first moves

Remember when we were dating,

and neither of us were daring enough to say, "I love you."

So, one day, when we were driving in your car, on our way to drop me home, I had a "moment", where I was feelin' all over the moon about you, and although my inner crazy felt like shouting it, I just wasn't brave enough yet for the BIG words, so instead I threw out a little diddy like this......

"Like (cuz I said that a lot then too) I pretty much love you, Robert McBride."

.....and there ya had it.

Remember when we were dating,

 and you would drive an hour and a half to my little, white house in Logan and stay til' the wee hours of the morning but had to leave and drive like a mad man through all the small farm towns in order to make it back to Pocatello in time for your early morning football meetings?

You stood on my back porch for hours, craving a good night kiss, but not brave enough to lay the first one on me. You  played softly with my hands and looked tenderly into my eyes but just didn't have the courage to graze my lips.

So I grabbed hold of your big self and pulled ya in real tight. I kissed ya all romantic, just like the actresses in those soaps I was so into back then.

 ....and there ya had it.

Remember when we were dating,

 and we would spend hours upon hours chattin' it up on the old telephone?  My roommates were darn near appalled by my phone bill, and I was in shock too, as it was hundreds of dollars this girl didn't have! I remember calling my parents and shamefully begging them to help with the payment, the ONLY time in my entire college career I had to borrow money from my folks. My pocketbook nor my heart could take it any longer. I was ready to seal the deal on this relationship. 

So late one night in the middle of one of our conversations, I interrupted ya mid-sentence because I wasn't listening to a thing you were sayin' anyway and blurted out my best proposal...

"So, should we get married?"  

......and there ya had it.

                                                                                                                                                     

Fifteen years and four kids later here we are celebratin' your 38th.

Maybe I should apologize that it was ME who made all the bold first moves, but if that's what it took to snag YOU,

I'd do it .....

again, and again, and again.

f a m i l y p i c s

 Family pics.

I rate em' right up there

with
plucking eyebrows.

Cringe at em' both.

Despise em' really.

Not the pics. per say,

cuz' amazingly enough

little miracles take place

with each click of the lens

and a few actually turn out....

surprisingly nice.

It's the PROCESS,

I really dislike.

The gettin' it all together.

The weighty chore of figuring out what to wear,

  everyone looking just right,

 at the exact same moment.

It's darn near impossible really.
Oh, but we moms practically die trying.
.

I have the privilege of being dear friends with the talented Whimsy Pix,

when she called this morning stressing about which and what

to wear for her family pics.  

 I knew.

I knew it was a curse.
Prep for family pics. was an unavoidable curse. 

That girl's got more talent, style and down right awesome flare,

than I could ever dream to have,

and even SHE stresses about family pics.

I was reminded today and lately too, how much a conversation with a good friend "lifts."

It's like therapy.
I forget when I'm feeling the weight of the world,
 that my load isn't much heavier

or different, for that matter,

than anyone else.

It seems, when I open up, with unfeigned conversation

I find this to be TRUE.

Undoubtedly true.

I believe it's crucial that we,
"Vent", or "Share", if you will,

 refrain from judgment,
but rather, take time to listen, relate, and LOVE.

The impact?

Growth, aid, and comfort,

to name a very, small few.

I'm thankful for the reminder,
we are all in this together, more similar than we will ever know.

I've been blessed my entire life, 

with AMAZING friends.
Friends who listen without judgment,
forgive me of my follies,
accept me the way I am,
support and lend me their hand
and most importantly...
love me.

Cuz this girl's a lover,
and Oh how I LOVE my friends.

BIG, BIG, BIG

each and every one.

I didn't listen when Whimsy Pix advised, "Never bare your arms. 3/4 sleeves are always best." Darn, I wish I'd taken heed, and POOR Bob, completely uncomfortable with any display of PDA!

Not me, I'd devour him in public if he'd let me! wink, wink

This, of the girls, one of my faves.

Sure easy to spot my two cheesballs, A?!

Mr. Max, captured in his very true colors.

Yo, Avery....camera's this way!

Avery is missing shoes in every family shoot we've ever done.

It is NO surprise to me that one of Max's only words is, OWEN!

  

Thank you, gifted Cynthia for your patience with my family and the beautiful pictures you captured in the midst of our little clan's chaos!

K

All spruced up for his big day.

Kindergarten 2011

Maple Grove Elementary

Name tag and folder, it's feelin' official.

Pretty sure frenzied butterflies are sworming bout' now.

Deep breaths, Owen.

Holy....DEER IN THE HEADLIGHTS!

It was tough leaving you, O....especially when you started to cry.

Mama didn't want to go, even when your teacher pushed/ushered me out the door, assuring me you'd be just fine.

I politely obliged and strolled Mr. Max right out into the hall, pretending to leave.

 

Then, real inconspicuously, I walked past your room a measly twenty times or so.

You were still crying.

I couldn't leave.

Max and I camped outside your classroom door for what seemed an eternity, ready to run in and whisk you away if need be.

Ya settled down.  Ya sang songs. Ya started to smile. 

Ya had a good time.

.....then it was just me and the Mr.,  feeling jealous of Kindergarten and your lucky friends who get to enjoy YOU the entire afternoon. 

Now Mr. Max, tell me.

How do you feel about Owen's new adventure and leavin' you home all alone with Mama?

