Halloween

I have been meaning to get these Halloween pictures posted here all week, but as usual things come up and the week gets a lot busier than you intended it to be.  Throw in the fact that the time change has me exhausted by the time I get home from school and there's the reason I am so behind.  

So here is our Halloween 2015 in a few photos. 

Hailey was extremely excited for Halloween this year.  It seemed like everyday she came home with a new picture in her back pack. 

She dressed up as a 50's girl in a costume that we found at Goodwill for 5.99.  Throw in some cat eye glasses and I can't even stand how cute she is.

She kept getting confused as to which decade she was from but ironically the movie Grease came on Sunday afternoon and she fell in love with it.  We recorded as much as we could (sadly it starts right after Summer Nights) and she has watched it everyday since.

The only picture I have of the three of them together.  This was right after school on Friday when Hailey was still dressed up and Evan and Spencer were getting ready for their middle school dance. As you can tell, Spencer wasn't very ready since his pajama pants are peeking out he had to be coerced a bit to attend the dance.  Teenage angst is super fun. 

Evan was a Ranger from his latest book series obsession "The Rangers Apprentice".  We ended up buying a Robin Hood costume which consisted of that cheap looking green shirt and the glove things - for the bargain price of thirty dollars.  I can't tell you how much I hate to spend money on cheap costumes!  Had I known then he wanted me to make him a cloak we would have found a different kind of shirt to work underneath.   Since I haven't read the book and didn't really have any indication of what a ranger was, we were kind of not jibing with our costume ideas until the very end.

The black pants were a pair of mine that I planned to give to Goodwill so I hemmed them a bit for him.  I tried to convince him to wear my boots to the dance but he only wanted them for the picture.  They were actually too small for him!  When did my boys get bigger feet than me?

When Spencer saw me making a hooded cape for Evan, he wanted one too but in black. Of course I made it but he wouldn't wear it to school or to the dance.  In typical Spencer fashion he decided at the last minute to have Dad do his face "old looking" and dress as a sort of wizard.  I was just thankful he used the cape or I might have killed him.

Spencer went to a friends' house to trick or treat so we just had these two little cuties to tote around - with a few of their friends and parents.  It was pretty miserable weather for Halloween.  All the kids were soaked when they came in.  I almost think snow would have been better.

So now we are almost done with the first week in November.  I can't believe the holidays are upon us.  Time to get organized and ready for festivities!

Half day hike

Two days in a row of no recess because of half days.  My kids (and me) really needed to burn off some energy.  We decided to take a short hike to the beach.  As we neared the turn off to the path to the beach, I remembered the kids had been curious about where the "rock" was that marked the mile turn around point for Daddy and Spencer's summer runs.  Since I had run with Spencer twice to the rock, I knew where it was.  So we headed there first. 

A quick break on some pleasantly arranged logs and a group nature selfie.

As we were walking I noticed the time was 2:00.  The boys had informed me that the cast list for the middle school musical was due to be posted by two.  I told Evan that we would head up to one of my favorite spots in the dunes overlooking the lake and bring up the file on my phone.  I told him whether it was good news or bad news there was really no better spot to make you feel like whichever way it was is the way is it supposed to be. To which Evan replied "then if I don't make it, it will be easy to just throw myself over the cliff."  He was kidding of course but that right there in perfect comedic timing proved that he deserved to get a part in the show.

They both got cast!  Spencer has a bit part with the role of Uncle Henry and Evan got a part in the ensemble.  And he found a piece of paracord - the day kept getting better!

The day was fairly warm and not windy.  We were having the best time exploring and checking out the amazing scenery and colors.

Evan even stripped off his shoes and went in the water after a lottery ticket that was washing ashore.  He was sure it would be a winner.  It was half ripped.  Strangely enough, about 50 yards up the beach we found the other half - then had to walk back for the first half that he had left.  Both halves together sadly did not equal a winner.  (Upon further inspection, Hailey thinks there is still a part missing - she thinks it was ripped in thirds and we should go back for the third piece!)

After all of our exploring we realized that we were out walking for around two hours!  We were pretty tired after our fun filled afternoon in one of the most beautiful places on Earth.

