The Rainbow says it all!

The Rainbow that came when we were at the reception was just fitting of the day. Our two friends Jodi and Karen got married this weekend. They have been together for 12 years, and I was there in the beginning. So this day is so special to me also. Karen and Jodi met one another on the Internet, in a chat room. The 3 of us met one another there also, 12 years ago.

It was a great ceremony and just wonderful to see them enjoying it so much. I swear with these two it never gets old. They seem to have found what it takes to keep the spark alive. Something that isn't that easy for most.
The Cake was very cool. It was vows around the whole cake. I really couldn't get over how beautiful that was.

It is always great to go to weddings, the love you feel in that day at the moment, the memories of your own wedding day. It was fun to share with everyone and I wish Jodi and Karen many many more years of happiness.

Oh Canada!

How can you not look at that face everyday and not fall in love! Josh you are my miracle, and I love you so much. You are just amazing!!!

Tommorrow we are leaving for Canada. Two of our friends are getting married up there. They have been together for 10 years and they were trying to wait it out in the USA for it to become legal. Yep they are two womyn. But thier hopes of it happening anytime soon have been dashed.

I got an email today form K, and she told me that J's brother that was suppose to be her best man has just informed her...3 days before the wedding that he can not do it. He could not stand there while they got married, because "because it goes against God's natural law and that he can't attend a "ceremony that honors this transgression" I have no problem with any one's believes. What I have a problem with is...why in the hell did he accept this and then 3 days before back out. Was it just to make it even more devastating to his sister?

Sorry but I feel so badly for J, and this womyn has done nothing but support her brother through all his shit. And believe me, he has needed her many times.

Ok I got that out.

We are going to join friends and celebrate these two great ladies day. I am so excited I will be taking pictures for them and then doing an album for them. I just can't wait!

So have a great weekend. Be honest with each other, and it is ok not to agree with someone else's believes. Just don't pretend.

44 going on being a lady...

So some of you have been following me the past week on this little journey, this journey has been a long time coming. Dresses, nails , pedicures, it all sounds so normal to most girls. Well as most of you know....I am not most girls. Not that I am not a girl, cause I am. I just never got into all the girly things, they seemed so much a waste of time. So self centered. Now 44 years later, I finally have learned...it is ok to care about yourself..it is ok to want to be pretty.

It wasn't easy, I mean how do you do things a certain way for so many years and then just change...just like that! Well you really don't, you think about it for years, you want it for months, and then you struggle with yourself for days.

Everyone sees the leap you take, but only a few know the journey that has gotten you here.
I know that in the whole scheme of things, this is not a big deal to many. I mean nails, dressing up it is a daily routine for so many. What is the BIG deal???

Let's just say, I am no longer a child, I am an adult. I no longer need to do things with a child's mind. I get to be the adult, I get to make my own choices. I don't have to be anyone or anything that I don't want to be, I get to be who I want to be. The emotions that come with that statement are more freeing then most will ever know.

I also want to thank womyn that have come into my life. The ladies that have shown me love and compassion. You all know who you are, or at least I hope I have told you more then once what you mean to me. You have accepted me for who I am, and are also there now watching me grow and accepting this also. I owe so much to all of you, you are a big reason that I am still here seeing what this wonderful life has yet to bring.

So in about a month I will be 45 years old. A year I thought I would never see. Here I am still growing, learning, and loving. Life is truly an amazing adventure...and with every twist and turn, it only gets more amazing. So just when you think that maybe you don't want to see what else life has to throw at you.....remember this little story of a girl that is glad she has the chance to still become a lady.

Mother's day...what a special day!

Because of this sweet face! He planted me my Mother's day garden on Sunday, you see some of it behind him. This has been a tradition that Kate and Josh started about 5 years ago. I really look forward to it each year. It is so wonderful to see what flowers they will plant every year. Kate told me yesterday Josh had his new ipod shuffle playing the whole time he was planting. He is loving having his own little ipod now, I love that he loves music and he just starts dancing and singing when he is listening.

