It's Just How I'm Wired

I know that people use that phrase as a "cop out" for their stupid behavior because they'd rather not better themselves but make excuses about being a poorly behaved human being. That isn't how or why I'm using the phrase. I do (almost) always want to better myself. I truly want to be a decent, kind, caring, godly person. There is a constant desire to repair my mistakes or at least find the root of a problem that causes me to fall and ask God to help me change. I know where my help comes from.

Let me say that this has been a weird and challenging stage in my life. I'm in a transition state--I'm between things which bring a lot of angst and joy and anxiety and excitement--so my focus on the spiritual things hasn't been completely fervent. But that's life. For me personally, things are always moving and shaking, which causes a lot of ideas and emotions to swing back and forth in the journey. I've learned to just keep walking through the stormy times and it will right itself. The path will be made clear once again. I just have to keep myself from giving up and laying down in a mud puddle of misery or frustration.

Many events over the past several daze were stressing me out, not necessarily bad stress, just stress. But now that they have happened it feels good to have them out of the way.  Here are a photos from a few of the events.

BANQUET

Liz went to her boyfriend's senior banquet. We parents who were taking lots of pics all piled into the RV with them to drop them off at their destination (which was clever and hilarious and inexpensive). I enjoyed being a part of that and taking over 600 pictures--have mercy!

The parents--taking a cheesy prom pic. Sohailah stepped in for Terry who was unable to come along.

Here they are... The DREAM TEAM!! Too much fun.

GRADUATION

My FIFTH child of six graduated from high school. She was definitely the happiest graduate on stage and so excited to be done with the high school life.

This was her celebratory chicken dance to get her diploma. haha Love this girl.

We all made it to the graduation (including one set of grandparents and my college roommate). Not only is that a feat in itself with a family of 8 but the fact that graduation happens at the end of June when the Hamptons come alive, means its difficult for them to get a weekend day off from work. So cheers to everyone for making it out to celebrate with our Lizzy and Michael.

My boyz! Birthdays are big this year.  Terry just received his AARP card in the mail--50!!! and Luke should see a reduction in is car insurance rates starting today--25!!!! Woohoo discounts all around. Happy birthday!!

Our Michael also graduated and was the second happiest on stage immediately after Liz. haha. Michael lives with us as part of our family. We love him dearly.

His other family loves him dearly, too. We are all so proud of our graduates.

It was bedlam after the ceremony, trying to get all the pictures I wanted, but as usual, we were the last to leave the school grounds.

Next up, party at the Hochstedler's, only a few daze away. I have to keep taking deep breaths and not letting myself feel panicked about it. Really?! Who cares if things aren't perfect--its a freakin pool party that's going to have great food and good times together!!! The work overwhelms me a bit and we've been so busy all spring that its been difficult to have any time to get our back yard looking decent. I'm not even aiming for perfect... just decent.

PARTING THOUGHTS 
...on another note, cuz its still bothering me

I do my best to give people the benefit of the doubt, hoping to receive the same in turn.  I teach my kids to try to do this also, but share with them that there may come a time in life when its wise to avoid pa person who is not safe to have in your life. I aim to be a safe person for other people to have in their life, but that can't always be the case, so c'est ce que c'est. There are seasons. When I need a break from a person (which doesn't happen often), I don't expect anyone else to jump on my bandwagon. I think that is just dumb. Its been the struggle for a few of my 6 kids who have all gone to this teeny tiny K-12 public school in Bridgehampton, but boy isn't that the worst part about high school drama? The person who feels they need to get everyone to jump on with their offense, so that the one person really feels punished. Talk about bullying. I'm not a fan.

My 4 older kids who have gone on into their adult lives encourage the younger two that college life and beyond is sooooo much better. And it really is. However, truth be told, that nonsense can still happen anywhere at any time. Adults can purposely or inadvertently ostracize a youth, a friend or co-worker, etc. I'm not even above it, regardless of how much I hate the scenario. Its something to watch for in myself for sure. Maybe we all should watch for it. This has come at me from so many directions lately but I think I just need better sleep.

THE END

Epilogue: Here's my bestie, Sohailah, roomie from college daze. I was so happy to have her around this whole past week. She knows me and gets it when I'm stressed. And sees when I'm pained about something and is a genuine support to me. I appreciate her immensely.