Penny

This kid.

We had a rough week not long ago where we had different ideas on what constituted starting out the year on a good note.  Fortunately with a little mandatory technology withdrawl it all worked itself out rather quickly.  

At his cross country meet last week as he was running through the chute toward the finish line his show came off.  His coach (who is as fast as lightening or has clones - I swear during these meets he is everywhere you look) grabbed it out of the way before anyone else tripped on it.   He looked at us and said next time I am going to duct tape it on.  To which I replied "Was it even tied in the first place - because most of the time it isn't."  Just think how fast the kid would be with shoes secure on his feet! 

While we were waiting to get in to see the dermatologist (because he has been blessed with skin like his mother. Sigh.) I looked over at him and just chuckled inside at his fashion statement.  He wears those bracelets everyday to school.   Hmmm.

The latest is that he has a girlfriend.  I can remember back to my eighth grade crushes but OMG this is my BABY!

Lord, beer me strength,

Trapped in my phone...

Since I got a phone upgrade yesterday, I was playing around a bit today and found these little gems that I had "written down" in my phone notes for posterity.  Some of them were years ago, but they take me right back and make me laugh.


4/20/13

In no less than five minutes after arriving at our room at the Soaring Eagle...

Hailey: Check for bed bugs.

Evan: This place is fancy.  There are no bed bugs at a fancy hotel like this.  Some people bring like 500 dollars and all their hopes!


7/17/13

Hailey after tasting spinach dip...

Hailey: It tastes like fish....and soap.



8/1/13

On our UP vacay...

Dad: We are going to stop at a place where Monk's live and bake bread.

Hailey:  Are they human?



9/2/13

Playing Apples to Apples.  The topic is slimy.  Spencer puts down treasure.  Evan is the judge.

Evan to Spencer:  It's sliiimmmy not shhhiiiiiinnny.  With his "accent" both words sounding exactly the same.



11/27/13

Thanksgiving topics...

Evan to Dad:  If the Mayflower wasn't so rough I think you would have liked it.   All they could drink was beer.



9/2/15

A walk through the woods....

Evan to Hailey:  Since Spencer and I are the hunters of the family maybe you should be a trapper.

Hailey:  And like TRAP things????  How do you think I would have the guts to do that when I cried so hard when there was a little bit of blood on the ball we were throwing to Goldie?

Eighteen and life you got it.

It's amazing to find someone who shares your humor, accepts your weirdness, calms your crazy and still has enough room in their heart to love you.  Eighteen years later and I would still choose you.

I love this life of ours and wouldn't trade it for anything.

Spirit week

Last week was spirit week in celebration of homecoming.  Trying to remember the daily themes for two different schools and come up with outfits....no wonder I was exhausted by the time Friday night rolled around. 

Monday:  The elementary theme was beach day.  I think the middle school was something about your favorite team.  Both boys wore Spartan gear but I never got a photo of them. 

Tuesday:  The middle school had Rodeo day.  Doesn't Spencer look so thrilled to be getting photographed first thing in the morning?  He never ended up wearing the hat to school either.  What a party pooper.

Hailey's school had Peace, Love and Tye Dye day.  We found the pants at Goodwill the same day we found her Halloween costume.  We knew this day was on the docket and could not resist.  They were a huge hit.

Wednesday was Island Day for the boys.  As you can tell, Evan really gets in to the spirit week festivities.

Hailey had CREW day plus crazy sock day plus crazy hair or hat day.  They tried to pack in a lot in one day.

I am so glad she is finally letting me do a little bit with her hair.  Still not her favorite thing, but she is so much better about it.

On Thursday the boys had 80's day.  This was my favorite.  Evan was the preppy boy with a pink shirt, blazer and vintage swatch watches and jelly bracelets.  I let Spencer borrow two of my prized possessions: my Guess jean jacket and Andre Agassi tshirt - straight out of the 80's.  Trent had that red leather tie from a costume party.  We tried to peg roll their jeans but the style of jeans now a days just didn't look the same.

