#359/365--Christmas Break, Day 3

Fifteen years.

Fif. Teen. Years.

This means

high school

...and...

Driver's Ed

...it means...

I don't know

what to get you

...for Christmas...

...it means...

you are taller than me

and

stronger

and

you don't really

...need me...

anymore

...but...

you still like

...birthday donuts...

and

you are still

...my CutiePie...

I'm thankful for

...antibiotics...

and

...basketball goals...

for giving us

...mommy-son time...

which

...doesn't happen...

very often

anymore

I'm thankful

God

made me

your

mom

and

I'm thankful

for

a few more years

before

...you leave the nest...

Happy Birthday

to

my

Fifteen year old

Christmas Present

...my wild thing...

my

"Max"

(and in case you don't get that reference...

...click here...

Where the Wild Things Are )

#358/365--Christmas Break, Day 2

My SickBoy

...he wasn't feeling well...

...his temp went from...

normal

to

101

to

102.2

in

...less than 2 hours...

we wanted him to be seen

...before...

"Family Christmases"

and

now

...antibiotics...

for

Christmas

#357/365--Christmas Break, Day 1

Spent some time

with Michael

((three hours))

putting his

...basketball goal...

together

turns out

we needed tools

I don't have

so

we borrowed from

Michael's dad

...some of the...

...finer...

moments

...and...

finally

...anyone want to...

shoot some hoops?

#356/365--Close Calls

I have always

...hidden...

Christmas presents

in my

...closets...

this year

this door

...almost gave me away...

when

my kids

were

...wrapping...

their Christmas presents

and

asked for

...tissue paper...

which they know

...I keep...

in this very same closet

and

I responded

"Yes....wait....no

...wait...

I don't know..."

...they knew...

and the race was on

to see

...who...

could get to

...the closet door

...first...

I guess

I need

to find

a new

...hiding place...

#355/365--Celebration Brunch

...he wanted tamales...

he got tamales

...he wanted red velvet cake...

he got red velvet cake

We celebrated

the

BaseballBoy

today

because

having a birthday

so close to

Christmas

is usually

...a ripoff...

where birthdays

are concerned

so

Happy Early Birthday

Mikey

...you and your ugly Christmas Sweater....

are

much loved

#354/365--Christmas PARTY

...My RoomMom...

and

BFF

outdid herself

...this year...

#4thGrade

#halfwaythere

#muchneededbreak

#livingthedream

#blessedlife

#353/365--Teacher of the Year

...to be nominated...

amongst

these

...outstanding women...

was such an honor

(photo by former T.O.Y. --JenBen)

and

...this beauty...

won the title

She taught

both

...my LollipopGirl...

and

...my BaseballBoy...

and

I know

...firsthand...

what an

amazing

teacher

she is

in addition

to being

one of the

Best Friends

a girl could have

I'm so proud to

...not only teach with her...

but

to call her

my kindred spirit

my BFF

my sojourner

my sister

Congratulations

to you,

Tara!

You are

...more than...

deserving

of this title!