~Next stop...High School~

Where has the last 15 years gone??!!??

Wherever they went......they went too FAST!!!!

He was just a baby ,not that long ago....

Now , taller then me.... He is an intelligent , down-to-earth , kind , free spirited soon to be grown man....

  ....as the last few days were winding down from being in middle school....projects to be finished ,books to turn in ,lockers to clear out.....plus there was fun to have...


~A night in Paris Dance....with his possy ...

...Grad trip....

The River....

.....Then , graduation day arrived today ....and the walk across the stage....

The Presidential Award , Diploma and certificates of recognition were given.... 

 
He worked hard!! And finished with a 4.0

We are proud of our son....

We know he will do well in High school come Fall....plus already training for Football at the High school through the Summer.

As the last bell rang and the start of Summer break...the kids ended the day at the End of the year bash/pool party at the church with their youth group.

After returning home it was take out and pizza with some of the guys...

...and movies all night in the media room.

~Next stop....High School....

~A Phone Call...Home~

Today...Sunday morning .....We all waited for today...plans made...time set.

Everyone was to meet here at the "Parent's House" by 10a.m. Starbucks Coffee already brewed...fresh cream and brown sugar...YUM!!! A  Disneyland Mug for all...anyone under the age of 12.. Well, it is orange juice in vintage amber glasses .

Greg and our oldest daughter Mystique make breakfast in our tiny kitchen...our eldest makes fun of how she forgot just how small it really is and this was the reason she moved out....we all laughed.  Everyone is visiting with one another...grandchildren play in the Media room with the baby's toys...

...we are waiting....watching a very very slow clock on the wall with South Carolina time...

10:50a.m. ~"RING"~

"It is Tessa ,its her "....Greg shouts!!

...making her first call home!!!
     We all gather around Greg all shouting hi and we love you to her and how we all miss her so!!!!
She was so surprised we were all together. We told her no one wanted to miss their chance to hear her voice...not like it is an everyday thing these days.

After a few tears and keeping an eye on the time {There was a time limit of 15 minutes ,the girls got an extra 5 minutes on account they are cleaner then the guys} We asked all the questions and made a list of things she would like sent if possible .More stamps please she says...cough drops ,sugar free on account she is sick...maybe some lotion??
{But of course we say}

She said she hopes she is making us all proud..and said...its hard hard work , but worth it all to keep her family ,friends and loved ones safe....just in case.

....the call ended far to quickly ...not sure we will hear from her again by phone . Family day and Graduation day is in mid July....we will see her then.


{Contessa with some of her Platoon}

....It was a GRAND SUNDAY in my little shoe .

~Happy Sunday All~

Signed .
The Little Old Lady (:

~Some Summer Fun~

As the days grow warmer and longer ,its afternoons in the courtyard with Greg ,coffee and letters from boot camp ...

and company that come to play in the courtyard with a little boy....

I love watching them all play ....

Knowing that these are some of the best days of their lives...mine too ( :

The carefree days of yesterday ....I get a second chance to experience it with my grandchildren and our littlest detail ....

Life is GRAND !!!!!

~Life with child~

....it is a busy one.
 In all honesty ,I  LOVE LOVE LOVE  having a baby in the house again!!!
It is never a dull moment.... 

~Letters Home~

....That is what arrived a few days back....and how happy we all were to get our first letters and contact from one of our daughters.

....Writing letters is in some ways a lost art in today's  world. With computers and cell phones...there is really no need for stationery ,stamps and envelopes. And case in point...we had none of these things that I once had and used.

After a late night of shopping with one of my daughters ,we came home with everything needed to write a solder far from home...and missing her family.

 I remember back in the day ,my girlfriend Cat and I would pen pal back and forth.... her in California and I in Oregon ,plus we belonged to Penpal International. There was something grand about getting a hand written letter from across the seas and from far away places .... Her and I still have all our letters...tied in bundles with fancy ribbons .... I will do the same for the letters from the girls .

Enclosed in the letters was information on a web site that keeps parents,family, loved ones and friends up to date on what our solders are learning....and the bonus to this was??? PICTURES!!

 ..... ARMY STRONG!!!!!!

~The Making of a Cinderella~

It's that time of year again for parents like me of high school aged children..... Prom time. The opportunity to dress to the nines ,be treated like royalty by your parents . Dresses to be found...shoes to be hold and tickets to buy .

 No ,there is no prince charming ...no clock striking midnight ....just a grand time to be had!!!

The days starts with the hair and make-up artist {AKA Big sister } and her collection of colors.....

 Beauty in the making.....

 Manicure done earlier in the day..... and smoky eyes for the night....

The artist and her creation ......

The traditional photograph with her father...

  Friends together.... {I love this one of the girls}

Before heading out for the night.....

After all the ball gowns and sky high heels have been traded in for sweat pants ,sneaker and hoodies.....its back to our house for a night around the fire with s'mores and best friends in the courtyard. The prefect way to wind down  Prom  night 2014. Safe and sound!!!

~And just like that, they were gone~

The night of Mother's day is quietly coming to a close....kids getting ready for the school week ahead...and the once  vampire hour keeping baby is tucked into bed fast asleep.

The day was even keel , brunch made with love by my husband and two of the kids...movies in the media room...calls from my kids to take.....and dinner out to our regular place ,where they know our names....

    ...we are a small group these days....

Faces of my dinner company....

 ...and showing a little boy a wishing fountain....

This is quietest  my house has been for a few weeks now... The comings and goings of Tessa and Leila, other sisters and friends coming over to say final goodbyes. 

 Its been a busy time....

            Lots of kisses to be had.....

     Lots of smiles to capture....

  A new son  joined our family....

  Memories to make....

....and bags to be packed .

Tessa was first to leave ...last Sunday....it was hard to see her go.

And in the early hours of this morning ,we said goodbye to Leila. That was just as hard.

I walk around to tidy up for the night and it is still....There are no whispers of a daughter talking with her husband long distance  on the sofa.....another daughter laughing at what her dad said.
There are reminders left of them and what they were doing before they left on their grand adventures...Nikes here , workout gear there...keys to a sports car left behind.

As hard as it was to see them off , I'm blessed with a loving and caring group of family and friends to keep me focused ....my grandmother who rang with her wise loving words and how they will be just fine , and not to forget my faith...to my friend John with...don't be sad. The pride of your daughters serving is awesome! They are right.

So ,as this mother's day rolls to a close....it was one for the books ,and I will remember it always!!!

~Happy Mother's Day where you are~

                                               

Cheers

¨*•♪♫•*Little Old Lady¨*•♪♫•*