Hailey's school had color day.  Each grade was supposed to wear the same color.  The third grade color was green.  I thought it was kind of a lame day.  Evan suggested that they should have lined them all up on the playground and taken a rainbow picture.  That didn't happen, but it would have bee really cool.

Friday was everybody wear blue and white day.  I didn't get pictures of the kids in the morning. Hailey wore her cheer uniform to school but thought it might be too chilly for the game.  So here are my little Sailors after the homecoming game.

It was a fun but very busy week.  Hopefully this one might be a bit less hectic.

Sigh

This is something I found online that could have written almost word for word.   This is unchartered territory for this mama but this is much my life right now with my fourteen year old.

"I have a dream that I am looking at a baby. He is mine, all wrapped up in a blanket on a hospital bed. He is hooked up to machines and I am worried. Every time I pick him up, his heartbeat gets weaker. When I put him down, it gets strong again. The doctors and nurses assure me that this is normal. I have done nothing wrong. It will be our life from now on. I can hold him sometimes, but not for too long. More often than not, I will need to give him space, let him be. I am told it is the best thing for his heart. I tell them it is the worst thing for mine. In the dream, I surrender, willing to care for him the best I can. The message is clear, I need to learn a whole new way to love. I wake up in a deep state of longing and realize, I am grieving. My child is changing and I am mourning.

I cannot remember the last time I sang you a bedtime song, shared a blanket with you, trimmed your fingernails, pushed you on a swing, tied your shoes or cut your chicken at dinner. I do not know what the inside of your locker looks like, who you sit with on the bus, or what you choose for lunch in the cafeteria. You are messy. You hurl your backpack down and raid the cabinets for food deemed only mildly satisfactory. You bark orders for money, slam doors, curse under your breath, and list things you hate. I have made this list more than once. You demand a cell phone, R rated movies, and endless time on the computer. You listen to music with swagger and edge that blares into headphones for only you. You are fresh and fast with a comeback, always.

It has become my job to remind you that a pile of blankets in a heap doesn't mean that a bed has been made. I push you to finish your poetry project, change your socks, wear your retainer, write your thank you notes, lay off the candy. I can't be too excited or too disappointed. My heart must not shatter with sadness or burst with pride or I lose you. You ride high and bottom out almost daily. But I cannot join you. I try to stand back, offer support, let it play out. The impact of my consequences have almost no outward effect, my approval seems to matter the least, and it's becoming rarer for you to back down.

Whenever you lash out, pull away or retreat, I want to reach inside you and pull out the boy who loved Buzz Lightyear and never criticized the Red Sox or his mother. I long for the boy who would wear costumes in public, leap from furniture, and dance wildly, red faced and sweaty from play and imagination. I desperately want to capture you and frantically run away to a distant amusement park on a random Wednesday when you're scheduled to take a math test. We'll race together from the giant water slides to the crazy roller coasters and eat fried dough until we're sick. We'll waste money, laugh until it hurts, and you'll hold my hand and squeal that I'm the greatest... of all time... ever. We'll return home to a permanent state of bliss and skip the betrayal of a temporary fix.

I stay at your bedside, aching for you to share one piece of your day. I am consumed by the potential of a meaningful conversation. You start to share your social woes and I am on the edge of my seat, undivided attention abounds. But you trail off, mumbling that I won't understand. I scrounge for details from my middle school days to validate you and show I can relate. I get it! I was just there! You assure me things are different now. I nod. They sure are.

I look over at your younger brother, waiting patiently to be tucked in, while I'm all consumed in your adolescence. This is a harsh reminder of your growth and the precious passing of time. He needs me more constantly. You, in more intense, immediate spurts. But tonight I must go to him because the days are slipping on all of us. And when I find him where you are, I will long for this night and these struggles and victories -- so overwhelming to me now, so strangely simple and innocent to me tomorrow.

We are crossing over. You are my baby. But I cannot carry you now. You walk alone into a new world. I want you to linger here, but you constantly push. You will change. You will grow. You will stumble. You will rise. I will be soft and firm. I will guide and step aside. I will lean and I will pull. I will be lost and I will be certain. I will reach for you, and if you do not reach back, know that my heart remembers your heartbeat. And I will always be holding you there."

-Janell Burley Hofmann