Purple pride

This kid has had a great season so far.  What a joy it has been to attend the games!  

To sit in the high school bleachers and watch my son.  I love him, and I love football. 

Suiting up after a 100+ of hours of practice is one of life's great rewards, and he is loving being able to play.

Imagine what I felt like yesterday when the announcer said his name over the loudspeaker for the first time.  He's a 2nd string Defensive Tackle. 3rd string Offensive Guard. But he had a great game and was recognized for making a key offensive block.  I was so proud of him!

I found a moment to be grateful, once again, for the chance I have to parent him. 

On and off the field he is a great example of hard work and responsibility paying off. 

All game I waited to ask how it felt for him to hear his name announced.  I was desperately trying to find a moment to share in his glory. Want to know what's awesome?  

He didn't hear it at all.  He gave me a humbly surprised smile when I told him.  

I love him. 

Join me all month long while I find moments every day.  

Moments to connect, moments to improve, moments to live.

In case you missed it:
Day 1 - introducing 31 days

Day 2 - inspiring quotes + bath update

Pets & patience

Such a good momma bunny!  She did such a fine job with these little ones.  How over-the-top is it that I've been so dang proud of her for these last two months?

One example is illustrated here.  No one will be thirsty till she heads over to the water bottles.   Then they ALL need to drink at once, and actually stand on her head to do so. 

They are so ridiculous!

She patiently waits for her turn.  I love watching her.

The cute snow ball in the front is the daughter we're keeping from the litter.  She's been the biggest and strongest from day one.  Super affectionate.

 Sometimes she hangs back, though, and keeps her distance.  She's the mature older sister.  Just like me.  :)



These photos are a couple weeks old now.  We've given four of the six babies away and the last should go to a new home this weekend.

It's nice to see some other kids have the joy of picking out a new pet.  Bugs has done a particularly wonderful job at being in charge of their care.  He's so responsible and it's been a fantastic experience!

Time for an update

As we scrambled around trying to move, packing kept getting interrupted by scouts, sports and end of school stuff.  In one glorious week, here's what went down.

Jedi advanced from cubs to scouts 

 Jedi sang in concerts and programs

Princess did a recitation on the Civil War during her "museum"

Potter was showered with multiple end of year Drama dept. accolades

Jedi had more baseball.  Since that week, Jedi has now finished another championship season with the Yankees.  17-1 and first place!  He got better and better and ended the season with a stellar game where he went 3-3 at the plate and had a nice play in the outfield.  

Potter auditioned for Show Choir and made it (not as fruitless as it would seem - more on that in another post).  Here he was kidnapped at 5:30am. 

 Bugs had his spring band concert

Half an hour later he became a Star Rank in Boy Scouts

The Bishop presented Potter with the On My Honor award for Duty to God and Scouting

AND we saved the best for last:

He passed :)

It's all about the presentation

So, this week I had a chance to wrap some gifts.  I know there are those out there that hate that part of gift giving, but for me it's just about the BEST part.

I love adding simple touches to inexpensive items to make them look more substantial.  Who doesn't love getting something pretty?  It is a great way to use up craft stash.  And if it looks nice it can distract them from the fact that you didn't spend a lot of money!


Subject #1 - get well cookies

 

A neighbor of ours (and father of 4) fell at work and broke both arms at the elbow.  Both.  Treats were definitely in order.

 

 

I piled some cookies on the only disposeable plates I had, which happened to be floral.  Since these were for a guy I dug through my ribbon bits for a dark color to manly it up.

 

 

Use cellophane to make it look nicer than just plain ol' choc chip cookies.  Some cardstock scraps make an easy tag. 

 

 

 

Subject #2 - dollar store white elephant gifts

 

Strider was called to a new position at church this week.  He now is the Scoutmaster and serves the 12-13 year old young men (including Bugs).  This week they did a small gift exchange and I offered to wrap the stuff they picked up at the dollar store.

 

 

 

See, even tiny gifts can look adorable if you do it right.

Here they are all in a bin to travel to the party with. 

Until Bugs got home from school and told me that all those items were supposed to be for one person, wrapped together. 

So he got a plain larger gift bag and stuck them all in together before leaving.  So basically no one saw any of these cute wrappings. 

How fun.