Who wants a bath?

My two silly boys Sam and Jack spend more time in this tub than anyone in this house combined! They hop in at least 10 times a day. After lots of carrying on and meowing I finally gave in and keep a cup filled with fresh water for them, however they much rather have the faucet running so they can lap the puddles up. If only those rough tongues were larger and they could do some scrubbing! Well, at least someone is putting this tub to good use.

Where does all the time go?
I ask myself that question too often lately. Time just seems to fly by. Our son Nick was home from college for a week, I can not believe he is 3/4 through with his first year! Nick will heading back today, a day late because he started getting sick on Friday. So.. with a filled prescription for antibiotics, Tylenol, Motrin and a bronchitis diagnosis he will be heading back tonight. I would rather nurse him back to health at home but he refuses to miss any school, so since he is not contagious off he goes....

I am getting ready for company on Thursday, my girlfriend Eileen is coming for 5 days. She comes twice a year and we have a great whirlwind visit. She always plans her visit in according to the Nashville Flea Market schedule. Eileen is a jewelry designer too and loves to buy from Mary. It feels like I just posted about buying from Mary and here it is the end of the month already, so there I go again asking myself "where does all the time go?". So you know where you will find us on Friday morning, sore necks and backs pouring over Mary's bead tables. I can't wait to see what she has new this month.

Should I stay or should I go now?

Wednesday afternoon

Ring, ring...."Hello"

"Hey Mom, I was wondering if you could pick me up from school on Thursday after 2'oclock"

"Why Thursday...is there a problem"

"No, we don't have school on Friday and everyone is going home and there will be nothing to do"

"Sure, no problem"

Thursday morning

Ring, ring..."Hello"
"Hey Mom, I am going to stay here at school instead, ok?"

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, yeah, I am".

Friday afternoon

Ring, ring..."Hello"
"Hey Mom, can you come pick me up?"

Such lively conversation, wouldn't you say? When the DH comes home we will head out to the city and pick up the darling boy. Originally we had dinner and a movie planned so instead we will have dinner with Nick in the city....not a bad compromise. Think he will bring his laundry?

Empty Nest Update

Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly flow the days
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers
Blossoming even as we gaze.

Lyrics from Fiddler on the Roof by Sheldon Harnick and Jerry Bock

A little update on our empty nest.
I have to say it is very quiet around here since Nick has gone away to college. No laughter, no pounding down the stairs, no doors or toilet seats slamming shut and no jingling of the keys he would wear around his neck. I long for those familiar sounds to remind me that our lives have not changed. Here are a list of the things that noticeably changed for the good:

Our water bills are cut in half!
Grocery bills are much lower.
The house stays cleaner
The phones stay charged!
ooh, less laundry!
I don't have to cook much...(not sure if that's a good thing or not)

But alas the boy is coming home tomorrow for the weekend and he is bringing his dirty laundry and will be taking 1/2 hr. showers, I will have to cook and my phones will be dead, and when he returns to school I will be cleaning up after him. I look forward to hear all he has to share with us and we will be back to normal even if it is just a few days!

Bags are packed and he's ready to go...

.....All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go
I'm standing here outside your door
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye
But the dawn is breakin, its early morn
The taxis waiting, he's blowin his horn
Already I'm so lonesome I could cry.....

....no one is leaving on a jet plane but our son Nick is leaving for college today. I can not believe the time has come. He is so excited it makes me excited! I have so many concerns....will he be back? Will he maintain a 3.0 to maintain his scholarships? What will this "new" freedom do to him? His life is changing and a whole new world is opening up for him. Will he ever live under the same roof as us? Will he come home for Thanksgiving?

Nick is our one and only and although I am ready for him to experience a new life it is still hard to let go of the old one, the only one I know. Although he will not be far, that is my comfort and knowing I can see him within a half hour. The city of Nashville is a good divider and he has not mastered five lanes of traffic yet, so he will rely on us for his transportation.

....so off we go to bring a Very excited boy to Lipscomb University to start his new life! When my DH and I return later today I guess we will start ours too. What to do, what to do!

This photo is of Nick with his cousin Lisa at her wedding in May. My handsome boy!

I am celebrating my new blog design by having a giveaway this week be sure to check it out!
ENTER HERE...

Graduation Day

It only seems like yesterday that my son Nick got on the school bus for his first day of kindergarten; I then followed the school bus to school, went up to the front door and watched him enter the school. Phew, he was safe! Being my one and only I have worried excessively at times, at least that is what he would say.
And now here we are on graduation day, 13 years later....wow, time flies! We were so happy to have some family fly in to be here with us for this wonderful occasion. These are the times when you miss having your family so far away.
Our weather alarm went off two hours prior to the ceremony announcing that severe thunderstorms were on its way. The ceremony was planned to be outside at the town football field, and there were no plans to move it inside. It rained off and on during the ceremony with thunder and the occasional lightening, all the while there was a patch of sun shining and a double rainbow behind us. I would like to think of that as some kind of good omen or a sign of great things. Here's to my boy and all great things and great love!