Remembering...

Couple years back (could be a few more, but it would take quite the effort to push through the cobwebs to remember exactly) I was trying to explain Veteran's Day to the kiddos. Part of our schooling. Part of just explaining why it was a holiday, banks were closed and Big-O-Daddy-O was off of work.

We were discussing what it meant to be a Veteran. Those who had gone before us and those still fighting today for the freedoms we so take for granted and enjoy. We got to talking and I realized there was another kind of veteran. The kind of warrior who fights, weeps and possibly bleeds as well for us on a daily basis. The kind of warrior who fights a battle that goes unnoticed mostly. These warriors fight for us in all kinds of situations and in all kinds of places but more often than not they do their fighting on their knees in the early hours of the morning, late at night, and they may even awaken in the middle of night or never sleep at all because they are praying. So as we wrote our thank yous to the veterans who fought for our country, I put pen to paper and wrote a few thank yous to the spiritual veterans in my life/family. There are two today that still stir my heart with immense gratitude and emotion when I think of them. Their bodies are failing them. Their memories may be failing them as well. Their faith still unwaivers. Their love for the Lord and others unwaivering. The legacy they have created and are still creating humbles me greatly. To my Great Aunt Dot (sometimes called Grandma Dot by my kiddos) and Great Uncle Paul, thank you for serving the True Commander and Chief and praying for all of us. As you pause to thank those who serve our country, take a moment to remember and thank the warriors who serve our King of Kings.

Because Dad isn't the only one....

A big thank you to Big-O-Daddy-O on this Veteran's Day. He may not deploy and he may not see the horrors that some do, but he does hurt with those who hurt, prays for those who are in harms way and he takes care of business on this end. He realizes it is his job to serve the guys over there (wherever) so they are not left unprotected and unequipped. Thank you!

Because I couldn't say it any better...

I will just borrow from my sister and share this link

End of Summer Cram Session

Summer got away from me this year. It seemed to speed by faster than it ever had before. This time, we spent the last couple of weeks cramming in those things we had yet to do. One of those summer fun traditions is to go to one of the many sprinkler parks in town.
So we loaded up and the kids had fun.

Then we needed them to run around and dry off. Good thing there was a playground nearby. I had my phone with me instead of the camera. Sooo, I got to playing with the settings. It is too bad you can't flip throught the pictures. It is like watching a home movie, old flip card style. :)

Well, the moms did not want to be left out. Because, we are cool, we were quick to join in the fun. My super sweet friend was demonstrating the fine art of swinging. Had to prove to the ALL-KNowing 14 year that, yes, she could swing higher than the Fun Mom!

Fortunately, we were buckled up in our vehicles before the rain started. It poured all the way home. However, we were rewarded with the most beautiful rainbows once we were home.






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Little Princess' Ninth Birthday!

So it has been a couple of months, but I finally did it!
The best part of waiting a bit to attack the pictures is the reminiscing. Sweet Memories. So grateful for Uncle Charlie and Aunt Tracy getting out there with the kids and the water balloons. Big-O-Daddy-O had a slipped disc and was out of commission. Lots of smiles and laughter. Good Birthday memories!

Does anyone have the time?

Big-O-Daddy-O and I are finding ourselves in one of those seasons of transitions.
And, well, I just don't feel that old or like I am suppose to be here already.
It doesn't seem to be time to be having some of those discussions.
And some of those transitions, I knew they were coming up, and yet, I feel blindsided.
There are some benefits though.
I prefer to sit there and ponder the benefits more than the other.
We recently went to the pumpkin patch. At least the kids and I did.
Big-O-Daddy-O had appointments to keep. I started to panic that morning in the shower. I was thinking through the day and what needed to be done. My relaxing shower left me shaken and in shock.
I was going to the pumpkin patch WITHOUT a stroller or wagon!
I have never done the pumpkin patch without one of those handy tools.
There's a place for drinks, picnic lunches and PUMPKINS!
With 5 kids that translates into 5 pumpkins!
But then there is the realization, the kids are older and good helpers, so we would be fine. BUT no stroller? ! ? When did that happen? I mean, I know when that happened. I sold them, gave them away, threw them away. Yes, we had quite the collection of them. But I had never identified the stroller with any family tradition, that is until then. Last year, BODO did the pumpkin patch. Fun Mom and I were in Ireland. See, they are getting bigger.
The trip went just fine. We even went on another field trip yesterday and it was fabulous. Just me and the kids and we had a blast. Those pics are coming. I know, I keep saying that. But we plan to sneak away as a family for a few days and well, I will probably get caught up on the fun stuff then. But back to me and the kids. That is another mile marker in our life. Since Flutter Nutter was born, I reached a threshold. I could NOT, would NOT consider going anywhere alone with ALL of them. There were a few times I did out of necessity. BUT it was too overwhelming to even discuss. But now, they are older and more independent, which can be a good thing. I am discovering the joy of exploring this world with my crew once again.
Then there is this other transition in life. BODO has declared he is having his mid-life crisis. Things happening in his body. New diagnosis. Health habits needing to be changed. But the latest has left me quite befuddled. And frankly I don't want to talk about it. He could RETIRE! What the? ? (For you grand folks reading, please, don't be offended) But retirement is for OLD people. You think about it when you are in your 60s, maybe 70s. NOT your mid (I am not late) 30s. I realize BODO is in the next decade here, but he isn't even mid-40s yet. I am not OLD. I rediscovering the joys of playing with my children and new discoveries. I don't want to talk about retirement.
Where did the time go? I would like to frankly know how this has happened in all of just a couple of minutes. Because I sure don't think this much time has passed. The 15 years we have lived in our home, doesn't even seem to be 15 years. Much less the 15 years we have been married. I can deal with the wrinkles. Mid afternoon naps and saggy arms but really, RETIREMENT? ? ? ?
So for my birthday.... Can we not talk about retirement until BODO's birthday! ? !

The BEST Quote Ever

Courtesy of Flutter Nutter:
" Girls are Gooder!"
"They are smarter"
Me: "Did you just say girls are gooder, cause they are smarter?"
FN: "Yeah! Duh! ! ! "
there you have it... girls are smarter, the words came out of a boy's mouth. :)