Whatever: Mia's First Communion

I was thrilled to celebrate my niece's first communion last weekend in Ohio with my sister and her husband. They put on a great party afterwards and it was totally worth the 15 hours in the car in a 48 hour weekend!

I love that my family gathers for the "important things". We celebrate each other and our successes. Milestones are big and first communion is one of the biggest. My niece does not get it now, but when she is an adult, she will look back and realize the significance of the occasion.

Cousins...

We are on the whirlwind end of  year countdown that occurs every single year. Graduation from 8th grade also know as  "the move across the lawn" and May Day are two GPS traditions coming up for us. Finals, field trips, games and regattas are still on the books to get us  to summer.  I have spent the last few days finalizing summer plans and summer jobs.

Dirt: A rough week indeed

This week has been a rough one for my girlfriends. One friend lost her sister-in-law's father, who was a local news celebrity for decades. All over town, I have heard snippets of conversation about his passing. The service is being held in the baseball stadium. This loss must be so hard, being so public. My heart goes out the the family that must mourn publicly for days before they can say goodbye themselves.


The other is a much more private loss. My dear friend lost her older sister to a long battle with cancer. 10 years ago, Maureen found out she was pregnant and then that she had cancer. She has been brave, stubborn and at time successful in battling the cancer. Recently however, it came back with a vengeance. The oldest of three sisters, she had a great support system. Now they are relying on each other.

As one of three myself, I know that the other two are leaning hard on each other. Their faces will remind them of the missing piece. Their hearts will be always soft in that third spot and their stories will now have to be told extra for the one who is not there to reminisce to her children.

I did not know Maureen well. I do, however, know her parents well and they are two of the kindest and most generous people I know. Large personalities and large hearts for caring are what I think of when I think of Ann and Henri.  They raised three very awesome daughters, each unique and special in a different way. My heart hurts to imagine facing the loss of one of their precious daughters.

As a friend, I can only say the words in my heart and cry the tears on the phone with my friend. I can only call my own sisters and tell them I love them and that my world would be a dimmer place without them.  I can only look at my own children and hope that I don't have to leave them as teenagers to traverse the path to adulthood without a mother.

Rough week indeed.

Whatever: No one behaves when I have a camera in hand

I am the family picture taker...that is not the same as photographer,which implies skill.

My subjects are often surly and annoying. They rarely behave, especially once I have said "behave".

Here is a classic example. Or 10.

Did not take this one, but still...

Please remember...these were taken at a memorial service. We were all actually very sad. However, the  deceased, my crazy, goofy and very wonderful  sister in law, would have approved. And participated. And encouraged.

Whatever: Joe

One of my favorite people graduated from college this weekend.
He was 5 years old when I met him. A little rascal that grew into a big rascal.

As someone who I watched grow up, riding bikes and talking trash, I am impressed by my nephew Joe. He  is a pretty great example of how you can do whatever you want if  you set your mind to do so. He is a mind over matter kind of person. There is no talking him out of anything, yet  he has an open mind. He is willing to hear what you have to say and respects  your opinion. Although he will give you hell for it the rest of your life, if it differs from him.

 

Joe is one of those people who is going to get what and where he wants, not because he deserves it but because he is willing to work. Hard. Harder than anyone around him.  And he is willing to try just about anything if it seems fun or hard.

I am so proud to be his aunt and friend. I count him as one of my inner circle and cannot wait to see what he does with his bright future.

Way to go, Joe!  I am so proud of you.

Cooking: Valentine menu and my mission

I am surrounded in my life by amazing cooks. Both of my sisters and I took turns as teenagers making dinner three nights a week. We are all great cooks. Most of my girlfriends are amazing cooks and make dinner almost every single night for their families. Including the ones that work or used to work. Dinner at home is a priority.

I feel very blessed to know women, who like me, feed their families out of love and also out of duty. Our duty as moms to feel and nourish our kids (and husbands) often gets excused away. But we are important. Very important in the continuation of the human race, not only through sustenance, but also through culture, education and the instilling of values. All are found in the kitchen and around the family table.

I am a feminist. I also believe that women are not the same as men. Our skill set is very valuable in the boardroom and the family dining room. Men can produce the same meals, but it comes from a different place.

I am proud of the fact that despite the whining and the complaining (all on my part) dinner is served usually 6 nights a week at my kitchen table to my family.

 

Casa Swann's Valentine Menu

Indian tiki masala/ spinach with paneer cheese/ rice and Naan

Kale pasta salad ala Meg/ baked chicken breasts/ salmon burger (me)

Heuvos Rancheros with chorizo 

dinner from the church

Salmon tacos or pizza...Valentine's choice

Whatever: Our family holiday trip

I have sat around in my pajamas for the last 36 hours, fighting some sort of virus that alternately has me feeling feverish and nauseous.  Lovely. Tea, water and for some reason last night,  oven roasted carrots have been my diet making that diet resolution pretty mute. I have worked on my blog and edited most of the pictures from the holidays. Sad they are over.

Dirt: Childhood is fleeting

Happy Thanksgiving...

