Happy Graduation, Hunter!

Ok, so I have to be honest before I begin.  Today hasn't really sunk in yet.  I wanted to capture my thoughts on the day, but in the interest of full disclosure, I'm sure my thoughts will change over the next few days, weeks and months.

We had an amazing weekend.  Dinner at The Rossi (and yep, best burgers in town!), COSI with the kids and then a family dinner that was nothing short of fantastic.  All of that leading up to the three hours we spent in the horseshoe today.  It was a long three hours and we all have the sunburn to prove it.  But for one second, when the graduates stood to accept their diplomas, I realized that it was possible to be happy, sad, proud and scared all at once.

People talk about that moment where their life flashes before their eyes.  That was my weekend.  I'm so thankful that the boys don't remember the tough times.  The days when the power was shut off because I had to choose between paying daycare or paying the electric bill (it was just a little late!).  They don't remember the nights of a picnic on the living room floor was because we couldn't afford that dinner out they really wanted.  To this day, they don't know I occasionally turned the radio up a little louder when the ice cream truck came through because I just didn't have it.  But those are the days that created memories.  Not necessarily the ones I planned, but fantastic memories none the less.

But truly, the one thing they'll never remember is the nights I paced the floor...wondering if I could do it.  If I could make their lives as rich and full as they deserved.  Hoping the whole time that their lives would be better than my own.  I prayed they'd be able to go off to college, experience all the things I didn't.  Don't get me wrong...I don't regret a single decision or a single moment of my life.  But you always want a little better for your kids than yourself.

And today, that came true.  When President Drake asked the School of Business to rise, I wanted to melt.  My heart couldn't have been more full...although it was hard to fight back the tears.  We did it.  Not me, not Hunter.  But both of us, together.  Hard work on his part and a steadfast resolve on my part to ensure he had every opportunity to excel.

Make no mistake, it took a village.  Grandparents that thinks he hangs the moon.  Aunts and Uncles that spoil him and promise bail money if he needs it.  A brother than regularly challenges him and makes him work that much harder.  And Jeff...oh, there just aren't enough words for that.  The only person that loves them as much as I do.

And as we sat there today, I glanced at Will and realized we'd not only done the right thing once...but twice.  Most consider themselves lucky if they experience one miracle in a lifetime.  I've been blessed enough to experience two.  And in just a few short years, we'll be sitting here again, just as proud.

So Hunter, congratulations on your graduation.  There was never a doubt...not once, that you'd ever make it to today.  Words can't possibly tell you how proud I am of you...but I promise, it'll be a lifetime of trying.   Go forward, knowing that we are beside you in everything you do.

Hi! Me again.

Ok, so I know I said we were done.  But some days just seem to special to skip.  And maybe, one day many years from now...the boys will be thrilled to see a few extra entries.

And today was a worthy day!

Hunter has officially completed all of his undergraduate studies.  He's done....in every sense of the word.  No more calculating how to get an A.  No more midterms, no more finals.  No more 8am classes and no more studying until the wee hours.  But if I'm being honest...I'm going to miss the phone calls while he's walking to the library.  I'm going to miss the late night calls when he needs a study break and the snap chats when he showed up 20 minutes early for each and every class.  He's ready to be done and I'm thinking it was just yesterday that he started.  Either way, we're about to be parents of a college graduate.  I'm teary.  I'm excited.  But mostly, I'm proud.

And I'm hoping the weather forecast for Sunday improves.

I'm also hoping Will feels better tomorrow.  While Hunter was cramming for his last final, Will was cramming gauze in his mouth...silently cussing me out for making his first day of summer break the day he got his wisdom teeth removed.  And yes, I know that was a cheesy transition.

And only Will would snap chat from the recovery room.  I'm so sorry he included me on the recipient list...so I wanted to share it with you.  We should all be tortured by it!  But luckily, I have given birth to the best patients in the world.  Only a few hours later, he's up and around and begging for "real" food.  I'm thinking he'll feel like a million bucks (and Mexican food) tomorrow.

All in all, it was a day full of being a mom.  And those days seem to be few and far between lately.  I'm happy, happy, happy.

Turn Out The Lights. The Party's Over.

Whew, took me a minute to remember my password!  There for a second, I was worried that I wouldn't be able to post this.

