Flashback Friday

We have a slideshow of pictures on our computer for the screensaver.  I love having some of our old pictures pop up and surprise us.
The boys love it too and are always saying things like, “Remember when I stole Miller’s pacis?”
Here are a few from 2010.  So hard to believe that Miller is the very same age right now that Jackson was then.



Sweet memories…………..

Oh, the Places You’ll Go

As the school year wound down I was looking on Pinterest for a graduation gift for our babysitter.  I didn’t find anything much interesting (that I was willing or able to make), but I did find an idea.
Just before the school let out, I sent a copy of Dr. Seuss’s Oh, the Places You’ll Go for his teacher to sign. The idea is to have teachers sign it each year and then to give it to Jackson at graduation.
I sent a little explanation with the book.


My photography book will be out very soon.  Right after my parenting book!
When I sent it, I had no idea what she would write, but hoped it would be something special.  She completely nailed it.

Dear Jackson,
I wish you all the courage of your Kindergarten self as you arrive at all the places you are going in your life.  even though I knew you at the beginning of your journey, you had already proved to have the qualities of someone who would be going far in life.  Best of luck on this next adventure and remember you can achieve any goal you set your mind to, just like you did in Kindergarten.
Love Always,
Mrs. Cathopoulis
Kindergarten 2012
How sweet is that? It made me do the ugly cry.  The next teachers have huge shoes to fill.  I can only hope that all the boys teachers are half as dedicated and caring as Mrs. Cathopoulis has been.

Little Mermaid

One of the things that I love about the boys’ school is that they have performances twice a year.  It takes tons of work and untold hours to pull it off, but they somehow get it all together and have a fantastic show that includes all the classes twice a year.

This year the production was the Little Mermaid.  Jackson wasn’t that thrilled, and Miller was ambivalent.  As time got closer Jackson got a bit nervous.  It is really good to get him out of his comfort zone.

They all did great.  The lead characters were terrific and our boys did very well. 

And by doing well I mean they did their best at walking around the stage “acting” like they were swimming!

Please excuse the heads at the bottom of all these shots.  I am not blessed with height.

Ursula stole the show!

Until the littles came on stage!

Matias is on the right.  He had this expression the whole time.  Love him!

The boys were both in the number “Kiss the Girl”

Amazing performance for both.  We will be expecting our invitations to the Tonys and day now!

I am already looking to next year!

I’m 40!

Really, can you believe it?  I know I am so young in many ways, so “40” comes as a bit of a surprise.  Good thing 40 is the new 30 because my 30’s flew by!
When I saw this yesterday, I cracked up. 

I was a pretty “fun” 20 year old, so now I can say I am twice as fun.  I just go to bed a lot earlier than most 20 year olds!
My sweetie took the day off and we went to one of our favorite beaches for a walk and to do some treasure hunting.  When treasure hunting it is important to keep an open mind.  We saw so many fragments of beautiful sea biscuits, conch and sea urchins.  We just never found that “perfect shell”  We did find some wild hermit crabs that we brought the boys, but that is a whole other story that has smiles and tears!
As we were walking we had a little rain off and on some high winds, some really hot weather.  Not perfect, but it was still so wonderful.
As we were turning around and heading back and I looked at the bucket of all the small treasures we had found, and was taken in by the beauty of the colors.  Pinks, tans, aquas and white were there.  It’s just that nothing in that bucket was perfect.

It reminded me of one of my favorite decorating blogs, The Nester.  Her motto is “It doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful”.  Can I get an Amen to that?
During our walk, I was thinking about that phrase and turning it over and over in my mind.   Our walk…it wasn’t perfect, but it was beautiful.  The weather…it wasn’t perfect, but it was beautiful.   The shells we collected…they weren’t perfect, but it was beautiful.
Pretty true for my life too.  It sure isn’t perfect, but it is quite beautiful.  Kind of true for my 40th birthday.  It doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful.  I think I just found a new motto for my 40s.

Make a wish!  it may come true, or it may not.  At least now I have the perspective of “It doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful.”
You can’t ask for more than that.

Hi Ho Hi Ho It’s Off to the Pool We Go

Already it feels like we go to the pool quite a bit, and summer vacation hasn’t even gotten here yet! 
Frankly, I want to get as much use as I can out of the underwater camera before it breaks.  Because we know it will break.
Jackson wants me to take a picture of every trick he does.  So here goes Jackson’s magnificent pool tricks!

Warning!!  The trick below should only be attempted by 5 year old boys or others who have no fear of not reaching their next birthday!

Jackson is very interested in taking pictures so some of these he took.  He isn’t very interested in focusing or moving his finger off the lens, so this is best of the best!

Ok, so maybe I’m the only one who things those are funny.

And look who is not the least bit intimidated by the pool anymore!  The Butterbean!

God help us! He will be doing flips off the side by the end of the summer. He swam into the side of the pool this day and is now sporting some scabs on his nose. Good times!
Because Jackson never gets tired of this …..
Allen might get tired of it, but he is always game for one more throw!

Good bye!