So in closing, I had one wonderful day!
Josh made it very special, and I am so blessed to have him for a son!
Hug your child tonight, tell them how much you love them.
Remember...every day is Mother's day!!

Mother's day Part 1

I wish all Mom's today a great day! It is so fun to have a day to honor Motherhood, even tho everyday is an honor to be someones Mom. (Even those days it isn't the funnest day in the world).


Today has been a dream come true.


I mean in every sense of the word a dream.


I know motherhood is a "surprise" to some, some it is a planned thing.


However you become a mom, it is truly one of the best things that can happen in ones life.


Of course this is just my opinion, but I strongly believe this.


My journey to become a mom started in 1997, when I met the womyn of my dreams.


Kate was the first womyn I had ever met that I knew right from the start that I wanted


to have a child with.
I knew I didn't want to be a single parent, altho many times I was about to give up hope of finding a partner that would be a parent with me. So I can't say I wouldn't have done it, but I didn't want to go that route.


So the week after our first date, I started with the doctor appts, making sure I would be able to have a baby. Knowing it wouldn't be an easy road, we started the long journey.





The short....2 miscarriages, 7 trys over 2 1/2 years and Joshua was born.





It was not a fun journey, but it was a priceless one. I feel so blessed every day. Even those days it feels like not such a blessing to be disciplining him, or trying to teach him a tough lesson, or watching him make a mistake...and knowing this is all part of the process of becoming the man he will become.





So this brings me to today, 7 years later when my little guy wakes up and the first words from his mouth are "Happy Mom's day"





I could have burst into tears right then and there. I hugged him so tight, he had to tell me to let him go. Josh doesn't fully realize how much I dreamed of hearing those words for so many years. I try and show him everyday how much I love him and how special he is to me. I can only hope I am doing a good job.





So after the breakfast in bed, and the golfballs, golf glove and kisses and hugs. He hands me this piece of paper they did in school. ( Always love those little things he makes in school)

So this is what it is all about, I am so using these in my scrapbook! This is part one of today, there is more to come.

Happy Stuff!

Happy Mother's Day Mom!

In honor of mother's day, I made this layout for you. Love ya!

Hope you like it, and stop crying all over the computer keys.

See ya in 6 weeks!

I FINALLY got the whole banner thing!

I can't tell you how HAPPY that makes me..it truly is the little things.

So today has been a great day so far. I hope it just gets better and better.

It is shaping up to be a great weekend.

I am going to scrapbook a bit.

Eat at the Melting Pot.

Spend time with Kate and Josh.

See, told ya it was going to be a great weekend.

OH and for those of you that are having fun with my "Piggie" post. Just wait, you are going to lose your bets. These nails have to stay on for at least a week, till the wedding. Oh also, wait for the more shocking news...it is coming. I will post a little warning, that all liquid be clear from your computer area. (Lisa, did you get that wine cleaned up yet?)

All the GREAT Moms out there, have a wonderful day on Sunday. I hope your kids hug you and if they can't be there they call and you get to hear "I love you, Mom!" Also everyone better call their Moms also!!

Ok that's about it for me...need to go check the movie listings!

Action! Lacrosse style..

So I thought I might have pushed some of you over the edge with my post yesterday, and there is more to come on that...I just have to let some of you recover.
So today on a lighter note we will go back to my favorite subject....JOSH!
I went to his lacrosse practice last night for the first time...it was amazing.
Scary.
Fun to photograph.
I have to say sending 20 something boys out there with sticks, just something you try to avoid most of the time. When trying to whack the ball out of each others nets, well lets just say the aim of a 7 year old boy is sometimes not that great. Now you know why they get all the armour.
I have to say they do have alot on for protection, it takes about 20 mins to get them all geared up.
It brought back memories of when he played soccer at 3 , and they all look like a little swarm of bees, all trying to get at the ball.
So there ya go....and I am sure there are more pictures to come.
Enjoy the sunshine today!

This little piggie...

