(in no particular order)
1. Listening to Chaela cheer for Upward Cheerleading. Such a quiet child found her screaming lungs.
2. Having to walk Samantha into school to have a heart to heart about recording Science Fair information accurately. She needed reassurance that she would not be disqualified for missing a few days. Much better to miss than to fictionalize information.
3. Sleepless night before the day I got Amelia and all the newborn memories that brought.
4. Finally have a sense of belonging in a neighborhood.
5. I finally started to crave walking.
6. Chaela found her own connection to art at the St. Louis Art Museum.
7. Michaela’s kindergarten friend’s Irish father came to talk to her class. Razor sharp wit totally lost on 5 year olds.
8. Mardi Gras with Mike and Pamela and one more Johnny-on-the-spot Adventure.
9. Chaela’s early morning Blue’s Clues ritual.
10. Defending my cousin’s virtue and the right of sushi to be fish-free on his birthday.
11. Walking along the St. Charles riverfront after the Scottish Rite’s day at the circus.
12. Samantha won 2nd place at the Oakville Science Fair.
13. Michaela FINALLY lost her first tooth. She was so unwilling to pull the damn thing.
14. Easter breakfast at our house with Francee, AJ, April and the baby.
15. My love/hate relationship with my CRHP retreat.
16. Picnics in the backyard with our kids.
17. Sushi with Mike for our anniversary.
18. 50’s dance and my little girls in poodle skirts.
19. Samantha’s preparation for First Communion. She took it so seriously. She made her banner herself.
20. Getting Samantha dressed and ready for her first communion.
21. Watching her take it.
22. The party afterward and all our friends.
23. Potty training Matthew.
24. Zipping my wedding reception dress.
25. Getting Amelia.
26. Samantha winning a BLUE ribbon at St. Louis Science Fair.
27. The craziness of switching her birthday party to take everyone to the awards ceremony.
28. Being the mean mommy who sleeps on the couch to get the kids to go to sleep.
29. Michaela being the Bee Girl for her picnic musical, and watching her tear her paper into tiny pieces on the stage.
30. Realizing Samantha is only 3 years away from middle school and all that means.
31. School picnic parade and getting a ride because Chaela couldn’t keep up.
32. Working the bounce house in the rain. Bounce at your own risk.
33. Mike’s new hammock.
34. Samantha’s school award ceremony.
35. Michaela’s parade day for SFA.
36. Picking Samantha up from horse camp.
37. Taking Michaela to summer camp class and running into her SFA friends.
38. Phone calls from cousins, even when it’s for love advice (or a mockery thereof).
39. Going to Six Flags and Hurricane Harbor with Timmy and Hailey.
40. Pining for my husband.
41. Yvonne’s 40th birthday, surprise.
42. Text messages from people who know we need to hear from them.
43. 4th of July at Lost Valley. Fireworks with Francee. Watching the fireflies come up against the background of the lake.
44. Driving to TX.
45. Eating Whataburger with my girls.
46. Hugging old friends.
47. Getting to hang out and talk until midnight with Jenna.
48. Getting to put my girls to bed in Karina’s old bedroom.
49. The all-too-smart tree roach that was just laughing at us.
50. Seeing Darcy.
51. Dinner with my friends.
52. Lunch with my ladies.
53. Walking in the surf.
54. Eating on the seawall.
55. Barton Springs and ice cream with Tiffany. Cold Austin water on a perfectly hot day.
56. Watching my girls eat Venison stew and really enjoy it.
57. Falling asleep on the couch mid-sentence talking to Chad.
58. Six Flags and Dallas hotel, pizza by the pool.
59. Falling in love with Alfred, my GPS butler.
60. Coming home after 10 days and that feeling when we were 45 minutes to home.
61. Falling in love with reading again as my children do.
62. The doctors appointment that made me rethink everything. Nothing is set in stone.
63. Finding out the waterproof cast was only $15.
64. My childless Fridays.
65. Sam was born!
66. Fall Festival planning, even with the cancellations and changes.
67. Fall Festival energy, so many people!
68. The Batman Ride in the front row.
69. Chats online to catch up with old friends.
70. Saturday morning naps.
71. Walking through the halls of my daughters’ school and being greeted by most of the kids.
72. Receiving a genuine compliment that changes everything.
73. Booking our NYC Trip, getting to plan, plan, plan.
74. Driving away to the airport for a week of just us.
75. Walking into Grand Central Station.
76. Taking in the Statue of Liberty.
77. Walking through Central Park.
78. Cannolis.
79. Amazing burgers.
80. Walking through Chinatown.
81. Standing in the Ellis Island Center, feeling all those ghosts pass through me.
82. Our elevator.
83. Riding the double decker tour bus in the cold open air.
84. Greenwhich Village with its bars and headshops.
85. Making it to the McDonalds on Time Square.
86. Subway humming by and the blessed lack of urine smell.
87. NOT having bedbugs.
88. Feeling the cold leaves and smelling the earthy smell.
89. The welcome relief of a warm smile.
90. Laughing with old friends
91. Listening to Mike laugh with them as well.
92. Phone calls from Karina.
93. Loving the Dome, maybe more than The Stand.
94. Watching my kids play in the snow.
95. Doing the right thing.
96. Watching Zombieland.
97. My secret Jack in the Box taco affair.
98. Finding $17 in the pocket of last year’s jacket.
99. Warm Christmas parties with the relatives.
100. Dave and Busters and Pei Wei to end the year.
No comments:
Post a Comment