Thanksgiving trip part2

The Friends

Getting in the car for a long drive to see friends make the trip seem so much shorter and absolutely worth the night of sitting and having a seat belt wrapped around you poking your hip bone. It’s tradition that when we get in the car and Kid4 knows it’s going to be an all night-er she always says “Do we get to see Tia (that’s what she calls Bat girl)?” When I say “yes” she is silent and that means she is fine with the long drive, the uncomfortable car seat, it’s all worth it if Tia’s at the end of it. She knows the good things in life are worth waiting for!

One of my favorite things about travelling happens before we ever leave. The big kids are on their phones making plans with their “Texas friends”, Kid2 is giggling and planning as many sleep over’s as possible in the short time we will be there. She is usually gone every night at this friends or that friends laughing and telling stories all night- oh’ the memories she is creating! (this is especially special because we don’t do spend the nights here. In Texas we have known those people since they were little and we know we can trust them). Kid1 is on the phone planning what movies to go too, what to bring, how far they ride their skateboards in town, and for a 16 year old boy to say he is excited is fantastic! I Love it!

The best thing of course is the meeting between my kid3 and her kid, Dusty. Dusty and my kid3 are best friends, they have been together since they were 2 and 3, and they truly don’t remember time without the other. I love how they run into each other’s arms and knock each other down. They shout and pal around; they sleep on the living room floor, play games until their fingers are stiff and stay up all hours. They are like long lost brothers aching to see the other as much as possible! When we pull into Bat Girls driveway at the end of a long night, the sun has risen, we are weary and here he comes running towards us with enough gusto to knock the wind out of a cloud- I love it- I love him! We share our kids; you probably already know that by now!

As soon as we arrive, the kids start dispersing, calling friends to let them know they are there, making meeting plans, deciding who is going where and when. I love it, I’m tired but I love watching them reunite with their friends. Kid2 has girl friends and I love watching them see each other for the first time in months. She is all smiles as we get closer and then she runs to their door and the door is thrown open to giant waiting girl arms. There are three of Kid2’s friends that I adore and as you know and probably hate I don’t use names on my blog so here I go trying to tell their stories without using their names.

The first friend I always think of when we head to Texas is H. She is so dear to my heart. She and Kid2 have been friends since third grade and they love each other dearly. She is pure hearted, sweet as sugar and I love her dearly. They have spent too many hours to count together, telling stories, giggling like girls do and growing up together. The second friend I think of is T. She and Kid2 became really close friends as we were moving and we spent the summer enjoying every moment we could with sweet T. She is funny, confident and full of life. The third friend I think of is E. Her and Kid2 had the funniest meeting in third grade and she has been near to my heart ever since. When we moved to Texas E was in a bully phase, although she is not a good bully because she is too sweet. One day Kid2 called me crying and saying “I’m going to hit her, I really am”! I said “sit right there and I will come and get you, don’t touch her!” Come to find out E had sat on my kid2’s head and kid2 had finally had enough. We all met and poor E was so embarrassed, my heart went out to her because she truly felt bad. Since we have been travelling back to Texas kid2 and E have developed a wonderful friendship that is truly a delight to witness. They enjoy each other and have such fun together and their story is too funny not to tell. Sometimes the friendships that develop come from someone bullying the other. Ask my friend Melissa, that’s how we became good friends- I may have bullied her a little- I couldn’t say though! I think E and Kid2 will have a special kind of forever friendship.

Is there any better feeling than watching two friends run into each other’s arms holding each other tight trying to make up for all the hugs they missed out on? Is there anything better than the cackling of two girls who have too many things to catch up to sleep a wink? Is there anything better than seeing two boys running, laughing and knocking each other down like pups? There can’t be… there just can’t be- I love friends reuniting.

thanksgiving trip part 1

My trip was full of so many wonderful things and I will try to break it down one by one.

The driving-
There are few things better than loading up everyone in the car and watching the kids get all cuddled in, wrapped in blankets, snuggled into car seats, and nestling in for the a long night of driving.

I always say that we drive at night for two reasons: it’s quiet and it’s cheap. There is very little talking from 4 sleeping mouths and also no one is hungry at night so we don’t spend 60 dollars a meal to eat out. But the truth is that I love to get the kids in the car and watch them snuggle together, decide on a movie and nestle in for the long drive. I love to look into the rear view and see their sweet faces sound asleep. I love to hear the silence but have them all so near me.

There is nothing better than watching the sun set in one state and rise in another. Watching the Georgia sun set over the tall trees and orange sky is indescribable. I said to Mr. B. “if this was a painting, it would look fake”. Watching the sun rise in New Mexico in the desert was AMAZING! The desert mountains, the cactus, the HUGE sky… too much describe! The desert sky is like the ocean; it goes on and on as far as the eye can see.

