(A long winded) Bye-Bye Bulls

Wow, was it really 5 years ago that I nervously watched out my front window, checking out the people that were coming to see our house for sale across the street? Peeking out through the blinds I saw the young couple getting out of the car and getting their infant out of the backseat. I instantly picked up the phone to call Justin and then my sister to say "Yep, them - that is who I want to buy the house!"  They were fun looking, they had a kid and (Hallelujah!) they would take over the mortgage payment after 2 or 3 months of double payments!
But it was a tough thing to think about who would move in, who would redecorate, who would make fun of our paint colors, who would love that house as much as we had??  How could they?  This house had been a labor of love and hard work for us - the building process, the work equity, the landscaping from the dirt up, turning the closets (master and 1st floor) into bathrooms, finishing the basement...we had moved in as "kids" and grown into a family there.
I saw this video recently and the lyrics struck me...



1st thought - the house that I grew up in and 2nd - almost just as immediately - 2878. The "house that built me" is also that house where I grew into myself. Where I grew my family, learned to garden, learned to cook (kinda), experienced infertility and what hard times can teach you about yourself and your relationships. It was the house that brought me to some of my closest friends...

(1997)

I never should have worried a bit about someone loving that house as much as we did. It was obvious from day one that this house quickly became a home and would be coddled - the lawn and landscaping always immaculate, the improvements and upkeep full of pride. And most importantly, the abundance of love within those walls...for each other, friends and the new local "family".
  
Bulls...in this house your family has grown, you have built a foundation of love, support, tradition, fun,  achievement and Doctorhood (!!) while here. You learned to be a Buckeye (as long as we weren't playing Penn State). And it's been a wonderful pleasure to watch (and sometimes photograph :) this happen over that 5 years.

 

(2006)

And to watch our kids play, grow, learn and enjoy what childhood is meant to be...

(Ella and Gavin in 2006)

You have definitely touched many, many lives while you've been here -the neighborhood, the hospital, the preschool, wives club, the stamping group...bringing so many people together in so many ways.

As the old Irish Blessing says...
May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back.  May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rain fall softly on your fields.  And until we meet again, may God hold you in the hollow of his hand. 

God Bless you on your journey to Japan and all the places you go in life as you leave Buckeye Country

- you will be VERY MISSED around here!

Catch 22

Either we have nothing going on and I have time to blog but not much to blog about....or we have so much going on that there is no time for blogging. The last several weeks have been the latter.

Our summer break is officially underway!!  So far we've helped Kevin of the Waco Mascos celebrate his 40th birthday.  He got a lovely pedicure out of the evening :)

Me and Justin at one of the bars

I took the kids to the zoo on their first Monday of summer break.  It was a perfect zoo day - the weather was gorgeous. We saw the new polar bears, lions, tigers, bears, wolves, manatees, reptiles and much more. 

Ella and Si - love his ornery face here.

Silas is about mid-way through t-ball.  It is quite an hour trying to chase and direct eleven 3&4 year olds on hitting, running, fielding, etc. while trying to get them to keep their hands to themselves, stop eating dirt and please don't lay spread eagle in the middle of the infield...

here is Si in action

Last weekend was the Bull family's last horrah with the neighborhood gang.  It was quite a good time, and with a fitting going away present...a hangover...sorry Kelly!

Peggy, Angie, Jodi, Anndrea

Kelly, Beth, me

Jill, Kelly and Anndrea

We will miss you Bulls!

 

Last Day of School

Hard to believe, but another school year is over.  Silas finished up last Friday, Mason took his last exam yesterday and Ella's last day was today.  What a great year they all had!!  

One early morning event that we went to in Ella's class was a book signing.  Each kid chose a topic, researched, drew pictures and wrote the text and then it was bound into a book.  The parents then got to visit the classroom, see all the books and the "author" signed the book for us.

This is some art that Silas did in school, then the PTO had a company take the art and do magnets, mugs, t-shirts, etc.  It was cool.  Those they had to shrink the art (thus the hand print) for the magnets and Silas could not understand why his hand was so small!

Unlike Mason and Silas, Ella actually gets to celebrate her birthday during school. We took snacks and the class sang Happy Birthday.

They sang the "cha, cha, cha" version.  Mrs. C was fabulous this year.  Ella absolutely loved her and today as she was leaving the room, gave her a huge big hug. Mrs. C asked Ella to email her over the summer.  Hope she knows what she is in for!

Silas' field day at school was postponed twice, so it ended up being on the last day of school. I volunteered and was stationed at the "cow milking" area.  They must have known I was a home-grown Hilliard gal.  The kids loved it, though Si doesn't much look like he's enjoying it.

I love this picture - Si's favorite activity was the wet ball throwing.  When his teacher, Mrs. P, was out on maternity leave, Mrs. H (here in orange) was the sub for 8 weeks.  She came back to visit the class on field day and Silas welcomed her back by nailing her with a soaker ball. Look closely in the upper right corner of the picture and you can see the ball that bounced off of her.

