Happy Birthday, Big Al!

Sometimes someone enters  your world

When you're least expecting it.

Sometimes they brighten your world

And everything that's in it.

You know immediately that you love them,

They have that effect on you.

And that is true with you Young Man

That's exactly what you do.

Wishing you a  Happy Birthday, Big Al

A Happy Birthday - to you!

Love you to the Moon and back!

Love,

Mom-Mom

Happy Birthday, Goldilocks!

Happy Birthday to my Goldilocks

Who turns fourteen years old today.

It's not been that long ago

You came into our lives to stay.

I can still remember the wonderment

Excitement and awe

And the curiosity you had

With everything you saw.

I want for you to have those things

As you grow with age

And learn to read what life gives to you

Just like a book, turn page, to page, to page.

Keep that spirit within you strong,

And sweet and full of grace

And you shall go far, my girl

Winning life's hectic race!

Happy Birthday, Goldilocks!

I love you to Infinity and beyond times a million!

Love, 

Mom-Mom

Happy Birthday, Mr. Beefy!

Happy Birthday, Mr. Beefy

Hope your day's going great

Tis time to say "Good-bye" 

To the "The Grand Ole Thirty-eight"

Forty's next on your rung

Of life's ladder, I do believe

Then life shall amp up her gears

To neck breaking speed.

So enjoy this year, Mr. Beefy

Embrace her gifts to you

'Cause the next time you blink

You'll be turning forty-two!

Happy Birthday!

Love,

Barb

Did You Ever Wonder?

Did you ever wonder when taking road trips about the goings on of those traveling the same road?
Or, of those who live in the town you are going through?

I often wonder when I see the other drivers going to and fro where they are going or coming from.

Are they traveling on vacation? Where is their destination?
Are they moving from one location to another to start new roots?
Are they on their way to or from work? Where do they work and what do they do?
Are they shopping?
Are they just out and about for no other reason other than they can be?
Are they happy?  Sad?  Angry?  Angry that they are being inundated with excess traffic?
Are they kind? Or are they of the unpleasant sort?

I wonder these things and then some.  But I think mostly I wonder about the folk living in the area we are traveling through, especially at night when you can see the town lit up.

I wonder if they are cozy and warm, or cool and relaxed, in their homes?
Are they sitting at the dinner table discussing the day's events?
Are they zoned out in front of the TV?
Are children running through the house ~ or getting their baths before bedtime?
Are they already nestled in bed?
Are families happy and chattering, or are they angry and bitter, torn apart by life's events?
Is someone where they're not suppose to be or doing something they're not suppose to be doing?
Maybe they are getting ready to start their shift at work for the evening.
Are they lost in the chaos of this world or do they know their purpose and live accordingly?

I wonder these things all the time when I travel.  It seems when you leave what is familiar to you, you enter a foreign country.  But the raw truth is:  people are pretty much the same everywhere.  They work, they play, they laugh, they cry, they plan, they clean, they fuss at their children, they are kind, they hug, and they love. They get angry and feel pain and disappointment.

They are, as I am, after all, mere human beings.

Happy Birthday, Hope!

Happy Birthday to a girl

Who's smile can light the sky

You bring joy to my heart

And you don't even have to try!

Your carefree spirit suits you well

Your energy makes me sigh

It's as if you could wear wings

You'd surely take to flight!

An aura follows you around

A warm and cozy light.

I love you more than you could know

My girls who smiles so bright!

Happy Birthday, Hopie!

Love,

Mom-Mom

Happy Birthday Moonbeam!

I want to wish you joy

On this day that you turn three

I want you to be happy

And your spirit to be free

I want you to grow up strong

And remember you are loved

I want to wrap my heart around you

Our Moonbeam from above.

So Happy Birthday Little Boy

To you - just from me
On this special birthday
That you are turning three!

Love, 

Mom-Mom

School ~ Not Just For Kids

One would think that when you graduated from school you would be done with the rigors of learning stuff in books.  Nope.  Not so.  It continues. And continues.  And continues some more.  Sometimes the "learning" is actually the "teaching".  I know.  It doesn't make sense, but, really, it does. Make sense, that is.

