Peanut Update

Last week, Peanut had the awards ceremony at school.  Principal's honor roll, again!  This is the last one in middle school.  Hard to believe!  The final promotion ceremony is held offsight.

He would not give me a pose and was shaking his head when he walked by me.  I'm his mom - had to snap some photos, anyway!

Here is his latest news - -

Basketball injury last night.  Spent 5+ hours at the ER.  Has the cast and crutches for a week minimum. He said that it is going to be a long one as he tries to wrap his head around no physical activity.

Circle of Life

When I became a mom, I wanted to suffer any pain or injury my children suffered.  Who knew I'd feel that way about the one who raised me.

It has done a complete 360.  The Circle of Life has completely influenced me.  As the procedure begins this evening,  I'd give anything to switch places.

Praying from afar - -

Edited late in the evening 1/15/13 - surgery went well.  Now the work begins...

Winterfest Court

The 7th & 8th grade dance is this Friday night.  Peanut is on the Court.  They select a boy and girl from each home room.  All week they solicit donations for Make A Wish.  The ones that raise the most are deemed King and Queen.  As you can imagine, some parents go all out with the donations.  It is a wonderful cause.  We were thrilled that Peanut threw his name in the hat.  He made posters and decorated the collection box.

I did not not edit this photo correctly.  It should say, "Vote For Captain A," a nickname coined by his buddies.

Think of us on Friday night.  We'll have a house full of boys!

Sledding

A few days ago, it was warm.  Yesterday, it rained all day and winter is back.  I am so grateful!  I savor the opportunities to wear sweaters.  I start this week feeling lots better than last.  I had the head cold thing.  I never had a fever just stuffed up and run down.  The sad thing is that Pumpkin has it now.  I pray for a speedy recovery for him as the swim season winds down.

I don't think I posted this pic before.  The kids got to sled riding over Christmas break.  It was deemed some of the best sledding ever!  The Big Guy went all out.  Fortunately, there weren't any injuries to speak of.

200K

Hard to believe!  Our Volvo wagon turned over 200,000 miles this past week.

Pumpkin assures me he was at stoplight when he snapped this picture.

Wow!  Wee!  There are lots of memories that go along with that car.

Peanut is even looking forward to the day he gets to drive it.

New Year's Eve

Right after midnight, we pulled out the iPhones.  (Note:  The oldest in the pictures looks great in each one.  Not quite sure how she did that.)

Too bad we aren't looking at the camera and too bad we have red eyes and too bad the lighting is awful.  I tried to play around with it and it kept getting worse.  I decided to go with this one to share.  We all had our Vandy gear on.  Go 'Dores for winning the Music City Bowl!

 The extended family...

Some fun shots - -

Some really fun shots that Peanut took using my sisters's iPhone 5 panoramic feature.  Guess who just might need to upgrade?

He got the timing down better for this one.  Too bad his curly, poofy, head self is not in the picture.

One More Time

My dad had a fetish with getting the snow off the driveway.  Atleast, I remember it that way.  We always seemed to be the first in the neighborhood to have all the white stuff off the driveway.  It was work as the garage is detached making the driveway long.

Last weekend, my boys had the opportunity to shovel the driveway.  I started but they pulled the shovel from my hands.  It involved shoveling labor with intermittent snow ball throwing.

I was a bit nervous to walk into the house.  Lots has changed.  Surprisingly, when I got inside all was good.  There are wonderful memories in that house.  I honestly feel that now is the time for others to create different memories at this residence.

The boys used their muscles and moved some things around getting it ready for a facelift of paint.

My sister entertained Pumpkin with stories.  The boys love to hear stories.  When this was my said sister's room, it was UT orange with a waterbed.  I am not even sure you can still buy a waterbed like the one she had.

 Mom sat and listened too.

I brought home a table that was my grandma's.  I got the mirror too that always hung above it.  I was so happy that it fit in our car.  Yes.  The car was loaded for the drive home.  But, the Big Guy did not mind.  Now, I have to find the perfect place for it in my house.

I think I'll get to go back even more times.  It will be different, but I am grateful for the chance to relive some childhood memories.

The Seasons

A few months ago, my mom moved into a new "hangout" as she calls it.  If you listen carefully, she'll slip and even refer to it as home.  She doesn't embrace it 100%, but she is warming up to the idea.

When we went up for New Year's, the boys slept on an air mattress in her living room.  Other than it being a bit warm in her place, they did not have many complaints.  I am thankful they have that memory to cherish.

Mom took the boys to brunch in the dining area.  The boys loved it.  They could not believe how much mom ate:-)  The food is really good.

A few weeks ago, mom tried yoga for the first time.  How cool is that?  She's getting the routine down - somewhat.  She looks so much better than when I saw her last in November.  I'm thinking she looks even better with that ribbon scarf on.  I whipped it up just for her!

Ziplining

Last Friday, we made the trek to Cincinnati.  We did not leave TN until mid-afternoon.  It was raining, raining, and raining.  We forged along as quickly as we could knowing we were heading into a winter storm warning in the Cincinnati area.  It got a bit challenging when we reached Louisville.  We took it slow and made it safely.

I was supposed to go to an art painting class on Saturday morning.  Due to the weather, it got cancelled.  My boys coerced me to join them ziplining.  I was a bit nervous as we strapped the harnesses on.  Once we got started, all was good.  The experience was amazing!  It did not hurt that the landscape was covered with a fresh coat of snow.

We went on the river route.  This picture was taken before we zipped over the Little Miami River.  I had my pj pants on under my sweats.  Again, I was not prepared, but we made due.  It was cold, but I wasn't any worse off than anyone else.

 If you look closely, you can see the line in the background that took us across the river.

The Big Guy is afraid of heights.  He got brave on this platform and leaned his heels off the back.  All is good as he is tethered to the tree.  Also, this is the last platform just about 10 feet off the ground.  We won't talk about Peanut leaning off a platform WAY up in the air.

Absolutely beautiful!  I was ecstatic that I did it.  It was wonderful.  There wasn't any of that free-fall, scary feeling.  It was just smooth sailing across the lines.  I'd do it again and encourage anyone that hasn't zipped to give it a try.

Even more pictures for your viewing pleasure...

Honey Cowl

Pumpkin wanted to give an infinity scarf to his girlfriend for Christmas.  I could not let myself buy one. So, off to the lys I went.  I used one skein of Madelintosh sport for the Honey Cowl.  It turned out pretty nice - if I don't say so myself!