Is all PRETTY! Yep tis the season...Spring that is. Come on ladies, don't go out there in the cruel cruel world without your piggies all pretty!
Now if you would all stop choking and laughing, those of you that have known me more then a couple years.
See, I am not exactly your "girly girl" type. (Yes I know big shock for you all)
But I have seen myself changing over the past few years. I see myself liking some of the girly stuff. I so love getting my piggies done, and (Please be seated for this)
I have made an appt to get a full set of gel nails on Monday night!
I know, I know, I was shocked as those words came out of my mouth also.
I am excited too, isn't that just weird!
I may be doing other things, but I really think I have probably put some of you into enough shock for one day...I know some of your hearts probably can't take much more.
So go do something girly! It is so much fun!!

Thank you 43 times!

Thank you to everyone that supported Josh in the Race for Education. He ran 43 laps on Friday, it was a beautiful day and he hardly stopped for the hour that he raced. He is very excited that he might have done the most laps for a 1st grader.

It was a great event, and since it is our only fundraiser all year we really go all out for it. We had 20,000 dollars already collected before the kids even started racing. Then there will be the donations of the people that supported by the lap for each child.

I know people have mixed feelings about fundraisers for the schools, and I know most of you get numerous asking for donations throughout the year. But I like this that we only do the one a year, we get good donations and it is over.

I know alot of other schools did this also this year, but kept all the other fundraisers as well. That would just be too much.

In other happenings this weekend....Saturday was National Scrapbook day and I spent it with my peeps at memory lane, pa. ( You know the greatest little scrapbook store ever!) We had a full day of make n takes, cropping, eating a even a little drinking. It was a wonderfully exhausting day. Then Sunday I took Josh up to the store and he had a class with Julie Boardman to make a little Mom book. It came out so great and here is a great shot of Josh and William working with smiles. Damn they are cute.
So I hope you all had a great weekend. Have a wonderful week, and lets all do a page about your Mom or a special woman in your life. It is a little challenge we have on our message board, and I would love to see everyone join in. I will post mine here when I am done.

Kate turns 49!

It was a happy happy birthday. 49 and she doesn't look it. She might feel it somedays but we all do on those days. I can't believe next year we will be celebrating the big 50! Also 10 years of marriage. WOW! If all works out we will be going to Alaska and having a great time. We have definitly learned that you need to do a few things on that "list of things I want to do" . I hope we have many years to do those things and also add to that list.
Josh loves giving his Mom flowers, he picked out this wonderful bouquet because it was yellow and yellow is Kate's favorite color. I love yellow, it just breathes life into anyday.
Here is my fav picture of the day. I love shutting of the lights and the flash and capturing these shots. I hope Kate enjoyed her day and presents. Love the smiles and fun we enjoyed.

Thanks!

That is all I can say.
So many of you calling, writing and just stopping by.
Kate sent me flowers( nothing to do with my blog)
I am REALLY OK!
This blog is as much my therapy as anything else.
I have always found that if I write things out, I can let
them go. I can tend to bottle things a bit here and there,
believe me I am SO much better at not doing that now,
compared to my 20's. But every once in a while it sneaks up on me
and then I realize that it is all there tucked away and I don't
like myself to do that.
So out it comes....sometimes in the weirdest of ways or times.
I found myself snapping at a friend last week, and I didn't like that.
I said I was sorry, but I shouldn't have been like that with her.

I get short with Josh, and I HATE that, he doesn't deserve that.
So anyway...I am on the up swing as they say. I am not a real
moody person. Pretty even most of the time.

I love my life, and you can love it and still have moments
that aren't stellar. You can be just fine and still feel a bit
run over sometimes. It is all good, and as one friend would
say..."Keep your sunny side up!"

So again, thank you girlfriends for your thoughts today.

Kate, thanks for the flowers sweetie...they made me smile.

On a GREAT NOTE...today was a great day for memory lane, pa
We sold out our 3 classes at CKC in 50 minutes. That was such
an amazing feeling, and Julie Boardman...as you are with the big
Mouse in Disney...I wonder if you could hear our yells of joy from up
here in PA!!!
Damn it is good to be me!!