Let's look at Math.  I don't know of any one of my grand-daughters that likes Math.  Me, I loved it.  And when you love something someone else doesn't care for it's hard to convince them how useful it is and will be.  Trust me, I've tried.  The only thing I can think of to convince at least a couple of them is the fact that they have an interest in quilting.  That alone will challenge your basic (if  not a little more advanced) math skills.  I told them they would have to know their basic fractions, multiplication and division tables, in addition to addition and subtraction.  Otherwise their quilts might look more like shredded wheat than - quilts.  We'll see how that translates.

Then we have Grammar and Literature.  Reading has always been a passion of mine.  I am pleased to see it in quite a few of my grandies (The Boy and My Squirley Girlies). Reading broadens your mind and creativity immensely.  Your imagination can be stretched beyond the decades and moments in time in a good novel . It's pages create wonderful places to be lost in.  Not to mention the vocabulary I learned. My youth was saturated with reading.  It became hard to devote my time to reading when my kiddlings were young.  Oh, I read.  Story books and such, but my books sat and waited, but that was ok. My babes  were only small for a time.  Then, when they became self sufficient and could read on their own, I was  able to welcome back my long lost friends.

Grammar, on the other hand is, well, challenging.  I like Grammar.  I still study it.  I don't understand today's lack of good grammar and the misuse of common, every day words. People, that's why Mr. Webster exists.  Or, if you don't like turning the pages of a "book", then google the word.  PLEASE.
I have the pleasure of critiquing papers for my college kiddos.  Not necessarily for content as much, but for grammar and sentence structure.  It's hard when basic foundations are soft and they haven't had much to build their grammatical skills on.  I get it.  I've had to critique elementary teacher's papers that were sent home.  If the teachers can't seem to grasp it, then how on earth are the kids suppose to?
Geeze.  And don't get me started on cursive writing.  Just don't

Then we have History ~ Nope.  Don't like it.  Don't want to like it.  Not because I don't care about historical facts, because I do. I just can't keep those dates and places in my brain.  It's like looking at a thousand stars and being expected to know their names and constellations.  Won't happen.

So I teach help with what I know.  I continue to use Mr. Webster (and spell check) quite often. When I sit down to clunk away on this keyboard, the only words that go down are mine, so I better know (kinda) how to use the words I write.  Otherwise, well, otherwise. . . . . . . .

Don't get me wrong.  I've seen my share of grammatical flubs in my writing, and it causes me great angst.  Sometimes I remember to correct them, and sometimes they just go down in the archives of faux pas.   You can correct me if you wish.  Or not. Either way, I'd still love ya.

Happy Birthday, GGG!

This Little Bit of Stardust

Has reached the age of two!

He's growing up so quickly

As most youngin's do!

I can only imagine the joy

He spreads to all around

Just look at that face

It speaks without a sound!

So here's to another year

Happy Birthday just for you

This Little Bit of Stardust

That's reached the age of two!

Happy Birthday, Gabe!

Love,

Aunt Crickett

Happy Birthday, Little Boy Blue!

He wears that ketchup with pride!

I love this little "ginger".

He surely stole my heart.

I fell madly in love with him

Right from the very start!

He's full of boundless energy,

The ornery kind, you know

Not one little ounce of him

Does anything too slow.

He runs on pure adrenaline

The kind that makes life fun

You can't make this boy walk

When all he can do is run.

He's turning five years old today

I can't believe it's so

I wan to bring him home with me

I want to watch him grow!

I love this little "ginger"

He surely stole my heart.

I fell madly in love with him

Right from the very start!

Happy Birthday, Little Boy Blue

I love you!

Love,

Mom-Mom

Happy Birthday, Matt!

Happy Birthday, Matt!

Time sure flies when you get older!
Not old like me, but, older.
Not older than dirt, but, older. 
Not too old to run,  but not as  quickly.

Not too old to run after a toddler, but needs to run quickly

Not too old to stay up til at least midnight, if you dare, but prefers the 10 o'clock hour.

Not too old to flash that smile that shows me who you are.

Not too old to love.

NEVER too old to love.

Have a wonderful birthday.

I love you!