My Girl

Of course, I have several girls, but today Jennah gets featured. I call her my girl because she has her mother's resemblance the most out of all of them. She's definitely taller than me and probably smarter... (I have the experience over her, but she enjoys studying and homework, which was never the case with me).

Here she is with her cousin's baby boy, Jonnie Trace, who looks very much like his dad who is latino.

So this has been a big week.

First point of news: Jennah's high school volleyball team has made it to playoffs which start next week. Today's game will determine who they will play first in the sudden death tournament (or however that works). I can't tell you how much I have enjoyed watching her develop her game over the years. She started in 7th grade and has stuck with it through all the ups and downs. Her hard work has paid off. She's consistent and their team just keeps getting better. Six seniors will be moving on after this season. I hope the remaining and upcoming players for next season find their rhythm quickly.

Second piece: Jennah was accepted to Oral Roberts University two daze ago. That's where she wants to attend. That's the only school she planned on applying to, in spite of all the dissenting voices around her. Its not that peers and guidance counselors think she shouldn't go there, they just thought she needed to broaden her options. But when you know, you know. Anyway, she's already been accepted and its only October. Think about what a stress reliever that is, not to have to go through all that rigamarole of applications and worry and having too many options and not knowing where or what or how. Now all we need to figure out is the HOW! Its not cheap, but we know that everything will be provided when its all said and done.

In November, when she heads to Oklahoma for a college weekend, she has an interview for the Whole Person Scholarship and will also audition for the musical theatre department. She'll be doing this all by herself. I remember auditioning for the music department when I was visiting for a college weekend, but my parents were there, too. We aren't going out there with her. So GO JENNAH!!! She's a brave soul. There isn't much that causes her to shrink away from doing something she wants to do.
(She does, however, shrink away from answering her phone and doing the household chores assigned. It may be the her only weakness). HAHAH

Thirdly: This is her senior year. Holy Moley. Some things in her line up, to make this year count for all its worth, she will audition for the neighboring school's musical, which is Chorus Line. Auditions are in November. Her own school also has a musical which will be auditioning in March. Its not determined which one they are doing yet, but she will definitely have some kind of featured part. I think she got the theater bug!!! She's pretty much a shoe in for Valedictorian of her class. Oh boy oh boy. My heart swells with pride over our children. Aren't we the lucky ones?

We are taking the girls on a cruise over Thanksgiving--a much desired adventure for Jennah. We will also visit my parents, my brother and Anika while we are there. It should be quite a whirlwind. What else can we squeeze into the picture.

I can't wait to see all that the future holds for Jennah this final year of high school... our middle child. So far its going pretty well!!! (Is there a middle when you have six)?

Birthday Miscellany

Last year I turned 44 and for some reason I kept thinking I was 45 all year long. I have enough other birthday's and ages to remember all year long... Do I have to remember mine, too. At least I'm in the ball park. But I think I'll redo 44, since I missed it last year.

It was a jam packed weekend. I don't even know how that happened. The real birthdate is was the 28th which is a Friday. Yea... go ahead and write that in your calendar for next year. ;-) But on Thursday my GF who was in the hospital fighting infection all week after having surgery a week earlier, was finally going to be released from her "hospital prison" so I went with a friend to pick her up from the hospital and got home late.

No she did not leave in her hospital gown. This picture wasn't actually from the release day. I forgot to take one of those.

When we got back home I couldn't really get to sleep right away and was up reading when my college girl called to sing me happy birthday, right at midnight. She's so funny. She was already in bed, but stayed up for the special moment in time to call me. She's so sweet and funny.

So Friday was a regular day. While everyone was in school and at work, I made potato soup for Nicki's gang, and later had a rehearsal for this 1850s wedding reenactment I was going to be in on Saturday. (more on that in a few). But Friday night we were heading out to the Public House with friends for some German Oktoberfest entertainment. We had fun, ate too much food. I won a yodeling contest. $100 gift certificate.

Yay, Pat was able to join us finally! Raul is just crazy!!

So is Cristina. Crazy Chileans who are really Americans.

Here are my friends giving us great entertainment all night.

This was make an ugly face day for me.

Buffalo wings.

My time is running out now that I'm ancient.

This couple I did not know but they were more than happy to have a picture.
They were a little upset about coming in second for the costume contest.

This is my failed attempt to do a pull-up. I was shocked!!
Raul helped me do three and the next day I had a major kink in my neck.
Ridiculous.

