The Party of the Year

Brian got his very first high school yearbook on Friday...he's #25 in the picture.  The name listed?  His BROTHERS.  Nothing like being the 3rd child.

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Saturday night was a celebration for my friend Alev.

It could very well be listed as the party of the year.  There's still a few months left to this year, but since it's going to take us that long to recover it's looking pretty good that this will remain the party of the year.

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There was a disco ball.  There was a microphone.  There were speeches and a taco cart and dancing all. night. long. and laughing and yelling (the good kind) and it was just a great, great party.

It felt like the parties of my childhood...which makes me laugh.  People dancing and eating and drinking and sleeping and grown ups and kids in every nook and cranny.  So very, very much fun.

And no, I have no clue who this was.  At some point in the night my phone was taken over by one of my boys and the pictures are hilarious.  As for the videos?  Locked away until I'm old.

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Sunday was quiet.  Father's Day.  Matthew came home for the night and played in church and then we all, the 5 of us, went for lunch.  Supper that night was the ultimate man meal...new york strips, smashed potatoes, huge roasted asparagus.

And then, in perfect end of the weekend fashion, we sat in the garden while the neighborhood made cookies in the kitchen.  The music was great outside and they were laughing inside...love that.

Lots.

As for Michael?  Well... he already knows that he's a good Dad.  He sees it in his boys and the kind of men they are becoming.   

I love this Sunday tradition.

I didn't want it to end...and soon, it won't have to.  It's the last week of school and summer is almost here.  My last day of work is Friday (well, actually next Tuesday...but the big stuff is over on Friday) and Brian's last day of school is Thursday.  I've promised the kids pancakes on Friday morning...though I'm thinking they are all going to sleep in!

Today I'm heading out for a morning hike...a nice long one to get myself back on track from this weekend and then cleaning this little house on this little street.  The fridge is empty, but Costco can wait for a few days...trying to think what to have for supper.  Probably pasta of some sort...in fact, I'll probably make a pot of gravy and some meatballs.

Sounds like a plan.

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To Alev

Friendships are an interesting thing.  Some come on quickly while others take their time to develop and after awhile you kind of wonder 'what took so long?'

That's the story of me and Alev.  Our boys met in Kindergarten.  I like to think it was the very first day of school but I have been told (by them) that their friendship didn't begin until the Halloween parade at school.  I, personally, like the whole first day of school story...in my story they were these lost and lonely little boys on that first day who sat criss cross applesauce next to each other by the teachers rocking chair, each of them comforting the other while tears flowed down their round little cheeks because they missed their mama's so very, very much.

I like my story, so I'm going to stick with it.

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As their friendship grew, Alev and I eventually met.  The boys would play at my house and they would play at her house.  Let's face it, the boys played constantly...before school, after school during school.  In fact, by the time they were in first grade, they had told everyone that they were cousins...not because they looked alike (obviously) but because their mom's did and were sisters.

Our friendship was slow to blossom...not because we didn't like each other, but because life was just busy at that time.  Over the years, though, just like our boys, our friendship grew and grew.

Well...what really began to happen was our boys discovered the fun side to life and began to, ummmm, express themselves in ways that were, well, exhausting.  They ruled the school (that would be each school they attended over the years) and they knew it.  

And that is how how our friendship began....out of necessity.

It wasn't that we didn't like each other before, but now it was different.  We didn't just like each other...we needed each other.

These boys of ours...well, they were always digging themselves into one hole or another.  It was...crazy.  From getting in trouble at school to getting tickets for jay walking to school (which still makes me livid.  Come on...they got tickets for going TO school???) to barely passing choir in high school to, well, it was always something with them.   But the beauty of it was that our two families started to become one unit.  I mean, we were sisters after all.

The thing about Alev is that she never judged.  She loves my boy...or I should say (plural) boys.  Loves them like they are her own.  She sees the good in them and because of that tries constantly to lure them away from me with her delicious cooking.

I'll forgive her...she feeds me, too.

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Over the years we've laughed and worried and prayed and cried and yelled and then laughed some more.  We've sent thousands (millions?) of texts to each other and kept each other up to date on the shenanigans of 'thing 1' and 'thing 2'.