I have nothing....

On my camera card. I have been so lazy lately.
Not picking up my camera.
Not really wanting to shoot anything.
Too tired to scrapbook, not really wanting to.
Just wanting to sleep.
Not feeling alot of passion about anything.
Very excited for Josh.
Very scared for him also.
Ready for Rehoboth Beach.
Loving all the great items coming in at the store.
Wanting to get lots done in the house.
Finish the bathroom.
Finish the Kitchen.
Actually redo the kitchen completely.
Want a real lawn, green grass, not just weeds.
Hating this annoying pain in my side.
Wanting Josh to get why he has to do his homework right.
Not take shortcuts.
Feeling very scattered.
Wondering who I can trust.
Feeling unsure of somethings.
I am ok.
It is good to write this all down.
Reflections.
Going, going, going.
Time to go.

Skittles, sportsmanship and Sunshine!

So how great is it when your homework says.... Practice spelling your words by spelling them out in Skittles! Now I know I don't remember alot about my childhood, but I think I would remember getting to spell out my words in skittles!!
Every week Josh practices his spelling words and they get to pick 3 ways to do it on their tic tac toe grid. There are such things as this , spelling them in shaving cream, cutting out the letters from the newspaper and spelling them and so on. It works! Josh has scored 100 on all his spelling test and loves to spell....so pick up a bag of skittles and let them practice spelling!

A pretty big day in the Stillings house, First Josh has qualified for MAWA Eastern Nationals. 16 of the best 60 lb Bantam will be competing for 8 trophies next weekend.... and Josh will be one of them. It was great to see how excited Josh was about this. He is ready to get in there and wrestle. SO this week it will be two nights of practice and lots of drills. It should be a great weekend and what an experience for him. Not to mention he has two very proud parents. Wrestling is not a sport for everyone, it is one hard sport, and it is not all about being an athlete, it is mentally a sport that you have to pick yourself up off the mat each time, no one to blame, no one to depend on but yourself. It can really mold you, and at this young age Josh is already showing the heart and head for the game.

Also last night we went to Josh's wrestling banquet. This was a great time for him to see his buddies and he had many many people wishing him luck for next weekend. They have all watched this little guy come into this program not knowing alot and going all the way to Eastern Nationals, and believe me we were not the only ones taking pride in that. You could see it in every coaches eye last night how proud they were of Josh and the other 4 boys going. Josh got the Sportsmanship Award last night, which the coach made a very nice speech about Josh, saying he could very easily gotten "Most Improved" also , but no matter what Josh came off the mat win or lose with a great attitude.
And last but not least ....THE BEAUTY of it all! Oh the sunshine was good to us yesterday.

Busy?

As I was making this layout last night, I thought "wow this page is busy". I have been doing pages with less pictures and liking it. I love the one picture layout, it just gives you more room for expression. Then while doing this page I thought about another reason I like the one page layouts, it is for a moment a way to slow down and just look at one thing, focus.

So how busy is your day? Do you make list? Are you getting older and a little scattered?
Answers: YES, YES and YES!
There are days that if I don't stay up from 6 am - midnight....I don't get a whole lot done. Or at least I feel like I didn't get done everything I should have. A typical weekday is...
Up about 6 am , sometimes 7 am
Get Josh off to school which is feed him, make sure he is dressed, teeth brushed, homework in the back pack and off on the bus by 8 am.
Then it is check the message board, do the checking, check emails and possibly order from a company on line. Check out blogs and generally check on things in the scrapbooking world. You have to stay on top of things when you own a store. You can not be on top if you sit around and wait for things to happen.
Then it is off to memory lane, pa! Love this place and it is a dream come true to be able to go there. Al tho it is a great place to get to go everyday, I am fully aware that it would not be possible if it wasn't for my wonderful life partner Kate. (hi honey) . Then it is back to get Josh off the bus, then homework. Check out more on the Internet and then dinner.
Now during sports season the rest of the nights sometimes are practice. Right now we have a breather, and we are enjoying a bit more family time playing games and cuddling.
Then it is off to bed for Josh and I am usually in my scrap studio or Kate and I try and have some conversation about the day. ( too rarely we get to do that anymore). Have to work on that.

