Blink

It feels like February just began a couple of days ago, and now we welcome March. Though winter seems long in some ways, at other times the days speed by. My daughter turned 18 over the weekend, a big occasion! And my son will be 21 in just two days. Two milestone birthdays in such a short span of time...it makes my head spin just a bit. Can you believe these two little ones are now adults?

For me, the birthday celebrations each year signal a shift in the seasons, too. I can begin to imagine warmer days, sunny skies, green grass. But with graduation looming and more changes afoot, I think I'll be happy to let time move along at a slower pace...for now.

Party on!

Put a bucket on your head and celebrate with me...it's my birthday! Or just eat a piece of cake. Either way, enjoy the official first day of summer and the longest day of the year, too!

Life is what happens

It's birthday week here! My daughter celebrated her 17th on Friday, and my son will turn 20 tomorrow. Crazy, huh? Just like all moms (and dads), I have a hard time remembering where the time went. Wasn't it just yesterday that we were giving baths, reading bedtime stories, leaving teeth under the pillow for the tooth fairy? And what about all those soccer games, concerts, and music lessons?

These milestones remind me that life moves too quickly. All those little, daily things? The tiny moments, the small victories? Those are where the real living is. And I don't intend to miss an minute of it!

Make a wish

It's here again! Time to blow out the candles and celebrate.



And yes, I still love sweets. Some things never change!

My new toy

So you know by now I had a "big" birthday over the weekend. What you don't know--yet--is that I got a nice "big" gift to match. (I confess, I chose it for myself. Sometimes a girl's gotta give hints to get exactly what she wants.)

So now I'm the proud owner of my first digital SLR!



It's a Canon Rebel XSi, the new sibling of the XTi that so many of you seem to own and love. I have to confess, it's a little intimidating. So many bells and whistles, so much for me to learn. But it's also a great challenge, and I love the idea of learning some new photography tricks. (They say learning new things keeps your brain young, so even better!)





These are some of my first captures. Not too bad! I think this camera will have a permanent home around my neck for a while as I continue experimenting and learning. If you have any tips or tricks to share, I'm all ears!

They say it's your birthday

It's my birthday, too, yeah! I've always loved being a summer solstice baby. I get to have the longest day of the year to celebrate.

Here's a look at some birthdays past.


Turning two


Presents and a fab hat


Siblings and cousins (I'm the tall one!)

So today's the day I move into a new decade. Yes, a big zero at the end of the number. Another leap forward, another shift, yet so much the same inside. I'm blessed beyond measure and this birthday reminds me of that. It's gonna be great to see what lies ahead!

A kiss is still a kiss...

Last weekend was full to the brim with activities, but there were moments of relaxation as well. My niece and nephew--cousins--were having fun hanging out in the backyard.



Uh-oh...sneak attack. Cute boys are never safe from determined girls!

Chapter closed

Projects, papers. Auditions and concerts. Success--and a few failures. Then it all comes down to this.



Completion! What an awesome thing.

This moment

Tomorrow my son graduates from high school. Family members will arrive in a few hours. We'll celebrate this afternoon with a party in his honor.

In the midst of the whirlwind, I'm trying to savor the experience, to remember the important moments and let the rest go.



May you do the same.

The face of 18

My son turned 18 on Monday. A milestone according to many societal measures. He can legally sign documents, buy a lottery ticket or tobacco, and be officially added to the government roster of young men available to serve their country. I’m not sure any of these are on his radar screen; he’s still just trying to keep up his grades, hold down a part-time job, pursue his love of music and sleep in whenever possible.



This birthday did cause us to reminisce a bit. We were remembering what was important to Andrew at different times of his life. There were Legos and Matchbox cars. There was the Pokemon obsession, with the sought after Pokemon cards and their strangely named characters: Pikachu, Meowth, Clefairy and Jigglypuff (my personal favorite). There was the year of Furby and its special language known as Furbish. Andrew had his sights set on the white Furby, and I made countless trips to the local toy stores, searching for The One.



Now it’s all about computers, video games, and music. The small items that were once so meaningful are tucked away in storage boxes. I’m sure they’ll be forgotten as he moves on to college and leaves so many childhood things behind. I hope that one day, though, those boxes will be opened and many happy memories will come tumbling out. Those mementos will be waiting--and so will I.