by Sarah | Mar 20, 2014 | All About Denver, All of Us, Redefining Perfect, The Teenager
Gone are the days where the mail was full of bills and interesting items for me.
Paperless billing lessened our mailboxes load.
We don’t get many catalogs anymore.
But these days our mailbox is often full.
With items addressed not to us, but to Denver.
Letters, flyers.
College calling cards.
He’s in 10th grade now.
At school in his college and careers class he filled out something that gave his address and listed the career he was interested in.
Apparently schools don’t pay attention to the career listing, because he’s gotten many from schools that don’t do pre-med.
Still, he gets letter upon letter, flyer upon flyer.
I don’t remember ever getting so many.
My grades were just as good as his.
Are colleges that desperate these days?
by Sarah | Mar 19, 2014 | All About Denver, All About Family, Blogging Life, Pour Your Heart Out, Redefining Perfect, The Teenager
As a baby he was all Mama’s boy. I was a single mom and he was my world.
As he grew, he stayed that way. He listened to my musicals in the car with me.
Everything was shared, no secrets kept.
Over time, and with age, the world began to shift.
Sisters were born.
School got harder.
Life got busier.
He became a pre-teen.
The hugging slipped away.
The talking disappeared.
Sullenness crept in where sunshine had lived.
And then we had a teenager.
Over the past few years, the ever-changing relationship has left me at time joyous, befuddled, angry, and sad.
The need for independence, coupled with the distance already formed, has left some gaps in the relationship.
I don’t understand him, although I try.
He is a sensitive one, like I always was, and I find myself now understanding my dad’s frustration when I was that age.
There are ways Denver is just like me—and ways he is nothing like me.
I don’t know how to parent a teenager. I don’t know how to let go and hold tight. I don’t know how to keep his trust as he tests mine.
Yet, in the frustration and pain, there are moments.
Times we share laughter. Times we have a playful battle of wits (or wills).
There are some subjects we share an enjoyment of (raising a Geek when you’re one helps).
Some days I think I’m losing him and will never get him back.
Some days I worry I didn’t do a good enough job raising him.
But these days, as he’s getting a little older—a little closer to good-bye—we are starting to find that middle ground.
There are times I think he might actually like his parents (heaven forbid).
And so I think there is hope.
Just so long as he knows how proud we are of him (we are, so much).
So long as he knows how smart he is and how much potential he has.
Then I am happy, and think maybe I didn’t do such a bad job in raising him after all.
*
Are you ready for the teen years? I still have two kids to go through, and they’re girls. I don’t think I’m ready for that.
*~*
Written for Things I can’t Say’s Pour Your Heart Out
by Sarah | Mar 18, 2014 | All About Me, All of Us, Blogging Life, Redefining Perfect, Top Ten Tuesday
This list was incredibly difficult to come up with. I have a lot of quotes I love, for various reasons, from a wide variety of reasons…including movies I didn’t even like. Actually, as I write this, my list is at 17 quotes (and I know I’ve forgotten some)…and I don’t know how to narrow it down. So I may, um…cheat this week. Forgive me, if I do.
Then again, maybe I won’t. I’ll stick with the comedy quotes. 😀
10. “Doctor.” “Doctor.” “Doctor.” “Doctor.” “Doctor.” “Doctor.” “Doctor.” “Doctor.” “Doctor.” ~ From, of course, the movie [amazon_link id=”B001EBV0RG” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Spies Like Us[/amazon_link]. I only vaguely remember watching the movie when I was younger, but this section stuck with me…until I rewatched the movie in adulthood.
9. “Maybe you’re the plucky comic relief.” ~ [amazon_link id=”B00AEFY3DQ” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Galaxy Quest[/amazon_link]!!! This is one of my favorite go-to movies. As a trek geek, it makes me happy.
8. “A shrubbery!” ~[amazon_link id=”B0016492BW” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Monty Python and the Holy Grail[/amazon_link]. Because, of course.
7. “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.” ~[amazon_link id=”B008FD36IC” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]The Princess Bride[/amazon_link]. (Well, duh)
6. “The price is wrong, bitch!” ~[amazon_link id=”B001BA9FIG” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Happy Gilmore[/amazon_link]. I’m actually on the fence on this movie. It’s not my favorite, but unlike many of the comedies the hubby watches, this one does make me laugh.
5. “We’re on a mission from God.” ~[amazon_link id=”B001AQO446″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]The Blues Brothers[/amazon_link].
4. “Ohhh, don’t step on broccori.” ~[amazon_link id=”B003GAFA8S” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Police Academy[/amazon_link]. We watched this over and over when I was younger, and my dad is still known to quote this line.
3. “Sometimes I have the feeling I can do crystal meth, but then I think, mmmm…better not.” ~[amazon_link id=”B008JFUUQ2″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Pitch Perfect[/amazon_link]. LOVE Fat Amy and this movie, I laughed a lot.
