Passing the torch

Dear Eric,
Happy 15th birthday! One of the exciting things about turning 15 and growing 6 inches in a year is that you now will become our official Christmas light putter- upper (Troy word). Your job is a simple one, perfected by your brother and I over the years so all you have to do is put the lights on the hooks and plug them in...Sounds easy enough?



Forgot to tell you, Daddy will be supervising, He was SOOOOO excited to hand this job over to you... Are you having fun? Say you LOVE putting up Christmas lights!Say it! Say it!Or mommy will be sad...



And you didn't even gripe when you reached the hard part of hanging the lights over the rose bushes.

Great Job Eric!!!

Love, Dad and Mom

Lover of the Clog

As most of you know, I am a lover of the slip on shoe otherwise knows as The Clog. I think it is my way of pretending to be cool and still wearing slippers at the same time, I call them business in the front and lazy in the back. That's my kind of shoe.

I own several pairs in all colors and styles


But my dream shoe and quite possibly on the top of my Christmas wish list is the Ugg Outdoor slipper, I have owned them in a fake version but the fur always pulls away and they just dont cut it.

Sometimes I have to realize I am worth it and just go for it.



I think I will leave it up to the Christmas gift buyer... Oh Steve...

A Beautiful day

Today was a beautiful day, very warm and clear, perfect California weather.

Tonight while I was watching TV I heard a strange noise outside, opened the door and sure enough, my ears did not fail me... Rain...

Soon we were all cozy listening to the rain and loving every minute of it.

Eric looked outside and said

"The rain looks so great I really want to go jump on the trampoline"

"Go for it" I said and he did...

Reminds me of a little boy I once knew and one of my first stories, can't believe it was five years ago...

Running Down the Hill

My 10 year old son Eric and I went to my other sons late night baseball game at a park we have never been to before. This park was very hilly and beautiful. It was a really cold evening and we could bear it no longer on the bleachers so Eric and I went to warm up in the car. I was watching the game and Eric grew tired. He said he was going to sleep and lay down. He perked up and looked out like he saw something and said before I go to sleep I just have to run over the hills without my shoes on and with that he got out and ran down the hill. He came back up winded, and said he had to do it again. After a few more runs he needed to roll down the hill. He rolled and rolled until he was dizzy. He was so elated with his rolling he forgot he was tired.
It just makes me praise God so much when my kids do stuff like this. I was so concentrating on my being cold I forgot to notice the beautiful hills in the park. Eric opened my eyes and man they really were irresistible hills. I know you know just what I am talking about. Remember the hill you couldn't resist rolling down? I sure do, it was the hill in our neighbors The Bullocks front yard.
Remember to roll down the hills in life…Better yet, take your shoes off and feel the cool grass between your toes. Love life!

Thankfulness

I can't believe it has been 15 years since our little Eric was born. 15 years ago when I was just about nine months pregnant I developed a hernia in my belly button that was incredibly painful. I am so thankful Penny was with me when I had my surgery, she cared for me and made me feel like mom was there holding my hand because our mother was too ill to actually be there with me.

I woke up from my surgery feeling like I had a c-section but I was still pregnant I wanted to die but I am thankful my doctor called me and re-assured me that I would still be able to try for a v-bac delivery I wanted so badly.

I am thankful for the amazing Thanksgiving dinner my sister prepared, she seriously makes the best dinner, she has a way with seasonings that makes you groan with yumminess it really perked up my spirits...

I am thankful that the next morning (not two weeks later) when my water broke it was no big deal, I didnt need a new mattress or use that jar of pickles people told me to carry around and smash on the ground if my water broke in public. I definitely knew what was going on and soon we were in the hospital getting going on the long haul of an adventure that was ahead for us.

I am thankful that my doctor understood my fear and stayed over on her shift to care for me and get me started on my labor when other doctors just wanted to schedule a c-section.

I am thankful for Steve's calmness, he was a trooper and helped to calm me down when those pangs started.

One of the things I am seriously most thankful for is that God put it on my friend Susan's heart to come visit me in the labor room, I ended up needing more support and she was there for me. I will never be more grateful to anyone than I am to her for that amazing act of friendship.

I am thankful for epidurals, once I finally got mine we all were able to rest and gear up for the home stretch of our adventure.

I will never be as excited as when the doctor checked me and said I was fully dilated, I never got past 4 with Cam so the thought that my body was working and we were going to do this was so wonderful.

Sorry, but I am NOT thankful I had to push for two hours... that part stank.

But I am thankful that I was able to concentrate when I needed to and rest when I needed to. I was a baby birthing machine and it was awesome.

I am so thankful my baby was so perfect when he was born he was a 10 and so beautiful.

I am thankful they hospital kept Eric in the room with us the entire time cause we would have wondered if he was ours cause he was such a brown little bean.

I am thankful Lord that you made Eric brown, because without that Mom would have never gotten to see one "Her Color"

I am so thankful for the experience a vaginal birth after c-section because I get to share this testimony and encourage others to go for it if they want or don't if they want, either way is fine.

And I thank Carol and Susan for bring me Turkey left overs and making me feel so lovied.

I am thankful my Eric is having his birthday on Thanksgiving, my heart could not be more full and happy. Today we get to share the love of our family and the blessings this child has brought all of us.

We are thankful indeed.

Time After Time...

The most wonderful boy turns 15 tomorrow...

I see your true colors shining through...



I see your true colors, that's why I love you...



So don't be afraid, to let them show

your true colors are beautiful

like a rainbow...

Love you Erickey...

too much

Too much driving and TOO much Dramamine...
Must sleep...

Teenager

Today when we got in the car to drive home I noticed I had two text messages. Eric opened my phone, read me the messages and asked what I wanted him to text back...

Troy- "No, I will do the texts myself, I hate Text lingo"

Eric- "Don't worry Mom I will use proper english just for you"

Oh what a world...