On Saturday, I was in this wedding reenactment for a Fair going on at the Southampton Historical Museum. It was awesome. I got to play a grumpy spinster sister of the groom. My character's name was named Mehetabel, emphasis on the 'het'. The characters were true and story was real, taken from Southampton history. For some reason it really impacted me to be a part of it, plus I loved my character. However, she gave me a headache from her scowling. LOL.

Saturday evening BJ invited our friends over for some amazing pot roast. All the food was delish. I failed to take out the camera, but the party really started kicking when we began doing some Native American chants and got out all the Musikgarten instruments. It definitely was a head throbber.

But the night wasn't over at that point. It was yet only beginning. We went out to Page's in Sag Harbor at 10 pm to see the Raffa Show. (Such party animals). We left a bit wide-eyed. I don't even want to explain. But it was still all tons of fun and memorable because its always fun to be together with friends.

Sunday continued to be full. Church. I had a first rehearsal for an upcoming show in November. Caleigh gave me a back, neck, and foot massage (she's good for a 10 year old, holy moley) and she painted my toe nails. Terry made an amazing birthday dinner and scrumptious apple pie for the family to celebrate together and that was so nice. We missed having Anika sitting with us, but everyone else was here. I felt honored over and over again. 

There is a lot of love that surrounds my life. How blessed am I?! Because I was feeling kind of blue this morning, like when the show is over [sniff sniff] I thought I would blog about it, which always does the trick. Remembering all the fun we had and telling everyone about it... 

Anika's Big Week!

Anika went to her boyfriend's prom. Its not the same school she attends, but she has become friends with all the Pierson kids, so she had a blast!! In fact, Beau told his mom when she asked if Anika had fun, that she probably had the most fun of anyone there. Very cute.

Don't ya just love her hair?

One of the parents hosted a pre prom picture party. If was a catered event at their gorgeous estate. There were easily 200 people there.

Beau's a funny guy.

I followed the two of them around like their own personal paparazzi.

I was only wearing a bathing suit and my fabulous coverup. TJ MAXX.

Anika found the perfect tie to match her dress.

Aren't they just darling?

These are a little out of order. First was the Senior Class Baccalaureate. It was very nice.

Here are the girls being goofy. No surprise there.

I left out Beau's graduation, but that was also part of the week's events.

This was Anika, just before her graduation. She had gotten her speech together just one day prior to the event. Of course she was only informed about being the class salutatorian a week before, so give the girl a little time to pull it together.

She's so beautiful. I'm sorry. I can't help it.

She had a full on smile for the entire ceremony.

Her graduating class was a total of 16 students.

I had a front row seat.

Here she is giving her lovely speech. She stole the idea of prompters from her brother's valedictorian speech in 2009. It definitely loosened up the audience.

She made two of her teachers cry.

Here is your speech if you haven't seen it yet.


Here is her proud papa.

BJs girlz!

Grandma and Pops with the graduate.

These two have a special relationship.

Here's the whole gang. (The sun was really bright so we are all squinting a bit).

Anika with her cuz, her uncle Jim and two brothers.

And the girlz again.

OK. We had her graduation party a few daze before graduation, so these are also out of sync.

 Here's Pop the grill master. He's so funny!!!

I sent Lizzy to take some pics around the yard before everyone arrived. There were major thunder storms only 30 minutes away and somehow they passed north of us. We had some drizzling but thank God for the drizzle because it was sooooooooooo HOT! Terry, my mom, my dad and I cooked and cooked and prepared and were sweltering all day. My mom and I were not feeling well at all. What a week to get sick. Agh. But we still enjoyed ourselves.

The froggy beach balls came from Oriental trading. Worth the purchase. I love them. I had about 75 beach balls in the pool. Now there are about 10 left thanks to Grace. She LOVES to grab those balls and pop them.

Here is my niece's daughter, Sienna and my brother John, with a friend, Mark in the back.

We love the DeGroots. They were taking a little time to relax on the far side of the pool.

Anika had a nice bunch of friends come out for her party and the actually stayed the entire time. It must have been a fun party because they usually make their showing and leave.

 Gotta love a good splash fight.

The younger kids had fun too.

So that's about it. It a surprise that I even took pictures during the party. I was exhausted. We are still eating mexican food five daze later. LOL. I'm glad the big events are done. They were great. Now we have Luke's birthday and BJs birthday. I think we will have to keep things low key. They always get gypped. HAHA