Let there be cake

And two months later....

I never ever know how old I am. Ever. The kids think it's hilarious but I just seriously never think about my age. With a birthday coming up I decided to do the math and impress the family. Yesterday while we were out having fun celebrating my big day one of the boys asked me my age and I immediately said "46!" and they laughed and were appropriately impressed that I knew my age. It was a lovely day and we had fun shopping and going out to lunch. I had two pieces of cake while I kicked up my new cowgirl boots. All was right in my world.

About an hour ago I opened a birthday card from Brad's sister Kellie. It said "Happy 47!". I thought she was joking but there isn't a "LOL" or a "HAHA". Maybe she made a mistake? But she's my age, and Brad's sister (smarty smarty). So I got out my calculator and did the math. And did it about five more times. Darned if I'm not 47.

The bubbas also had a birthday and turned 15. My coddled little boys are no longer little boys. They sound like Alex and look like Alex and I think if I dunked them in chlorine they would smell like Alex. (I may just do that because I'm REALLY missing my soldier boy lately). 

That is what Seth calls his "party shirt". Whenever there's a party he wears it. Sometimes he puts it on just so that we'll have a party.

Winter drum line is in full swing. That's Sam in the middle with the cymbals

They did a show at the Dallas Convention Center over the weekend. It was really awesome. Sam is next to the flame on the right with the snare. They told him not to be alarmed because there would be a flame near him. I don't think he realized how big a flame it would be. You can tell how far back I was and I could feel the heat. They told Sam he could only break formation if he was on fire.

Dakota had oral surgery to pull down the tooth that hasn't come in yet. The gum under the tooth was removed and a chain was attached from her braces to the tooth to pull it down. She is so tired of braces and looking 13. Hopefully the tooth will cooperate and her ortho phase will be completed soon.  

Brad and the boys have been skeet shooting a few times here. I'm not sure if it's skeet or clay or what you really call it. They take their guns and go shoot at things. Dakota's sorority had a father/daughter clay shoot (that's what the shirt says, right?). Because it's Texas and that's what father/daughter's do - forget the dancing. Dakota loved it and I'm sure will be joining the guys next time. Maybe I'll go too so I can show them how it's done. Once I figure out what we're doing.

We also finally got around to taking the boys to the climbing gym that's close by. They love it and I'm sure we'll be spending many Friday nights there in the future. $10 for climbing and all the gear! Here's Seth working on a tough area he's determined to conquer

Sam tried on these boots yesterday while we were shopping. Brad told him he could get them when he owned a cadillac with longhorns on the front. 

I think that will be a few years.

A Christmas Miracle

Every Christmas morning we have the kids call Brad's mom in Florida before they come downstairs. This gives us time to make coffee and relax a little bit before the mayhem (did you just picture that guy from the commercial? He wasn't at our house). This year the kids were extra chatty and were on the phone for almost two hours, which meant I had plenty of time for hot cocoa and seriously considered going back to bed at least three times

Either these pj's shrunk or Oliver has been hitting the bacon too much

Seth and Sam were done talking and pushing the naughty limit

Finally ready to go! The rundown on the gifts:

Alex: CASH for Belize, running shoes, clothes, zipfizz, and his favorite cigars

Dakota: BIKE, clothes, earrings, a nail polish thingamajig, and a cotton candy maker

Seth: LONG BOARD, clothes, slack line, frisbees and a long board tool set

Sam: LONG BOARD, a fan, clothes, drum pad and DCI Posters

 

After breakfast we enjoyed a quick Skype with my mom and sister and family (thanks Jodie!) then it was off to Brad's family party. It was poring down rain when we left, which made the long boarders angry because seriously we have had less than five rainy days since we moved here and lo, on the day they receive boards it rains. But when we returned home that evening it was all white.... Just for me

And it's still white today. In spite of that the long boarders have been out all morning and another miracle is bestowed unto us - no trips to the ER.  Yet.  

Whoops! There is went....

Last week I started a looonnng post about the band program here. How confusing it is, how well Sam is doing, how his teacher is a celebrity in the nerd world of percussion (Sam is saving all of his hall passes to sell on ebay). It was seriously a very long explanation, detailed and with pictures.

And then Seth called from school because he needed a site change. And then the insurance company called because I talk to them at least once a week. And then my email went crazy and I was locked out of my life for 24 hours.

And the post was gone. 

So we are moving on. 

A lot has happened in the past week. I was out shopping when Dakota texted me about the shooting in Connecticut. And then I heard people talking at Costco. I have a habit of getting obsessed with news but this time I just wanted to crawl under a rock. I pray for the families of all who are involved but I can't handle the details. It's just too incomprehensible. 