My Italian Grandmother once told me that the best kind of friendship is the kind where you want to be better, to do better, to live better, to love better.  That you should like yourself more because of the qualities your friends bring out in you.  

So, to my friend Alev, on your birthday...thank you for making me laugh.  Thank you for being a safe place for my boys.  Thank you for being such a great cook.  Thank you for for being such a great wife and mom.

(And, for the record, I'm not going to say thank you for being such a great work out partner because frankly, you are a pain in the butt when we hike...what's with the always walking one step behind me???  You are SO stubborn!)

Thank you for being my friend.  I like me best when I'm with you.

Happy Birthday from me...and my houseful of boys.

Tonight...well, tonight we are at Alev's surprise birthday party and this is my speech.  Kinda long (sorry about that, but oh well) but she's worth it.

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Friday

Yesterday was warm and sunny...perfect for a car wash day.  I sure am thankful for this car...not sure how long it will last (it's a company car) though I did hear I am going back to my old job (as in the job I  really, really like) next school year.  Here's the thing...I've been doing this new project for the last few months and it almost broke me.  But now that it's up and running I don't want to hand it off...I want to be a part of it.  

I'm psycho.

I love wandering the aisles of World Market...so many interesting things.  Mushy peas?  Ingredients...peas, water, sugar and green coloring.

Ewwww.

But then, I hate peas.  HATE.

I hiked just under 5 miles yesterday and then walked another 2 miles around our lake...I just couldn't relax.  So much going on in my brain...I need summer.  Soon.

Speaking of summer...I've decided to take one.  My little shop is closing next week for a little hiatus.  This mama needs some down time, time to get my creative back on, time to rest, time to pray, time to do nothing.

The interesting thing?  I had decided to take a break earlier this year when my job got bigger and so I had pulled all my online advertising.  But then...the orders kept a comin'.  And a'comin.  And a'comin'.

I'm thankful...but tired.

So once this last batch goes out, I'll be shutting her down for a few months...but don't worry, like Arnold, I'll be back.

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As of today, my big work project is almost over...today the work load is cut in half and next Friday I will be off for the summer.  Lots to do before then...but I can see it and taste it and feel it.

I'm ready.

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A Little Tuesday Party

My mornings for the last few months involve this:

Me, at dark o'thirty, sitting at my computer while working a bunch of phones.  By Friday my job will be cut in half, by next Friday it will be cut by 95% and on June 25th....summer.

It'll be summer....and I cannot wait.

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Some are already in summer mode...the gaggle of boys in our world are all home for summer and so we had them and our friends for an easy Tuesday supper in the garden.  A little chicken, a little pesto pasta, a fruit salad and some fresh bread...all thrown together in an hour and gobbled up in half that time.

I love that it was last minute.  I love how much we laughed.  I loved how I forgot about the stress of my little world for a few hours.

I haven't been able to shake this anxious feeling that I've been having...that anxious feeling that has me up and out of my bed at 3:00am.  So many things going on in my pea sized brain and I'm struggling with how to process it all...worry and sadness for a friend who lost her dad, worry and stress over summer and the lack of income that comes with that, worry and more worry about a few other things going on.

I just can't shake it.

The thing is?  None of it is new.  It's all stuff that is on the same revolving schedule of our lives...and it always, always works out.

A lot of it is the lack of sleep.  A lot of it is being over worked and feeling unconnected with my 'real' life.  A lot of it, most of it...all of it?   A lack of quiet, uninterrupted prayer time.

And I'm feeling it.

But I'm also feeling like God has been holding me all together through this time...that He is allowing for this season for a reason.  This busyness.  This anxiousness.  This lack of sleep.

To make me aware, perhaps?  To make me keep Him first?  To make me...not comfortable?

Ahhh...the questions that arise in the middle of the night.

And then there's the state of my house to add to my worry.  This pantry?  I would just love for someone to come and clean it out and organize it.  Any takers? 

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I guess I should get some shut eye...my alarm is set to go off in just over an hour.  I do love the quietness and stillness and darkness of the early, early day...and I love sitting at my kitchen table and watching the sun slowly wake up my little street.  I've got the perfect view of it all from where I begin my workday...and that is a huge blessing to doing what I do.