AC

Christmas in February

Christmas in February?  Why not?  Sometimes the hectic, whirlwind, over-stretched, over-stressed feelings really put a damper on what we are really celebrating.  So stepping back and exchanging gifts with extended family later on is refreshing.  That's what happened this year ~ a delayed exchange.

I always love the gifts I get.  They are fitting for me.  I'm all about simple and sweet without all the fluff-n-stuff.  Fluff-n-stuff is nice, but sometimes it's irrelevant.  Simple and sweet means thought out for me specifically.  That's what touches me ~ that someone has listened to my needs and sometimes my wants.  ;).

I received a February gift that really spoke to me.  It wasn't a "want", nor was it a "need".  It was, however, geared specifically to me. It was a Willow Tree figurine, a "Generations" piece.  A grandmother, a daughter and a granddaughter comforted by a quilt.  Yes, this was me.  I love to make quilts and I love even more teaching my lovelies how to make them. Very fitting. Yes, very fitting indeed.   It was the note that came with it that made me do some serious thinking.  So, I guess, this post is more about the effect of this exchange rather than the timing of this exchange (although God's timing is always perfect).

The note that accompanied it simply stated:  "Crickett, When I saw this I instantly thought of you. You are the anchor in your family....even on the days you don't feel like you make a difference to anyone.  Love you more than you know, Donna"

A simple note with a profound statement.  I can assuredly say I don't feel at all like any anchor.  More often than not I feel as I've let my entire brood down.  I can't for the life of me see them tethering themselves to me for anything, let alone, stability.  I feel more like the buoy in the ocean, bobbing to and fro, insecure in where I'm placed. The only thing keeping me from drifting out to sea is The Anchor tethered to me. Perhaps my minuscule affect on my family has trickled it's way upward from The Anchor to the buoy to them. Perhaps.

Happy Birthday, Annalynne!

Happy Birthday to this Half Pint!  She turns a whopping two years old today.
Generally I would write a little poem for birthdays, but this girl here, she almost needs a book!

She is one of the feistiest little people I know.  She knows what she wants and you can barely convince her otherwise.  She has grown so much in one year ~ from learning to walk, giving up her bottle, feeding herself (mostly) and talking (in a French accent).  She still has her "Ninny", or should I say: "Nin-nay", at nap time though.

I love it when she comes to visit.  She chatters like a magpie.  I love watching her "run".  She moves her elbows back and forth, swings her butt, all faster than she is moving!

Her little voice kills me.  I forget how stinkin' sweet little people sound!  I miss that ~ terribly.

So here's to a new year for this Little Thing.  It will be interesting to see how it all pans out, especially when her Mama starts potty training.  (Won't miss that!)

Happy Birthday Sweet Pea!
I love you to infinity and beyond!

Mom-Mom

Not Sure Why

Not quite sure why I haven't written to myself lately.  It's not like I haven't had anything to write about, because I have ~ lots.  Actually, more than lots ~ a boat load full of stuff.  I'm guessing I just haven't been serious enough to grab the bull by the horns and hunker down with the keyboard.  It's not like we're not friends or anything.  We are well connected, tethered by years of confessions, silliness, pain and anguish, nonsense, and the like. I miss our time together ~ me clicking away, it gladly absorbing the light pounding (well, maybe sometimes the pounding is a little more than light) of my fingers.  Our quiet time.  Our time for reflecting.  Our sad and happy time.  Yea, all those times and then some.

I'm going to try to make it a goal this year to be more consistent in sharing my thoughts with this keyboard.  So much so, that I may just break down and give her a name.  Maybe that is what's missing ~ the name of my trustworthy recorder.  Hmmm . . . .

  I feel if I don't get back in the groove I will lose track of all the daily goings on around here and in the Land of Horses.  These things need to be recorded for posterity.  My lovelies like seeing their names in print.  I like printing them.  I love being privy to the memories they create.  It reminds me of why were are.  Of the important things in life.  I truly think of it as the electric shock to my heart.  It makes me come alive and the emotion contained within as a result is beyond words.  But I do my best to capture the moment(s).

So, here's looking forward to a brand new year of memories and  looking back at last year and pulling from those life filling, life changing events.

Here's to the love that will be wrapped around each word.

Here's to my Family and Friends.

And here's to my keyboard.