We Can’t Hunt Moose

Me: I’m just so over everything. Let’s move.
T: Move where?
Me: Jamaica.
T: No
Me: Well, where do you want to move to?
T: Alaska
Me: Alaska is boring. There is nothing to do.
T: We can hunt moose
Me: I think they are a protected species, we can’t hunt moose.
T: Did I say we were doing it legally?!?

Yup, that’s my kid!

I finally got the picture back from Senior Night, when I got the privilege of walking Mr. T across the field.  It was pretty awesome!

You will never have this day with your children again.  Tomorrow, they’ll be a little older than they were today.  This day is a gift.  Breath and notice.  Smell and touch them; study their faces and little feet and pay attention.  Relish the charms of the present.  Enjoy today, mama.  It will be over before you know.  -Jen Hatmaker.

 

Funny Faces

Hello November! Nice to see you!

It has been a whirlwind October, but I’m so happy to report I survived #Unprocessed October!! I feel like I need a shirt or something announcing that!! I had 3 “exception” meals built in before I started, and that helped remove some of the stress, but I still faltered.  But, here’s the deal, because of the heightened awareness, when I did falter, I was able to identify the trigger at the time, so I am totally taking it as a win! I was able to see what situations lead to what food decisions – and that was very insightful.  And yes, I lost a few pounds.  🙂  so… #winning! And yes, I’ll probably do it again next October!

This was a unique October full of grand adventure.  We said goodbye to my beloved Grandfather, and then I think I spent the rest of the month making funny faces to a camera.

Don’t believe me?

We had several pep rally’s, and here is a great shot of Mr. T after one of his performances… he was awesome, he slowed his walk down so I could snap the picture!  Love that kid!

And then we made funny faces!  And were photobombed by the cheer coach.  It was pretty much greatness… even if Mr. T and I were totally out of sync on the face making!

BA and I went to the Meatloaf concert!

And when I say concert, I use that term loosely, it really is more like a show than a concert – it’s pretty awesome.  Above is the start of Paradise by the Dashboard light… and the end… needless to say, if you know the song, you’ll totally understand why her top is off! Like I said, he puts on a production!

And then we made silly faces!

We had Senior Night at school, before the football game all of the Seniors in activities are honored and get to walk across the field with their family, and it was my honor to be able to walk my son across the field.  I don’t have the actual picture yet, but we snapped one while waiting.  All of the Senior Cheerleaders had sashes made with their names, except Mr. T, he got a crown!

But first, we made silly faces!

BA and I also went to the Cowboys vs Seahawks game.  Man, I just can’t even.

But the cheerleaders were great! That is a positive, and Rick, the other guy in the picture, is pretty much the best host in the world.  We’ve worked together for so many years and he is so generous and shares these tickets with us each year, I’m so very grateful for the adventure he grants me each year!

And happy to have an adventure buddy that will take silly pictures 🙂

So, like I said, I think I spent the last half of the month making funny faces and sticking my tongue out at the camera.  At one point I asked BA if he was going to out-grown going to the games with me… we looked at each other and laughed, I have plenty of evidence to indicate that neither of us plan to really grow up!

How about y’all? Ready for November?

What is Happening in the Land of Did That Just Happen

There is no reason for that meme, I just found it the other day and LOVE it!

Okay guys, here is a quick recap of what is happening in the land of Did That Just Happen.

We took Senior Pictures.  I am blessed that one of my dear friends is a photographer and she has known Mr. T since he was little, so I knew I could trust her to capture his essence, and she did a great job.  Plus, she let me get in a few of them, and be still my heart.  I’m about to go pick this picture up, I had it blown up and put on a canvas!

After work the other day I ran into town and Flocked a teacher.  🙂  It’s a fundraiser we are doing for Senior Celebration, and seriously, when I waved at one of their neighbors as I was surreptitiously putting up almost a dozen flamingos, I was sure I was busted! But the flock of flamingos is up, and the teacher has been a good sport, and even tweeted it!  Our goal is to raise awareness and now raise some funds!

