empty nesters - day 12

we've been empty nesters for 12 days.

and it's just hitting me. really.

the house is empty. empty of that je ne sais quoi commotion, noise, phone calls, conversation, extra laundry, car pools, driving, female conversation, advice, excitement, ideas and lots more.

don't get me wrong, DH and I are having a great time - spending a lot more time together - chatting - having great meals together, sledding, skiing, walking, talking etc. but the hubbub of having a 12 year old in the house is gone - and i miss it. and the phone does ring, but not as much.

i miss her a lot.

but i know she's having the most amazing time and is so happy. so, on the one hand i miss her - and on the other hand my heart swells with pride. i am so proud of her. i am so proud that she decided to apply for this amazing program on her own. Filled out application, wrote her essay, emailed her teachers for recommendations on her own. She wanted this experience to be on her own. She wanted to go and not know anyone.

as it turns out, she knew quite a few of the students, from friends, acquaintances and even a cousin :-).

having this taster of being an empty nester has been a real eye opener. as crazy as seems, you need to savour every moment your children are at home. love every minute = the good the bad the ugly.

they grow up so fast.

eel as though i did do that, but it still doesn't change the fact that i miss her. and she's fun, and full of spunk and ideas and creativity.

love that girl. xo

6 Hours of Motherhood

6 hours?
Medal ceremony for Scott - tournament winning team!!,
Back to house,
Helped Mom make 5 beds,
Packed bags,
Packed car,
Made sandwiches for road trip,
Waving Goodbyes,
Got gas,
Bought a scratch off lottery,
Had Scott scratch off (I am always bad luck!),
Collected $15 winnings,
Hit the road back to VT,
Paid for car behind me in first toll (even though, at the time, there wasn’t one),
Paid for car behind me in second toll (they were behind me in red car),
Watched red car pass me without even looking my way – even though I paid their toll,
Pondered the random kindness to strangers – one of my 52 in 2010,
Fought to stay awake,
Watched Scott sound asleep...twitching,
Came up with more business ideas,
Acknowledge that I really do my thinking while driving,
Usual beautiful views hindered by smoke from CA wildfires,
Went food shopping,
Finally home,
Got the most amazing/grunting welcome home greeting from Bailey!,
Watered plants that looked dead,
Quickly did the rounds - peonies open, daisies, 15 poppies on ONE plant,
Note to self: photograph flowers tomorrow,
Unpacked car,
Unpacked/put away groceries,
Made dinner,
Did dishes,
Cleaned kitchen,
Unpacked bags,
Started laundry,
Poured glass of wine,
Checked email,

And that was only the past 6 hours.

Ahh the power of mothers!

Just got this:

HAVING MOM OVER FOR DINNER

You don't even have to be a mother to enjoy this one...

Brian invited his mother over for dinner. During the course of the meal, Brian's mother couldn't help but notice how beautiful Brian's roommate, Jennifer, was. Brian's Mom had long been suspicious of the platonic relationship between Brian and Jennifer, and this had only made her more curious. Over the course of the evening, while watching the two interact, she started to wonder if there was more between Brian and Jennifer than met the eye. Reading his mom's thoughts, Brian volunteered, 'I know what you must be thinking, but I assure you Jennifer and I are just roommates.'

About a week later, Jennifer came to Brian saying, 'Ever since your mother came to dinner, I've been unable to find the beautiful silver gravy ladle. You don't suppose she took it, do you?'

Brian said, 'Well, I doubt it, but I'll send her an e-mail just to be sure. So he sat down and wrote:

Dear Mom, I'm not saying that you 'did' take the gravy ladle from the house, I'm not saying that you 'did not' take the gravy ladle. But the fact remains that one has been missing ever since you were here for dinner. Love, Brian

Several days later, Brian received an email back from his mother that read:

Dear Son, I'm not saying that you 'do' sleep with Jennifer, I'm not saying that you 'do not' sleep with Jennifer. But the fact remains that if Jennifer is sleeping in her own bed, she would have found the gravy ladle by now. Love, Mom

LESSON OF THE DAY - NEVER LIE TO YOUR MOTHER