From Collages

U huh. I thought so.

pumped up kicks

From Collages

Mama just couldn't commit this year to swim team's 5 days a week, early morning practices.
So this past summa' vacay, we did track instead.

That's right, we traded in swim caps and goggles for...

 pumped up kicks.

The kids looked forward to those Thursday evening meets. We spent hours out there in the smoldering heat picnicking, playing, and cheering fast feet across finish lines.

 Id like to think it was the opportunity of quality time with their parents my little sprinters enjoyed so much, but this mama AINT' NO FOOL.

It had something to do with earning shiny ribbons, and everything to do with the promise of a cool, sweet treat from DQ afterwards......

 that kept their little motors movin'!

Capitol Classic

From Classic

From Collages

From Collages

Fast, downhill course, fat medals distributed at the finish, and a rockin' after party.

The Capitol Classic is so................

OUR KIND OF RACE!

Ran their little hearts out, they did.

Girls ran first and out of almost 700 little ladies

ranging from age 7-14,

Miss Payton was SECOND to cross the finish line.

Miss Avery took almost 5 min. off her last year's time,

and Mr. Owen and his bestie, Cole....ran the entire way!

Sure regret not having any pics. of the junior racers in flight, but with Bob MIA, and me (the entire race) stuck in a hairy wrestling match with an ornery grizzly cub named, Max....

it just didn't happen. 

...

McCall on steroids

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(Talented Rush Blue, sweeping the tournament in Bend, Oregon...coming away once again, with a first place medal!)

Road tripped to Bend, just me and my soccer lovin' girl. Sipped soda and sucked the salt off sunflower seeds til' our swollen tongues felt numb against our notably raw cheeks. We shoulder shook and head bobbed to Jack Johnson, and before we knew it our wheels rolled into town.

We were immediately greeted by Mt. Bachelor and Jefferson, two snow capped peaks sitting above the city, welcoming us to picturesque Bend. Who knew? I certainly did not. I had no idea my weekend away with my girl would be spent in a place I can only describe as McCall on steroids.

We stayed in a little resort tucked back in the woods and nestled down by the river, a river who quickly became my friend as I woke early and joined her for a run along her curvy figure over and around dirt trails sprinkled with wild flowers and bulging river rock.

Most of the day Payton was busy with her team, this left time for me to just be. I took my book down to the pool and layed in quiet, uninterrupted, bliss almost giddy about the situation, me basking in sunshine with no kids, job, house to clean, or meals to cook. When I wasn't relishing in the serenity of aloneness I was joining the other parents for lunch, dinner, shopping, river floating, and site seeing, in a city that stole my heart and beckons me to return.

As extraordinary as being just "me" for the weekend was, without a baby on my hip, little ones at my feet, and a big, busy puzzle of daily chaos just a waitin' for my assembling,

the fabulousness was trumped by moments with HER.

Thank you, Miss Payton, for forgoing slumber with the rest of your team in a giant sea of silky, nylon bags accompanied by brightly colored pillow cases in the middle of the family room floor, to retire to my room, snuggle, chat, laugh and snooze... with me.

Thank you, Miss Payton, for running into my arms after each game and thanking me for being there and telling me how happy you were that I was.

Thank you, Miss Payton, for waiting in the middle of the river, paddling desperately to stay in place, screaming, "mom" and encouraging me to catch up so you could link your arm in mine and we could float the rest of the way, together.

I sure relished in my time "away" cheering my girl to victory in a city of grand beauty, building memories I'll not too soon forget, but quite honestly, Pay, it was the simple moments shared with YOU, that meant the most.

XOXOXO

MOM

G E O R G I A

Trips with our "Bronco Buddies" have become a tradition. We hit the big games together and scream, shout, and ROAR the Broncos to a victory. I don't know what it is about this time of year, this sport, this team, these friends, that brings us so much joy, but I must say.....THEY DO!

When growing up we would take a few family trips now and then. During the vacation my dad would refer to ALL of us as "fun seekers". Let's go "fun seekers", whose with me "fun seekers", what's next "fun seekers?" I always loved that chipper term and more so the man who delivered it. Among many of life's lessons my dad taught, ....Happiness can be found seeking fun with those you care about, is one of my favorites.

Guess what I'm trying to say is, thanks.

Thanks, "Bronco Buddies", for being some terrific, "fun seeking" friends!

From Movies

s e v e n

She has a wildly, invaluable imagination. She is Junie B. and Romona Q. all bundled up in ONE. She's sassy and quick witted, and the unrivaled teacher of patience and tolerance. She knows one volume and speed. She's a lover of pickles, popsicles and everything purple. She dreams of being a jockey and rides her horse, Ginger (incognito as a rip-stick scooter) all hours of the day. She is my mini-me, I'm told, a hasty comfort to the sad and a greathearted gifter of love.

From Movies

A face tells a thousand words.

"Are ya kiddin', mom, really? The tradition is to MAKE a fun cake for our birthdays, and this sure isn't the rock n' roll, roller skate I chose and you promised to deliver!"

Well, mama tried, but let's be real, the cake decorating skills belong to Robert, and since he was too busy to assist, the skate was a flop and a sweet treat from Dairy Queen became the surrogate.

Nevertheless, she made a wish.

.....and something bout' her expression tells me she's inventive enough to know

the wish isn't contingent upon the cake.

And her hopes for one coming true,

are just the same.

For you, Miss Avery J, my spicy seven year old girl...

I'd walk to the moon.

xoxoxo

Mom