Still Practicing!

Ok, the last 5 days has been interesting to say the least with Arick gone on his trip. I have been tested...and I might be passing, I don't know about with flying colors but I am getting through it! My son is now leaving DC today for Phillie and NYC which means he will be home in 3 days. But, today really doesn't count since it is almost over so actually 2 days and if they fly in on Saturday at 10:15 AM that day doesn't really count because he will home HERE before 1 PM so 1 day really. I can live with that...one more day...one more FULL day.

His girlfriend/prom date stopped by last night for a few minutes. I haven't seen her all week so that was fun and she also brought along her prom dress to let us view! She had it made with love by her grandma and it is adorable. Yes, camo can be cute! Here is a preview and I will post 'real prom pictures' in a week or two but this is a taste of the dress. Which will match Arick's vest and tie...

















I hope for better pictures next weekend! She wasn't cooperating with me last night (typical kid huh?!) but she made a promise for prom night...time will tell.
I will have Faith and Hope for pictures for the Love of mom!

Easter...

What a rat race...LOL. Arick left for DC at 2 AM Easter morning so getting to bed that evening was a challenge...staying awake was a challenge too! Once I made it until 1 AM I figured I would do fine. At 1:30 we left for the school to meet the bus...and I did fine. He was nervous because we don't get out much so flying was new to him. (details on that follow!) We (his dad and I) said our goodbyes and did the hugs...my son even initiated those! ;) I text him on the way home telling him to have fun and relax without us hollering at him all week and to spend the money we gave him WISELY. He answered so I was fine with that also...however, I walked in the door and totally broke down. I felt like I had just dropped a little puppy on someone's doorstep, rang the bell and ran away. (I remember my mom telling me this when she took me to college...she told me months after that but still...) I was in tears. I do cry when my kids leave for a week to camps or when I have left them for a week at a time for meetings or to go to Mexico but this time he was leaving me. (and I wouldn't dream of crying in front of them because that would make them cry!)
I know this is good practice for next fall when he leaves for college but he would be IN STATE for that and I wouldn't have to worry about cell phone roaming minutes or leaving him in the hands of a teacher. AND yes, he is 18 and has to take care of himself but does that mean he won't need me when he comes home? Am I being a drama queen here? Or does everyone feel this way the older their children get? I know my mom always worries about me...and my husband, and my kids, and my siblings and their families...so I guess this will never end. I cried and got done with that and about the time I decided to doze off for the evening my cell phone received a text from Arick! YEAH...oh no, they aren't in the air are they? Did he get sick and decide not to go? WHAT TIME IS IT? Ok, Dana look at the message..."We are waiting to board and I am going to turn my phone off. i will text when I get to Denver or DC. Love U." Hit reply--Love you too and will wait for a text when you get to Denver...remember flying is cool so don't worry!-
7:45 AM--"This is sweet!" Hit reply--"So you like the flying? You got nervous for having too much fun huh?" Hit New Message..."And your ears are ok?" (all moms would ask that right?)
He has since text pictures and is having a GREAT TIME so far and I know this is an experience of a lifetime for him and he will never forget it...and neither will I...my oldest is growing up...and yes, I cry but that's ok...someday he will add more people to my list of worries so I will never run out of things to cry about or for! :) Faith, Hope, & Love!

15 years later...

I love and miss you Dad...so much.
Faith, Hope, & Love! Pucky

My Baby Cha!

I feel terrible that I highlighted two kids and not my third so I need to add her to the mix! ;) My 11 year old is my helper...always wanting to please! Last night she had the dishes done for me when I got home...the kitchen cleaned and the dog fed. What a girl! Chania--the CH makes a SH sound and the name ends up being like Shania Twain. Long story short we decided on our son's name being my husbands name with an A...(Air-rick) then the daughter comes along and we had loved the name Becca (not Rebecca...just Becca) we thought we would only use one name when we are going to call her that anyway so we just stuck to Becca. So, when the third one came along I had a pattern going --for all you quilters! I do kind of know a little! ;) So, with my A, and B I needed a C...point being that Shania needed to be Chania instead. So here is my 'baby' Cha!

Some of 2007 Memories

Here are a couple pictures...one of my son and daughter mentioned in the previous post...and one of our family at Christmas 2007.

Birthdays/Anniversaries

My middle child (Becca) turned 14 this week! WOW...time flies! She has blossomed into a beautiful young lady (if I do say so myself!) and is really surprising me! I always looked at her as one of my little girls but the last year or two she has become a real young lady. It is an exciting experience and yet frightening... But her birthday (and all my children's birthdays) bring back some wonderful memories of the days that they were born or even just their 'firsts'. First steps, first teeth, first haircut (which with my little cue balls took YEARS to accomplish!), first days of school-which now will be the last day of high school this year for my oldest child/son (Arick), first time taking a driving permit test... So many things to reminisce about.

Reminiscing about family and as I mentioned anniversaries...some of those anniversaries aren't as good of memories...

Anniversaries in March that come to my memory are my dad's death...15 years ago. A year before Becca was even born! The wonderful grandpa/poppa that she never had the honor of meeting. I look back and think that it was just yesterday when he taught me to drive the 3-speed '67 Plymouth that was my grandpa's! And now I have a daughter that will soon be driving (not this week though!). Thinking about the driving and all the wonderful moments that we spend with family and friends is comforting. Every minute is precious...we never know what tomorrow will bring...but we always have to cherish the time we get with each other. And Life Goes On...

Thought for the day: If you think that the world can't go on without you, stroll through the cemetary and see the others who thought the same.