2017 In A Nutshell

January:

The new year started with my daughter getting pneumonia, and then my son.  That was a rough month for sure.  I'm glad I wasn't working then and was able to stay with them.

Donald Trump became our 45th president and that was something that caused a lot of controversy as well as crying and wining for a lot of people.  I'm sure you can tell how our family felt.  

February:

February was another rough month.  We had to lay my 35 year old niece to rest after battling with a lung disease that took her life, as well as years with multiple sclerosis.  It's still hard for me to understand.  We were close as kids.  That was a trip to NY that wasn't so enjoyable.

We celebrated Valentines Day, a holiday I enjoy sharing with the kids as well as the hubby.

It was Pinewood Derby time with the boy scouts.  

March:

We had a few feet of nasty snow.

A monster truck show in Harrisburg.

St. Patrick's Day

And welcomed spring with a free Italian ice and Rita's.  Our tradition.

April:

My boy earned another rank in cub scouts.  2 more years to go!

Celebrated Easter

Spring ball started

May:

Celebrated my mom's 73rd birthday

Celebrated my hubby's 38th birthday

Celebrated our 15th anniversary

Started my garden

End of kindergarten and 3rd grade

June:

My son's spring season of baseball ended

My daughter danced her second dance recital

We took our first trip to Delaware and enjoyed both Dewey and Rehobeth beaches

July:

Went camping in a tent.  Let's just say I'm not a camping person.  I was glad when we got home.

Celebrated the 4th of July with family and a barbecue ... and some fireworks

August:

Celebrated our little princess's 6th birthday

Celebrated my dad's 70th birthday

The kids started back to school.  Here's my 1st and 4th graders

I also went back to work as a lunch lady.  I started at the high school for a few weeks but then transferred to my kids' elementary school.  I can't say it pays much but I really do enjoy the job and getting to hang out with all the kids.  It also gets me out of the house for 3 hours and I am home when the kids are home which is the bonus.  I still want to be home with them. 

September:

We found out my mother has alzeimer's and that's been the toughest thing to deal with.  I haven't told the kids because that would be much to hard for them.  In time I will but for now they don't need to know. 

We took a trip to The Arlington National Cemetery where the son and scouts laid a wreath at The Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier, which was my son's third experience.  We also walked around part of Washington, D.C.  

Fall ball started back up

 The York Fair and a monster truck show

My boy started playing trumpet

My girl began her third year in dance, ballet and tap

 My son started another year in the cub scouts, his first year as a Webelo

October:

Celebrated my 39th birthday.  For some reason my husband put the 25 candles on.  I guess so I continue to feel young.  

Halloween with my witch and Iron Man

November:

Thanksgiving at a beautiful restaurant with my parents.  I decided to skip cooking this year.  

My son turned 10.  Oh my, I still can't believe my boy is a decade old.  We spent the day at a place called Go'N Bananas and then had cake with my parents.  

December:

A month of Christmas celebrations.  My son set up a warming tree at the library for a scouts service project, they saw Santa twice, my husband surprised me with tickets to see Michael W Smith and Amy Grant, my son had his band concert at school and of course ... Christmas!  

We experienced a lot more but that's just some of the things in our year.

This year saw some very hard times like losing my niece and finding out my mother has Alzeimer's.  My husband and I also saw a very dark point in our marriage but it seems we have worked it out and are happier than ever.  I've also learned my own personal life lessons.  My kids are doing well in school and are very involved in after school activities.  I love watching as they grow and thrive.  After 10 years of not working I now have a part-time job in the elementary school cafeteria and it's nice to be able to financially help out, even if it's just a little bit.  I also found myself falling into a deep depression while my kids were in school so it's nice to have something to keep me out of the house and occupied.  My dad turned 70.  My son turned 10.  My daughter turned 6.  I am in my last year of my thirties.  

2017 had it's ups and downs, that's for sure.  I wish I could say I look forward to 2018 but I'm not sure. 

Christmas Vacation

It seems I've been slacking from the blogging world lately, but it's not like I have any followers.  I enjoy writing and so I will continue to do so, followers or not.  ;-)

We are reaching the end of our Christmas vacation and it's been very relaxing.  Like all the Christmas vacations before, some of us end up sick.  My daughter and I are getting over a cold and my son is starting to cough.  Ugh.  Every year ... without fail!  Our vacation has been relaxing for the most part.  We did spend one day in Harrisburg and in Hershey.  We had to take my husband to a doctor appointment in Hershey and while there we visited Hershey's Chocolate World.  Before all of that we ventured to Harrisburg to an indoor trampoline park.  Even though I was congested and not interested in being out in the bitter cold I knew my kids deserved some play time.  This has been an extremely freezing week here in Pennsylvania and today we woke up to the snow falling. 

