Eye-opening

 

It's been a while since I sat down at the computer, let alone, blogged. 

It is time. 

Clockwise: Mom W., Aunt Teri, Me, and my Mommy

Aka the Moms Cruise

One of the things that struck me after I returned from a vacation with my Mom and Mother in Law these past two weeks was that I don't document my thoughts anymore.  I share pictures, because I know there are members of my family that love it when I do.  I still hear more Thanks for Sharing Pictures, more than I hear I have no idea what is going on with you.  

But when times are hard, I don't feel like putting it all into writing.  But perhaps I should.  I'm afraid I won't remember when things were good.  Things were good on this trip. But they were also really hard.  I'm tired of having trouble breathing.  I don't know how much longer I am going to be able to travel.  Perhaps that's why I've been traveling as much as I could the last few years.  Maybe deep down I knew my traveling days were nearing an end.  One thing that happened over this trip, was that I had to realize, I am handicapped.  I was so relieved every time I saw a handicapped parking space, or a seat with the handicapped sticker on it.  It's me now.  I cannot get by on my own energy anymore.  It runs out too fast.  I needed helpers to get me through the airports, to get me on to the boat, to help move my luggage.  I thought it would be easier to not take my scooter to St. Croix, because it is so big and bulky.    I thought I could get by with a wheelchair at the airport and my cane for everything else.  It really opened my eyes to how much I have had to rely on others.  I've been so blessed to have Eric and the Boys around me to help me do  all the day to day things I can't do anymore.  I guess I hadn't realized just how broken I was.  I spent most of my time with people in their 70s and I was the most broken one.  My Mom dragged me to a grocery store on St. Croix.  She assured me I could handle it.  As it turned out, No, Not really.  A small pharmacy sized store, I could handle.  But a big grocery store, I could not handle.  I hadn't been shopping since before last year when all this crap with my lung had happened. I was near tears by the time we got back.  My back hated the bumpy roads.  I hated running out of air with little warning.  I hated getting so exhausted just walking the length of the ship on our cruise.  I suppose a trip like this acted like physical therapy.   But it was also very eye opening.

I wasn't ready to admit that I was this broken.  

This photo is my iris.

Taken by a special camera on board the Nieuw Statendam.

Fam in Florida Trip - Day 1

 We made it to Florida!  

I woke up at 3:30, and couldn't get back to sleep worrying that I would miss the flight.  So I got up, and started some of Jacob's laundry.  Jess was due at 5:30, so I could get the boys up at 5, and I remembered to pack coffee and decaf, and the picture frame for Mom and Dad.  A million thoughts were running through my head, no wonder I couldn't sleep. Bless Jess for getting us to the airport on time. 

The Boys were Superchamps at the airport.  I was a nut, and even though we had no carry ons, an I'd pre-registered online, I waited for half an hour with them at the Departure Airline to check in.  I didn't need to do that.  But the kids behaved well.  

We had seats, all in a row, Chris sat across the aisle from me with strangers.  The kids were happy because they had all the screens they wanted.  Jacob had his DS, and the big boys their phones.  Though I did let J borrow my phone to play solitaire while we waited to take off. 

We made it on the plane on time, and I had the boys take a pic to send to Eric, just before we took off. 

The Willmans take over the row! 

The one where I got a new skein of yarn. 

I pulled this from my stash, it's a Pima Cotton by We Are Knitters, and I am making swatches. I'm making swatches, in order to knit them into a patchwork sweater, probably a cardigan.  

Meanwhile, this one is called Sunrise. 

I thought it would be Perfect, since we're going to the East Coast of Florida, where if I play my cards right, I'll see a Sunrise. 

Meanwhile, Jacob watched the sun rise, and watched us Take Off in Baby's 1st Window Seat Flight.

Chris told us he wouldn't fall asleep on the plane. 

He lied. 

It's that pillow blanket, Putin (what he used to call Penguin when he was little). He snuggles up with it and he is Out Cold. 

About halfway through the flight, Sam offered Jacob a trade, time with his DS in exchange for the window seat.  He made a good trade. And until the landing, everyone was happy. Sam was excited about the Landing, and Jacob also wanted to watch.  

First Day of School

 How did it sneak up on me?  

Somehow I have a Junior, an 8th grader, and a 4th grader.  

They don't listen, I say stop growing, and they don't listen and obey.  They keep growing.  They are so excited about school this year.  They are all among the oldest in the school, so the maturity level has kicked up. 

Jacob is the only one with new shoes, and of course they had to be the brightest yellow we could find, but only Jacob, because we decided a. the big boys' school shoes from last year were in ok shape, and because b. they'll KILL them in Marching Band.  So maybe new shoes for them for Christmas.

Jacob picked the 1st Day of School shirts for everyone this year, he liked the sailboat icon, which is Nautica brand. He chose everyone's favorite colors.  They look pretty nice. 

Chris's bus stop is now down the street and around the corner, because there aren't that many juniors that don't drive, so he has to go where the underclassmen are. It wasn't too long ago when I hated him walking out of my site, the bus stop was 5 doors down, and I called Transportation to move it.  

That's not necessary now. 

Sam meets out front. Whew! 

