Grateful Friday

Today I give thanks for...

So much and so many. I've really felt my blessings lately.

I am grateful for a quiet weekend ahead. The last couple weekends were full to overflowing so it will be good to take a breath and chip away at some line items. My poor herbs need planting, there are stacks of clothes around my room and I need me some exercise.

I'm grateful for so many people showing up always and especially last weekend. It was a great party. Ted and O. both lamented the hard work of socializing, but they did a great job mingling and thanking the guests there to celebrate them.

I will forever be in debt to Pete and Sue for offering to host when we decided on a joint party. They have the most awesome outdoor accommodations, and it worked out perfectly because we were granted the gift of a day that could not have been any better.

My aunt and uncle came from Michigan and that meant the world to me. It's not the best time for them to travel for reasons I won't espouse upon, but they did. And then they came bearing wine and blueberry bread and extra hands to carry and chop and glue.

Friday night we had an impromptu kitchen party. My brother and sil came and we looked at old pictures, ate pizza and caught up. It wasn't the best night for me to burn the midnight oil, but I was so happy we were all together that I couldn't have gone to bed early if I wanted to.

T. didn't bulk when we got him out of bed early Saturday to set-up or Sunday to tear down, and Lily was such a big helper and it wasn't even her party.

My brother was in charge of fireworks and he put together quite a show. It was definitely the party favorite for all ages.

Nobody got hurt.

Or arrested.

Mike, Teddy, and Lily went along with my plan to all wear Badger gear to the party. It was a really fun show of school and family spirit.

 All the little touches.

Friends who are family.

 And always family.

I think Teddy is almost as excited to be a Badger as we are to welcome into the club.

The many faces of Ted. I did a picture board of Teddy faves and then one of Teddy with friends and family. It was so fun to watch the kids scour the board for pictures they recognized. Sadly I didn't get any pictures of the kids because I knew that would not be cool.

Lily's been rocking it at short nearly every night of the week.

We started Peanut on some medication. I'm praying that he starts putting on some weight.

Pink peonies from my yard.

Fruit tarts.

During our crazy week of party prep Sue and I said yes and YOLO. We went out for wine and cheese and then to hear Dani Shapiro read from Inheritance. It was a pretty bad-ass decision, and one I definitely do not regret. As I stood in line to have my memoir signed, I lost my words and could barely spell my name. I'm an awed fan.

The 411

I didn't realize what a harbinger my last post would be. I've had an impossible time finding my words.  The right words. They feel more important lately with all these milestones of life coming and going. The pressure is on to make my mark on this ever evolving history. Saying the right thing makes me ponderous, and so it goes...I've been stuck in my head.

But no longer. Tonight the dinner dishes were cleared post haste. (Thank you Love for a scrumptious Carbonara.) I could not bring myself to fold another load of never ending laundry. We're caught up on the show we're binge watching (Big Little Lies). I'm between books, and so I'm here. Ready or not.

Ted is all grown up and graduated with gold cords around his neck. In his last week of school, he had his first ever detention and in his first week of big boy life, he had his first ticket. Just keeping it real. He's literally never been grounded and then when I wanted to punish him for his transgression by keeping him home in his room, I realized I couldn't. I knew it wouldn't have the desired effect. That aha moment is also a testament to my getting older and wiser because by approaching the situation with calmness and grace we all gained perspective and respect. We're still in this together.

He is such a better boy than I was a girl his age and I try to let that inform my reactions the few times we have bumps or wrinkles. We grow when we make mistakes and disappoint, and the unconditional love we are shown when we are at a low is what makes us want to be our be our best selves. These are what are commonly referred to as teachable moments.

So back to graduation. I tucked two packets of Kleenex in my purse and opted out of any mascara so sure I was that I'd be a puddle all ceremony long, yet I literally wore a perma grin the whole day. The ceremony was hugely celebratory and classy. And it all went way too fast for me. When Ted walked across the stage almost the last of 300, I literally blanked. It was a blur. I was pumped full of adrenaline and I only had one cuppa. So beyond grateful that Mike recorded it. I was, excuse the phrase...blinded by the light. Surrounded by family and friends, it was a feeling of good chi I will remember forever. It will be one of the places I go when I am summoned to close my eyes and think of that happy place.

We finally found Ted after the recessional in front of the theater taking pictures with friends he's known his whole life. I was still smiling ear to ear. There was such a feeling of camaraderie and community that it was warm and infectious. Everyone was feeling it. It was a time for hugs and hi fives. For Cubans and selfies. A favorite teacher informed me, "This is how they adult." I never got his picture in his mortar board, but I got a great shot of the whole student section throwing their caps in the air. That will do.

We celebrated dads and grads back at Casa Wags with a simple bbq and a badass Bucky Badger cake. It was a great day because we have much to celebrate.

 

And speaking of celebrating, the big graduation bash was this past Saturday. It pretty much consumed my life the last couple weeks. I'm still recovering. More to come. I LOVE throwing parties and I get very into it all. The menu and decorating and entertainment. We threw a joint party with our close friends. Ted and Olivia are 4 days apart. She's the older woman and she loves to remind him of that. The first picture of the two of them is from when they were days old lying side by side in his crib. We joked about how this day would come and so it did. We had a beautiful day, delicious spreads and festival-worthy fireworks. At the end of the night when it was just us drinking chilled wine beside the blazing fire pit, we all toasted and let the night linger a little longer. Then I offered a private thank you for the blessings of family, friends, good fortune and bright futures. There was a feeling of magic in the air.