I am not a person who enjoys the cold weather or the snow but since I have nowhere to go ... let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. 

Christmas was good.  We didn't make it to my sister's Christmas Eve party in New York this year and that may have disappointed my parents but we will do our best to make it next year.  My parents live here in PA but every year make the trip to NY to spent the holiday with the family.  Because of my mother's Alzheimer's we don't know how many more Christmases she has, or that she won't be in a nursing home and not able to travel.  So next year I would love to grant my father's wish in having all of us make it to Long Island.  It's very difficult because I love being with my New York family on Christmas Eve but I also love waking up in my own home on Christmas morning.  The move to PA sure screwed me up ... but enough of that.  It's been 25 years and I made a life for myself here in farm country.  All is well.

So, anyway, onto Christmas.  Christmas Eve my mother-in-law came over to have dinner with us and exchange gifts.  Then we dressed in our Sunday best and headed to church for the 7pm Christmas Eve candelight service.  My kids were excited about receiving gifts but I needed to remind them the true meaning of Christmas. 

On Christmas morning we woke up early and opened gifts.  Since my son is 10 I'm not sure how many more Christmases there will be that he still believes in Santa.  This may be the last one so I wanted to make it as special as possible.  He asked for a Nintendo 2DS so that's what he got among other things.  My daughter asked for a tablet and she also received that as well as other things.  What can I say, I spoil my kids on Christmas. 

We stayed in our jammies until later in the day when it was time to get ready to go to Grandpa Bob and Grandma Pam's house.  We had a delicious dinner there, exchanged more gifts and enjoyed great conversation.  Then we headed home. 

For most of the week was spent at home relaxing and playing with our new toys. 

I should also back track and talk about the awesome Christmas concert we attended a few weeks ago.  It was Michael W Smith and Amy Grant featuring Jordan Smith.  My husband bought me the tickets as a Christmas gift.  Michael W Smith and Amy Grant are two of my favorite singers and they put on an amazing show. 

A few days after that my son put on a concert of his own at school.  This is his first year playing trumpet and he's doing great. 

So, that's about it.  Stay tuned for my 2017 recap and wishes for the New Year.  

Letter For My Son

My sweetest boy,

I wish I could have started writing letters to you when you were born.  There are so many things I wish I could have done or done better.  I definitely haven't been a perfect mom and I mess up a lot but no matter what I have always loved you and always will.  You are the one who made me a mother and that is a blessing I will not take for granted.

Now that you are 10 I wanted to write you a letter.  I want you to know just how much I love you and how proud I am of the young man that you are.  Nothing in this world has ever brought me more joy.

I admire your sensitivity and how hard you try at everything you do.  I don't ever expect you to be perfect but I always want you to try the best that you can.  I enjoy watching you play baseball and I love getting to see all the awards you collect at scouts.  Now I get to hear you play trumpet and am amazed at how quickly you've been able to pick that up.  As you get older you may not stick with those things and you may try new things and that's okay.  I want to make sure I do all I can to help make your dreams come true and find your purpose in life.  I took a job in the cafeteria so I can help afford to do these things for you and I am happy to do that.

You are so smart, especially with math.  It blows me away to hear how quickly you can solve a math problem.  You do better than me.  I'm so glad when it comes to math you have your dad's brains.  Your teachers always brag about how smart you are and how well behaved you are in school.

I know there are times when I yell and lose my temper but I'm trying the best I can.  My job as your parent is to make sure you learn right from wrong.  But no matter what you do, I will never stop loving you and I will never stop being proud of you.  I will always, always, always, be here for you.

Before you were born I prayed so much that God could bless me with a child.  You were wanted.  Don't ever feel that you weren't.  The day I found out I was having you was the greatest.  I thank God every day for you.  I can't believe how fast these 10 years have flown by.  I wish I could go back to the beginning when I held you in my arms but at the same time I enjoy watching as you grow and can't wait to see the man you will become.

I also appreciate how you are as a big brother.  I'm sure it's not always easy having a little sister following you around but I love how close the two of you are.  I hope that you both always remain close and realize that no matter what happens in life you both have each other. I love the bond you both share.

You are truly an amazing kid and I love you so much.  You were the one who taught me that love at first sight does exist.

                                                                           Love always and forever,

                                                                              Mommy (I love that you still call me that)