Christmas Thoughts...

Christmas Thoughts...

I was just thinking of when little heads slept under our tree on Christmas Eve night.
Busy moments wrapping gifts and baking treats, so much time spent making memories.
Full body hugs pulling little feet off of the floor,
when it begins to dawn upon me that they are all grown.

My babies tower over me. 

Grown.  Grown up.  These are the thoughts that most reflect what my babies have become.  I couldn't be more proud of these beautiful young women.  

Christmas time is not me baking, as much as it is Alex & Sammie.  
They have become Christmas Elves, helping pick out just the right gifts and sometimes actually purchasing the item, and smuggling it off to the car before anyone know what they have done. :D  

Sammie has one more Christmas with us before she goes off to college.  Alex has four. 

Christmas is changing, Life is changing...but for the better.   I'm so grateful.  Life is good. :)
Merry Christmas Eve everyone.  (((HUGS)))




  

Sammie's Band Recital

Alex's Band Recital

Our Girl's In Florida

My Mom and Dad picked up Sam and Alex from the airport on the 19th and we picked them picked them back up yesterday, Sept. 2, 2012.  They had a blast!  Nana and Papa took them out to eat, multiple beaches, playing pool, driving golf cart, jungle gardens, bush gardens, the pool and shopping!  :D  They have wonderful memories to last a life time. (and three hundred pics)  Here are just a few that my Dad had sent to me while they were away.  It is so good to have them back!

My 40th Birthday!

My 40th birthday started out with a card from my parents that arrived two days early.  Lovely.  :D  The morning of, I walked out the door to find another birthday card from Mom and Dad Conn on the step.  :D  Beautiful. Friday I received a card from the CEO. Very nice!   I left for work and received a huge surprise, a bouquet of flowers from my boss.  

  Arriving home from work there were more surprises...Card from Adam, picture from Alex, birthday cake from Sam!  I continued to receive messages from family all day long wishing me well.   I am truly blessed.  :D

Thank you to each and everyone of you who give my life meaning.  I love you!

(((HUGS)))

July 4th Celebration

Our mall has a fireworks display each year for the 4th of July.  The girls shopped from 8-10 pm and then met me in the parking lot to enjoy the brilliance. :)  Even in the rain, a good time was had by all.

Sammie is Driving

It's official, our first born is driving.  :D  This is a rare and wonderful experience as a parent...mixed with a bit of fear.  LOL  She is actually, pretty good.  She is currently working and saving.  She hopes to buy her first car next year and we are thrilled for her.

Alex's Latest Artwork

Here is a picture of one of Alex's

latest drawings.  Link from the Legend of Zelda game series and Na'vi, his fairy.  :)  

Sarasota, Florida

Our Summer Vacation Destination.

Good memories to be made.

Song of a Shell

I held a sea shell to my ear,
  And listened to its tale
Of vessels bounding o'er the main
  And all the ships that sail.
It sang of brilliant water flowers—
  The bright anemones
That bloom beneath the ocean waves—
  Tossed in from seven seas.
Each time I harken to this song,
  I hear the breakers moan,
And fancy that a warning bell
  Rings from a lighthouse lone.
No longer need I wish to go
  Where foam-capped billows swell,
For I've an ocean of my own
  Withing this pearly shell.

Violet L. Cuslidge

Sadness

Sadness...
Perhaps the thing that breaks me is sadness.  In those I love around me.  I need for others to be happy or I simply can't feel it for myself.
I spent the evening with someone close to me whose heart has been broken and I hurt for them.  The questions...the whys... they come in the sadness, with the tears and I am left wordless, remember my ancient pain and thinking I have no answers.  None.  I didn't then and I still don't now.
Except that time heals all wounds.  Those are my Nanny's words to me.  And so I share them, for the rest of the world to hear.  Time fades the brightest of colors and gives you a very different vantage point year after year of life.  It gets better.  It will get better.  The sadness that is fresh today will not be so in a matter of weeks and months...who knows what happiness awaits you just around the corner.  For tomorrow...is another day! (((HUGS)))

Dreaming

Dreaming...
It takes its many forms
from cheerful, playful moments
to fearful, tears and more.

Dreaming...
Like many a varied day
Living in the moment
Not always going your way.

Dreaming...
From within this place
Blue eyes, Blue eyes
I'm lost in his embrace.

Sometimes I must write.  I'm not sure exactly why.  Too many feelings inside, I suppose.  :)  Some of my happiest moments in this life are dreaming with Adam.  We spent the day together yesterday.  He is my Blue Eyes.  He is the dream keeper.  His words speak life to my heart.  Today, Tomorrow & Always.