It was a privilege to be a witness to one of the most beautiful, natural sights. By the time we had gotten to New Mexico, we were tired, it was 7 degrees outside and we were low on gas, but I truly felt lucky to be there. To be in a beautiful place at the very moment a breathtaking sunrise is occurring was an honor. It occurred to me as we watched the sunrise, the children slept and we crept along that cold highway; so many others were in bustling airports, gathering bags, pushing through crowds and standing in lines. Did they know what they were missing out on? Do they know that the sun was rising over the silent desert at that moment? By rushing through the holidays, flying to make things quicker there are things you miss out on- the sun rising over Carrizozo New Mexico, the excitement that a long drive brings as you see your family waiting anxiously on their porch for your arrival, climbing out of the car over siblings just to get the first hug from your Mama-G and Grandpa Red, bringing handmade gifts because you had the space to pack them and knowing that they were waiting just especially for you! All that and the most beautiful desert sunrise too. There is nothing better, I assure you!

an unknown christmas list

tonight I am listening to Michael Buble's song grown up Christmas list (scroll to the end of this page to see and hear it)and I am thinking about my nephew. It's something that I have not blogged about yet. I knew that someday I would want to write about it but I wasn't sure when.

My sweet and mischievious nephew was killed four years ago on August 16th at age 13. He was hit by a car on Farrington Hwy in Hawaii. I have so many thoughts about him of course so many of them I chose not to share, they are way to personal.

This season my mind keeps wandering back to him wondering what he would have been like today, look like and how his laugh would sound. I wonder how much less broken my brothers heart would be if he had this little boy to share his days with.

As our children grow old and change, their Christmas lists change with them. They want a fire truck one year and then before we can blink an eye they want a cell phone. Time flies by so fast it's like life is rushing by trying to beat us to the punch line.

As I am trying to keep up with life, running with all my might trying to not miss a moment .....

I wonder what his Christmas list would have been like this year?

BAD tooth....

Im sorry for the delay about my trip. There is so much to write and share but I have a broken back tooth and I think it's trying to kill me! I am hoping to get it fixed tomorrow and I will write more soon I promise!

home again...

Im home! We had a WONDERFUL time. We drove 3700 miles in ten days, we saw too many family members to name and I'm thankful that we have friends and family to visit. more tomorrow....

vacationing

We're loving life, driving long, visiting family and dear friends.....

I have to say that if you haven't seen the sun rise in the desert well you simply haven't lived! 

The highlight of my trip? Bat Girl of course, and the long hours in the car with my family... now THATS living!

Happy Thanksgiving friends!

Christmas pictures 08'

Today I took the kids out to take their annual Christmas picture and I LOVE IT! I usually take about 100 pictures and sort through them at home but this year it was FREEZING, we took 8 and called it good! A few came out great this is not the one I'm using for cards but it's close. Are they so cute or what? None of them were very happy with any of the pictures- you know how teenagers are!

I can't believe it's almost Christmas! I love the Holidays!

Broken Promises and skinned knees

My Sweet Kid3 takes Kid4 to the park every day. When he gets home from school she has her jeans on and is ready to head out. He is so sweet to take her and I’m not sure that every 12 year old would take a 4 year old to the park EVERY single day- but he does.

I love to watch them digging in the sand, swinging from the trees- just kidding- they swing on the swings! I love to watch them chase each other around and up and down the very big slide. It’s a fantastic feeling to see your kids happy with each other and having fun together.

Kid4 often comes home with funny stories about the park and the kids there. Yesterday she came inside for a minute and told me that “the new kids at the park are running away from home because their Mom LIED to them, she said they could have a pony but they DON’T have one! Little Bill wanted to run away and then he did not and he took a nap” I laughed because I saw that episode of Little Bill- we love Little Bill by the way and I also saw her listening intently to the “new kids” at the park and wondered what they were saying… now I know. Apparently their Mother is an Ogre… I mean who doesn’t let their kid have a pony? MEAN MEAN MEAN!

Kid3 and 4 headed out for a trip to the park this afternoon and she insisted on wearing a skirt so off they went. She was dancing around and running and they were chasing each other having the time of their lives. Kid3 came inside to go to the bathroom really quick and she stayed outside with our neighbor friend, I was also watching her from the window. All of a sudden the second I looked away I heard a big scream and being the overprotective parents of the baby that we are we all ran outside (All= me, Mr. B. and Kid2). She had fallen while our poor neighbor was walking her home and she was apparently stomping and telling him that she was “an adult” and “could stay at the park alone”… he was trying to coheres her home and she was not taking it well, slipped on the curb and fell on her knees!

Poor little girl, she has experienced running away, a lying Mom and skinned knees- does childhood get any better than this?

brothers

Brothers and boys have a different relationship than sisters and girls. They do love each other and have a similar need to tell each other things and communicate but they are not as verbal as girls- thank goodness! My first real understanding of the special relationship between boys was my brother and his friend in high school, they would do anything for each other and my brother named his first born after him. They didn't need to talk, one just knew what the other needed.

Later on in life when I had boys I could see that they are special in a different way. They do communicate, you just may have to listen harder or different.

So often boys get the short end of the stick, often adults treat boys as if they are always up to trouble and that may not be true. Boys get into things, they hop fences, go fast and get dirty but they aren't necesarily misbehaving- they are just being boys.

Brothers are amazing, through time when friends fail you brothers are forever.

I love pictures of brothers, and boys together having fun. Boys get into things, make messes, get dirty and seize every moment possible... I love brothers! These are pictures of a few of my favorite boys!

ode to my silly goosey

The tiniest blessing near or far.
What a wiggly silly goose you are.
Beautiful girl full of grace.
Those charming green eyes, oh’ what a face!
Brown bouncy curls dance and swirl about.
Amazingly innocent without a doubt.
As you grow we'll watch and see
What a miracle you will truly be.