The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Mother

 ...into the future.  Sorry, I use to love the Steve Miller Band!  Even if I'm not quite ready to admit that fall is over, and the holiday season is about to begin, the truth is unavoidable. Thanksgiving break has arrived and we are heading off tomorrow for a double college visit to Texas Tech.  This visit, both Bailey and Savannah are checking out the campus and all Lubbock has to offer.  Again, I find myself in total awe that I have not one, but nearly two children ready for college.  Time...seriously, KNOCK IT OFF! We wrapped up October with Halloween festivities. We started off our November with another Boyen birthday.  Jonas turned 12...too bad he is the size of a grown man! I took the afternoon off and snuck him out of school for a special lunch date to The Cheesecake Factory. We love our Sunday mornings together.  Everyone else likes to sleep in.  Lorelei and I get up around 8:00, watch CBS Sunday morning, mea...

It's October, fall has begun and each year, at this time, I reflect a bit on where we are as a family. I think it's because Bailey's birthday is in October (he's turning 18!!!!) and that's the day John and I went from a couple, to family. I look back at those times and think how much simpler it was to have babies and little ones, in some ways. When you are in the throws of raising babies and toddlers, you think nothing can be more difficult. The teen years arrive and you wish for the tantrums in the grocery store, over the tears of a broken hearted teen. Instead of deciding on which preschool or Kid's Day out program, we are deciding on which university will offer the best scholarship. And so the saying "Bigger kids, bigger problems." returns again and again to my head. Each of these seasons in life brings about new joy and new worries. I wonder with amazement that my oldest child becomes an "adult", 18 years old in just over two weeks. He...

Solar eclipses, convocation, teacher work days, school supplies, Hurricane Harvey, first days, new school, gas shortages, Labor day, another hurricane...Yikes! It's truly been a whirl wind around here, (no pun intended with the hurricanes)!  As I am sure you have heard it before...there's no tired, like a teacher tired, at the beginning of the new school year. The non-stop work, as both a teacher and a mom with 4 kiddos, that back to school time entails, is exhausting...emotionally and physically. Like with other September posts, I always remark that August goes by in such a blur, September hits you like a brick wall, making you wonder how you got here. It's been a true month of adjustments around here.  Some of us have had a better start than others. Bailey and Savannah are off to another great start at O'Connor High School.  Bailey's thrilled as a senior to only have half days, thanks to working so hard academically over the years.  He's taking all but one...

I realize it's only been a few days since my previous post, but today was so amazing! All the work and stress really paid off in a beautiful, exciting and really fun promotion program.  I was honored to be a teacher and parent today! The day was definitely a roller coaster of emotions...mainly for this momma! I can't believe this is the last car ride to school he'll take with me! His sweet kinder teacher had these kids Kinder picture in the hallway.  This definitely got my tears flowing.  He's top row, right. Ready to walk the halls, one last time! The cafeteria looked wonderful thanks to our amazing parent volunteers. Here they come...  Jonas received quite a few awards...two medals for his Masters level STAAR scores. A trophy for a perfect score...100% on the STAAR Reading test. Finally, the Presidential Award, given for 4th and 5th grade straight A averages, one advanced score on 4th grade STAAR and both...

I wonder to myself at what point in our lives will the month of May get easier?  This May has been no different than the last few...packed full of family and school activities.  Last year, I had a sunny attitude of "I will survive. This is almost over. The end is in sight."  This year, I'm not convinced! The biggest change this year, is that I'm teaching 5th grade and the team leader, which puts me in charge of the 5th grade promotion ceremony.  It's like throwing a wedding...invites, rehearsals, programs, entrance music, exit music, cake reception to follow!  And don't forget I have my own 5th grader, Jonas.  I'm taking him shopping for his "outfit" for the ceremony.  Heck, I even went  to get my own "make-over".  I realized my photo was going to be taken around 50 times with students on Thursday at the ceremony!  I could really use a cut and color!  Plus the two hours in the salon chair would force me to sit down!  Luckily ...