I love you, Adam. :*

Our day started like any other, I went to work.  Half way through my day I realized that I could take off at lunch time and not come back for the afternoon.  Adam was off of work.  We crawled in our mini-van and said, "What are we going to do?"  Spur of the moment doesn't come upon us very often, but wow, when it does!  It turns into the best day ever. :D
We started with lunch by the river front at a new Italian restaurant.  Amazing!  The waitress, the food, the river.  We finished up and headed out to have a look around the Hawkins Point Visitor Center.  We spent the day traveling around the waterfront, walking the beach and taking in all there was of a beautiful day.  
Memories cherished & moments to hold.  (((HUGS)))

Mother's Day Weekend 2012

There is very little time, as of late, to simply enjoy.  The Sun.  The Breeze.  The Sounds.  A Good Book. The Hugs.  The Love.  The Food.

I am actually getting a full day to do all those wonderful things I love, including blogging!  :D

Adam has been off at work, so has Sam.  Alex although down with a cold (after visiting the doctor this morning and having a culture done...it isn't Strep), has been peacefully painting murals in her bedroom all afternoon with paints from Nanny & Papa in Florida.  I am very sure that my mom meant them for the cute painting that came with them, but my children think outside the box (or paper as it was) and enjoy expressing! :D

I, on the other hand, have mowed the grass, done the laundry and washed the dishes.  Then laid in the sun with my Kindle, Traveled to Europe with our Create Channel, and surfed the internet for a while.  This is quite possibly my idea of Heaven on earth and most of it has to do with simply being home...to enjoy my home.  Does it get better than this?  I think not.  :p

I am off to enjoy what is left of the afternoon before the sun goes down and our evening takes off.  But the peacefulness of this day will stay with me for long after it is over.   Remember to take time for yourself, ya'll or you will have nothing to give to those around you.  Replenish your well!  (((HUGS)))

 This is our lovely sis getting married!

Mom just sent these to us this week.  We are so happy for her as she starts her new life!

Reading Jeremy's last comment, that he wanted us to get to see his boys more.  Talking to my 

Dad last night on the phone, my Mom the night before.

Life is so very good and such a treasure.  

Don't you think?

Are we not all so very blessed to be loved.  To have these wonderful people in our world

called FAMILY!!!!

They are friends at times, shopping buddies at others, gift senders, treasured moment sharers, nurturers, wisdom givers, story sharers, listeners and much more.

I love you all!

(((HUGS))) :* 

Facebook

Ok, ok, I'm so sorry. I tried it again and it just isn't for me. Lol. Seriously. Sam was on it and just loves it. Alex was nuetral. She could take it or leave it. Me. I just like blogging. :). I'm simply not on the computer Enough to enjoy it to it's fullest. The computer screen is my life Monday through Friday and I am almost never on it at home. I'd rather be outside in the sun. You know the two weeks a summer we get to see it. :D. (((hugs)))

Thoughts for the night...

We just got home from Sammie's final NYSMA practice.

Two thoughts kept going through my mind:

1) You can never go back; and I have to tell you, with what Sam has had to endure as of late, I wouldn't if you paid me. And currently Alex is in Jr High, need I say more????

2) Youth is wasted on the young. Nope! I think it is perfectly given. Our girls are so amazingly resilient. With age and wisdom, comes great fatigue. :D I watch our children growing into INCREDIBLE young women and I am in awe of their ability to face everything life throws at them and they take it. They may cry occasionally as they come to terms with real life issues, but they wipe their tears. Stand up strong and move on.

So I say, not all cliché's hold true! Youth is a beautiful ride...only to be lived once. Thank God.

Alex's 13th Birthday!

Alex's 13th Birthday was spent celebrating the week. :) Adam and I are on opposite work schedules. I'm off weekends and he works them. So, we celebrated with Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt Reba at Pizza Hut one night and with Daddy two nights later. Here are pics from Pizza Hut. Our girls are officially both teenagers now.

Alex's Artwork

Random moments I get to slow down and I am so surprised at how old our girls are getting and just how beautifully talented they are. This is one of Alex's latest sketches. It is of Link a character on one of her video games. It is amazing to watch her draw something like this at the age of 13. I keep wondering, what will her art be like 10 years from now after college? This is her dream job, designing artwork for video games. But for now, I cherish the moments like this: Walking in from work the other day to find Adam and Alex sketching in the living room together. Alex was shocked, "Dad I didn't know you could draw! You are really good!" I smiled and told her to tuck that away somewhere safe. Adam throws away his sketches, just for fun he will say. I hope Alex pursues art for the rest of her life. So grateful that this gift was passed on. Generational Gifts! A celebration of life. The past, present and the future.