It’s #SeniorYear so that means MUM SEASON!! I can’t show you a picture of the mum Mr. T designed for his girlfriend, as he doesn’t give it to her until tomorrow, but the above sneak peak should tide you over!  And, for those not familiar with Friday Night Lights, I wrote a post last year to help you understand how big of a deal Homecoming is for us! (Oh, just FYI, apparently the kids at T’s school were discussing mums and googled it and my post came up, and well, wouldn’t you know, one of the girls IN THE POST was the one googling and saw herself featured.  Hey, I asked for the picture before I took it!! But it still cracked me up!)

Speaking of Friday Night Lights:

I’ll deny this if you ever repeat it, but I am going to miss being a Cheer Mom.  I did great at it! I stepped outside my comfort zone.  I volunteered for stuff.  I talked to people.  Like, seriously, I voluntarily spoke with strangers.  And, some of those strangers have become my friends.  While I have not cheered in the crowd with poms for more than 2 seconds, I have worn bling.

Bling people.

I’m just saying.

And then some sad news.

My beloved Grandpa, who was so fond of having adventures with me, passed away Tuesday the 6th.  He went peacefully and I know in my heart he was ready and he is in a much better place, and Heaven was happy (and lucky!!) to receive him.  He served God, his Country and his Family with grace and humor and love and I am a better person for having had him in my life.

And that is my recap of the last couple of weeks!  #Unprocessed October is still happening, and I’m amazed at how well I am doing… I did discover that Diet Coke and Cheetos are still my go-to stress snacks, and yeah, there were a few days that that happened! But all in all, it’s been a good way to kick off the Last 100 Days of the Year!

Now to finish preparing for Homecoming – but what have y’all been up to?

Like Sands of the Hourglass…

These are the Binders of My Life

I have been challenged by Tracie at Life in the Wylde West to the Five Photos, Five Stories Challenge.  “Post a photo each day for five consecutive days and attach a story to the photo.  It can be fiction or non-fiction, a poem or a short paragraph, and each day nominate another blogger for the challenge.”

Now, getting me to do anything for five days in a row is a challenge – but because Tracie said the loveliest things about me in her post, well, I can’t refuse!

Plus, as a friend of mine recently stated “Kate is always doing challenges”

It’s true, I am!

But what is life without a few challenges!

Day 1:

Do you see those four binders?  Those represent my life right now.

The fact that those binders are sandwiched in between my business life, on the right, and my personal life, on the left, is probably the most accurate representation of “balance” that you’ll ever find!

The blue binder is my Drama folder for church.  In here lives all of the scripts we are working on, plus meeting notes and upcoming events.

Next to it is a purple folder. Right now that purple folder is so small – but I know that as the months pass it will start to grow, and soon it will overflow.  That purple binder represents Senior Year.  That binder tells me that Mr. T passed his State mandated tests, that he only needs 4 credits to graduate and is on the recommended graduation plan.  It tells me when to start watching for cap and gown purchases and how much ads in the Yearbooks are estimated to be.  That purple binder is the one that causes a lump to form in my throat!

Next to that is my Cheerleading binder.  Not only did I join the Booster Club to support our team, but I am a member of the Executive Committee – for the 2nd year! I know, it freaks me out, too!  This binder contains all I need to know to fulfill my role on the committee, and it brings me such joy.  I get to be involved, but not intrusive, and it works for me and Mr. T!

But, if that wasn’t enough, the SNAG!16 binder has joined the ranks.  SNAG is Senior Night After Graduation and is our version of Project Graduation, which was started to give graduates a safe place to gather together after graduation. Sadly, graduation night is the night that has the highest incidents of our kids not making it back home and there has been a movement for many years, all over the United States, to give the graduates a place to play and hang out and have a big hooray before closing this chapter in their lives.  Since 2015 is our schools first graduating class, we are all kinda winging it – but guess what I did – I volunteered to be an Executive on this Committee, too.  We will plan and fund raise and do all we can to give our kids the best night after graduation, to give them memories they will carry with them for a lifetime.

I’m happy to report that I’m not the only crazy parent.

Which is good, because the other day I completely lost it on Facebook!

What is the secret handshake I need to learn in order to start getting info on Senior year? Is it too soon to be asking about if yearbook photos have to be a specific company? Or yearbook ads? Or when to take senior pictures? Or announcements? Holy cow, please tell me we get an order form for that! Am I the only one that has started to freak yet? Mrs. S, you’re going thru it now… can you just give me the answer sheet and I’ll copy it all onto my test!