Flew the Coop

I'm a conflicted mama bird.  I'm happy that my Matthew is starting his life and sad that the nest at home is shrinking.

As a parent we build special bonds with each child.  Matthew keeps me laughing with his one liners.  He seemed to have something funny to say in every situation.  But mostly, he is the one who ropes me in and calms me down when my feathers are ruffled.

I've cried as each of my boys took that big step out of the nest to fly on their own, it just seems so much harder this time.  

     Filling up before starting on our 6.5 hour journey

     View from the living room window "18th Fairway
                and the clubhouse in the distance

      View from the bedroom window looking SE

For a first apartment Matthew did good.  You drive down a country road with both new and old farmhouses, most sit on 5+ acres or more.  When you get to the end of the street you see this beautiful new development of apartments which wrap around a new 18 hole golf course.  Most have been here for 3-4 years, but more than 25% have never been lived in, such is the case of Matthew's apartment.

Both my dad and hubby are a tad jealous that Matthew gets to golf for free anytime... he did pay $7 for the cart, but if he opted to walk it would have been totally free.

Prior to the trip as I mentioned in a previous post, we picked out and I bought all new tables and a couch from IKEA. Everything being in boxes made for packing the trailer easy!  This of course meant building all the furniture - this did take time because since none of us thought of bringing extra tools.  We somehow managed to get it all done with just one interchangeable screwdriver, a hammer and a pair of pliers.  

Picture of Matt building the TV stand - this was the first piece of six that we built.

Building the dresser - this was the last piece Matt and I built together - it was the most complex, but somehow the easiest.  

This is the TV stand with the TV we gave Matt when he left home for college...

This is the TV my hubby came back from the store with... just because.

Seems that when we picked up the couch they forgot to package the arms... no worries the arms are on their way - but honestly, even without them it was comfy.

The Bedroom

The Kitchen

 The Laundry Room

The Living Room

I was a soppy mess as I said my good-byes.  

Even though I know there will be visits, this mama bird is missing her man baby chick.

~G

Third times the charm...

Three graduation in 14 days, I'm wondering if that is a some type of record?!?

I must say we saved the best for last.  Landen's Pre-K graduation was A-W-E-S-O-M-E as the cheerleader in me would say.

We had singing and dancing and the guest speaker didn't put us to sleep or make us question what his point was.

Landen your Nina loves you and is so very proud of you - Congrats and I can't wait to drive you to school every day next year.  

Oh boy, that is going to be something, getting two kids ready for school, haven't done that in years.

Graduation Rerun...

Graduation number two, is now officially over.

One can not deny that UT is a party school!  Where the graduates at Matthew's sat at attention and seemed to be more respectful.  Jonathan's, had beach balls, a constant rumble of talking from the floor and  mortarboards decorated in many various designs.  

Highlights include the disco dancing drag queen and the Chancellor of the School of Communication announcing one recipient was getting a BJ in Journalism degree.  My sister said it best when she quipped "bet that sucked" 

After, we all met at Carmela's Italiano Ristorante, where Sue had reserved a private room.  The kids all joked on one side and my dad, step mom, sister, Marty, his mother and I joked on the other.  Gil entertained William and Landen and Sue just sat there quietly kinda separated from all that was going on.

Part of me wishes Sue and I could have been better co-parent mom's, but sadly, that never happened.  I'm currently struggling to find the right words to thank her for her hospitality.  She covered the expenses of the dinner, which I brought 10 family members and that makes me uncomfortable.

I had a custom card made for Jonathan and I also wrote him this letter.

Dearest Jonathan,

Society labels us with titles based on specific criteria.  I myself have many titles and the one I am most proud to hold, is the title of being your step-mom.

I have struggled to find just the right words to express how much you mean to me.  What I can say… You have brightened my life with memories and dreams and as each year passes they get better it seems.  You’re compassionate, quirky and funny as all h—l, but mostly, my life would not be complete without you in it.

I’m so very thankful that your father chose me  to be a part of his life and both your mom and dad for bringing you into this world.  Without them there would be no you and without you, I’d have missed out on one of the greatest gifts ever.

If I can pass on anything, it is that you stay true to yourself, be good to yourself, be good to others and when in doubt, wait!

Jonathan, you are the true definition of a son to me and no one can ever take that title away.

I love you.

Mom

My wallet is a pile of ashes these days...

It goes without saying that kids today are more privileged than ever before.  Growing up I never was without, but we didn't have video games, cell phones or even our own car unless we paid for it ourselves.

I admit that I've somewhat spoiled my children, ok a lot!

The end of a school year always proves to be expensive, pre-purchasing school supplies, new summer clothes, end of year school parties, gifts for for the teacher.  For my college kids the expense of moving them home for the summer.  This year with two kids graduating it meant travel costs, hotel rooms, nice family dinners with 18+ in attendance and new dress clothes.  Add in that we felt we should reward our kids for their accomplishment with some extra $$ for their pockets.  All this activity made my wallet start to smolder.

My first apartment was furnished with my twin bed from home, a beat up dresser, a card table with three chairs and a 15" black and white TV that sat on the floor in my living room.  About a month after moving in I bought a rust colored couch from a friend that I covered with a blanket because it was in pretty bad shape.  

