Pure of Heart

A few years ago I was informed by a SIL that I was talking about 1 particular child too much.
(Can you talk about your kids too much?)
So I don't talk to her anymore.
A. It was incredibly hurtful and
2. I wasn't even talking about Rubi.

Isn't this the best picture ever?

It shows all the ornery.

It shows all the innocence.

It shows the extreme lengths she went to on Graduation to have just 1 more grape soda.

This one is incredibly silly.

She's also incredibly kind.

This one has no one to compete with.

She gets all the attention all the time.

This one just loves.

She has no prejudice.

She doesn't care who you are

or where you're from.

She's excited about everything.

She doesn't care if your clothes are up to date.

She doesn't care if your hair is combed.

She doesn't care who your parents are or where you live.

She just likes you.

She's hurt when she detects that people don't like her.

You tend to get all of her when you meet her.

She's not shy and she doesn't hold back.

At what age do kids lose that?

When do they discover brands and labels?

When do they figure out that the parents are the kid?

I hope this one stays this way.

She's unconditional.

I love that about her.

Chapters, Endings, Beginnings and Love

Okay.
I promised.
Graduation.
Fabulous.

The day ended up gorgeous.
For 2 weeks we had rain and wind.
This day was just beautiful sun.

Gorgeous aren't they?
From the moment I got up in the morning
It was not lost on me the significance of this day.
The fact that this would be the last time they
Would all enter this building as students of this school.

A little bonus.

I hate to have my picture taken.

I wish this was a little closer...

Gratefully He and I were having the same issues this day.

Greer and Gabe were Jr. Attendants.

Yeah it was a pretty rough day...

I don't know how to explain the amount of pride.

She's turned into so much.

This is the most beautiful photo.

All the promise of the future in that smile...

Then this happened.
It was signed.
Apparently that means I HAVE to let her move on.

Don't even ask.
I went with 2 boxes of Kleenex
And came home with 1/2 a box.
This is where 18 years of life flashed.

It was a pretty emotional day.
I cried. Jeff cried. My sister and my mom and my dad cried.
However, this was the worst. Rubi cried...

And then it was over.
Just like that.
18 years.
Graduated.

Seriously that is how it felt.

Like I went to bed and she was a baby.

Like I woke up THIS morning and she was graduating.

WTH happened?

This girl is phenomenal.

This girl is beautiful.

This girl is kind.

Somehow God allowed this girl to be mine.

I can't accurately convey my feelings.

I cry every time I make the attempt.

I can't quite get there when I write it.

I'm leaving you with family photos.

My sister Mickie and my Mom

Mom & Dad

Mickie and Chris

This is love.
There is no other way to say it.
The day was beautiful.
She was beautiful.

Through all of this I learned,
I've raised good kids.
They have a tremendous dad.
And they are completely and solidly loved.

On to next year.
X's 3...



Wordless Wednesday

Thanks to Maggie Fleming for the photos

Not Quite Ready and 4 Berry Crumble

I'm sure that you are waiting for a post about graduation.
I can't do it just yet.
Too many feelings still.
The day and the daughter were gorgeous
And that is as far as I can go right now...

Rubi graduated from Kindergarten
4 days later
Much less emotional
And far more hysterical. :)

This is Mrs. Sudbeck.
She was my teacher.
She taught all my kids.
She deserves a break. :)

Over the weekend I decided
My baking hiatus and exhaustion
From graduation readying needed
To be over.

I had berries in the fridge,
Rachael Ray's Mini Bubble and Browns,
And weather much too cool for
This time of year!

I love my Mini Bakers.
I wish I had Ray Ray's whole line
Of Bubble and Browns.
AWESOME!

This is your typical topping.
Adapted over MANY
Evenings of apple crisp.

1cup flour
1cup quick oats
1cup granulated sugar
1/2cup brown sugar
12 Tblsp COLD butter

Mix the first 4.
Add nutmeg or cinnamon
If you wish.
Then whisk together.
Cut in butter til crumbly.

4 Berry Crumble

Strawberries cored and halved.

Blueberries washed and drained.

Blackberries rinsed.

Raspberries rinsed.

Whisk together granulated sugar

And cornstarch and dump on berries.

Stir and set aside.

Line heavy duty sheet pan

with parchment.

Spray each mini baker

With cooking spray.

Fill each Mini Baker
With berries.
Mine were a little more than
1/2 full.

Add topping and bake

In a preheated 350 degree oven.

Bake for close to an hour or more.

Berries should bubble and top should

Look crispy.

My kids FIGHT over the "crumble".

Jeff ate 3 in an hour.

1 with Cool Whip and 2

without.

Next week graduation.

I promise.





4 More Days...

So here we are.
4 days of school left for Sofi.
As much as I wished it not to happen -
It is...

In the last few weeks
We've had 3 birthdays,
LOTS of activity,
Easter...

They celebrated their 17th (YIKES!) birthday

at Music contest

in the middle of a freak April blizzard.

Not to worry, I went with cupcakes.

The seniors have been on the count down.

Sofi was in charge of the #6.

She brought it home on Wednesday.

She's far more excited than I.

It's Fatty just because...

We spent Saturday with eggs.

Madame R happens to LOVE green.

A successful egg hunt.

And a mouth full of candy...

As we get closer and closer

to the last page of this chapter for Sofi,

My sister and I are constantly reminded

Of the ones in our lives that have helped

create who we are.

We'd be lying if we said that Sofi

didn't define a MAJOR part of us

18 1/2 years ago.

So I'm leaving you with pictures of those people

that are our definitions...

Mickie, Greer, Lu, Aspen, Joyce

Sofi, Rubi, Sadi

Sofi and Sadi

V.E., Sofi, Jeff

There will be few people more important

to Sofi than my Mom.

She doesn't pose often.

There's not much she won't do for Sofi.

It's all led her to here.

Amazing...

I'm leaving you with the link to Sofi's graduation video.

I can't make it to the end.

I was a puddle on the floor Sunday

watching her years go by.

I couldn't be more proud.

I can't wait to see what her

next chapter brings...

Sofi through the years...

http://youtu.be/398_hiBtjU8

What A Wonderful World...

I see trees of green, red roses too.

I see them bloom for me and you

And I think to myself what a wonderful world.

I see skies of blue and clouds of white.

The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night

And I think to myself what a wonderful world.

The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky

Are also on the faces of people going by

I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do

They're really saying I love you.

I hear babies crying,

I watch them grow

They'll learn much more

Then I'll ever know

And I think to myself what a wonderful world

Yes I think to myself what a wonderful world.

written by George David Weiss, George Douglas AKA Bob Thiele

Lyrics copyright by Windswept Holdings LLC, Carlin America Inc, Larry Spier Music LLC

OBO Abilene Music LLC.