I’ve decided that I want to start every week with an impromptu walk in the park after work with one of my kids. What a wonderful surprise! Now that my boys are grown with lives of their own, even the most ordinary activities together are cherished. A walk in the park – something I do…
Category: Tanner
Up and down road trip
Took a fun day trip south of St. Louis to pre-celebrate my youngest’s birthday. First, we went to Taum Sauk Mountain State Park – up to the state’s highest point of elevation (1,772 feet). On our way to our next stop, we saw this salon. I want so badly for someone to build a cafe…
Mother’s Day
Just in time for Mother’s Day, I finally got to see one of my kids for the first time in quite some time. It’s difficult enough to get together now that they’re grown and on their own, but it’s been impossible with a pandemic thrown into the mix. But lucky for me, I got to…
That Was Quick.
How much fun was that?! I had my youngest home this weekend. I took Friday off and we hit the ground running. But just like that, it’s over. Highlights included “Sunken Cities: Egypt’s Lost Worlds” and a bit of wandering around at the art museum… And our fourth time seeing U2 together (first time here…
Oregon Adventure, Part II
And the reflections on our Oregon Adventure continue. Smith Rock State Park Welcome to the birthplace of American sport climbing — and apparently one of my greatest fears. Yes, we trekked to the top of this thing. This gives you an idea of where we started. And here’s where we ended up. Suffice it to…
Let Your Heart Be Light
Our annual trip to the Way of Lights at Our Lady of the Snows looked and felt a little different this year. Our car was a little more crowded with some new faces. But that’s the great thing about love — the more we give, the more we have. The circle can always be expanded. New…
Somewhere Between Darn Good and Dumpster Fire
“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language, and next year’s words await another voice.” – T.S. Eliot I’m currently sitting in the hospital waiting room for my youngest’s marathon MRI session to end. Rather than stew for hours in fear and anxiety, I’m opting to put together my annual year-end review post. Honestly,…
Three-Day Adventure…and a New Chapter
When you spend 24 hours of a three-day road trip in the car, you make your own adventures. My younger son started his new job in Tennessee today, so his brother, his girlfriend, and I moved him over the weekend. Each way, we drove through Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee. Day One We didn’t stop…
Life Lately…
…it’s been busy around here. Within the past few days, my kids and I have seen Coldplay in concert… …saw the Legends of the Dome game (the Rams’ last hurrah in St. Louis. Thank you, Isaac Bruce.)… …including VIP passes and an autograph session… …and went to the ballpark with my Little Sister for Build-a-Bear night….
Seek or Be Found
Yesterday after work, I decided to head to Forest Park to take some photos. And I was lucky enough to have my youngest come along to keep me company. I was really hoping to find a few lovely late blooms or something really inspiring, but there really wasn’t much going on. The light was lovely, Tanner was…
Every Now and Then
“It is not our job to toughen our children up to face a cruel and heartless world. It’s our job to raise children who will make the world a little less cruel and heartless.” – L. R. Knost, author I first blogged about this inseparable couple almost six years ago, but we’d been observing them for years…
Life Lately: Holiday Edition
A few photos on the iPhone lately include glimpses of… …my kitties’ company… and cupcake baking. A full Sunday in the kitchen and I had four dozen from-scratch cupcakes to show for it: red velvet (top left), peppermint (middle), egg nog (lower left), and gingerbread with cinnamon frosting (right row). The irony of this photo…
A Very Good Day
In anticipation of the holiday next week and in an effort to get somewhat caught up, the boys and I all took yesterday off for a full day of shopping and cheer. We went across the river over into downtown Saint Charles for some lunch and a bit of shopping. I don’t get over there…
Birthday Boy
Belated birthday dinner for my eldest. The big 23. A special occasion, smart phones were purposely moved to the center of the table/out of reach, while actual, focused conversations took place among three undistracted participants. It was nice. Of course, once the meal was consumed and after I was given the check, one by one,…
World Kindness Day
Today was the beginning of the latest round of checkups to manage the NF2 disease in both of my boys. My eldest has these scans and appointments more frequently due to chemotherapy, but they’re both checked out on the regular. Today brought more than four hours worth of MRIs for my youngest. We know going…
Running in the Windy City
Our second marathon is in the books — mine, as well as Drew’s! Neither of us achieved the times we were hoping for, but we finished. It was a little too warm, unbelievably windy, and an all-around tough day. But we got through our training, made it to the start line uninjured, endured 26.2 miles, crossed the finish and…
Tiny Bite of the Big Apple
What an adventure. A few months ago, Tanner received an email letting him know that he’d won tickets to see U2 at Madison Square Garden. Obviously this was not a trip we’d planned to take this year, but wow, it turned out to be amazing. We spent three quick days in the Big Apple, but…
My Favorites
Because it’s Mother’s Day, I didn’t feel bad dragging one of my kids to the City Garden this morning. Just a quick trip to see what’s blooming. (This was after a nice hike at Powder Valley.) Peonies….ohhhhh. Especially these. They look like they’re marbled. These irises reminded me so much of a Vincent Van Gogh piece….
Tell Me Again. How…?
So my eldest has finished college. There. I said it. All that remains is the ceremony to make it official. Next year at this time, it will be my youngest’s turn. How weird is that?? Accordingly, I’ve settled into a strange, weepy, sentimental fog of love, gratitude, pride, and bewilderment. How on earth did we…
Throwback Thursday
I’m pretty sure I’ve posted these photos out here before, but I don’t care. It’s almost Halloween and this is my favorite set of Throwback photos of all time. Love these faces, love these boys.
Perfect. Just Perfect.
Friday marked the ten-year anniversary of my kids and I calling St. Louis home. And I cannot think of a more perfect way to celebrate than taking in the best of this city with my lifelong best friend and her wonderful family, who made the trek from Kansas City for this visit. What a blast….
We’re not in Kansas anymore…or Colorado
We reluctantly packed up at the crack of dawn this morning and headed home, putting Colorado and the Rockies in our rear view mirrors. But not before a fun send off from a few rather large visitors. One elk stood right outside our back door, while two others mulled around in the neighboring yard. They…
The Adventure Continues
Back to Rocky Mountain National Park this morning. First stop: Sprague Lake. This has to be one of my favorite spots of the day. Below is a fly fishing lesson. Can you imagine learning a new skill with THIS as your backdrop? Check out this brazen little chipmunk. We were within just a foot or…
Enjoying the Views
After a loooong drive through the monotonous landscape of Kansas, which my youngest son likened to running on a treadmill, we finally reached the gorgeousness of Colorado. Per usual, we’ve had a very loose agenda. A few non-negotiables are on the itinerary, but we mostly just go with the flow. As a family with two males, one…
hey there, friends 