Kate and I have made every decision together, and one of the biggest was when we decided to have a child. We knew we did not want to have a child unless one of us was home with him , and always available for him. We gave up a lot , we even accrued some debt by me quiting my job and raising Josh. But it is something I will never regret. I know it is good not to have debt, I know money is very important. But guess what, so is being a Mom, so is that time that you can never get back. You don't get another chance to see all that goes on in those first 5 years. I will not have anymore children. I knew that. I have a great gift....a miracle...Josh. I cherish every moment with him.
He now is in school all day so I am at the store when he is. I am home for him when he gets off the bus...that is the only way I will have it. Now don't get me wrong, I do sacrifice time that I don't want to. There are sometimes that frustrate me, I have to be at the store. Some Saturdays in the past year that I would have rather been cuddling on the couch watching cartoons, but duty calls at the store. Choices have to be made. I am grateful I have Kate, she is such a great Mom and so understanding. I love it when they get to spend quality time together too. It is a well balanced machine here....we learn as we go and love does conquer all.

So where am I going...well to the store in about 10 mins.....but here writing my thoughts...
I guess I have been thinking about the busyness of our life's. It is all good, but you have to make the right choices. Make sure every once in a while it isn't so busy, take the time to be with your family....and don't wait for that or keep saying there is time for that later. As we have been reminded this week again, time is not in our hands. Precious things can be taken from us in a matter of minutes, totally out of our control. My heart is so sadden by the events at VT.

I have to say it has been nice scrapbooking again, I am always a better person when I get to creatively express myself. I am very committed to getting back to the things that make me happy. I don't like struggling with that, being unhappy I have no time for myself. I am going to be 45 years old this year, and with age comes wisdom....not that I am wise by no means. But I have gained wisdom. I see things clearly, and I am much better at knowing what I want and expressing it. So if you made a list today, when you mark something off....give yourself a little TA DA!! Shout it out if you can :)

Mom...Purple is your favorite color!

Yep that is what Josh said when I said my eye really hurts. I had to laugh, it was a great line.

I was wrestling around with Josh on Saturday at his tournament and his knee hit my eye. I knew it was going to hurt, and then the color and swelling started and I couldn't believe I was going to have a black and blue eye. Then the lovely shade of purple appeared and I couldn't remember the last time I had a black eye. It still hurts like hell, and of course I had to take a picture of it.

In other news, I saw this wonderful little guy in our grass on Friday. I love seeing the robins and other birds coming around. I feel so bad for them today tho, since it is SNOWING!!! Yeah check your calendars, it is April 16th. It is so nasty out there, I am not looking forward to venturing out today.

Josh did great this weekend at MAWA, he finished 5th in his division. The top 4 move on to Nationals, but I am so proud of him already. His first year of competitive wrestling and he did so great. I am looking forward to a little rest from the 2 practices a week for a while. Lots to get done around here. We are starting Lacrosse now, and that is just Sundays for now...we like that.

So, I am the Lunch lady today! No HAIR NET!! Josh says I am not the lunch lady, I am just a helper. The sarcasm is lost on him.

Friendships....I am so grateful for mine.

