My Baby is Sixteen (InstaFriday)

Friday nights are "Family Night" around here.

These nights are sacred.

We take them very serious.



There is no such thing as Spring in Tennessee.

More like Sprummer.

We go from cold as heck...

to hot as heck.

Overnight.



This little guy turned 16 last week.

I was going to write a post completely dedicated to this special day...but I just couldn't.

Truth is, I'm an emotional wreck these days over this whole growing up thing.

Not handling it very gracefully.

I want to write about my feelings but the words just won't come.

The emotions are just too complex I think.

Grief. Joy. Sadness. Excitement. Melancholy. Happiness. Fear. Nostalgia. Regret.

In no particular order ever.

All rolled up into one complicated ache in my heart...always.

So I've decided to just throw it into a light hearted post like InstaFriday.

::sticking head back in the sand::



I thought I would start his "manly-sixteen" {this is what we decided it should be called for guys} off by running to Dunkin Donuts for his favorite blueberry muffin before he woke up.

I was also going to be a really cool mom and let him sleep in as late as he wanted and no school for the day.

All was going according to plan till I locked myself out of the house and had to ring the doorbell to get back in to get car keys.

I can't be certain, but I'm pretty sure based on the look on his face, that I lost any cool mom points I thought I was racking up.



Ginormous cake to share with his Youth Group.

He had no idea.

He made us promise no sombreros or ice cream in the face at the Mexican restaurant.

We kept that promise.

But he never mentioned embarrassing him in front of 80 of his friends.



It's tradition that we let our kids pick their favorite restaurant on their birthday.

But this year brought with it a first.

We had 6 at the table instead of 5.

Meet Ashten.

Tyler's best friend/not girlfriend/more than just a friend/girl that he cares deeply for but doesn't want to ruin by dating by the world's standards.

For a year now they have been best friends.

They pray with each other.

They hold each other accountable to read scripture.

They talk about and set their own physical and emotional boundaries.

They have their own convictions.

They lead their youth group in worship together.

They put God first in their lives.

They impress me and inspire me daily.

{I was such a screw up at their age}

We love her and regardless of God's plan for their lives, we are grateful for her presence in Tyler's life right now.

Just another example of this painful shift taking place in my mommy heart these days.

Ok, changing the subject...quickly.



Maggie had her best friend Sophie over this week and I decided to feed her a healthy, well-balanced dinner while she was here.

Chocolate Gravy.

It was her first time to have this glorious southern concoction.

I'm sure her parents could press child abuse charges for this.

She loved it.



After we consumed copious amounts of sugar and cocoa, I gave these two a cake mix and told them to "have at it".

{She may never be allowed back here}

I came downstairs and found an impressive cake batter.

I had it inches from the oven when I heard {in only the way 12 year old girls can say}, "We forgot the eggs!"

We laughed so hard I nearly dropped the pan.

It was precious.

Making memories with my daughter and her friend.

This having a daughter/young lady thing is going to be so much fun.



Hovering here the past two weeks.

Needing to be reminded every. single. morning.

Sometimes life is just overwhelming.

Ya know?




I'd love to tell you that I always handle these stressful moments in my life by getting up at 5 a.m. and bathing in scripture.

That when I feel I'm at the end of my rope I cling to only Him.

That I "consider it all joy".

Truth is sometimes I run away from my house at 11 p.m, crank the 80's station in my car, and stuff my face with a large order of chili cheese tots and a sweet tea from Sonic.

Turns out God hangs out at Sonic too.

I cry.

Complain.

Whine.

Sniff snot.

He listens.

Patiently.

Tells me He loves me in spite of the complete mess I am.

And somehow things just don't seem quite so bad anymore.

Till I look down and see the empty chili cheese tot container in my lap.



This mut.

Oh how I love him.

He doesn't seem to know that he is a large breed dog.

It's comical.

Have I told you lately how absolutely fabulous Standard Poodles are and how much I love them and how I would never have another breed ever??



The Jertain in the Curtain. #drseuss



My big guy and my little guy headed off to Land Between the Lakes this week with our Homeschool Tutorial.

They've been busy petting snakes and snapping turtles.

And sending me pictures.

Gross.

The house has been eerily quiet.

They come home today.

Just in time for "Family Night."

Bring on the noise.

And the cotton candy.







"My every mortal breath, is Grace and nothing less"

That Time I Lied to My Kids For Months {Disney 2012}

First, a little housekeeping...

::clearing the cobwebs::

Ok, now I can tell you about our trip to Disney...you know, the one we took nearly a month ago.

Yeah, sometimes life just gets overwhelming.

And I have to take a break from this little cyber corner of my world and tend to the real life people in my real life world.

It's just where I am in life right now.

Simplifying.

Trying to be all there.

I may never get this right I'm afraid.

--------------------------------------------------

I told my kids that we were going to be spending Spring Break on a business trip with dad in Florida.

Swimming in the pool by day, out to dinner with dad by night.

Maybe hit an educational spot or two if we could.

After all we are homeschoolers.

But....I lied.

I figured I had one last chance to truly surprise my kiddos with a trip to Disney before one of them or all of them were grown.

Nothing but lies for almost a solid year.

Please pray for my soul.

