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What a handsome kid!

Happy 21st Birthday!!

My oldest child is turning 21 today and this is not a picture of him opening his presents or blowing out the candles on a home made birthday cake. It is the beginning of the birthdays that he spends not with me and his dad and little brother and sister, but in the fine company of friends away at school and beyond. It's a bitter sweet time for a parent, preparing your kids for independence... practically nagging them into adulthood, and then being sort of surprised when they actually do grow up. It's a crazy combination of pride and "be careful what you wish for". I am glad every day for the grown up person Jacob has become. His talent and passion for writing, his visionary but always dependable out look on life, and of course his stellar fashion sense, continue to make me proud every day. Happy Birthday Jacob!

My Birthday Girl!

Today I drove around and around the parking lot at the mall (5 days before Christmas!) looking for a place to park. I then stood in a very long line to the dressing rooms at H&M...twice! And finally waited in another long line to pay (too much!). Every moment was not just bearable, but joyous because of the reason I was there and the company I was with. My beautiful, sweet daughter Clare turned 12 today and she wanted to go shopping with me. It was the perfect day!

Happy Birthday 54!

This post is not about football. It's about time, and how quickly it passes when you are busy just living your life. My son Joe is my youngest, and he is 10 years old today. It's cliche to say, that it seems like just yesterday that he was born, but there is a good reason this is said so often that it has become cliche: it really does seem like yesterday, ok, maybe last week. Either way, the time that I have had the privilege of being Joe's Mom has been fast and sweet. From diapers to plastic dinosaurs from learning to read to learning guitar, from Duplo to Lego, to playing football, watching the ever changing milestones come and go over the years has been in fast forward. I do have a few more years of molding and shaping him into an adult, and he will always be my baby, but sometimes I wish I could rewind or at least push pause now and then. I guess the lesson is another cliche, to enjoy every second your children are little, and I pledge to do just that today, on Joe's 10th birthday.

Home Sweet Home...from College!

I have a relatively small kitchen, 2 maybe 3 people at a time can cook, do dishes or fix a plate of food. Tonight there were 5. Five people all trying to fit into 1 small space, throwing elbows, and getting in each others way. It was so crowded I could have reached out my arms and circled them all at one time. It was chaos, and it was wonderful!

Proud Mom Alert!

My super talented son wrote a great piece about Blood Minerals

for the University of Oregon's ETHOS magazine.

He even got the cover!!

SpWiing Break!

All my kids are under one roof.

...and 1 of them needs a hair cut bad!

"And the Oscar goes to...."

When my oldest son was in high school he took a pottery class. He is a writer and at the time was big into screen writing, penning such classics as "Blood Fest" and "70's Snug", soon to be at a theater near you, I'm sure! Well, along with a lovely blue bowl and a less lovely, but much more interesting, pinch pot trio, he made this "Oscar" for himself inscribed with "Best Screen Writer" It makes me smile every time I look at it, not because of how imperfect it is, but because of how perfectly confident he was, and is. When he wins his first real Oscar he can put them side by side on his mantel and remind himself where it all started.

Happy Birthday Jacob

On this day 20 years ago, I became a Mom. When my son Jacob was born he changed my life forever. I am grateful for that moment every day. I have blogged about my first born before. About his love and passion for writing and about his leaving home and heading off to college. But there is more to him then that. Jacob has loved books his whole life, he reads everything and remembers everything. I stopped keeping track a long time ago who got more answers right while watching Jeopardy! (...not me!) This love of reading led to a major love of writing, and he has turned into a great crafter of words. He spent hours in our driveway dribbling a basket ball until it was worn out, coming up with amazing story ideas and crazy movie plots, and he has no problem walking miles to the book store or the campus library. He is opinionated but not rude, his opinions are vast and deep but he can just as easily turn and argue for the other side, just to be contrary! He has a sophisticated sense of humor that he likes to point out, I don't always get. His Facebook updates are equal parts scathing and hilarious. He watches Fox News, wears a bow tie, and loves Rap music. As a 6 year old he was unfazed when he first saw "Jaws" but he still cries every time he watches "Dumbo." (...sorry Jake!) He is introspective, self effacing, and very laid back. When your children are small, you try to imagine what they will be like when they grow up, what sort of adults they will be. If you squint your eyes and use your imagination you can sort of make it out. What you don't know is this: that moment comes so much faster than you can imagine. I look at my first born and am so happy and proud of the person he has grown up to be.

I Love Fox News

My son is turning 20 on Monday, but you're never too old for cookies, right? I first saw these on Evie's blog, and put them on my wish list, because I just knew that someday I would find an event worthy of their awesomeness! Don't you agree that a sons 20th birthday is just that event? Ha! We came up with some fun words, and quotes just for him and will be heading down to Eugene tomorrow to deliver them in person! (The Gutenberg Galaxy is his latest blog!) Thanks Evie!

