both of my kids have been sick this week. when my son gets sick, he comes up with wild symptoms and holds onto them for a while.  it’s sad to see him this way.  honestly, though, i’ve had to remind myself several times this week that i am supposed to be sympathizing with my ailing kids instead of feeling sorry for my husband and me. there were a number of times this week that i wanted to fling my sick children as far away from my body as possible and run away fast – run until my lungs or my legs gave out.

so far i am still here. and so are they.

today i am grateful for the health that is with us most of our days.

This weekend, a big group of my ladies got the hell outta town to float on the river and drink some beer, to play games, to laugh with each other and cry for each other, to share our time and ourselves. We’ve been doing this annually for the last few years and the group fluctuates – each woman makes it when her life allows it. The weekend together always teaches me new things, reminds me of others, and more deeply ingrains in me the value of friendship.

I grew up with many of these ladies. I hope I get to grow old with all of them.

this mother’s day i am grateful as all get-out that i get to be the mama. THEIR mama.

happy mother’s day to all the lucky mamas.

before they came into my life, i missed ‘em so bad.  i missed ‘em so bad.  i missed ‘em so so bad.

see?  i wasn’t kidding when i said ian made big calendars.  this one now resides in our living/dining room.

my birthday was awesome. i woke up and got my face painted, went paddle boarding on ladybird lake, had lunch with ian at black sheep lodge, got a foot massage, met the fam at whole foods and walked to waterloo records where we saw/listened/danced to shinyribs.  capped off the day with amigos at swift’s attic and the elephant room.

it was a lovely austin day.