It's December 26th.  Yep, I'm starting tonight...positive that by the time I get to the end, it'll be New Years Eve.  Saying goodbye to this project is like reaching the final page of the book.  You know you've reached the end.  You remember what an amazing story it's been.  But you know that once you turn that last page, it's all over.  You can reread it, but it'll never be the same.  

It was a random day in December, 2011.  I was busy with studio sessions, editing holiday pictures, Christmas shopping, last minute cleaning and grocery shopping when I looked around a realized that while I was taking care of everything else, I was missing the moments that were going on in our own home.  We were 6 months short of Hunter's graduation, Will was just starting high school and those everyday events were just passing us by.  That was the day the blog was born.   Little did I know what the next five years would hold.  

There were so many things I didn't think of when we started down this road.  Honestly, I was positive I was witty and creative enough to keep this up forever.  And for a while, I was.  Then came the slow realization that no matter how funny we could be, some days just sucked.  And some days were so bad that blogging about them was just too tough.  But we pressed on...Jeff and the boys were a huge help.  But then the boys began to move on.  Not once (seriously, not once) did it occur to me then that one day, it would just be Jeff and I and our daily "moments" wouldn't be all that interesting.  Seriously, you know you're tired of seeing pictures of the puppies!

But before I wrap things up, I want to address the elephant in the room.  The missing 90 days of our lives.  Sending Will off to college was probably the hardest thing we've done.  Although we'd been trying to prepare for it for 18 years, no one could fully prepare Will.  It was my intention to press on with the blog for the first few months, sharing all of his first year college experiences with the goal of saying goodbye over Christmas Break.  Little did I know that his initial freshman experience would be less than awesome.  Being away from us, away from home and away from his friends would take it's toll.  The transition was tough and the classes were tougher.  So as I was taught years ago, if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all.  Instead, the blog went dark, allowing Jeff and I to spend all of our free time helping Will make the most of his experience, all the while trying to cope with our new lifestyle too.  Please don't worry, the toughest days are behind him and I'm sure he's downstairs now, counting the days until he can get back to campus.   Now that we've all adjusted, him to school and us to being empty nesters....we're ready to wrap things up.

It's now the evening of December 28th.  Good thing I planned in advance or I'd be posting the final draft on Valentines Day.  Up to here, we've covered why I started, how creative and funny I am, as well as why we dropped off the planet for the last few months.  The next subject is a little bit about you.

If you're reading this, you've probably been following along with us for the last five years.  You've seen the ups, the downs and everything in between.  Together, we celebrated birthdays, weddings, holidays, new puppies and old friends.  Right along with us, you've experienced first loves, devastating losses, car accidents, traffic tickets and college acceptance letters.  And for sticking with us, I must say thank you.  You've told me this blog helped you to feel a little closer to us.  But the reality is, it kept us feeling closer to you.  Each personal message, note and comment warmed my heart.  You took the time to read them all and for that, I will be eternally thankful.  It meant the world to each of us.

And now we've reached the end.  If you want to save your self a little heartache, I recommend stopping here.  My final words are for the boys.  So Hunter and Will, please keep reading....you can't use the heartache loop hole!

And now it's December 30th.  I'm so glad I planned in advance!!!!

Dear Hunter and Will,

My hope the day I started this was to record your lives.  The small moments you would forget along the way.  Little did I know how awesome it would be.  Not the posts, not the text.  But being able to look back on a snippet of you lives and remembering every single detail.  We've already used it to reference birthday cakes, first snow falls, first pay checks...and I look at it all the time just to see you.  While you two are off living the college life, Jeff and I have a little more time to reflect on the last few years (thankfully, we did everything right, lol!)

I hope that one day when you show it to your kids (assuming the internet hasn't been replaced by something better!), you'll feel like you are again in that moment.  You'll see how much we enjoyed each and every one of those days.  I started this for you...but in the end, I've realized it was for me.  So you would always remember how much you're both loved...and how we cherished every moment..the good and the not so good.

I would love to keep this going forever.  But you're getting to the age where you will remember.  You'll remember your roommates, trading in aluminum cans for beer money (or selling your clothes to Platos!), horrible professors and the moment you met the girl you're going to marry.  We'll be here to watch every moment and hopefully remember it too...although we're getting a little old to remember everything.

And if you take one thing away from this.....

Continue on living your life while taking a minute to appreciate the little things.  One day, it'll be all of the little things that make up your life.

I love you both more than words...to the moon and back.

Love and Hugs!!!


It's now December 31.  Just as I had planned.

I bid you a very heartfelt goodnight.