Jacob car rode today, on the 1st Day because they slated the bus stop to be an hour before school starts. That's a Nope. He'd get in fights right away. So we decided to drive him. I'm hoping it changes to a more reasonable time. 

There are perks to having to drive Jacob to school. 

Eric joined me and we got to go out on a date. 

We visited a new place, Brown Skin Coffee and Tea, a place that is minority owned, and new. 

I got a lovely latte, and it was cool enough outside, we opted to sit outside. 

On a date with my hunny booboo!  

Cheers! 

I love this new tradition we've begun, to go out for coffee, and enjoy each other. We try to go on one date a month, but it's harder to do that in the summer.  

I'll miss the boys not being home. But with Band, they hardly were home. 

I'll miss them being around, Jacob especially.  

But they need the routine of school.  And I will get used to the quiet. 

Happy 1st Day of School! 

Ain't nobody got time for that... but me.

The Scream. 

Can you see it? 

I think this is an accurate description of what's been going around here lately. 

Chris and Jacob have been extra obstinate, and Sam got busted blowing off and lying about his Kumon which has gotten hard for him.  All three have gotten themselves sent to their rooms. 

And this is all I seem to be doing lately. 

Oh and I messed up on my Classical Attitude Shawl and had to frog it. Luckily? I only had to frog a couple rows, still, I'm getting very near the end and I didn't want to frog it.  But now that I've done it, I find that things are coming together with it again. Maybe I'll finish it soon, today or tomorrow? 

I don't have much else cooking, I should be able to knock it out.  It's my Therapy.  

 

Happy Birthday Opa!

 

Last night, we went down to my Dad's to Celebrate his Birthday!  

The moment we walked in, he told us he wanted a picture with all the grandkids. I wholly supported that. I seriously debated leaving 2/3 of the kids at home because they were in rare form and we were 30 minutes late because of all their grumping and screaming when it was time to go. 

I feel like all I do is yell at them lately. But when they were with their cousins, they were on good behavior. It's good to let them be sweet together, so I don't feel quite as bad. 

My Dad didn't have much patience for us as tweens/teens either. He wasn't used to our noise.  I remember him yelling at us when we weren't fighting, and ignoring us when we fought. I hated it.

He's a good Grandpa though. 

My Dad is turning 73 today.  

My Stepmom jokes he's turning into an old man who doesn't like to turn left while driving, and likes to check the weather, so she got him an Apple Watch that he can check the weather.  I thought to myself, oh my goodness, I will drive out of the way to avoid turning left onto 267, and I've been checking the weather every day. Just like Pa. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY OPA!

My Stepmom put out another amazing spread - Pork Tenderloin, spaetzle, and apple Strudel. 

Initially the kids balked at it, but then they tried it, and realized how awesome it was. 

They've learned their lesson. 

Everything my stepmom makes is amazing.  I prefer her Schnitzel and Spaetzle myself, but it was a scrumptious meal. Even all my kids cleaned their plates.  That was a birthday miracle too.  

As we headed out, the kids tackled my Dad with hugs, and I managed to snap the pic.  Daddy told me to send him the pic.  I know where I get it, that whole I must document this moment.  We got him a James Bond movie he can watch in his theatre basement, but the pictures and memories of the kids being sweet, that was the real Gift. 

Go Dogs Go!

I got to take Christopher to a Pep Band game tonight. 

He only gets to participate in a couple a year, and given how rough a time we've been having lately, technically I tagged Eric out.  But he got tied up in a meeting, so I got to be the one to go. 

I'm surprised at how glad I was that I got to go. 

A. There was a Women's Game first.  I find myself really enjoying watching our gals play. 

They played well, but Westfield found their attack strategy in the 4th quarter and they caught up and passed us, so we lost.  

2. Pep Band makes their appearance and they are more fun than watching the Cheerleaders! 

They've got Spirit, yes they do! 

The Saxophone section leads the band when our team is on Defense.  They confused Westfield by calling out their moves.  Every time the opposition bounced, passed, or shot, our band would holler out, "Bounce, Bounce, Pass, Shoot, Ohhhhhhh, Air Ball, Rebound, Bounce, Bounce...." It was fascinating.  If I had bad eyesight,  I'd sit by the band to watch the games. 

D. The Percussion Section TAKES OVER! 

There are a lot of percussionists that want to participate in Pep Band.  

So the Front Ensemble gets to do things like Cowbell, or Tamborine.  

They have fun. 

A vertical tamborine or Tamborine on a stick? 

Whatever you call it, Chris had a good time playing it. 

He usually hides towards the back, but by the time the Boys played, he was up close to the front.  

He was smart to wear his headphones too, the sound bounces around a lot in the gym.  

I kind of wish I'd brought a pair.  ;) One of these days we'll all be well prepared. 

The Boys won the second game of the double header, and it was all good. 

 

Tap Cardi Continued

 

One Panel Down!

It's taking forever, but I'm still making progress on my Tap Cardigan from We Are Knitters in Copper Pima Cotton. It's so soft, I'm getting a second wind of excitement to working on it.

I finished the Back a few weeks ago, but tonight I finished the first of the front panels.  This thing is going to be so huge! As I sat finishing the last couple rows, I could cover my whole leg with it.  I'm going to love wearing this sweater that goes down and covers my whole booty! 

What do you think, might I need to add some pockets?