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

My sweet little girl is turning 11 today. It's so strange and wonderful to see a better version of yourself, a new and improved model. She is so much like I was at that age, glasses and all, but with so much more beauty and confidence. She is smart and artistic. She plays the piano beautifully and I never have to ask her to practice. She is a fearless and responsible rock climber. She is funny and a good, kind friend. Her 2 brothers would say that she is a sweet and patient sister (most of the time!). She has her own style and isn't going to let anyone, including me, change it. She is at that magical age where she's watching "Cartoon Network"and riding her scooter one minute and wants a "Juicy Couture" charm braclet and a pedicure the next. I love her more then I could ever express here, and I am proud every day to be her Mom. Most importantly, my sweet big girl is herself, her true wonderful self and that is the best thing a mother could want.

An email I received today:

Hey Mom,

http://ethosmagonline.com/archives/8371

Your son is so talented.

Your Son,
Jacob

No ego problems here!!

The Legend of Mr. Rager

Another proud moment for me!!

"Conan the Barbarian" and the poetry of T.S. Elliot referenced in the same article!

What a kid!

Ethos

Sympathy for the Hova

My son writes for The University of Oregon magazine "Ethos". His first article for the online version of the magazine came out today. Yes, its about MC Hammer!
Sympathy for the Hova

Happy Halloween!

I'm not much of a baker but after tuning into "Top Chef : Just Desserts" for the last few weeks I got inspired and decided to break out an old cookie recipe for Halloween. I found this one on the Internet ages ago but its been so long since I've made them and I don't know why, they are so much fun!

Black Cat Cookies

1 cup peanut butter

1/3 cup of water

2 eggs

1 package chocolate cake mix

plain M&M's

Red Hots

Beat together peanut butter, eggs and water. Gradually add cake mix. Mix well. Form the dough into 1 inch balls. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten balls with the bottom of a glass dipped in sugar. Pinch out 2 ears at the top of the cookie. Add M&M eyes, and a Red Hot nose. Press a fork into the dough to form the whiskers. Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

These cookies are fun to make and were so easy my kids could make them on there own!

Enjoy!!

Happy Birthday Joe!

Nine years ago today, 10 days after 9/11, I had a baby. My youngest of 3. The baby of my babies. When he was a toddler and we would take walks around the neighborhood, every group of older kids we past or saw from down the block, he would call his friends. "Those are my fwends Mom." It cracked me up and broke my heart a little bit at the same time. Through the years he has grown into a real, 9 year old, Renaissance man: he is funny, smart and loves to read and draw. He can take things apart, figure out how they work and put them back together again. He is a LEGO Master! He's on his 3rd year of piano lessons with the promise of guitar lessons to follow, is a dedicated athlete and a great sport. My little Joe is a loving son, sweet brother, and a very good boy who now has lots and lots of friends.

The Paper Chase

I drove my son down to The University of Oregon today for his second year of college.

It was alot easier this year.

ok, maybe not alot.

Fall is in the Air!

Ok, this is not going to be one of my typical posts, but is there anything better that watching your sons first football game ever? Unless its watching your husband coach him. So fun!!

Words!

In a conversation with my son the other day we discussed what makes a person a writer. He is a writer, has been one since 4Th grade, at least. He is now in college and studying Journalism. He writes every day, he says he has to. That is what makes him a writer, the need to write, or stop living. Dramatic I know, but true enough through the mind and experiences of a teenager. I support him as I have since that moment in 4Th grade when he knew that words were his calling. I can't tell you how many times I have heard the words, "Mom, I thought of a great story idea." And I listened to every last one! I have saved almost every thing he has written except for a few short stories he lost in grade school when the computer crashed. Bummer, that was some good stuff! He wrote for his high school newspaper and our local town paper, and I have every article, every word. He now writes for an online magazine called Flux that is run by the students of University of Oregon. He blogs like crazy: we had a friendly competition about who had more followers, he won (so far). He talks about his future in publishing like its a "when" and not an "if". His life is destine to be about stories and ideas and lots and lots of words. Long story short, I really love this poster by jacksoncreekpress.

A Perfect Day

What is a perfect day you ask? Well let me count the ways:

1.Wake up early with your beautiful 10 year old daughter and make Apple-Cinnamon Toastie.

2.While its baking cozy up and watch last nights "Project Runway" on the Internet.

3.While its still baking, finish the hardest part of the Gum Drop Pillow.

4.Next, sit outside in the morning sunshine and enjoy the finally baked breakfast.

5.Take the dog for a walk and get today's paper for tomorrow morning, what day is it anyway?

6.Drive into town and head to Goodwill, (enough said).

7.Have a salad for lunch but take a slice of Black Butte Chocolate cake to go. Yum!

8.While on the way home go Geocaching at the places you have already found. (is that cheating?).

9.Head home, sit in the sun and flip through the latest Elle Decor while your sweet daughter takes her and your turns at a board game.

10.Make homemade vanilla ice cream to go with the chocolate cake.Double Yum!

11.Top it off with a corny but touching movie.

12.Cozy up with your daughter and fall asleep.