One Day

One day I'll share our story with you... one day!

Animals and more animals...

You know you want to watch what we watch. Now's your chance!







Thank goodness for YouTube. We love learning about all sorts of animals from clips!

Italian Style Banquet

I casually, but officially, handed over the presidential reigns to the new President, Laura! I'm excited to hand it over and see how much further they can take the group. I had a blast being so involved and plan to stay involved but my life has shifted and I'll no longer be able to do as much as I once could. I'll still be around as the Blog Coordinator and the Crafty Mommas Coordinator, but I'm no longer on the board.

As my last hoorah, we had our annual MNO Banquet. This year we had it at an Italian restaurant and we did an Italy theme. Our game was Italian trivia, we dressed Italian (think Italian tourists or gondola drivers) and we ate Italian food. That was the extent of it.

Gifts, prizes, prizes and gifts! Lots of people to thank for a great year!

My fabulous friends. Laura's speech made me cry. This group of women has caught me when I needed catching several times in the short time I've known them. I prayed and prayed for friends ever since we moved to Madison. I knew that God knew my heart's desires and I just stayed steadfast and continued to pray for the gift of friendship. I had no idea that although it'd take 4 years, that he'd deliver so richly. I am so blessed by these women.

I do have to share the jist of Laura's speech because I don't want to forget it. She just got back from a month long sabbatical in France. She visited a nude beach while she was there and saw some 60+ year old women just hanging out and gabbing half nude. She knows that we'll be those friends when we're 60. Ugh, tears!

It was a beautiful night of friendship and celebration. Now about that wine and crayon idea... right, Sarah?

Coming and Going

I feel like I'm meeting myself at the corner of coming and going this week. I mean, it's already Thursday?? What?? 

We are in therapy a lot. Sometimes I'm with him, sometimes I'm not. When I'm not, I'm checking my email, working on UHP or MOMS Club stuff or planning my SILs baby shower. 

Yesterday, I caught up on some magazines. Here are some exciting tidbits that caught my attention. 

The disgusting dresser I found on the curb awhile ago is almost done... Here's a sneak...

I pick it up Friday! That's tomorrow. Woot! Big, fun weekend ahead. I hope Daredevil can stay awake for it. He's been falling asleep and missing out on fun lately. :( He got fun at a pool party yesterday but tuckered out before we got to Concerts on the Square. Boo. Next week! 

Summa Summa Summertime

Summertime is wonderful for lots of great reasons...

Out of town visitors. 

Gardening. 

Water tables. 

Pools. 

Sprinklers. 

Dance recitals. 

Giant produce. 

Unlimited art projects. 

Late breakfast. 

Park play dates. 

Birthday parties. 

And festivals and adventures and Concerts on the Square which starts tonight!!! 

Quilting

Mr Tech Guy has been asking for a handmade quilt since I started sewing years ago. His request has finally been fulfilled.

Daredevil decided to help me sandwich the quilt together. And by help I mean provide a really cute distraction.

 Here it is all sandwiched and ready to be quilted.

And, here we are snuggling with his new quilt!

I'm already sandwiching my next quilt! Eek! I love it! I can't wait to get these few finished so I can start on Daredevil's quilt.

Goodbye to a Classic

Have you ever been abnormally attached to a physical thing? I have. My dad's truck. It represents my dad, long roadtrips in the Indiana countryside, golf, golf lessons, dance lessons... windows down, radio up, singing to James Taylor at the top of our lungs. It's a thing, just a thing, but it represents so much to me. It's so hard to tell it goodbye.

I told Mr Tech Guy we couldn't get rid of it until I had a photo shoot. Rog wasn't super excited but he did it for me.

Always a Butler dad.

It's going to be weird without this truck in our driveway. Sayonara, old friend.

David B"Owie"

Has everyone seen the cult classic, Labyrinth? Remember, David Bowie and his crazy eye make-up? Here's a refresher if you don't.... Oh, that Goblin King.

So, Daredevil thought he'd channel his inner Goblin King the other day.

