HoCo 2023

Homecoming 2023 has officially come and gone! Ellie got all glammed up and had a great time with her besties. And pictures, lots of pictures - here are a few!

Girls' Night In

 Girls' night in with Ellie's besties and a teen-focused charcuterie board. 

One Proud Mama

 What does every mom of a 16-year-old dream of? Oh, your daughter getting a tattoo? Ah, yes, one proud mama here. Did I give permission? Yeah, I did. Was I thrilled? No, not really. But at least the tattoo has a good message about loving the life you have and not comparing yourself to others. So I'll take my wins where I can.

Big Man on Campus

 Jack is all settled into college life now, hanging with new friends, having fun, and hopefully going to the occasional class. But we did manage to grab him for his birthday and spend a little time with the Big Man on Campus. Ellie even made an appearance (free food was promised), and Oliver got some Hug Time in as well. Happy 18th, most awesome son!

It's a New School Year!

 Oh my, but my widdle babies are growing up!

Lovely, sassy Ellie just started her junior year at Stone Bridge High School, and had a great first day. Go, Ellie!

And Jack is working his way toward Big Man on Campus status. He started school at the beginning of this week, and is doing great - getting started on his classes, making lots of friends, and just being generally awesome. Go, Jack!

Baby Steps!

 We may be turning a corner, people! Maybe just maybe!

Look on the left of the photo - that's Oliver, just chilling.

Look on the right of the photo - that's Lulu, just chilling. 

No one if barking. No one is hissing. No one is chasing.

Baby steps, but it's looking good!

A Tale of Two Teens

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. No, actually, just the best. Because these awesome kiddos of ours have been kicking butt and taking names, my friends. 

Our Ellie has been rockin' it as a lifeguard, often working 10-11 hours a day, she's been working out like at the gym like crazy and making new gains, and she's been....farming? Ranching?

Nah, that's just her getup for one of the concerts she has gone to over this summer. Yeehaw.

Ellie's been hitting some concerts with her friends and has been having a blast. Meanwhile, her mama has been babysitting the grand-kitty and hoping that her daughter is making good choices and staying away from sketchy men and kidnapper vans. 

Yeah, Lulu is a little worried about that too.

Oh, and don't forget the pool parties. Which seem to have gone really well. (Perhaps too well, if one judges by the illicit substances we found tossed in the woods near the church. Near the CHURCH, people!) 

Meanwhile, our other teen is now a College Man. What?!? 

Our house has been piling up with dorm stuff. 

And Jack and Dad have gone off on some Manly Adventures to close out the summer. 

And yeah, Mama has been taking care of the doggie.

And don't forget the grand-kitty.

Jack also squeezed in a visit with his old pal Matthew Goodman. They've known each other since they were teeny tiny preschoolers. Look at those cutie pies. 

And now they're all grown up!

And then before you know it, Jack was off to school. We moved him into his dorm at George Mason University last week. (I'm not crying, you're crying!) It went really smoothly, but man, was it hard to leave my kiddo there and drive away!! (OK, so maybe I'm crying just a little bit.)

But I'm so thrilled that he seems to be rockin' it. Making lots of friends, and getting settled in, and doing super adulty thing!

And yes, calling his mama. What a good man.

It's surreal, with these kiddos off doing grownup things!

And yeah, I'm still watching these dang animals.