!
Lately.
Busy as always. The kids are growing. Life is good.
His first squirrel
Jacob has been asking for a Daisy Red Ryder BB Gun since March when we visited their museum in Rogers. Thanks to Grandpa, his dream came true this Christmas. So, when Jacob ran in the house yelling to me that he “got one” I started praying and cussing under my breath. Nathan wasn’t home. I went outside to see a squirrel clinging to a tree… and then falling 20+ feet to the ground. Jacob paused and then said, “It’s not dead.” I told him to shoot it in the head so that it wouldn’t suffer. He did. The squirrel twitched. I cried and cussed to myself some more. He shot it again and assured me that it was dead. That’s when the squirrel stood up on all four legs… and fell over the other way. This scene went on for longer than I want to remember and included a shovel and a very mature and brave boy ending the misery for all of us. Nathan came home and skinned the squirrel. We fried it up of course and talked about the new rules of hunting with the BB gun. Nathan has to be home.
Even though this event was a little traumatic, I’m so proud of this boy who shot his first squirrel.
Oh Christmas Tree.
I used to wish this tree was bigger and fuller and…. really… fancier. I was jealous of my friend’s trees with matching ornaments and bows that swirled from the top to the bottom. And I admit that at first I didn’t love my scrawny tree with it’s mismatched and handmade ornaments. But as my kids grew and were able to help more and more put the tree together each year, I started falling in love with my little skinny tree that could. I love that no two ornaments are the same, that there are ornaments made of Popsicle sticks and hand prints, and ornaments from my childhood. My kids are big kids now which makes all of these things seem even better. Even though the tree loses weight every time we put it up, and the pile on the floor of plastic thistles grows bigger this is the most special tree we’ve ever seen…. and that makes me so happy.
Happy Happy Christmas!
Happy Happy Christmas!
Thankful
Life is busy, and life is so good. We are very lucky to have each other, and I am feeling more thankful than ever before.
11 years.
11 years with this guy. What else can I say… I love him very much.
(Burrow’s Ugly Sweater party 2011)
A good picture.
Last month, I took a good picture. It’s not technically perfect and doesn’t meet the standards of a perfect photograph, but its content is perfect. And even though I’m not in this photo, I see myself smiling because I was so happy that day watching my 3 favorite people enjoy sparkly face paint and their second batch of kettle corn. It’s a good picture.
The Living Dead.
Happy Halloween!
