Me and Teen2 at Easter.

When she was little I dressed her in frilly dresses.

When she got to be about 9 I had to pay her to even wear a dress.

Now she likes to dress up again.

In frilly dresses at that!

Will wonders never cease?

Empty Nest

So Teen1 moved out last weekend and Teen2 has been away at college for 4 months and we are finally "empty nesters". The house is so quiet and neat and clean and stress free. We are making one of their bedrooms into a proper guest room and talking about buying some new furniture for the library. We have rearranged the furniture in the kitchen to accomodate our antique meat block that we haven't used in years. Actually....

I'm kind of liking this empty nest thing!

Another Graduation

The years have flown by so quickly and suddenly Teen2 is graduating from High School. I put this banner up for her like I did for Teen1 two years ago. (It doesn't really say "Teen2"; I photoshopped over her name.)

Soon she will be going off to college and I think I'll miss her! Luckily she is only going about 2 hours away so I can visit when I need to. But in another way I'll be glad to see her on her own, making her own decisions, charting her own path, growing into a responsible adult.

Fly, Teen2, fly!

♥ Mom

St. Baldrick's Day

When the Lord of the Manor and I first met many, many years ago, he had beautiful red hair and I always hoped one of our children would have red hair but that never happened. So when Teen2 decided she wanted red hair I thought it was a good idea. And I love the color, but maybe not the cut, but when you have a 17 year old daughter you learn to pick your battles and this was just not one of them. After all, it's just hair! Recently she surprised me again by signing up for St. Baldrick's day. It's an event that raises money for childhood cancer research. She raised $300 and on St. Patrick's day her school had a head shaving event where 30 kids got their heads shaved.

Several of the girls also donated their hair to Locks of Love, which Teen2 has done twice. It was a great cause and I'm proud of her and it's soooo easy to get ready for school in the morning. Now, I wonder what she will do next with her hair?

The Annual Holiday Photo

Last Sunday we took our Annual Family Holiday Photo. We got a good one that I will be sending out, but I wanted to share this blooper with you. I set up the camera and stomped down a trail to where the rest of the family was sitting. Then I set the timer and started towards them but I fell down and was wallowing around in the snow trying to get up when the camera took the picture. That's why they're all laughing.

Good times here Amongst The Oaks.

Locks of Love Again

It's been two years since Teen2 cut her hair for Locks of Love, and here she is doing it again, but this time, it's a lot shorter. I just love it and can hardly wait to see her elf ears peeking out. Well done, Teen2!

I Left My Heart in San Francisco

I left my heart in San Francisco last week. Right behind those windows up there. Yep, Teen2 is at summer school at the Academy of Art University taking classes in computer animation. She found out about the school several months ago and her Daddy signed her up for their summer program.

She was the first to arrive so she got the softest mattress and the desk by the window. Her room mates are from Florida, Detroit, and Montana. They are sharing this huge room with two bunk beds, four desk, and four wardrobes. The room looks pretty good here, but I'm sure it looks like a bomb site now as she called me today and said her roommates are messy! (This is coming from Teen2, the queen of messy rooms, so they must be really bad.)

Three meals per day are available just across the street, and there's a kitchen available too. The school has shuttle buses that run to each location several times daily, but Teen2 said she is walking to most classes. There's a Walgreens close by and a grocery store about 6 blocks away. I'm sure she'll be fine, but....

I still worry about my heart walking around in that big, strange city.

Old Family Photo 1947

Recently we celebrated my great aunt's 99th birthday. There were cards, flowers, cousins, cake and old family photos. This was one of the old photos. It shows a family reunion at my Granny and Grandpa's house around 1947. Six of my grandmother's siblings (out of 11) made it to the party with their spouses and children. So I easily recognize my mom and her siblings, and some of my cousins, but some of those great uncles and second cousins are a mystery. Thankfully, my dad and aunt recognize more of the people and we are gradually figuring everyone out. Thank goodness for these old relatives and their memories. And thank goodness for the ancestor who had the idea to record this occasion on film.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to you

from all of us

here Amongst The Oaks

A Tea Party from Long Ago

All this talk of Tea Parties got me to thinking about ones we've had in years past so I found this album page from 1997. The Teens were about 4 and 6 years old here. Notice how Teen1 has her pinkie out whilst she chats with Teen2. And check out the hats and pearls. It's all just too cute.