Today was the "clap out" at the elementary for the 5th graders.  We have a few friends whose kids are moving on up to the 6th grade building. It's SO emotional and I was glad today that my kids are all going to be in the same buildings next year.  I'll still have a high schooler, an elementary student and a preschooler.  They just all move up a notch.  I'm happy for some even keeledness (not really a word, I'm betting) - it's been a rough week/month/2010.  I'm looking forward to not necessarily a stress-free summer, but definitely spending a lot of time with the kids, family and friends.
And I've got my list of Fun Stuff to do!

Random update #129

So, it's finally been nice enough weather to get out and do some gardening, planting, hang out outside...it's a super busy time of year with the spring sports for the kids, finishing up school / end of year activities, outside yard work, busy times at work for both of us and sick kids...Si and Ella have both recently had a pookie bug.

Last weekend was my lovely book group and it was our first gathering of the season in the gardens at Susan's.  I could go over there weekly and never tire of taking pictures of her wonderful garden.

I'm finding that May is routinely becoming a very busy month.  This year I did the Race for the Cure again and it was an incredibly beautiful morning.  We had SO much fun. And we stopped afterward and had a yummy breakfast at great little cafe in the Arena district.

(Sarah's - I would never eat such an atrocity of calories! ;)

Emma Lou (Beth's mom) and Margie at the walk

Cool video clip of the race here

This week started some of the final count down stuff at schools.  Ella had crazy hat day on Monday.  She pulled out the perfect hat.  Tuesday was mismatch/backwards day and she wore striped pants and flowered shirt - both backwards. But i forgot to take a picture of that.

This week has also been "first corn on the cob eating" week.  Yay for Florida corn!  It was yummy and made Silas very happy (something that has been very hard to do these days...)!

And speaking of corn, we also planted our own this year.  When we first plant the garden it's so disappointing - how barren it looks. But I know within a month it will be absolutely bursting.  We planted some corn, 3 kinds of tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, carrots, beets, snap peas, lettuce, some herbs...and we have a rhubarb plant the size of Texas. Looks like a big weed!

I was able to sneak out last week and take a few pictures - lilies, a bull frog hiding in the grass at Tara's, 

we have a nest and eggs in our shrub, some gorgeous roses have been blooming and I finally planted some pots and hanging baskets.

I'm ready for summer - bring it on!!

Spring Sports

This spring all 3 kids are in sports - makes for some hectic running around but it's fun to see them all doing different sports.

Mason ran track and did great for his first year (especially since he wasn't a runner before practice started). He beat his goal of under a 6 minute mile.

Ella is playing soccer and Justin is coaching again.  She does a great job of going after the ball and elbowing her way in on plays.

And Silas is playing t-ball this spring/summer.  Justin and I are coaching and it's QUITE an experience!  I came home black and blue after the first practice, as bat control is not in the skill set at this early stage in the game.

Doing some base running...

And some batting practice - this time he hits the ball and not me!

Mother's Day

I woke up early this morning. Silas James came and stood by my side of the bed, looking at me - "mama?".  I pulled the covers back and said "hop in bud".  He wraps his arm through mine and we both fell back asleep until around 8:30, at which point Si began the non-stop chatter that I know won't end until I give in and converse with him, or convince him to go down and see what daddy is doing. 

I never have high expectations for Mother's Day. Not because it disappoints, but because like most "Hallmark" holidays, I just don't get excited about them. I still think of Mother's Day as a day for other moms. My mom, Justin's mom, new moms.
I give myself a few liberties - I read in bed for awhile, I sniff for the smell of fresh coffee. I just lie in bed enjoying the moment.

Ella brings me banana bread in bed (say that 3 times fast) and I get my coffee.  I get a craft from Ella that reads:

M - My Mom loves me

O - Oh the times I get in trouble you still love me

T - Tells me things a lot

H - Her job helps others

E - Every night she tucks me into bed

R - Relly (really) good at love (I like this one)

We go to get flowers at the nursery to put into the pots that the kids painted for me last year. I start to settle into the day and think that this is a tradition that I love - the flowers, the handmade reminders of their childhood...and the mimosas.

Mason and I go to the store to get potting soil and Mason tells me to come look, he's found something that I'll like.  He's right.  He found a great hammock and stand. I have missed my old hammock since we moved and this one is perfect.  I feel spoiled and self-indulgent when I call Justin and he says "it's Mother's Day - get it" - but I do with a bit of giddiness.

We go to Ella's soccer game, we go to see my mom and dad, we stop at the store to buy an impromptu dinner (steaks to throw on the grill). And then finally, I come home and test out my hammock.

We eat a delicious dinner of steak, grilled asparagus, salad and red wine. It's chilly out but I take my book and mimosa back out to the hammock and climb in. Justin brings me a cozy blanket and I spend the next hour reading, looking up at the sunshine through the splay of tree branches and watching between the fence slats as the kids play with the neighbor kids next door. I see their feet running, I hear them laughing and I know that this will be one of those moments in my mind that I will remember with every sense. It's a perfectly content moment - to be happy and know that my children are happy. I close my eyes and thank God, and then continue to bask in this moment of appreciation as I pick my book back up and sip my mimosa.

I am a blessed mother and I am blessed to have so many wonderful mothers in my life that teach me along the way. Thank you!

Timing is Everything

I was going through some of the pictures and saw this one.

I should have been a bit quicker in snapping my picture...

The second before I took the picture, Ella exclaimed that she had to go to the bathroom - and then smiled, business as usual...