memories of mom

Lately I find myself overwhelmed with thoughts of my Mom.

I guess its because its been so long since she passed.  I've always been scared that I'll forget the sound of her voice, her laugh, the way she smelled, the products she used.  Not a day goes by that I dont think of her.  I often find myself sad when thinking about her, but lately I'm remembering happier times with her and the crazy adventures we used to have.  So to honor her memory and experience new things with not only I. but also R. (who unfortunately never had the honor of meeting Kimmy), I cook things she made, I buy the things she did and we go do things that I remember doing with her.

Today will be one of those adventures and its kind of bittersweet.  I can already feel the tears welling up in my eyes, but I know (although I. is really resisting the plan but he's 6, what can I expect?) it'll be fun no matter what.

One of my most vivid memories of Mom was the time her and I went Strawberry picking outside of Garrison, MN.  I was about 11 or 12.  All in all it was a horrible experience, but my mom made it fun.  I only say it was horrible because the evening before we went my Aunt JoAnn told us that we should dress in jeans and long-sleeves because Strawberry picking is nothing but crawling on the ground in the dirt.  So the next morning we got up bright and early, dressed in jeans and sweat-shirts and headed out to the field.  We each got our own flat and rows to pick from.  I remember my row going on for what seemed days.  I also helped myself to a few huge berries from an older womans row next to mine, what?! The grass was greener on the other side haha ;)

About an hour into our picking adventure, the heat started to drastically increase and so did my breathinig.  At that age I had severe asthma and being that I was already dressed too warm and the late Spring/early Summer weather was starting to kick in, resulted in a recipe for disaster.  I became overheated, threw up, had an asthma attack and passed out.  Go me! Obviously I was okay but I haven't been back to a Strawberry field since.

After my Mom got me home and I rested for a quite a few hours and rehydrated, I felt much better.  And spent the rest of the evening helping her make Strawberry Freezer Jam.  We spent hours washing, hulling, smashing, cooking and filling jars.  But it was so much fun.

And now 17 years later, I'm about to do it all over again with I. and R. 

Stay tuned for updates on today and this past weeks pre-op surgery adventures!

i dreamt of a white christmas...

Yesterday afternoon it started snowing. It hasn't really stopped. The Sidekick left this morning for his own week-long adventure. So the Partner-in-Crime set off, on foot, for out own adventures in the snow and our surrounding neighborhood.

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an update...of sorts! well really, just a bunch of rambling...

well, as you can see i have severely neglected my little blog this month.  november has been rough, health wise.  life wise, however, things seem to be falling right into place and i couldn't be more thankful for that.

a few weeks ago i came down with the worst case of pink eye i have ever encountered as it was making its way around the public schools and iain managed to bring it home with him.  pair that with an awful sinus infection and cough and i was out of commission.  and then this past weekend, iain got really sick.  a fever of 102 was followed by a trip to urgent care the very next morning where he was diagnosed with pneumonia and an ear infection.  so we have been battling that all week.  poor kid!  luckily the antibiotics seem to finally be kicking in and he is slowly back to his old crazy self. 

with all the illnesses we've been battling, i totally fell of track with my writing for nanowrimo!  i am totally disappointed, however, i think it was a great motivator to get me back into writing.  i found the inspiration i really needed to finally get a good idea together for a book and even after november is over, i plan on continuing writing it and eventually sending it off to a publisher.

and today is thanksgiving.  this will mark the fourth thanksgiving i have spent without my mom.  later on this afternoon we will head down to virginia beach to spend the evening with R.'s family.  and some other people i would rather not spend any time with, but i will have to suck it up and deal with it.

black friday....

this is the first year where i am actually really tempted to go out shopping before work.  yes, i have to work tomorrow.  thank you corporate america.  but hey, atleast they gave me christmas eve and new years eve off this year, usually they have us work til about noon both days.  anyway, like i was saying.  shopping...tomorrow...i kind of want to go.  sheets, pillows and other fun house stuff for super cheap, not to mention lots of toys and games for super cheap for the sidekick.  the downside of all that is the traffic, the crazy people and well the crazy people in large crowds.  this is something i am going to have to think long and hard about.

and finally this weekend, i will finally be hauling my butt to the movie theater to see the newest harry potter with a few of my favorite people and i couldn't be more excited.  even the sidekick may join in on the fun.


so in the grand tradition of school essays, here is a list of things i am thankful for this year:

- the partner in crime.
- the side kick.
- an amazing group of friends. (if you're reading this you probably fit in with this group)
- an amazing family that has taken me in as one of their own.
- my real family - the few i stay in contact with.
- despite recent sickness, i am thankful we are all here to see another holiday season.
- chapstick.
- good lotion.
- flat irons.
- and coffee.

happy thanksgiving everyone!  i'm off to watch the macy's thanksgiving day parade.

saturday evening fever!

so today originally consisted of doing a lot of grocery shopping, do some baking and do some cooking (soups for lunches).

i did none of the above.

instead me and my partner in crime gassed up the mazda, visited michaels crafts (bought one of the last pieces of the little ones halloween costume), checked out spirit halloween, went to the spca (always a bad idea, 15 pitbulls in need of loving homes and we could not provide ours for them because we have no backyard), grabbing beers at an irish pub, dinner double date with our favorite married couple, followed by more beer at the irish pub and then eventually home to do laundry and watch UFC.

i'm kind of scared to see my bank account haha, but i had a good time.  and nights like this make me realize how much more i need to make myself and go out, do adult things and enjoy being in my 20's.

however, i realized that i can't hold a conversation with adults unless it revolves around my kid, something funny he's said/done or video games....i am a boring boring person.  i really need to get some hobbies!

so i guess tomorrow i'll try and get those things accomplished that i should have done today.  i'll keep you posted.

my partner in crime.

this is R.

my partner in crime.

he's pretty great.  he said i should write a blog about him.  so here it is. 

i was going to attempt a haiku, but that just isn't working out haha.

so to my p.i.c.

thank you for putting up with my crazy ass and showing me what its like to really be loved.

i love you!

<3

ena.

xxx