What a wonderful Weekend...
Josh had a great time really bonding with the "boys" he wrestles with and some new friends as well.
Wrestling this year has been a great experience, the coaches and parents have embraced us and Josh so much. The coaches have taken Josh so far this year, teaching him and always giving him encouragement where needed and instructions on how to do better. They all have said how far Josh has come this year and if he sticks with it, he will be a quite the wrestler.
Wrestling is that sport that it is all about you. There is no one else on that mat to help you. If you are going to win, it is all you.
I never watched wrestling, never knew how to get a point, what a take down was, how you pinned a guy or that you get 1 point for an escape.
Now I can even tell you what a wizzer is.
How to cement a guy.
Even how to get out of a head lock.
Josh can even tell you more, as he should since he has to do the actual moves.
But I also know that I have learned so much more...
How great it is to belong to the wrestling community, the people we have met thru this sport are some of the most wonderful people I have ever met. We spend alot of time together, basically from Dec-April at least 2 nights a week and one day on the weekend. Then tournament season begins in March and that could be almost every weekend.
We had such a great time getting to know the people we spend this much time with this weekend. Because we were away, we got to socialize after the matches, and just hang out laughing and enjoying each other. We joked about being Mom's of boys and all the stories are so much alike. We have the youngest boy in the group so you can imagine some of the things we have to look forward too.
I loved that Josh also got to know the boys better, he was so happy and he made new friendships as well. I loved our conversation on Friday night.

J: Mom you know that boy in the orange sweatshirt?
M: Dustin or Dillon
J: yeah Dillon
M: Yeah?
J: we really get along well.
J: and Ben and I got to know each other better too.

That just made me so happy. It is hard sometimes with an only child. You get the little guilts that they are growing up alone in some ways. But times like this make me feel so good about what we are doing. I know that he will have great relationships, and I know alot will be thru sports.
I know also now as an adult, that the people I spend the most time with are my friends...and they become your family. Don't get me wrong, I love my Sister, (Hi Denise) but the reality is we live two different lifestyles and we don't get to see enough of one another.
The people you have more in common with are the people you will spend more time with for the most part. So I am hoping for my son that these young relationships that are developing from sports are going to be long lasting ones that will get him thru alot of his life.
Friends, I know have got me thru some pretty rough times, and I couldn't do it without them.

Have a great weekend!

We are outta here! We are going to enjoy a weekend of Wrestling.
1750 Wrestlers
18 mats
24 kids in Josh's division
medals for the top 8 in each division.
Lots of great fun!

So this morning I asked Josh to wear this outfit. He is such a jeans and t shirt guy and once in a while I long to see him a little dressed up. I am so thankful he will humor me and agreed with no fight. Then I of course took him outside and did a little photo shot. I love doing that. He is so damn handsome and I can't wait to get these pictures on a scrapbook page.

Have a great weekend, I know we will and Enjoy one another all dressed up this weekend!

Good times, good friends...

That is what it is all about. We had a great time with our good friends Nic and Coreen on Sunday night at the Reading Terminal. White Dog Cafe puts on this event called Brewer's plate and there are 15 brewmasters and 15 philadelphia restruants that get toghether for a night of tasting the best of the best. I must say there are about 3 restruants I now want to go to and try thier menus. It is all for a great cause also to promote local organic farming in the area.

Now this is what it looks like about 1/2 way thru. This was a great shot and we went on and had more food! Nic is a good sport and a silly one too!

So much more to blog about, just not alot of time....till then.

Happy Mother's Day!!

Don't go checking your calendar....it isn't the 2nd sunday in May!

But today is Mother's day in our house. Kate's day. March 31st, 2004 Kate adopted Josh legally. It was such a special day in our house, and we celebrate it every year.

When Josh was born, in the state of PA it was not legal for Kate to be his parent. Not that she wasn't already his parent, but people in power of deciding that decided not to use their brains or hearts the day they made it illegal for a child to have two parents of the same sex. Now mind you that it was legal till 1997. Then when some families actually practiced the right to the law , then some idiots decided we must stop all this happiness!!! We can't have children in loving families! NO NO! We can't have two people that go thru so much to even have a child, being able to legally be their parents.....how stupid does that sound!! Ok so those are the conversations I have in my heads some days.

I love my life, I have been with this wonderful womyn for almost 10 years now. We have made wonderful friends, we have a great life. But it doesn't mean I don't think that there are some wrong doings out there, discrimination against us. But there are worse things going on and I don't dwell on the negatives in life.

