The Week in Review

This girl turned 14.
Here she is with the forced photo I impose on all of my kids for their bdays.
The baby pic.
(so i can remind them of how big they were when they were born, the labor/delivery/c-section process that a mama just sometimes needs someone to know)
And the bead jar.
(there is a bead for each day until she turns 18. It is my own visual reminder that the "beads" are going away. each week I take 7 beads out of the vase. It hurts to do.  It makes me wanna make each "bead" count. i'm funny like that)

She doesn't have her drivers permit yet...so she offers to move the van for me when Nathan is mowing.  She drives through the yard.  (because that is "more legal" than driving in the street?) (in her mind, it is)
Fortunately, we have an empty lot in between our house and the neighbors.
On two sides.
(Whew.)

She also invited a friend to "hang out" on her birthday.

"We" went out to eat and to a movie.
By "we"
I mean Brian and I dropped the two of them off to the chinese buffet while we ran an errand and then hung out in the parking lot to wait for the call to pick them up.  It was cute, really.  I think it is good and healthy for any young man who wants to "hang out" with my daughter to get used to the fact that I am going to be there.
Just saying.

This girl thinks she wants to donate to locks for love.
But she isn't quite done growing her hair out.
So we curl it for fun.
She is learning that a woman's relationship with her hair is sometimes a love/hate thing.

Plus, also (forgive the junie b jones verbage if you will)
She hangs out with me at all the ballgames.
She babysits.
And she is sort of my extra right hand when I need one.

Everyone needs a Claire-Bear in their life.
I am so blessed to have her.

Tookie's team won the Minor League Championship.
It is her second year in a row to be on a team to be awarded this honor.
Her head is full of success.
And I am glad for her.
And trying to pull her down from the clouds here!

This Wildcat is still working hard.
On the field and off the field.
His job keeps him busy for 8 hours
And baseball keeps him busy for the rest.
He also does his best to fit in the off-season football workouts
And he only once was affected so much by all 3 things
That the heat got the best of him
And he had to call it a day before the day was over.

He has always been sensitive to extreme heat
And too many preservatives.
Always.

Poor kid can't drink eat a hot dog on a hot day....too much for his system.

But we love him anyway.


Today is the 4th of July.
We have plans to be with family and friends today.
I think of the pledge of allegiance.....and the meaning behind each stanza.


And I think of fireworks.
Which makes me think of this guy:

Love.