Ramblings, Advice, Mischief, Mail, & Mom Points

I wanted to let y'all in on something. I haven't much been into blogging lately, but I'm trying so hard to get back into the swing of things. Did you notice how late my Christmas posts were? Well let's just keep it at really late, so I came to tell you why.

About 10 days before Christmas, at the very last minute, I caught a plane to go visit my sweet Pawpaw. He wasn't doing very well, and with both my Granny & Pawpaw so far away, it had been too long since our last visit.

Y'all know by now I'm a planner, right? Well let me just tell you that by the time we found the most economical way for me to get there (using those pesky airline miles that say when and where and how you can fly), I had one hour to pack, shower and get out the door.

Folks, I was in my pj's in the preschool carpool line when we figured all of this out. Well, I did it. I dumped my kids with my hubby. Left a dirty and unpicked up house. There was laundry to be done. Grocery shopping to do. Christmas ends to tie up. The list goes on. You know, when you leave, you kinda "do it all" to help out whoever is gracious enough to keep your little cutie pies? Well, not this time. I was in the air when I figured out that Emma was currently missing dance. There were no plans this time and no time for plans either.

It had been so long since I had flown by myself. I sorta flash-backed to my very first job out of college. I traveled quite a bit back then. And a lot by plane. It seemed so long ago. Almost weird if ya know what I mean. That life before little ones is sometimes so hard to put your finger on. Do y'all know what I mean?

Long story short... I saw my Pawpaw that night, but he passed away while we were there. It was truly one of the saddest things I have ever witnessed. I have surely been to my share of funerals, but to be present with it all happening, is still almost too much for me to wrap my little head around.

My sweet Pawpaw left all of the suffering that day. And that weekend, my Granny gave my little sister some advice while we were there...

"Make everyday together special. 58 years of marriage go by so fast."

So true. They had four kids, 10 grandkids, and 2 great-grandkids, and were married 58 years, but it just all goes by so fast. Rob and I talk about it all the time. Every year seems to pass a little quicker than the one before it. Is it just us, or do y'all agree?

So, do something for me and take my Granny's advice. Make everyday count. I think we should all give this one a go.

I came home from that quick trip out and wow. I had so much running around in my head. I was sad. I was sad that my daddy lost his daddy. Sad that my Granny lost her lifelong mate. I was sad that our life here is so short. And sad that everything can end, just so quickly. So that's why. That's why I haven't blogged.

I wish I had some photos to share, but most all of them were old school film.

I do have this one. It's of my little sister and Pawpaw. I love it.

And this one. It's both my Granny & Pawpaw with Baby Carson.

If you have an extra prayer or two, I am sure that my Granny and the rest of the family would really appreciate it. And to our Pawpaw, may you rest in peace and know that you are truly missed.

A couple of weeks later, I attempted to take one more photo of the kids, just before we took the tree down....fail.

This is the best I got. So moving on...

After the failed photo shoot, I did start taking the tree down and looked up to find this.

Carson had swiped an entire tube of m&m's from the pantry, opened it, and eaten the whole thing. i. am. not. kidding. They keep me hopping for sure.

Emma went back to preschool, following the Christmas hiatus. She is so sweet, and when I think of her leaving for kindergarten next year, I crumble. They have a mail station at preschool...it's where they write and receive mail. So, if you're an all star mom, you send mail everyday. And, if you not quite at that level (ahem...me), you send mail...well, when you remember. Last week, I got mail. Emma wrote to me! It was so sweet, so I thought I'd share. She even wrote "Emma" and "Mom" on the front....growing up too fast. Notice that she's still drawing Christmas. She was not at all impressed when it was all over.

On a sidenote, if you're reading and you're a family member and would like to send Miss Emma mail, please do. I would be ever so grateful and Emma would too! I keep telling myself that I'm going to sit down one night and create a pile of mail to send weekly, but, well...it's on that list that just hasn't happened yet.

I rung in the New Year by attempting a Pinterest idea. (If you haven't joined yet, you should. Email me if you need an invite...it's so addicting & inspiring all at the same time :) The kids were thrilled with marshmallows for breakfast and I thought they turned out super cute. It's uper easy & you'll get major mom points for this one.

Sorry y'all...I know I was all over the place for this one. If you're still with me...Carson would give you a fist bump...and a high five :)