Pink Roses

boy time…

 

People think my daughter and I are clones.  She and I may look alike, but this boy is my heart.  He is me in boy form. I had a great weekend that included some quality time with him.  My heart is full and I am one happy mommy!  And the hair…well, let’s just say there comes a time when you have to “pick your battles” and this just isn’t one of them.  Besides, I lived in the 70’s and had a mad crush on David Cassidy, so it kind of works for me in a retro way :) 

Earlier this week he sent me a TEXT PICTURE of  pair of shoes with the caption “OMG!”.  I replied with 2 words “BUY IMMEDIATELY”.  He then called me and we both shouted “They are the PERFECT shoe”

The University of Alabama’s official “colors” if you will, are crimson and black and white houndstooth.  The houndstooth is a tribute to their famous football coach Bear Bryant, who always wore a black and white houndstooth fedora.  Everywhere you look on campus you will see hats, dresses, purses, backpacks…you name it.  When he found these shoes, we thought they were perfect.  Official game day shoes.  Here’s Katie in her official game day skirt…

I had some quality girl time too!  And just when I thought my day couldn’t get any better, they told me that they are coming home for Thanksgiving…I let out a big cheer…I can’t tell you how happy this makes me!  Is it too soon to start baking pies?  :)

family weekend…

It’s family weekend at my son’s school, so his dad and I are headed out this morning to see our baby…can’t wait to see him {and Katie}!  Katie’s family is driving in from New Orleans, so we are having a big tailgate cookout this afternoon before the football game.  I hope you have some fun plans for this weekend as well…be back soon!

i am…

• holding on to the last bit of summer
• looking forward to fall
• missing my boy
• enjoying my girl
• working out every day
• not losing a pound
• trying to eat healthy
• craving ice cream
• having a creative block
• uninspired
• excited about football season
• contemplating organizing
• crocheting
• cooking/freezing spaghetti sauce

what are you doing?

i was going to…

I was going to go to the antique market this morning…poke around, take pictures, find a treasure (like this little perfume bottle I bought a few months ago).  But, when I woke up this morning, I was in a practical mood.  You have enough stuff…it’s an hour away…you have too much else to do.  I hate it when I’m sensible.  So I made a cup of coffee and sat at the kitchen table and called my dad to wish him a Happy Birthday.  We talked about the kids and the weather, my mom’s eye surgery next week, the raccoon that had gotten stuck in his garage overnight and made a mess, about the squirrel sitting on the deck rail outside my kitchen window eating my leftover toast…

We chatted and had our coffee together, he in Pennsylvania, and me in Atlanta.  I told him thanks for being my dad, and he said thanks for being my sweetheart.  When I hung up the phone I was aware that I had found my treasure for the day, and it was in my heart all along.  Happy Birthday Daddy…i love you forever! xo

four…

The night before we took Christopher to school, my kids surprised me.  Paul and Elizabeth cancelled plans they had made, and Katie got a ride to Atlanta (3 1/2 hours), just so we could all have dinner together.  And they even let me take this picture!  My two + their two.  I feel so blessed to have these four in my life.  Being with them fills my heart to overflowing.  It was a very good night…

girl time…

Friday morning, Elizabeth and I got up early and drove to Nashville for the flea market.  It was a perfect day…sunny, warm, blue skies, a little breeze.  We drove for 4 hours without the radio, just talking…that was the greatest gift of all!  We shopped and met some friends, and had dinner that night with some friends of hers from college. Saturday was her birthday {23}, so we woke up early, grabbed a Starbucks, and headed home.  Another 4 hours, and a mountain top flea market stop, and we were home.

 

We found lots of treasures, like this tarnished metal compote for 50 cents, and the broken strand of pearls for a quarter…but the real treasure, I do not have to tell you.  Girl time with my first born, my love, my heart.  Talking, listening…reconnecting, and just being. A few minutes of quality “down time” with a loved one can do wonders for your soul.  My bucket is full. Try it for yourself…

treasures…

The kids and I spent a gorgeous day on Saturday at my cousins house in the country.  My cousin and I grew up living next door to each other, he is a year older than me and was my very first friend.  At some point our parents bought new homes and I moved to the city and he to the country.  Both in Atlanta, but worlds apart.  The city mouse and the country mouse.  He now lives on over 300 acres, with a huge lake and every kind of boy-toy you can imagine.  My son was in heaven!  We rode 4 wheelers…

Explored abandoned homes and barns and chicken houses…

Dug for treasures by the creek near a beaver dam…

{my sink is currently filled with old bottles, soaking in soapy water!}

We found bird’s nests and hornets nests , a wasp nest and a turtle shell.  We saw lots of animal tracks, and we stopped to smell the daffodils…

all in all what I would call a perfect day…one I will treasure forever!

Birthday Boy…

Twenty years ago this chubby delicious boy was born and the adventure of being his mom began. TWENTY years. Two DECADES.  Best years of my life.  This was a picture I took of him on his first birthday.  He crawled out the front door to find me.  I was taking pictures of the flowers in the front yard.  He was so cranky with me…how dare I leave his sight! (Elizabeth was supposed to be watching him).  He was wearing a pin that said “Birthday Boy”.  I used to put it on him every year.  I keep it in my jewelry box. I forgot to put it on him this morning when I drove him to the airport at 6:00am.  He and Katie flew to Florida to spend a week with my parents at the beach.  He just sent me a text that said “landed”.  I called my dad and he is at baggage claim waiting. My mom is home cooking his favorite things.  They were there on the day he was born, and they get him today, 20 years later.  I hope he always knows how much he is loved.  Happy birthday, Birthday Boy!

life with C…

One day I’ll write an entire post on the notes my son leaves me.  Love notes, suggestions, warnings, FYI’s. My kids grew up in the days before cell phones, and the instant “where are you”, so I ALWAYS wrote them notes if I wasn’t at home.  “Mommy’s at the grocery store xo love mommy”.  I put notes in their lunch boxes and under pillows. He’s been leaving me notes since he could sound out words and spell.  I’ve saved tons of them.  Not as many notes these days, it’s TEXTS.  I wish my cellphone inbox could hold all the texts he sends me.  I have to delete some on occasion, to make room for more, but I write them down.  Here’s my latest note, found yesterday morning as I opened the refrigerator and attempted to drink some orange juice…

He left a note in Sharpie right on the container. ( He and I are still fighting our colds).  I suppose this is a warning, and an FYI!  One of my resolutions is to write him every week at school.  I don’t think to write because he calls me every day, but his orange juice note reminded me of how nice it is to get mail, of any sort, from someone you love!

no fussing...

We got the boy moved back to college on Sunday...it was a long day, but really quite easy.  He didn't take tons of stuff (compared to a girl), and wouldn't let me help him do anything.  No fussing.  I insisted on making the bed, but that's all he would let me do.  I used to have to spend the night with Elizabeth, because she wanted help with everything!  I think he was just glad to be back and to see his girlfriend Katie again...

So now life gets back to normal...can someone please tell me what "normal" is?  Last year I lived by myself, the year before was with a teenaged son...now I am living with a 20-something girl/woman/daughter.  She and I have never lived alone together, except for the occasional weekend girls trip.  We learn, we grow, life changes, new beginnings, and hopefully she and I will enjoy our time together...with no fussing!