- In the preschool pod where I spend lots of my days each week, we have had so. many. babies. born in the last couple of months. It has been awesome to see all these moms with their tiny little ones. There are lots of preschool moms still pregnant too, and it truly makes me weepy with delight. What a blessing a new life is! How glorious to be carrying new life, and then caring for that precious infant. Love, love pregnant mammas and new babies! Keep having babies, mammas!
- Speaking of preschool and work, as I said above, this is my last week of teaching (I'll still be working in my room for a bit after that, though). And man, as it approaches, I am truly sorry to see these little ones move on from me! This has been a great class, and I'm going to miss their little faces and personalities. Thankfully, most of them are simply moving across the hall from me next year so I'll still get lots of hugs and updates.
- My teens have received several awards in the last week: my son won four academic awards for being at the top of several of his classes, and my daughter won a theater award for her dedication to the department. I was so proud of both of them, and it's possible a few tears escaped (ugh! you know I can't help myself!!)
- A few weeks ago, my husband and I took my 17-year-old on a college visit to our alma mater. It was so surreal to be there again. . .so different, yet so much the same. At one point, as I shared yet another memory (about when my husband and I first met for goodness sake!), my daughter dramatically rolled her eyes at me and made me laugh. I put my hand over my mouth and cried, "If you only knew! I am only sharing about an eighth of what I am remembering!" Seeing the school through her eyes and hearing her take on it was fascinating. I look forward to more college visits with her and walking with her on this journey.
- Changing gears completely. . .my eldest daughter told me about a new adaptation of my beloved Anne of Green Gables on Netflix. I was skeptical, since I am a purist and love only the Megan Follows and Jonathan Crombie version from the 80s. But, since she is also a fan, I thought I would give it a try. We watched episode one last night and I actually thought it was pretty good - good acting, beautiful scenery, mostly sticking to the book's story line. My youngest daughter and younger two sons also got pulled in and were enjoying Anne's escapades. . . until episode three, when all came to a screeching halt. I was incredibly disappointed in Anne's dialogue - delving into euphemisms that were completely inappropriate for younger audiences. Thankfully my younger two didn't catch what she was talking about, and I quickly pulled the plug on the show and looked up some reviews. Turns out, many people like it, but many are also calling it dark and a turn away from the book's true storyline. Shame on you, Netflix, for tarnishing a classic! I told my kids that I would check out from the library the "real" Anne from the 80s and we would enjoy it without worries.
Sunday, May 21, 2017
Bits and Pieces #19
School is out for me on Friday, and next week for my kids, and May has been a race to the finish. May is chock full of baseball, awards banquets, musicals, concerts, graduations, work commitments, track meets. . . the list is endless. All good stuff, but why must it all happen in the same month? Anyway, due to the severe amount of activities over here, we've been limping along, hoping to make it to the last day of school. Our house, laundry, and meal planning is suffering. But I'm optimistic, as May is always hairy, and we always make it. But I'm a bit weary, I'm not gonna lie. So here are a few snippets of what has been going on over here amidst the crazy.
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
Cousins!
This month, my eldest nephew will graduate from high school. It's hard to believe he could possibly be that old! But he is ready for the next chapter, and it's exciting to see what is in store for him.
And behind him, in rapid succession, two of his sisters and two of his cousins will follow suit.
Rewind 19 years ago: my husband and I and his brother and wife were still relative newlyweds, both couples beginning to think about starting families. And my in-laws** were excited at the prospect of both of their sons soon giving them grandchildren. But I don't think they knew quite what was on the horizon.
Snap - in a period of 2 years and 9 months, my in-laws had 5 grandchildren! My brother- and sister-in-law were gracious enough to have twins, making that number possible. Suddenly, we were getting together for births, baptisms and birthday parties. Holidays were fun, crazy and often exhausting. My in-laws were thrilled with the almost-instant big family.
And the grandchildren kept coming. . .in 13 years, the grand total was 10 grandkids. Family get togethers are awesome. There are kids everywhere, playing games, putting on shows and laughing. It's the best.
The kids seem to have naturally fallen into two groups. The older five (currently known as the teens, though this summer two more will join that category) and the younger five. And for this year only, all five of the teens are in high school. It's been great to watch them become friends over the years, and as teenagers, stay in touch on their own now.
When the first five kids were 2 and under, it was hard to imagine the day when they'd all be in high school. Impossible, really, to imagine what our lives would look like. We had no way of knowing how fun teenagers would be, and what a blessing these cousins would be to each other. And now, my nephew will be the first to bring on a new change: college. I pray that all these cousins (including the cousins on the other sides of their families as well) will stay close -- that they will share their new adventures with their closest family members. It has been and will continue to be a joy to watch them grow together. There is only more beauty to come!
** When I hear the phrase "in-laws", I often think of the 1991 version of Father of The Bride, when Steve Martin is on his way to Bel-Air to meet his daughter's future in-laws. He isn't thrilled and doesn't like the phrase "in-laws". He says: "What does it mean anyway? That we're legally bound to these people? I don't wanna be in-lawed, especially to people who live in Bel-Air!" This scene is just before he almost gets attacked by the Dobermans and falls into the pool If you haven't seen this movie, watch it immediately. You can thank me later.
And let me also take a moment to say that my in-laws are THE BEST. My husband's parents and his brother and his family are not "in-laws", they are simply family. I am ever so thankful for the blessing of more family!
And behind him, in rapid succession, two of his sisters and two of his cousins will follow suit.
Rewind 19 years ago: my husband and I and his brother and wife were still relative newlyweds, both couples beginning to think about starting families. And my in-laws** were excited at the prospect of both of their sons soon giving them grandchildren. But I don't think they knew quite what was on the horizon.
Snap - in a period of 2 years and 9 months, my in-laws had 5 grandchildren! My brother- and sister-in-law were gracious enough to have twins, making that number possible. Suddenly, we were getting together for births, baptisms and birthday parties. Holidays were fun, crazy and often exhausting. My in-laws were thrilled with the almost-instant big family.
And the grandchildren kept coming. . .in 13 years, the grand total was 10 grandkids. Family get togethers are awesome. There are kids everywhere, playing games, putting on shows and laughing. It's the best.
The kids seem to have naturally fallen into two groups. The older five (currently known as the teens, though this summer two more will join that category) and the younger five. And for this year only, all five of the teens are in high school. It's been great to watch them become friends over the years, and as teenagers, stay in touch on their own now.
When the first five kids were 2 and under, it was hard to imagine the day when they'd all be in high school. Impossible, really, to imagine what our lives would look like. We had no way of knowing how fun teenagers would be, and what a blessing these cousins would be to each other. And now, my nephew will be the first to bring on a new change: college. I pray that all these cousins (including the cousins on the other sides of their families as well) will stay close -- that they will share their new adventures with their closest family members. It has been and will continue to be a joy to watch them grow together. There is only more beauty to come!
** When I hear the phrase "in-laws", I often think of the 1991 version of Father of The Bride, when Steve Martin is on his way to Bel-Air to meet his daughter's future in-laws. He isn't thrilled and doesn't like the phrase "in-laws". He says: "What does it mean anyway? That we're legally bound to these people? I don't wanna be in-lawed, especially to people who live in Bel-Air!" This scene is just before he almost gets attacked by the Dobermans and falls into the pool If you haven't seen this movie, watch it immediately. You can thank me later.
And let me also take a moment to say that my in-laws are THE BEST. My husband's parents and his brother and his family are not "in-laws", they are simply family. I am ever so thankful for the blessing of more family!
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