That awkward moment when...you feel sad at Christmas...

I think I must like to feel blue at Christmas.

The melancholy usually sets in just about now...Christmas eve...

it's a perfect set-up, really...

Izzy and Sophie are staying tonight at their Dad's house because they do Christmas together with their dad on Christmas eve.

We do Christmas on Christmas.

I guess, the blues come from the build up...

the expectations...

the wanting to please someone,

the waiting,

the keeping the best secrets ever,

the moment when you almost let something slip,

the hiding it away until you can wrap it up,

and then it's over.

No more build up.

No more secret fun.

No more hiding.

No more hoping.

No more whispers.

No more anticipation...

it's all done.

I'm thinking I know what the melancholy is now...

it's all about missing the excitement...

missing the traditions that we're lacking due to the divorce...

missing kids who want to create new traditions...

missing the baby girls that I once had...

they don't find it as magical when we drive through the park to look at the lights...

they aren't interested in making Christmas cookies with me...

and they already know what they're getting for Christmas because it is so specific, there can't be any surprises.

I think I need to do a guerilla goodness act, don't you? That makes everything feel better! The melancholy will lift in no time!

I'll let you know what I come up with!

Merry Christmas...

Sometimes...

Sometimes, it hurts too bad to talk about it...

Sometimes, you wish you hadn't said it...

Sometimes, you don't know what to say...

Sometimes, talking about it only seems to make it more real...

Sometimes, moving within it is too overwhelming, so it makes you stay in one place...

Sometimes, a good cry can do wonders...

Sometimes, I think our hearts are too soft...

Sometimes, I worry...

Sometimes, people hurt you on purpose...

Sometimes, they do it because they are hurting inside...

Sometimes, I feel what they feel...

Sometimes, even at 40+, I want to be held and told that it will all be okay...

So, I know that sometimes, even at 12, you might want that too.

Another First Day...

Sophie is giving the first day a BIG thumbs up!!

Izzy is all smiles too!
My favorite pose...the hugging pose!!
My life calendar seems to be marked by school beginnings. You see, obviously, I went to elementary, then middle, then high school. Then I went to four years of college. School didn't stop there for me...I then became a teacher.

So, I've really never left the school rhythm or the school pace.

So, here we are, first day of school for all of us this week.
It is always an ending and a beginning all wrapped up into one.
Ending of a summer, carefree life, sweet summer plans, and the relaxed summer pace.
It is the beginning, though, of new school experiences, new opportunites, and growth.
Both are good, just different.

You'd think I'd be good at starting school since I've been doing it for 30+ years...but,
I'm still sad on the last day of summer...

I still can't sleep the night before school starts...
I still cry when I kiss my kiddos goodbye...
I still wonder what I've done with my summer...
I still start a new diet every beginning of school....(not sure when that one started)
I still feel a little sick all the way to school...
I still wonder if I'll have a friend...
Hoping this year is great for all of you who are beginning school soon!

Izzy's and Greyson Chance!!

Izzy wrote a letter for Greyson to give to him at his concert...the one in Oklahoma. Well, I had to look for another concert so that we didn't have to travel for 24 hours in one weekend. So, we went to the Illinois State Fair...about 3 and a half hours away.

A huge collage of the concert and autograph signing afterward...it was excellent!

Izzy LOVING every minute of it!!

Izzy and her BFF, Keylee, dancing their hearts out!!!

Loved the smiles...the laughs...the singing at the top of our lungs...the screams...the overwhelming teenage crazies...ahhh...I loved it!

Izzy WON!!!

yfrog Video : http://yfrog.com/mbgxpqz - Uploaded by Isabelgracegc97

Here is Izzy's winning video for tickets to the Greyson Chance Concert! I think it is pretty convincing, don't you? The video is actually better when you can see it in "real action"...for some reason, the video is skipping. Probably because it was done on an IPOD. :)

Now, the hard part...the concert that she won tickets to?
It's in OKLAHOMA.
Yep, you read that right.
Oklahoma. We live in Indiana.
AND, the worst part of this is that it is on her second day of school and my FIRST day of school.

What is a Mama to do???
Oh my goodness...

More Projects...

I always have a summer to-do list.

This summer is slipping by so very quickly, so I've scrunched a bunch of projects in a short amount of time!

I made this canvas with one of my all-time favorite quotes.

I loved doing it so much, I'm afraid I might be putting quotes all over my house now.

This was another great deal ...

it was an ugly brown.

So, I painted, and painted and made it pretty!
Added new knobs from World Market...(I wish you could see them better!)

I still need to paint the little legs...I just got too excited and had to get everything situated and changed around. :)

In person, it looks really beachy!

I'm thinking I can have summer in my house all year long!
Again, forgot to do the "before" pics...

how crazy is that?!

Twelve Years ago today...

Twelve years ago today, Sophie Wofie was born!
She rocked our world from the very beginning...in the very best way.

Top 12 Things I've always loved about Sophie!

12. She was a cuddler from day one...and still is!

11. She has crystal clear blue/green eyes that melt your heart.

10. She is HILARIOUS without even meaning to be...

9. She had a deep, Demi Moore type of voice from 0-around 4...I still miss that sometimes.

8. She has always been a climber. To the top and beyond...EVEN as a baby!!!

7. She has always been messy...but there is so much fun to be had in a mess!

6. She has always known how to relax...

5. She connects with people on a deeper level.

4. She stands up for the underdog...even if it means that she will be left out.

3. She is an excellent songwriter...she writes from her heart!

2. She is a very genuine person...you know exactly where you stand with her!

1. She is beautiful, charismatic, and my sweet baby girl!

Sophie's stack of presents...she woke up at 6:30 ready to open them!

In the middle of opening gifts...

One of her favorite presents...it had all of the requirements:
Snoopy
T-shirt
EPIC

Happy Birthday to Sophie...I love, love, love you!!

Always have, always will!