Yes I said I was out shopping. I know, my Christmas shopping is in fact done. We had a Christmas party Saturday night for Brad's team. So on Friday I went shopping and planned the extravaganza. It was a family party so I went with a Charlie Brown Christmas theme. It was a lot of fun and turned out great. I was putting rollers in my hair at 6:45 (the party was at 7) so I didn't get the "before party" pics of all the decorations. We ended up getting a Christmas tree but I didn't really want to put decorations on it since hellcat Junie has ruined my white tree by climbing it on a daily basis. If you're thinking she's too cute and "nice"

You would be wrong

Instead of putting my breakable ornaments on the tree I printed off comic strips to make garland (the kids' least favorite job on Saturday) and then I printed color pictures of the characters to make ornaments. My favorite is the Charlie Brown on top, modeled after our toilet paper angel Alex made at MOPS that we use every year. 

I put several other "trees" around the house that I made with a branch pushed into a foam square. I added an ornament and some blue flannel I bought at the fabric store.

I took the above picture for my mom. The picture I had framed before only showed three kids and the back of Seth's head. She's been after me for three years to change it. Ta-Done!

The food was all bought at Costco. Brad made wings for "Woodstock's Wing Bar" and I had several different sauces to try. We had "Lucy's Lemonade", "Charlie Brown Cake" (chocolate), "Peppermint Patties"(Dakota dipped York's into white chocolate and then sprinkles - super cute), and "Snoopy Snacks" which were different snacks in adorable dog bowls. We had a couple activities but mostly it was just socializing. I loved that the majority of the party happened by the pool (because it's Texas, y'all). We also got about 300 pounds of food to donate to a local shelter.

Now that the party is over and I've finished shopping, shipping and WRAPPING I can concentrate on doing some baking. Alex leaves WestPoint on Friday and flies to Ohio to see Katie and her family. He gets here on Sunday and then Katie flies down on the 26th to stay until the 2nd when they both leave. We will also be celebrating Alex's 21st birthday! AND we will have another guest when Mrs. Liley (Sam's band teacher from last year) flies in on the 27th. Ok, she's really only on a four hour layover but we still consider it a visit and will cram as much into that time as possible. 

For my mom, one last picture of Junie. She really does have a cute personality.

And yes, she's laying in her kitty litter. 

Type 1 Diabetes

I have so much to say about Type 1 Diabetes.

 I am committed to raising awareness.

I am committed to raising money for research and a cure.

I am committed to keeping Seth healthy.

And I am also committed to giving Seth a voice.

Because this disease is his.

This is a poem Seth wrote for school

Running Against Myself

By Seth Hart

"pat, pat" was the sound of my feet

with the nice and steady, accurate tempo

like a perfected drummers beat

and even though my blood sugar's low

"pat, pat" was the sound of my feet

"swish, swish" was the sound of my arms

synchronized with the breath of my lungs

passing by McAlpine's old creaky barns

and the trees that are speaking in tongues 

"swish, swish" was the sound of my arms

"drip, drip" was the sound of God's tears

falling down in the form of rain

scientifically called precipitation hitting my ears

or landing on the bag I carry with no shame

"drip, drip" was the sound of God's tears

"boo, hoo" is the sound of crying

running with diabetes is a hard thing to do

and the feeling is like your body is dying

with your legs like jell-o and your brain like stew

"boo, hoo" is the sound of crying

Giving Thanks

So Thanksgiving! Three days with all the Harts together! It was FANTASTIC.

Preface: I bought a new camera that I'm still getting used to. I mean it's a point and shoot so it's not that complicated but I somehow still manage to get blurry weird pictures. I'm awesome that way.

Truth: I cried when I put that sign up. 

Because we live so close to the airport Brad always wants to wait until the traveler is outside before we leave (which has led to guests waiting for us - not cool). I couldn't stand the idea of Alex waiting for us so I made us leave early and then I got crazy. I may have jumped out of a moving vehicle and ran through the airport because they switched Alex's gate. Why am I so awkward? At least I didn't do this

Thanksgiving dinner was great (except for when the pipe under the kitchen sink blew and sprayed water everywhere right when we were finishing the cooking - oddly there aren't any pictures of that).

We always give the kids an ornament on Thanksgiving - LOVE that tradition

After dinner the kids played roller hockey in the street while Brad and I and his parents enjoyed pie (for some reason I can't upload those pictures???). We finished the day with an evening in the whirlpool. Alex visited his best friend Derek the next day (they met at Marion and both received appointments to West Point). Even though they go to school together they don't get enough time to just hang out. That evening we went out to dinner (THANKS FOR THE GIFT CARD CHERYL!!!)