So anyway, it is Mother's day....I wouldn't want anyone else to be Josh's parent. I never wanted a child more then when I met Kate. I knew we would raise a child together after our first date. That is how sure I was that this would be Josh's Mom. So in dedication to your Mom's day, here is a page I did just for you!

Who is that????

That would be the cutest little blue eyed boy I know! This photo sits beside my bed in a frame, for the past 6 1/2 years. I went to scan it today and saw that the picture was stuck to the glass, it had been in there for so long. I can't believe that 7 years have passed since this little boy came into my life. It really makes you reflect on your life when you have this little clock in front of you everyday. Nothing makes you realize "time" like a child. You can measure so much by them.

I remember the day I took this shot, I remember taking probably 30 pictures of this shot. HA HA!

...and now I still have those baby blues looking at me everyday. Alot taller, alot more attitude, but those baby blues still melt my heart away.

I have been on a roll scrapbooking this week. I really am enjoying the "Sport" of it again. I have some creative mojo going and I hope I can keep it for a long time. Lots of great and exciting things happening at mlpa and spring is in the air. So what have you all been doing this week? Anything good going on this weekend?

Stay healthy!

The ick is back....

This time Josh has it. Friday night BOOM! He was done for the count. I was away for the weekend scrapbooking and enjoying a little me time. I felt bad that I was away and he was sick, but Kate assured me on the phone that there wasn't much I could be doing at home. I got home Sunday night and was greeted with much cuddling. Josh has pretty much been attached to me since I have been home. His Coughing is so bad and I have been holding his head up at night while he sleeps so he can sleep better. The coughing bouts are brutal. I kept him home from school yesterday. He is going to stay with me today also.
So I had a creative mojo weekend. I got 6 layouts done that I posted yesterday. I had so much fun just creating. Laughed with girlfriends and had some great "me" time.
Now the schedule gets crazy for a while and I am glad I had this weekend. This Saturday is our All Day crop at mlpa, then Sunday night Kate and I are going to the Reading Terminal for a gourmet tasting thing. It sounds like such fun!
The 2 weekends after that are all about wrestling, we are looking forward to some great fun.

So we are going to try and get rid of the rest of the ick in the house. Opening up the windows today since it is going to be in the 80's!! Hey Mom.....Hope you feel better today!

layouts

Spring is here!

Or so the calendar says! More importantly that's what these beautiful flowers say! Kate brought us flowers on Tuesday and said Happy First day of Spring! That was so cool. Josh really liked it too. Now as you look at the picture and see the snow covered ground out the window you might not believe it was March 21st.

Josh just continues to amaze me everyday. Yesterday morning I walked out to find him standing and reading his library book he got. Look at that print, so small and big words. He reads EVERYTHING! Nothing scares him. It is so amazing. Yes I know I am not the first Mom to have a 7 year old reading a book, but it is the first time, and the last time that I will get to witness this miracle of learning. I think I will continue to be amazed by this little guy throughout my lifetime.

Here is just another example...

We were having dinner the other night and Josh is really into having conversations at dinner. So here is how it went.

Josh: So Mom want to hear about school today?

Me: Sure

(school talk went on )

Josh: So Mom, how was your day at work?

Me: It was pretty good.

Josh: So did you sell any of those Cricuts today?

Me: No not today.

Josh: How bout those Clip its?

Me: Yes we did sell two of those. Wow you have really been listening to my conversations lately.

Josh: Yes, I like to pay attention so I can have conversations with you about your work.

Ok so I just sat there in amazement, he is everything I dreamed of having a son. One that would love his Mom so much that he would want to talk about my work. Just one of the little things I dreamed of, but it is the little things that count! I am so blessed to have this little boy in my life, everyday is a great day....no matter what other uglies are in the world. So all you moms out there, rejoice in having your children....and those moments when it is hard to count that blessing, remember all those times it is hard to imagine your life without them in it.

Have a great weekend!!! I know I am going to!

miss me?