He got into my eye make-up and imitated my action, putting on the eye make-up with the brush and everything! I couldn't help but laugh. He's so cute, even when he does resemble David Bowie.

This week, Daredevil's been sneaking in plenty of snuggles and playtime with Gammy and Grandpa and "Bub."

Don't these two look so guilty here? Hmmm, what are they up to?

Even Bub took him to a park without telling us, so I had to send Mr Tech Guy on a seek and find mission since my mom and I were elbows deep in cinnamon sugar for a project. Our Daredevil's been super busy but it's been a fun week.

I hope you all have an awesome day.

TGIF.

Pretty, pretty pillows

While I was picking up supplies for another project when I saw the cutest fabric. And, it was 60% off! Bazinga!

1 yd of fabric plus two pillow forms from Ikea in my supply closet equaled two new, really cute and cheap pillows for the sofa.

My Phin liked them, too.

And, Ben decided he needed to help me make the bed yesterday. Oh, what a guy! He's such a big helper.

I've been big into crafting lately... sewing, painting, scrapbooking, etc. Mr Tech Guy's quilt is almost done and I have two others in the works. Several smaller blankets are ready to be sewn too. I have two events coming up soon so I've also been doing fun crafts in preparation for those events. I can't wait to show you some sneak peaks of what I'm working on soon. I just can't seem to stop working to take pictures!

Tornado

Madison and Verona got hit by tornados yesterday. Two friends of mine had severe damage to their homes. We've never had substantial tornado damage but we have had extreme flood damage, so I can relate. It's devastating. I'm so sad for my town and my friends that are trying to pick up the pieces of their homes and move on.

Here are some pictures of one of my friend's home. They happen to be on sabbatical in France right now. What a thing to come home to?

Stay safe during these crazy storms, everyone!

Great Expectations

I didn't know what to title this post, I don't even know if I want to write this post. I don't like to complain because despite our shortfalls and problems, we are very blessed.

But sometimes I want to be honest and use this blog as a place to vent and scream and cry... this post may be one of those pity parties.

Anyway, here goes. Our only tradition in Madison is to go to the Verona Hometown Days fireworks each year. It's a fun little thing we've done since we moved here.

This year we were excited to take Daredevil back because he enjoyed them last year and loved the fireworks at both Disney World and Disneyland.

We had a blast waiting for the show to begin! In our pjs all snuggled up under the blankets! We played with dinosaurs, talked, sang, laughed. Super fun stuff. Magical. Perfect. Beautiful.

And then the first boom booms started going off. Instant racing heart. Instantly in my arms. Instantly trying to get away. He didn't scream, he didn't cry, but he was scared. Scared to death.

My heart broke for him. Something that should've brought joy and excitement brought fear and anxiety. We got out of there as soon as we could get back to the car. Daredevil was great once we got in the car. Me, however? I cried all the way home. I cried because I wanted him to enjoy it. I cried because there are things I want him to experience and love that he doesn't and possibly never will. I cried for myself. I cried for all the things I'm unsure if he'll ever do or ever want to do/experience. It was just a reminder of where we are and how we have to take things slowly, differently. My expectations need to be changed.

Daredevil also got his molars last week so it wasn't a fun week anyway. I dealt with this a lot. A lot!

On Saturday, he was beginning to feel better so we thought we'd try to go to a party his therapy company was putting on.

We got out of the car, walked toward the parking lot festival, he spotted Bucky, started crying, we tried to distract him with a corn hole type game, he pulled Mr Tech Guy to the car and pointed to the door and said "in." This whole scenario took less than a minute. It took longer to buckle him in the carseat.

Another fail for mom. I was sad, but I didn't cry. He just wasn't ready for Bucky and wasn't interested in the festival. He had much more fun at the park we took him to after.

I just have to remember that even though I want him to enjoy something, doesn't mean he will and that's ok. He's allowed to have things he doesn't like. I love him for who he is and what he enjoys. My expectations just sometimes get in the way of remembering that.