Tried to take a Christmas card photo - I think Alex DESERVES this one

Grandma's Pretty Girl

Accosting Santa

We also went downtown to enjoy the lights and music. This tunnel was so cool - I wish the picture had turned out better because that would be card worthy

On Saturday I took Alex to do some shopping and then we went to Sam's football game. This would also be card worthy except for the post coming out of Sam's head. I know I could photoshop that but that would require effort

Dakota had to work after the game so we visited her

Not pictured: the chinese buffet Sam insisted we take Alex to that night. Buffets really are not appetizing and this one was especially bad. The kids are sworn to never speak of it.

I did pretty good with Alex's departure on Sunday morning knowing that he'll be home for Christmas in just three short weeks. 

Sunday afternoon was beautiful so we started decorating, inside and out.  

Now I just have to do ALL MY CHRISTMAS SHOPPING. I'm usually almost done by now. Maybe I'll head out this afternoon as soon as the window guy is done. Which is kind of a long story but... 

When we bought our house four months ago there were some window issues that weren't finished by the time we closed. The seller's realtor assured us they would be taken care of but after umpteen house calls the window company said they had done what they were paid to do - but two of our windows still wouldn't stay open. Several phone calls were made and I finally got the seller's realtor to handle the problem and today a guy came out to finish the job. I was cleaning while he worked and every time I would vacuum the guy would fart really really really super loud. 

Did he think I wouldn't hear it?

Did I just tell that whole story for the first-grade humor? 

Yes. And my windows are finally fixed. 

Obviously it took some effort :)

Time Out

First of all, thank you so much for all your kind words and prayers. I'll admit to some last minute flight checks to make it to my Grandma's funeral, but in the end I knew I was needed here and it was ok. My mom called a few hours before the funeral to tell me my sister was reading my blog during the service and I was all "I literally spent 10 minutes writing that can I just rewrite it" but I let it go and it was nice to feel a part of the service. 

I felt a little slammed for a few days but I chalked  it up to post company let down and grandma died mourning but I finally admitted to being sick and went to the doctor today. Also Brad told me last night to go to the doctor today or else. So it turns out I'm sick, not just lazy. I got some good drugs and if I'm not better by Monday the doctor promised me a steroid shot, because I need to be 100% by Wednesday because this guy comes to town!

I can't wait to see him and smell him (yes, I smell my kids). Best. Smell. Ever. 

Also, today is Diabetes Day, during Diabetes Awareness Month. And Dakota has reminded me umpteen (gma) times. I feel guilty I haven't done anything about it yet. The truth is it's been a little crazy here with Seth's numbers. He'll run high a few days and then normal and then low and then crazy. We are smack in the middle of an "intensive testing" time to try and figure out if it's his basal rate, insulin - carb ratio, insulin sensitivity or what. If that all sounds confusing it is. The bottom line is on a good night my phone looks like this

On a bad night I've got this

So I will eventually do something to spread awareness on Type 1 Diabetes, as soon as I can think straight and maybe get more than a two hour stretch. And finish my good drugs and smell my soldier.

For now I will share the first video I made: 

PumpedUp!

Winnie

I'll be honest. I never told my Grandma we were moving to Texas. I know that others had told her, but she never talked about it with me and I never had the courage to bring it up. I knew that I probably wouldn't see her again after we moved, but we took with us so many wonderful memories.

On Saturday, Grandma turned 91. On Monday, Grandma passed away. 

On both occasions I'm told she was surrounded by loved ones. She was ready. She's been ready since Grandpa died. My sister Roxanne said she thought Grandma just couldn't handle another November and I think she's right. Both my Grandpa and Dad had birthdays in late November and Grandma missed them both so much. November was a difficult month for her, so she celebrated her birthday (she wasn't one to pass on a fuss being made about her) and went home. I picture her crocheting on a couch, with Grandpa and Dad dozing in recliners near her. 

Grandma stayed with us often in Michigan. I'm so thankful for those times. I'm happy that my kids will have those memories of her. She was so entertaining and we all doted on her immensely. She called our dog Oscar, jelly donuts were bismarcks, her purse was a pocketbook and if something happened more that once it happened umpteen times. Brad put sweet and low in her wine (he makes a dry wine, she likes sweet wine). And because I know you're going to ask for it...

Brad also shared a cigar with her. 

I'm not traveling to Michigan for the service.  Because you know it takes an Army to separate me from my kids (get it, Alex is in the Army - haha) and I can't really take them out of school. We will find a way to honor her memory. Maybe with a cigar and glass of wine. 

But more likely with a jelly donut bismarck.