Happy Thanksgiving from 5 Things For One Year...

Gratituesday: A weekend of fun and family

Such a fun weekend.

 

 

My brother, Eddie, who lives in the  Dallas area  (Allen to be exact) came to visit my parents at their farm. He and his wife and two sons drove a million hours (or 13) and then drove a million more while they were here (Atlanta, Nashville and Chattanooga were all on their hit list). 

We hung out with them earlier in the week  and caught a Lookouts game with them Friday.

The weather was perfect!

 

We normally only see them every two years and so it was a treat to see them.

 

Saturday, my sister Jennifer came into town with her husband and kids.

We got tickets to a event at the local zoo. We had a blast. The carni folk tasted barbecuefrom 8 or so vendors, the adults had a beverage, a wonderful local bluegrass band played and we had free reign of the zoo and all the exhibits. I was extremely impressed with all the improvements at the zoo. We really enjoyed ourselves.

 

 

Sunday we got up and went for a hike with our families. The weather could not have been better. We have had so much rain this summer that I forgot what low humidity felt like. Chattanooga is gorgeous and our hike was really rewarding. We really enjoyed ourselves.

 

After our hike, we hit the Chattanooga Market for lunch and music. Then headed home to build a fire. Yep, a fire. Steve and my brother-in-law burned a huge stump. For about 6 hours.

We grilled out and made a delicious dinner including fresh peach upside down cake. The dinner we cooked was the perfect ending to a very busy and very fun weekend.

 

Hope yours was just as lovely.

 

I cannot think of anything more gratifying than being outside and entertained, except being so with the family that you miss most of the year.

I am so grateful to have an extended family and for the time I get to spend with them. They are such a gift to me.

Gratituesday: My parents bought the farm

My parents recently bought an 80 acre farm an hours drive from me.

This means several things. One, my parents are nearby now and I can see them pretty much whenever I want. Something that is pretty significant as they have been "on the road" for 5 years and I usually saw them maybe twice a year. Second, it means my kids are around them more. Which they need and also really love.

Third, they have a FARM! Where I love being.

Cooking: Hurdles of childrearing

We ate fancy yesterday. 

Smoked pork shoulder and chicken, homemade jalapeno slaw, spinach salad with strawberries and walnuts, red potatoes with mustard vinaigrette and for dessert, grilled pound cake with strawberries and whipped topping. When I was telling my girls what we were going to eat for dinner as we headed out to watch the US Cycling Championship Race, my oldest remarked, " We eat so well in the summer. "  I was in heaven! With the exception of the potatoes (of which we barely ate any) that was a meal at which most kids would balk. We seemed to have jumped a hurdle in child rearing.

Memorial Day: What is means to me

*This is a post I wrote last year for Memorial and never published. Very personal  for me and for my family. I have not edited it, realizing that it still conveys my thoughts about those that serve in the military to protect our country, especially those that give the ultimate sacrifice while doing so.

Memorial Day.

The official kick off to summer.

Like the rest of our American holidays, it has become a day for sales, parties and hanging out.

But, it actually has a meaning, that if we stop and think for just about, should give us pause.

Memorial Day is the national day of recognizing those that have died in service to our country.

Those that never came home. Those that fought and died for the greater good.

InstaFriday: Warp Speed

Click for awesomeness by Jeannette

The last 10 days have really flown by! 

I always feel like the last few weeks of school are on fast forward. 

Between all the end of year events and finishing up the actual school year, our house is on warp speed all the time. 

A rare family photo

We had our daughters' school tradition of May Day last week, which is a festival and a show. With the exception of 6th and 10th grade which are mandatory dances, the girls in the other grades have the opportunity to dance for the seniors and the crowd.  Beautiful and old tradition (this was the 99th queen) and fun for everyone. I realized that my youngest will be in the 105th May Day. (If you are wondering, the school was founded in 1906.)

6th grade...my girl is in green

8th grade...mine is at the top right.

Last May Day as middle schoolers

May Poles

 Our weekend was fairly calm, with one kid at a sleep over, we enjoyed hanging out one on one with the other. We worked out, did homework and of course, prepped for the Main Event of April, my sister Karen's birthday! She,her husband and two of their kids came down for the day. We had a great visit complete with lunch and a cake. And candles. Apparently at this age, you need a lot of hands to light ALL the candles.

 We also went to the market, because after all, it was Sunday.

 The end of sports came on Monday, so we have been able to get home at a reasonable hour and get home work done in time to enjoy our beautiful spring.  (I loathe Spring, but I do enjoy my Azaleas).

 I bought a hammock and have enjoyed exactly 15 seconds in it as it is always occupied by someone else. Someone who loves to read as much as I do, apparently. At least that someone is cute.

As I said, the end of the school year brings lots of last minute projects and much studying. 

Very serious studying.

Three short weeks and it will all be over. Including middle school for one of my girls. I will cross that bridge when I get to it, but for now, I am looking forward to a nice relaxing weekend of live music and emptying a Uhaul for my parents. Like I said, warp speed.