Saturday night, poker party- I won!
Saturday night , shakes, chills and feeling yucky.
Sunday- chills aches and down on the couch all day.
Monday- more of the same glands swollen, bed all day.
Tuesday- not much better, call doc, got meds, bed all day.
Wednesday- feeling a little better, went to the store for an hour.
Thursday- worked all day, feeling better, can swallow.

Friday- SNOW!!!

checked calendar- March 16th

Feeling better, oh the ICK is no fun.

So once again I am back! Lots of great things coming up and I am glad I got back before I missed much.

Josh is wrestling in his first MAWA (Mid Atlantic Wrestling Association) tourney tommorrow. This is districts, and if he is in the top 3 finishers he will move on to Regionals in April. That would be so great! I hope he does well, he has been working very hard at it.

I have missed my camera for the days I was in bed, and as sick as I was I almost took pictures of how bad I looked....it is that love of documenting the everyday. Time to grab the camera today as we get one more chance at snow pictures....hopefully our last of the year!

thru the years..

Ok so here is a fun one. I was challenged to post my hs senior pic on our mlpa message board and so it was fun to do this! I couldn't believe when I pulled up the middle picture how much Josh's face structure is like mine. I have a few more pounds on me but our bone structure is amazingly the same. I am not sure what year that middle picture is. Maybe Mom can help me here but I am guessing around 4th or 5th grade. the little black n white, which is one of my fav pics was around 3 years old I think.

I need to get these in my scrapbook instead of just piled in a box. I will be doing this soon!

Josh had fun looking at these pictures and giggling. I think he found it amazing that his Mom was once a kid. We tell them about being a kid , but I think the pictures brought it to a reality.

Have a great weekend!

my little mini me....

This weekend we had Donna Downey ( as everyone calls her) even my son. So funny how when you say Donna....downey is soon to follow. After talking with her this seems to have followed her all her life.

Well it was a great weekend and we got to have Donna stay with our family as she was here to teach classes at memory lane, pa this weekend. My son got a little attached to Donna over the weekend, even tho he couldn't say more then two words to her the whole time.

Well on Sunday morning Donna and I got up and headed out the door to the airport, we had gotten about a mile from the house when my cell phone rang , with the ID....HOME. I thought it was strange and as I answered it was Josh, upset....upset he didn't get to say goodbye to our guest. So I handed the phone to Donna and Josh and her talked. She looked at me holding the phone and said he was crying, she didn't know what to do. I took the phone, Kate was there and I said do I need to come back? YES! So we did the uturn and headed back up the hill.

Not sure what Donna was thinking at this point. But I knew Josh wanted to hug her and say goodbye. We came in , Donna and Josh said their goodbyes and we went to the airport.



Josh is just so amazing, his compassion continues to amaze me. I know I had that compassion as a child also, but I also know I didn't get a chance to express all the compassion I had. It was stifled somewhat. I never want to do that to Josh. I want him to know it is ok to express emotion. It is ok to tell people you love them, and that you will miss them when they are gone. I don't want him to ever think he has to hold that in. I love that he expresses himself, and that he feels he can tell people how he feels and be alright with that. I think so many men as boys were told not to cry , or not to express "the mushy stuff" that they also learned how to just internalize those feelings. Then we wonder why they can't be more emotional with us. I hope we are growing a different generation of compassion now.



So that is my cute little story from the weekend. I also have some great zany stories from the girls taking Donna's classes. Here is just one of them.

Ok so that is it for now, lots more to write and my mind is going 100 miles an hour right now. Lots of stuff! But must do taxes now!!!

Peace.

Happy Crazy Sock day!!

Today is crazy sock day at school.

And this is my boy in the morning...ready to go and always so happy. Add a pair of silly socks and bam you have a dance and a song too.

I love how Josh has always been so happy when he awakens. It makes the mornings that much better. I have always been a morning person also, I love being the first one up enjoying the quiet of the day. There is nothing better then hearing those little feet walking toward me knowing that he will come in and cuddle up with me. He loves to get under the blankets and cuddle in the morning. He is one great cuddler too.

So put on a pair of silly socks today and have some fun!