Shivering, Primping, and Prom

Senior Prom took a few twists and turns for Hailee this year. A positive by-product was the fact that I got to spend the day with my girl.
I will attempt to explain how this date came to be. Try to keep up....
The day began at the lacrosse game of Hailee's prom date, Malcom. We huddled together on the sidelines trying to create warmth without physically moving with (from L to R) Malcom's Mom; Malcom's girlfriend, Issy; Issy's Mom, Karalyn; and Hailee, of course.
Apparently, asking to prom is not the "marriage proposal" it felt like in my day-rather a very large group date where a bunch of guy friends ask a bunch of girls that are friends. If you actually have a crush on your date then that is a huge bonus. Such was not the case here.


After the game we stopped for mani-pedis. Issy has done this before. She knows how to get the most from her pedicure.
So why is she letting Hailee go to prom with her boyfriend?
Since Issy is a high school graduate, accompanying her senior boyfriend to his prom was not a 'blast from the past' she desired to revisit.
Her younger sister, Olivia, and Hailee are the same age and good friends. (Are you starting to catch on...?)
Hailee opted for a manicure.

Back at the ranch..my newly engaged sister (more on that later) was on site to do hair. Issy graciously volunteered to do Hailee's make-up.

Olivia also requested Jodi's services.
"This is a picture of me and my prom date running a 5K for our activity this morning."

The girls weigh in on the side pony. (Look carefully and you can see Jodi's fiance, Pat, sitting patiently in the background. I hope he knows what he's getting himself into.:))


Issy left but just happened to show up at the same time Malcom did to pick up Hailee. I have to admit it was a little awkward.
Haileeeee, Malcom's here.....
Hailee and Malcom.


Watching her walk away-my mind is a swirl of thought and emotion.
Sweet baby girl of mine,
This is your last High School hurah. Do you know how proud I am of you? How grateful I am for your smile? Your positive attitude? Your willingness to step outside of your comfort zone? Do you see what I see? Do you know you are beautiful? I love that I have no fears or doubts as to your standards. Thank you for that. Those standards keep you safe. But that doesn't mean I don't worry. Will you wear your seatbelt? Will your date not text and drive? Will you be able to be comfortable in your own skin and be yourself? Will you have fun? So many things outside of my control. So many reminders that I have to let go.
And she's going...going...going.....

B.E. Aggressive.

"Be Aggressive..B-E-Aggressive!"
It's the cheer I do for Gabe before every one of his soccer games. I don't think it does much more than to annoy and embarrass him. So I might stop. Point is...my youngest boy who has all of the skills and techniques of a fabulous soccer player and really likes to win-certainly does not want to do so at all costs. Especially any cost involving bodily harm to himself or anyone else for that matter. And that really is okay with me-as long as it's okay with him. And that is where it gets tricky. It's not okay with him.

Saturday was his last soccer game this season (hold the tissues please) and he and the team played a great season. We will be back for more. He loves it. He knows it is getting more and more competitive. He knows he may get his shins kicked (or worse) and he is ready to put forth his best effort. Either way, I told him if I had to choose between having a son that was a super star aggressive athlete and one that was a good, sweet kid-I would for sure choose the later. "But mom," he said, "I don't think you need to choose. I think you can have both."
Have I mentioned how much I love this kid?


Coach Evan is a 5 star coach and athlete and according to Gabe one of the few people he knows with "more than a 6-pack."
B-
E-
Aggressive....:)

I tried a new method for skimming the foam off of the top of the jam.

It's called, "walk away from the kitchen and let the jam boil over."
Effective, but not recommended.
I'm still cleaning it up.

Mother's Day

These are the questionnaires the primary teachers have the kids fill out for their own entertainment. If you can read it, you can't help but notice a "theme" here. Something to do with me and bed? It appears that Gabe thinks I really like my bed. Which I do. Don't get me wrong. But to me it seems as though I'm never in it. Perhaps Gabe just sensed my desire to be there more often? Either way, Gabe and I went over this one after he gave it to me. I mean...he's almost 12 and he still doesn't know how old I am? Turns out, he knows exactly how old I am and was doing me a favor with his answer. When we got to that question, he looked at me and with a twinkle in his eye said, "I nailed it. Didn't I, mom?" Man, I love that kid! He for sure got one right...one of my favorite things about him is his sweetness.
Speaking of sweetness...
My sister Jodi brought a new friend. I think she is kind of sweet on him.
My parents with my two sisters. I love the way dad is looking at Kelli. He looks at all of us that way. He loves his girls and they love him.
It was mom's birthday. We get to celebrate her birth and her willingness to give birth to all of us on the same day. She is truly an inspiration to me. She manages to work full time helping and healing others and then making a conscious effort to be present in the lives of all of her kids and grand kids. She is one of the most positive, energetic, fun, inspired, and dedicated women I know. I couldn't be more proud and grateful to have her as my mom!!

And then there's this boy...my most handsome, sweet and tender brother. (It really is very masculine to be sweet and tender, Erick. Don't let anybody tell you different).
...and these are his mothers. :)

You will often find Jodi mothering one of Kelli's......
And Kelli mothering one of mine....

...because that's what we do as women. We mother. We nurture. With or without children of our own, it is our inherent nature. And I couldn't be more grateful. For the many "mothers" I've had in my own life. For the many "mothers" that have rallied around and nurtured my children throughout their lives. And most especially, for the gift and blessing of being a mother to my four wonderful children. What an honor and privilege it is for me to be entrusted with their care. They are, without a doubt, my most valued treasure.

Leaning

Today I read,

"Hearts that never lean, must fall."
by Emily Dickinson

...And then there was this and a hug at my door.
Ahhh...the comfort of being able to lean.


(I love the title of that top book...)

We had the whole row...and then some.

Just as I was commiserating about how fast my girls have grown up...
No more polly pockets or tutus or playing "house" or sitting on my lap or dance recitals... Jodi called to invite us to Sophie's dance recital. I jumped at the chance to immerse myself in little-girlhood.
I wish you could have seen her on stage. She acted like she had no idea that hundreds of people were watching her. She danced with energy and confidence. (But then wearing lipstick always has given Soph an unusual amount of confidence.) I was a little jealous watching her. When do we become so self-conscious? Why are we so concerned with what other people think? What if we make a mistake? And someone sees? When do we stop trusting that we can still be loved? Why is it so hard to expose our weaknesses? I pray that Sophie can bask in the knowledge of her greatness-regardless of any perceived weaknesses-for as long as possible. And I will try wearing a little more lipstick.