And that my kids will be able to afford the therapy they are going to need for having me as a mother.



We drove halfway and stopped for the night.

The next morning, I handed them these.

It took a few minutes for them to figure it all out.

I wouldn't take a million bucks for the expressions I saw on their faces when it finally clicked that we were going to Disney...in like 5 hours!

To say they were excited would be the understatement of the year.

Maggie said, "I just screamed!...in a hotel!"

A huge shout out to Pixie Crafts Boutique for the fabulous shirts.

Even Buzz Lightyear was bummed that we didn't bring one for him.




We hit the road and we were Disney bound.



Our first stop is always Magic Kingdom.

Always.





Aidan and Maggie journaled every night about how much fun they had.

Love my little leftie.



Not sure who had more fun...the littles...or the big kids.

Thunder Mountain Railroad was closed for refurbishment.

This sent me spiraling into a 3 day depression.

Finally I had a moment of silence, grieved my loss, and moved on.



Tony's.

Our favorite restaurant in Magic Kingdom hands down.



That's cocoa powder art folks.



Epcot.

So funny...this used to be our least favorite park only because when the kids were smaller they got bored here.

Fast.

This time we spent the entire day there and could have spent a second I think.

They actually enjoyed all of the movies about the different countries this time.

I guess you could say that they are now old enough now to appreciate this park.



Had to get a picture of Mag and Adam in front of The Eiffel Tower.

These two have their bucket lists all marked up with plans to go there one day.

I sure hope they do.



Waiting for dinner outside of Chef De France.

Best filet mignon ever.

Oui Oui.



Two words.

Creme.

Brulee.



Breakfast with Goofy at Cape May Cafe.

It's tradition.



So is this.



Donald has always been Aidan's favorite.

Not that he's just like him or anything.

No...not at all.

#character



MGM...er, Hollywood Studios.

Why must we change the names of the parks people?

I need consistency. 

My gang was stoked about Star Tours being opened this time. {It was closed in 2010}

I soon found out this was a big no-no for me.

I had to add this to my ever growing list of things I can no longer do because my body is just weird now that I'm old.

Swings at the park? nope.

Virtual 3-D rides? nope.

Oh the sickness that ensued this not all that entertaining if you ask me ride.



My boy on the other hand loves....and I mean lurves...him some Star Wars.

Thank you Mr. Lucas for understanding the male brain.



"There aren't anymore! That's the whole barrel!" -Rex



The magic of animation.


A must do in this park.

One of our favorite things to do.

Even the teenager loves it.



Animal Kingdom.

::Cue Elton::

"It's the circle of liiiiife...."



Expedition Safari is my daughter's favorite thing here.

So of course she wants to go over and over...and over.

Honestly it frightens me a bit.

I know Disney has a way of magically hiding and disguising things and all, but I'd sure like a little more  of a visual on how they are controlling these safari animals.

Like a chain link fence...

or shackles...

or shock collars...

I don't know...just something.

We had to wait for these reticulated giraffes to cross our path before we could proceed.



And don't even get me started on this rhino.

I'm telling you, it was about to charge.

Ok, maybe not, but let me point out that this picture was taken with my iphone {cause I am now officially the laziest photographer in all the land}with no zoom.

He was that close.

And he walked right behind our truck, across the road we had just driven on, like he was just free to roam as he pleased.

That's a little too close for comfort Walt.




I prefer to get my adrenaline rush in less horn gouging ways....like this.

Oh Everest how I love thee.

But dang if this didn't make me sick again.


I was really hoping that the only reason I got sick the last time {2010} was because I rode early morning and I had not eaten.

Nope.

This getting old thing really is a killjoy.



My favorite part of Animal Kingdom?

These bad boys.

They were still warm people.

Think melting my ice cream warm.

Great...now I'm hungry and it's 2:30am.



An evening spent relaxing by the pool...watching these two fish swim around.

Always nice after running day and night.

Disney is awesome...but dang if it doesn't wear you out.



All good things must come to an end.

But if they must end, we are going out in style...O'hana style

::sigh::

::cue the steel drums and cheesy Hawaiian lady leading a line of maraca shaking children::

Think 3 foot long skewers of shrimp, chicken, and beef.

Think pineapple bread.

Think all. you. can. eat.



Think limbo lines and leis.



Think plates of steaming hot towels for the glorious mess your hands are about to partake of.



Think Pineapple Bread Pudding with Banana's Foster cream sauce.

Think new jiggle in your thighs.




This was our third trip to Disney.

The first time they were 10, 6, and 4.

Our days were filled with stroller pushing and parking and mile long lines for character greetings.

This time they were less than a month shy of 16, 11, and 9.

No strollers.

No temper tantrums or meltdowns while waiting our turn to ride.

Long gone are the days of standing in mile long lines for Princess autographs.

It was amazing/fun/sad/heartbreaking to see how, as they grow, their interests change and we experience Disney in a whole new way each time.

Actually I experienced about 530 different emotions this time.

They aren't little anymore.

They are growing up.

This makes my heart hurt if I think about it too long.

So I won't.

One day they will be grown and gone and I will be left with these precious memories.

And my iphone snapshots.




"My every mortal breath, is Grace and nothing less"