Dear P

Dear P,

For months and months before you got on that airplane, you told me that Gage would be the one to take over for you whenever it was that you left the city.

I would ask you how you knew that, why you thought that, why Gage... why are you bringing this up to me?!

Then you got on the plan.

Then I had a stroke.

Then that other guy was hired to take your position.

And I lived in an actual hell for 7 1/2 years.

Hell.

Fear.

Sadness.

Confusion.

Abuse.

Day after day after day.

It wasn't the way you told me it was going to be.

But I hung in there.

Here.

I kept showing up.

Then that guy retired.

And Gage came.

And the sun started to shine again.

I stopped being afraid (literally scared to death) to go to work every day.

I started to do my job again.

I started doing my job again and doing it so well.

I started to blossom.

Heal.

Smile.

Yup, there's stress.

Yup, there's overstimulation.

Yup, there's craziness.

But it's safe again.

Nice things are being said to me.

There's laughter again.

It's just the way you promised it would be.

You knew all along.

You helped me to keep going when I just wanted to quit.

Dear P,

It's all better.

Thank you.

PS

I formed a city-wide administrative assistant boot camp.

My idea started with goals and a vision.

It now holds space for 40 people every month.

Two hours every second Thursday.

Gage has been my biggest cheerleader... in the flesh.

It's a HUGE undertaking.

But I'm doing it.

Every month.

And I know you're proud.

 

Ryker's Last Regular Season Game

Saturday was Ryker's last regular season game.

I hate to say this, and am sure I'll think differently a year from now, but I'm SO grateful this season is almost over.

I'm exhausted.

These boys played the best game they've played all year!

The MUSS showed up to cheer on our boys.

Literally.

One of our players has a cousin, who is the president of the MUSS.

He gathered some fellow MUSS friends and they made signs and cheered on our boys.

I cried.

Crying at this made me realize how exhausted I am!

Last night, we had their football party.

I had rented a pavilion at a local park, but we had a mama who offered up their stake center.

This weather has been nuts and I was so thankful that she was able to get us inside!

I love these boys.

I do.

I appreciate their parents.

It's overall been a good year, as team-momming goes. 

Their first playoff game is this weekend.

It's lose and go home.

I really do hope that they do well!

 

Last Regular Season Game

Well, this is weird.

Cooper played his last regular-season game ever last night.

But first - Hudson time!!!!

Hudson took up all of Cooper and Jane's time with cars and Legos.

I'm sure it was good game-prep!

Hudson was the best little fan.

He was pounding his feet on the bleachers to make lots of noise when "Uncle is #95 on that field!"

On the second defensive play of the game, my boy had a SAFETY!!!!

By the way, there was a truck vendor there from Aggie Ice Cream.

I may or may not have tried a few of these flavors!!!

 

Pumpkin

Burke decorated the front yard a couple of weeks ago for spooky season.

We added the pumpkins the girls and I brought home on Saturday.

I absolutely love mixing Halloween with warmer Fall weather - I love the spooky, cute stuff mixed with flowers that are still holding onto life.

I think it's so cozy!

 

June Bug & Rose Bud

After Ryker's football game Saturday, Jackson and Isis dropped Delilah and Melanie off.

The girls were not pleased that Papa had to go to work.

NOT PLEASED.

I loaded them up in the wagon and took them down the street to a cute little pumpkin patch.

They grabbed as many pumpkins as they could and put them right in the wagon.

Gigi grabbed seven bigger pumpkins - one for each grandbaby... including Baby Boy due any time now!

I then loaded them ALLLL in the wagon, with the girls and pulled 250 pounds allllllllll the way back home.

I vomited when we arrived home.

Whoooopsie.

It was a bit much for Gigi!

I put them in their swimsuits and filled up the baby blue pool.

The real pool is too chilly now for the babes.

I gave them the bath gels and crayons and they had a blast.

Melanie Rose even put her floatie in the baby pool!

Otter Pops for the win.

And popcorn.

Gigi slept very well!

The end.

 

Cooper’s Senior Night

I've been preparing for this for months.

In the end, I just needed to be present. 

I told Coop that my goal was to not cry until after the pictures were taken.

I nailed it!

This was it.

Coop's senior night.

One more regular season game... then he's done.

Forever.

It feels so weird.

Some of his biggest fans were there.

This little girl played with Hudson at last week's game.

She was gobsmacked that there was ANOTHER boy that belonged to me!

Hendrix had a blast with her!

Coopy's bestie, Nathan.

We love Nathan!

Porter and Brooklyn came.

Bubba & Suzanne.

All of us!!

He and Janers.

So proud of him!

 

Boobs on Wheels

How handy was this?!

Soooo handy!

I got my annual mammogram on Wednesday.

In a trailer!

I walked in, checked in, put the "shield" on, got my boobs smashed, put my top back on, and back to work I went.

Brilliant!

Boobs on Wheels!