The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Mother

Christmas sure has changed as the kids have grown up...the element of surprise and magic has slipped quietly away. But now, "All is calm...all is still bright!" The kids help buy and pick out their gifts, they help cook, clean and prep. Our Christmas Eve was super fun and relaxed. We had our usual, wonderful Christmas Eve spread at Nana's and Papa's.  We ate, talked, opened our stockings, the kids played cards and hide and seek, sardine style! When I say kids, that includes Savannah and her boyfriend, Alec! I'm glad he doesn't think we are crazy.  Warning: TONS of photos to follow!    Always behind the camera! In her new lounge wear from Alec!   Santa arrived this year looking a bit different than usual. (Nana trying to throw them off!) Poor Titi (Kim) was feeling under the weather this year, trying to pass a kidney stone! We were able to finally get a picture of the whole family! Thanks Alec!

I know I'm a reader and a writer, so I view the world through that lens. As an ELA teacher, I teach the students figurative language, author's craft and a mess of analogies. When taking time to reflect, I realize how much a year in life is like a novel. Twelve chapters, with a rising action, leading to a climax and finally the resolution. November and December are clearly the resolution, in a year full of rising actions. To me, August through October are the clear climax of my year, full of events and family happenings. When November and December arrive, its time to slow the pace, reflect and bring the chapters of 2019 to a final close. I rely a lot on my memory maker...my camera. Jonas always questions why I take so many pictures of so many moments. I told him that the photos are my memories. Jonas has an incredible memory for everything...me, not so much! Looking back over the fall, we made a lot of wonderful memories. This blog helps capture the moments and memories that w