first day of school!

Kindergarten, second grade, seventh grade and a SOPHOMORE! Today went smashingly, and the girls all had a great time. (It must have been the annual "kiss for good luck".) Me? I went for a two mile walk and did some gardening. I can't remember when dirty and sweaty felt so good. (Hey! This is a family blog!) Ahem. Seriously though, I listened to my iPod, for the first time since I got it this past Mother's Day! Then, after lunch, I ran errands. By myself. Just me. Alone. >grin< I could get used to this...

define... me.

Sounds like a trick question, right? If you've ever read my profile, you know this: I'm a married, tattooed, suburban, stay at home mother of four girls and I love my life. For all of my adult life, those things have pretty much defined me. I had my first daughter at twenty, going straight from living with my family to raising one. I wouldn't change a thing. Now, fifteen years later, my youngest is starting school full time next month and I'm kind of lost. I always thought I'd go back to working part time at this point in my life, but the economy has pretty much destroyed the concept of "mother's hours", at least for now. So now I'm faced with spending 180+ days with someone (me) I don't really know and that's an overwhelming thought. I mean, how much "picking up" can a house, that no one is home using, actually need? On the upside, I finally have time to slow down and rediscover all of the things I love (or not love). All of the things that make me, me. One thing at a time.

Happy 15th Birthday Gianna

My oldest daughter, Gianna, turned fifteen today. She is an honor student, Varsity cheerleader and avid volunteer. She loves to read, the color aqua and, most recently, anything zebra print. She loves taking pictures but is extremely picky about the ones I want to post here. So these are the cupcakes from this very sweet day. We love you Gianna!!

pumpkins

Every day in my travels, I pass a house whose small, sloping backyard is completely filled with an above ground pool. The owners have very cleverly made the most of the small strip of land in the front of their home, along the side of their driveway- planting myriad plants, flowers...

and...

vegetables!

That small patch of pumpkins is so unexpected, it catches my eye every time I drive by. Not only am I inspired to plant some pumpkins next year- I'm totally obsessed with finding an unexpected place to plant them too.