I need to focus a bit more on the beauty of that today...rather than the stuff I can't control and can't fix.  

Hmmmm....

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Alrighty, Alrighty

The fact is, I have two crazy weeks left of work before summer vacation begins...two crazy weeks where I am doing two different jobs for my company.  These last few months have been pretty fun, pretty exhausting, pretty stressful...but overall, I like where I work and I like what I do.

But I'm ready for summer.

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Here's the latest:

Brian was sick last week.  As in, really sick.  The flu hit him hard and no, he didn't have a flu shot.  We hung out at home and watched lots and lots of movies.  Poor thing missed a whole week of school which is no fun, but oh well.  It's his freshman year, he has (or had) good grades, so what can you do?  It it what it is.

Saturday morning breakfast...a sausage and veggie frittata and almond croissants, eaten in the garden.

Heaven.

A trip to Cost Plus, where that guy that I like so much spied something he'd like.

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And we, for the 7th year in a row, drooled over these chairs.  I just want one, any color.

Please?

Think they'd notice if we just sat in theirs every night around happy hour?

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A really yummy supper involving a rack of pork, garlic smashed potatoes and a bottle of cabernet.

Happiness amongst all the coughing in our little house on our little street.

My biggest boy came home for the night.

Sigh.

Best thing ever.

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We had to take out an azalea tree but were left with a cherub who loves the sun.  

Me too.

Three rather tall and thrilled boys on an early Sunday morning.

They were happier after church when we fed them Portillo's.  Just keepin' it real.

As for me?  I was fed, in a big way, at church.  Love hearing God's word.

The kitchen counter in my little house on my little street.  Minus the codeine, which tastes better straight out of the fridge.

Sort of.

In the state I live in, high school kids have to pass a physical fitness test.  Matthew didn't have to take it, Alex failed because he couldn't touch his toes and now Brian apparently 'needs improvement' in the weight category.  Have you seen my boy?  The boy who is all muscle?  The boy who is more athletic than anyone I know?

I am livid.

Beyond livid.

Not even sure where to go from here, but I cannot sit back and let this go.  No wonder people have complexes about themselves.  

(And FYI...Brian doesn't know about this.  We chose not to share it with him because he would be upset.)

I have ways of coping with anger and they all involve food.  

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Either make bread or make pasta...so this time it was pasta.

Kneading things is very therapeutic and makes me...calmer.

Sunday supper...a shredded beef ragu with homemade fettucine.

Yum.

Hope you all had a good weekend.  

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The W's

What:

Farro.  It's my new favorite food.  Roast a bunch of veggies, boil up some farro, make a quick vinaigrette, and eat.  Eat lots and lots of it.  If you are a good planner then you'll also add chunks of feta...but it's still great if you are not a good planner.

Trust me.

Who:

Boys #1 and #3.  Bonding over a big bowl of garbage fries.  Garbage fries, you ask?  Among other toppings: spam, beef, jalapenos, cheese, a fried egg and a bunch of other 'garbage'.  Eww...but they liked them.

What:

My boys...they all carry themselves exactly the same.  Cute.

Also pictured...my photo bombing ear.

 Who:

These boys.  My heart.  Love who they are individually and who they are when they are together.  

When:

This weekend the family was all in town.  The big cousins were all together and there was lots of laughing and teasing and late nights and snacks and, well...fun.  I'm always happy when they're here and sad when they leave...I guess that's the perfect kind of company to have.

What:

A burger bar.  Burgers, lots of toppings, baked beans, a pesto pasta salad.  Even though there was some complaining (sigh),  it fed a crowd with minimal prep and minimal clean-up.  

I like that.

Oh, and there was sangria.  Really, really good sangria.

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Where:

Sleeping bodies in every nook and cranny.  Adults get beds and privacy.  Anyone younger doesn't.

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Who:

Had all my boys home for the weekend...and then some.  Their lives are all busy now, too...and so I'll take whatever time I can get. 

Where:

Drove my oldest home, rescued his car from the shop and got to see his new place.  Nice to be able to have the time to do that....and happy that his car is once again in his possession.  

No more thefts.  Please.

I've missed this little space of mine...it's nice to be back.

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