2. “Goonies never say die.” ~[amazon_link id=”B005KQVDH8″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]The Goonies[/amazon_link]…like I would leave this one off!!
1. “Never give up. Never surrender!” ~ [amazon_link id=”B00AEFY3DQ” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Galaxy Quest[/amazon_link]…yup, again. LOVE THIS MOVIE. Have I mentioned that?
*~*
And those are my top ten in the comedy ranges…because I can’t narrow it down any other way.
I have a feeling a list like this would be tons more challenging for my husband.
What about you? What are some of your favorite movies?
by Sarah | Mar 17, 2014 | All About Kennedy, All of Us, Redefining Perfect
*You sang it, you know you did. The Addam’s Family theme song just danced through your skull. 😀
“When children die, they rot. Their skin falls off, and the worms eat them.”
“And the monsters creep under the house.”
“The ghosteses eat people.”
“And then the dead people came out of the ground, and they had skin falling off. And his eye was missing. And…”
“Children are zombies, too.”
Such are the examples of random snippets of conversation Kennedy has held with her sister, with us, and just with her own imagination.
She’s fascinated with Monster High “because it’s creepy”.
She watches horror movies with Erik.
I don’t know who this child is.
For while she might be a “mini-me” in appearance—she is all Daddy’s in her morbid fascination with death, horror, and the like.
I call her my morbid Kennedy.
But maybe I should just all her “Wednesday”.
Do you have a creep-tastic kid like mine? Please share, I’d hate to think I was alone in this.
by Sarah | Mar 12, 2014 | All About Home, All About Me, Redefining Perfect
A couple weeks back I mentioned that I’d be de-cluttering my photos, and my house, and etc.
I haven’t been dedicated to doing it every single day, because it’s a huge job. However, I’ve gone through quite a few folders. I’ve started with the least overwhelming-the non-family pictures, and I haven’t touched any of my “pre-2010” folders yet.
Still, I started with 29,428 files.
I’ve added about 120 photos that I’ve taken on excursions.
Even with the added photos, my numbers are down to 24,660.
Calculated out, that’s 4,880 photos deleted in two weeks. They need far better organization and some editing, but the doubles are deleted, the blurry shots are gone, and my files are definitely trimmer.
I’m going to keep going, and hopefully in two weeks when I check back in, I’ll have an even bigger drop to report (or more organization, whatever I tackle this go-round).
*~*
In other news – I’ve started working on de-cluttering the house, too. I dove head-first into my kitchen today and made huge leaps with that. My house is a far bigger prospect that’s going to take many weeks and lots of baby steps. It’s nice to get something accomplished, though.
by Sarah | Mar 11, 2014 | All About Family, All of Us, Redefining Perfect, Top Ten Tuesday
At this point in our life, a family vacation is a dream…so this list is appropriate.
I’d love to take my kids on vacation just about anywhere. Some of these are more realistic than others, but they’re al ideas I’ve had.
10. Disney. Of course. I’d be happy with Disney World visits – or a Disney Cruise. I think my kids would get a total kick out of it.
9. Washington D.C. As a former nearly-resident, I’d love to take my kids to see the nations capital.
8. Hawaii. Okay, this is a dream family or no…I just always wanted to go. 🙂
7. California. Yup, the state, not a specific place. My parents took my brother and I when I was in middle school. We drove the coastline, and back up through-started in Fresno, ended in San Fran. It was amazing, and while I’d never want to live there, California is a cool place to visit.
6. Yellowstone. A given, right?
5. Florida – the Gulf beaches. This was Erik’s idea, and I agree. Every time we went to Florida, we always went to the beaches, not just the hot attractions.
4. A drive around the country. I mean the whole country. A friend of mine did a Great American Road Trip last year. I think that’s an awesome idea.
3. Gatlinburg. A “simple” vacation – just renting a cabin in the mountains and enjoying the time away. This is on the docket for “maybe next year”.
2. Colonial Williamsburg/Busch Gardens. I’ve been & LOVE. Plus, we could visit w/ my BFF Jess and her family, and even stay with them for a few days. This is also on the “maybe next year” list.
1. Universal Studios. I mean, what Geek family wouldn’t want to? Especially one with a Harry Potter obsessed little one like Kennedy. She’d kill to see Hogsmeade…and this summer they’re going to open Diagon Alley. I think Kennedy and I would be totally geeked out there.
*
And that’s my list for this week. Many big dreams, a couple of realistic ones. Just need to start those savings jars.
What about you? What are your dream family vacation destinations? I’m always looking for new recommendations!
Feel free to join me for Top Ten Tuesday! If anyone is interested, I can create a linky 😀
Gone are the days where the mail was full of bills and interesting items for me.