Matthew is starting off much better. I gave him the queen bed frame and mattress set from our once guest bedroom, additionally, I gave him two chairs with ottomans from our living room and my dishes. I then took him to Ikea and bought him a new couch, coffee table, two end tables, TV stand and a dresser.  My mother bought him a night stand to match after I told him he had enough and explained that my wallet was on fire.  My mom then took him to Kohl's yesterday and got him new linens for his bed, new towels, silverware, pillows, pots and pans and a variety of kitchen supplies, but still not finished, they went to the grocery store and bought a broom, mop and a bunch of cleaning supplies because she thought he shouldn't be overwhelmed with all those additional expenses.   

Where was this mom when I moved out?

My garage is now packed with boxes and furniture and I have just spent more money reserving a U-Haul and hotel room for our pending trip next week to assist him move.  Why you may ask am I helping him move? Because the 4 cylinder SUV that I gave him earlier this year, cannot pull a trailer and because he is under 25 and legally can't rent a moving truck.  My wallet is now burnt to a crisp!

The sacrifice for all this spending, no vacation this year... those were covered by William's competition trips, trips out of town for graduations and now a moving trip!

Even now that my wallet is a pile of ash, I would do it over again knowing that my kids started out a little be better with less struggles.  In the mean time while Matthew is enjoying steak in his new comfy apartment and knowing William will smile when he gets his pre-packaged school supplies, we will be living off hotdogs, mac-n-cheese and soup the next few months in attempts to recover from this past month.

Hugs

~G

Tears and Cheers - Matthew Graduates

I wasn't a blubbering mess as some had thought I'd be, but, I did cry!

Annie said it best when she asked Matthew if he felt like he was in a bubble - I myself felt like that.  I was there witnessing it all, but it felt like I was floating seeing it and not living it at times.

My heart raced when I first saw Matthew enter in the procession. When his name was called the 16 of us all screamed - at that moment we had been the loudest to cheer, however, after that it seemed everyone was determined to beat us!!!

My favorite moment of the day was when the Chancellor asked all the mom's to stand - Matthew and I locked eyes and he mouthed "I love you mommy"

Later at the family dinner I presented Matthew with the following letter.

Dearest Matthew,

I can’t begin to tell you, just how loved you are. I can’t believe how time has flown and how you’ve come so far.

Forgive me when I stop and stare and tears fall from my eyes. Time flew by too quickly, I can’t believe where in time we are.

I asked you to stay little and to always be my baby. You said, “You’d try” but, then later you said, “I’ll have to grow up...maybe.”  Now here you stand before me, a respectful honest man, so loving, kind and giving.

As you move into the next chapter of your life I only ask one thing.  Wherever life leads you, no matter what you do, remember that I’m your biggest fan and I’m always here for you.

I love you bunches.

Mommy

Crazy May and it just started...

So many things to update and honestly I don't know if I can even express properly my feeling of everything that is going on...

I feel both excited and  stressed,  but mostly, I feel like I don't have time to really absorb and enjoy each event because I'm focused on the next one.  It is the OCD that I have to be in control and I honestly feel out of control at the moment.

The kitchen is done with the exception of the plumbing being hooked back up - doing dishes in the bathroom sink really sucks, but maybe next week we will find time to call in a plumber.  See the video of the transformation start to finish.

Sunday was William's end of season banquet for Pro Spirit.  He was honored with being the first Prince nominated to the Princess Court... The smile that beamed from his face as he approached the stage as everyone in the room began chanting "William".  He didn't win the crown, but he made us proud for all his hard work and dedication this past year.  Not many 8 year olds could handle 8 - 12 hours a week of practice and still be excited about going back the next week!

The Banquet Theme was "Pretty in Pink" William was a trooper and wore a pink pin striped shirt.  It is fun dressing up every once in a while!  Lucky for us we get to do it 3 more times this month.

 The Princess Court

 Prince William!

Family Picture before heading to the Pretty in Pink Banquet

Wednesday William had two big events - first thing in the morning he was in the school talent show - he sang "You Make Me Feel"

I of course can chalk this up to another epic fail on my part.  I put new batteries into the Flip camera only to allow the young child next to me kick it out of my hand and of course it broke.  I then quickly reached for my cell phone, but, somehow failed to hit the record button.  He was about  2/3 through when I realized the blinking red light was not blinking.  I capture the last 20 - 30 seconds of him singing "na na na na na"

His second event was tryouts for the upcoming 2012-2013 season.  We won't know until Monday what team he made, I just hope he makes the team he wants.  He worked very hard these last couple weeks perfecting old skills and learning new ones and as a parent/grandparent you never want to see your child disappointed.

In two days I'll watch Matthew cross the stage and receive his college diploma, well a fake one, since they told us the real one will be mailed in 6 - 8 weeks!!

There are so many things I want to say - like "The road was bumpy at times, but we made it to our destination" "The tassel is worth the hassle"  I'm just hoping when I see him that the words come out right and that he knows how proud I am of all he has accomplished.

Yesterday he tweeted a picture to me after he picked up his cap and gown.  At first I smiled, then I cried.  Yes, happy tears but also tears that he is grown up and the realization that he is moving away in three weeks to start his new life post college.

What can I say, he is my baby.  Can someone please tell me where the heck the last 28 years of my life went?

I want to add one more picture... When William performed at Cowboy Stadium the set up this shot - they provided a copy to me at the banquet.