7th grade...

http://www.mommyspiggytales.com/ - My sister-in-law is doing this, and I thought it looked fun...

In seventh grade I was 12 years old.  What a year.  Jr. High is the worst!  I developed early...and lets just say, I felt like one of the only ones.  I went from wearing a trainer in 5th and 6th to a full on woman's bra my 7th grade year.  And as if that isn't scary/weird/embarrassing enough lets add to it finally losing my last baby teeth.  Oh yes, I still had baby teeth.  Those baby teeth were just replaced with gangly, crooked biters.  I wanted badly to have "mall bangs" but my hair was always too fine to pull that off well.  So, I always felt like an awkward woman-child who just couldn't quite make it to cool.  Oh well.

7th grade was the first year my school consolidated with 2 other local towns.  It was exciting and fun to meet new people.  I have always enjoyed making new friends.  I was a cheerleader, and LOVED every minute of cheering...just hated all the 8th grade girls.  And I do mean HATE.  They made my life horrible during practices.  Luckily I didn't have to see them much outside of that arena.   I didn't like most of my friends by the end of my 7th grade year.  I realized early that you want friends who are true to themselves, kind to others, and fun in their own way - not in the mainstream do-it-because-everyone-else-is-doing-it way.
 
I flunked band.  I was grounded for the 6 weeks at the start of summer break because of this F.  I hated my band teacher...but I loved playing the flute, and now I wish I would have just stuck with it.


 Hmm...what else.  Oh, I had my first "real" boyfriend in 7th grade.  He was sweet.  He was my first real kiss...it was awkward, he cut my lip with his braces.  In his defense it was in the dark on a school bus AFTER a boys basketball away game...just try to be suave under those circumstances.  We exchanged Christmas gifts.  I got him a CD...he got me an E.N.U.F. sweatshirt.  They were awesome in my jr. high.  Everyone wanted an over-sized E.N.U.F. sweatshirt.  They were not cheap...imagine my embarrassment when he opened his Shai CD - 11.99 - and I opened my sweatshirt - 40.00 at least!!!  ha!

I guess that is enough reminiscing...Enjoy!

Rock Stars...

You may or may not know that I am a huge Aerosmith fan.  I have seen them in concert twice, and would see them a lot more if tickets didn't cost an arm in leg.

My fam and I are trying to pass along this passion for all things Aerosmith:

All glammed up and ready to rock out...

And here are just a few pictures of my mechanic and cook:

My little photographer

I think she definitely has talent!  ; )

Enjoying my wonderful daughter,
M

The Power of Grandparents

I have the best grand-parents on this Earth.  They are amazing.  They stayed in contact with my mother (their ex-daughter-in-law) out of love and devotion to me.  (Also, my mom is pretty easy to like...)  They always made me feel special and smart and pretty.  My grandparents have been through some really hard things, including the death of my aunt (their daughter).  Still, their demeanor and outlook on life was always cheerful and Christ filled.

Now that I have kids of my own, I realize how important grandparents are to a child.  The love of a grandparent is unconditional.  Not that a parents love isn't, but you don't have to keep your room clean or keep good grades...you just have to be you and your grandparents love you.  At least that is how I think it should be, that is how it was for me.  My sister, and cousins and I are so blessed.  I never remember thinking that Grams and Gramps had a favorite.  I never thought, how come so-and-so gets to spend so much time with them and I don't.  They just always spread themselves very evenly.

How blessed are my babies, then, to still have these amazing people around?  And better yet, that they made such and impression on my mom that she strives (although it comes pretty naturally) to be the best "Yia-Yia" ever!  And she brings along the best Opa ever!  If only she lived closer :(  Oh well, my children are blessed with these amazing great-grandparents...and now my parents! 

My Grams and  Gramps (Granny & Papa to my babes) came and stayed with us last weekend.  It gave Kevin and I a much needed date night as well as a healthy dose of grand-parent love for my kiddos.  Here are some pics:

I didn't get any pics of Gramps this time...but next time!
Enjoying my blessed relationships,
M

Just a little live action hair cut, here.  Hope you enjoy!  I am really proud of my big boy!  Of course, anything his Dad does is alright with him!

Enjoying this blessed moment,
M

My baby is officially a big boy : (

Kevin cut Max's hair tonight.  It was so cute, but a little sad.  Now my little baby officially looks like a little boy not a baby boy.  He sat so still, just an angel.

Here are some pictures:

"I am not sure I am ready, Mom & Dad!"

"OK - This isn't so bad..."

Before:

After:

What an adorable, dirty, always-my-baby boy!

And here is a little picture of Lexi.  She loves to make funny faces for the camera now!

Enjoying my blessed life,
M

Its been a while

I haven't posted in a while.  I have been running and running and feel like I am running on fumes!!  One of these days I will get pictures up.  But for now, you have to settle for just script.

4th of July was a great day.  We went to a breakfast celebration, and it was DELICIOUS!  Kevin's cousin's family puts it on every Independence Day, and they have got a good spread.  Then we relaxed for a bit.  After naps we went to another one of Kevin's cousins' homes.  (Yes, he has a TON of cousins)  Lexi and Max LOVED it.  They have chickens and horses and cats and dogs.  My kids adore animals and love to do anything that involves looking/petting/chasing animals.  After the cookout we went to Elmwood for some fire works (or fire trucks, as Lexi kept calling them).  Max and Lexi both loved them.  Lexi says they are pretty colors and sparkly (farkely).  Max was in awe, he just stared as if he was seeing the most amazing thing ever.  Then home to bed.  My babes were tired.

Yesterday we went to see a good friend of mine from high school, Carrie, and her darling daughter.  (Of course we were blessed to see her sister, all of her nieces and nephews and her mom and dad - amazing people).  We had a great time.  The kids got to play outside with all the other children, and Carrie and I got to "catch up."  Carrie's parents have a great farm with tons of animals, so Lexi and Max were in heaven.

All in all it was an amazing weekend.  I think my babies truly enjoyed it.

God Bless the USA!
M