Past Times

As we deal with new normals, each of us have our new "past times".

After looking for employment, I spend my days running errands and going to scheduled classes for aqua aerobics or boxing.  I am especially enjoying the aqua zumba classes.

Meanwhile, Michael just finished his final exams today.  He doesn't have classes until September now. Giving him a week to relax and then he will be looking for a summer job.  The main focus is on him driving every day and getting ready to take his road test.  He is doing pretty well, but I am a little cautious on whether he will be ready for driving in the fall...

Willow and Michael are older children now, which means that there are times when they disappear in their rooms for hours and you are not sure what they are doing...sometimes it can be very surprising.  Michael often is creating or painting models.  Willow...well...

Willow came downstairs the other day, humming a song that sounded very familiar to me...and she let me know that she was listening to the Hamilton Soundtrack while playing video games on her Kindle.  She said "hey, I am really musical, you know!"  Which is true...she is still doing very well with her piano and singing classes!

-------------

Mother's Day was very nice this year, which was wonderful, as before the day both Willow and I were missing my mother.  I hadn't realized that Willow was feeling sad and missing her until it came up in her therapy session.  I was worried that I would be more sad on the day, but it was actually one of the best ones I have had in a while...so it made me happy and thankful for my family.

Willow and Michael have both enjoyed the warmer weather in the hammock.

One of Willow's costumes for her upcoming recital.

With others in her singing group (and their costumes--it was costume fitting day on Saturday)

Saturday--with her best friend Kayla...

Mother's Day breakfast -- Dad's french toast, scrambled eggs by Willow, Cocoa Puffs by Michael

A Card!!

Ice cream after Laser Tag!

Japanese Steakhouse--both kids sat next to me--and Michael Smiled!!  :-)

Ten

Recently: Not to soon after dad gets up for the day, she crawls into our bed and we cuddle and fall back asleep in the early morning/before getting alarm.  Suddenly, quickly, surprisingly, the feeling strikes me..the feeling of anticipatory loss...she is 10 now.  How many more cuddles are left?  She is my baby, my youngest child...and she is growing up.  I look at her beautiful, sleeping face and lightly resting body as it moves gently up and down as she breathes....and I feel the loss of my baby...and I wonder at the person she is becoming....

Ten. Ten Years Old.  We opened her Time Capsule that we made on her first birthday.  It was strange to see pictures of her and Michael...to see the cards sent by people to celebrate her 1st birthday.  I had all my blog posts printed regarding the IVF (she sailed past those papers to look at the bibs that I had saved from her first Christmas and Hanukkah).  

Willow at Ten...she is an interesting array of complexities.  She likes to be alone, she is silly and wants to be part of the group; she likes horror movies, yet doesn't always like to be scared.  She loves to read--but spends a bit too much time on her Kindle playing video games.  She loves being outside and running around; but sometimes she just wants to veg out and not get out of her pajamas all day.  She is very smart, but can sometimes ask the most naive questions.  She can play the piano and sing, but hates to practice.  She wants to be a doctor, but seems to shy away from science and math.  She likes drawing; hates coloring.  She is definitely NOT a morning person.  She LOVES chocolate.  

She is so much more than anything I can write here.  She is always surprising me with some new trait.

Ten years....seems so long ago and yet so quick. I cannot imagine my life without her.  

I cannot believe my luck to have such a wonderful human to watch grow.

BBQ for Birthday Dinner!