A full week!

Ending this week on a supreme high by seeing the musical Wicked at the Keller… just wow!!! And the 3rd time seeing it in the last 10 years. Was super amazing to be in the company of Henry, cousin Charity and Harper, nieces Emmy and Phoebe and sis Lesley who were seeing it for the first time!

Backtracking on this week there was a big football game for Henry, lots of college Halloween parties for Daphne, lots of training for Ruby, a trip to Montana for Maisie and more.

And many many inconsequential moments that made up a really happy fall week for me here at home.

Ive truly been living my best life - taking care of our home and my people- and caring for others beyond my normal sphere of influence, working on my health and it’s been one of my favorite falls of all time. 🧡

Trip to Pittsburgh October 2024

Last weekend Mike and I had the opportunity to visit Daphne in Pittsburgh… it was so much fun.

I don’t know what this means but visiting our girl in the exciting, beautiful city she lives in - paired with often seeing her perform - is my favorite kind of trip. To me it beats all inclusive resorts, European cities and well, maybe not Disneyland- cuz, well that is truly my happiest place 😂 but you get my point…

I know it’s definitely because when we visit it’s often been 7-10 weeks since we’ve seen her last and we just miss her so when she’s gone!

She’s absolutely thriving in her junior year! She is super busy and very social and has the best friends supporting her! I know it’s not to be taken for granted that her musical theater group really is becoming her second family.

I even offered to stay an extra day but she has so much on her plate that it didn’t really make sense!

I remember visiting her Parents Weekend of freshman year and how she cried when I left and how my heart just broke to leave her there homesick. But this October I was definitely the one crying in the Uber leaving yesterday …

Im so glad she’s growing up to be more independent and especially more outgoing and HAPPY- but also, again, I miss her!

We truly had the best trip- saw “aunt Anita” - saw lots more of Pittsburgh and spoiled Daphne on a shopping spree! And her show was AMAZING and so fun!

Til next time!!!

Winter Blues

Gosh today was an uphill battle.  I physically felt sick from some wintery blues-  more like RAIN blues!

I’m not gonna say much cuz I’m super tired and want to nod off to dream world now...but after a long day of everything feeling heavy and hard, it ended hopeful.

Maisie made a cake!  (We only had to go to Joanne’s three times and two grocery stores!) I should say she also made dinner-  but that’s usual now on Tuesdays - hurray!  We played trivial pursuit as a family -  Ruby requested a game instead of a show!  And also... Ruby’s math teacher sent this great text:

💛Good evening! This is Mr. Howard from Patton. We have been recognizing the great work and additional effort Ruby has been putting into Math class and wanted to pass it along to you. We are really proud of all her hard work!💛

I’m so proud of her!  Put some wind in her sails and mine as her mother too!

A beautiful end to a dreary day!  We’ve got this!

Palm Springs Get AWAY

Mike and I got a quick getaway at Mike and Pam’s place in Palm Springs two weeks ago..  

It was HOT hot HoT!! 

Tuesday night to Saturday early morning we enjoyed some relaxation.  

For the memory keeping -  the shows we watched were Yellowstone and Handmaids Tale.  I finished reading The Help and started reading The Book of Lost Friends.

We were too lazy to cook much-  but Mike did make me breakfast every morning and did the dishes for me too!  We got take out and snacked on lots of chips and salsa and drank some beverages.

I had a hard time relaxing but I think it’s just that season of life -  kids are busy and doing school at home... and Pam was sick so I worried.  And on the swinging pendulum of anxiety in my life I’m in an upturn!

But I came home ready to work more on my health!  And really enjoying these kids right now so I think next time around will be another family vacay.  Dedicated to our hubby wife time too though-  such a balancing act!

Ruby at Twelve

A quick note for the records is that Ruby is now 5’8’’ and has surpassed her sisters and me in height.

Quarantine sleep was good for this beautiful basketball player of a girl!

Currently she is doing three private lessons a week to increase her ball handling skills and shooting accuracy!  We are so blessed to have a very close relationship with a super star athlete named Kylee Arzner.  Kylee is a senior at Mac High and has signed with Colorado State with a full scholarship to play basketball on their roster!  I cannot rave about Kylee’s talent and hard work ethic enough!  

It’s pretty sweet that we have known Kylee for quite awhile and that our families are close friends that spend a lot of fun times together.  So when Ruby is under Kylee’s tutelage, there is an ease and camaraderie about their interaction!  Ruby respects her highly but also knows she’s loved by her big sister like mentor too.  And Kylee pushes her really hard but is ready to cheer her on and laugh with Ruby too!

I’m excited to see Ruby continue to improve and hopefully play some basketball games in 2021!

Beyond basketball Ruby is hanging in there with distance learning - although she’d definitely prefer to be at school with her friends!  Luckily one of her best buddies, Finley, comes over two times a week to do her school alongside Ruby. 

Proud of this ‘not so little anymore’ one!  Thirteen is right around the corner!!!!

Maisie and Me

The first weekend in October, Maisie and I went to our favorite beach house-  or should I say-  little river house -  for her birthday!  It was actually the 4th year in a row that she has asked that we do this get-away instead of a big birthday parties..

I do believe I love these weekends as much as Maisie! Maisie’s birthday is on September 27th and it is the fourth birthday we celebrate that month!  So, by that weekend I am always so exhausted.  And I always treasure my 1-1 times with my children. It’s easy and purposeful and so important to me!

This time we watched all five Twilight movies-  she had never seen them and it had been a very long time since I had.  We had take out (pandemic style) at Grateful Bread, dined outside at The Riverhouse, shopped at our favorite clothing store in Pacific City, took a walk on the beach, sat on the deck, slept and ate lots of candy!!  

Pretty much divine!

Thank you Uncle Dave and Christie for the blessing of our little Woods cabin and the memories it continues to offer our extended family!  

First puzzle of quarantine...finally!

I should say first puzzle for me.... Maisie has done quite a few!!  This one was really fun!  🖤