I featured these shoes once before, but since I have had them for several years and I am wearing them for the first time today I figured it was worth showing them again!
August 31, 2010
Aren't they adorable? I know it isn't right to covet things, but...
Today is the beginning of the lasts. The last time I will have a child go on the first day of school at Laurens-Marathon. The last time I take a first day of school picture. Everything Kayla does at school will now be for the last time. Her last winter concert, her last try-out for All-State, her last prom...it goes on and on.
In exactly nine months from today Kayla will graduate high school. She asked me the other day which would seem faster, the nine months it took to make her or the nine months it will take until she graduates. The nine months waiting for her to arrive seemed like forever and I am sure the nine months of her senior year will be gone way before I am ready.
Today is a day of many celebrations in my family. It is the 26th wedding anniversary of my favorite brother and his lovely wife, the 30th birthday of my nephew-in-law and also would have been the 96th birthday of my Grandma Roberta.
Grandma died almost 21 years ago, just a few weeks after Brian's first birthday. I still miss her.
I can remember going to her house in Waterloo to visit. She lived near a busy highway and had a small two bedroom house. The backyard lead to the garage where the "little nigger boy" (so politically incorrect!) opened and closed the garage door. She even had a squirrel that was somewhat tamed and would come to the back door for treats. I also remember walking to the nearest drugstore to buy candy after she snuck me some money. Her purse always had a little change purse with gum and lifesavers in it, which of course she always shared.
I remember she ate "madeerian" oranges and stored her leftovers in her "tooperware". The last Halloween she was alive I answered the door at her house for the trick or treaters...I was 9 days away from having Brian but could still get up from the chair faster than her :)
In my living room sits a white angel and a little boy on a toy horse...both figurines from her. When we used to live at Marathon I could feel her presence every time I was in the kitchen washing dishes...weird, I know, but I still felt like she was watching me. I often think how much she would enjoy Becky and Kayla, just like she adored Brian.
There were times she was hard-headed and stubborn, but she always loved me. From that last pan of cookies that were always burnt to the crazy driving to the kisses she always gave me I miss her. Have a happy birthday in heaven Grandma...I love you!
I am in love with these shoes, but sadly they are not mine. I found them on a website while looking for pink shoes of all things! They have many good points such as they are pink (my favorite color), the heel isn't too high, the toe isn't pointy and they are shiny! But they also have some bad points such as they are pink and therefore really go with nothing I own (I would have to match the exact shade and that would be near impossible), they are not in my size and they are not in my price range. Oh well, at least they are pretty to look at!
Parents defend their children, just a fact of life. The question is, why do they have to? Shouldn't all parents be proud of their kids no matter what they are doing? Shouldn't we as parents realize this and not ask questions to make other parents feel as if they have to defend their children? Apparently not.
I have no problem when people ask me how my kids are or what they are doing now. The problem comes when they ask about Brian. Brian is the age where he should be in college. Brian is not in college. So when people ask what he is doing now I say he is working at Arby's and will soon be promoted to shift manager. To me he is successful. He has finally realized that college is not right for him at this time and he loves his job. He is working hard and the boss likes him. He has made new friends, learned new things and is happy. Therefore Brian is successful. But people don't see it that way. As soon as I say what he is doing I get the "oh" and the look of sympathy. Wait a minute...what? Just because you think he should be in college or you think he should have a "better" job doesn't mean you are right.
Ask me about Becky and I will tell you where she is going to college and what she is majoring in. Ask me about Kayla and I will tell you she is a senior and where she is looking to go to college. Those answers are okay because that is what people expect to hear. But no one expects to hear the truth about Brian and that really ticks me off. Brian is just as good as his sisters, he is just as successful and just as happy. So what if he is living at home (for now), so what if he is working in a job that people think is dead-end (it isn't), so what if he is not in college. Don't judge my son on what you think he should be doing, in fact don't judge him at all.
I am proud of all three of my kids, not matter what they have done, are doing, or will do. I will defend them until my dying breath and if people continue to look down on any of them for some reason that is wrong I will be more than happy to defend them louder and longer. Watch out, no one messes with my kids!
If you had to pick five things you couldn't live without what would they be? Of course, not counting your family, your house, basic wardrobe or your car...
My five? Tough to narrow it down to just five, but here goes, in no particular order!
1. Hair straightener
2. Basic make-up (mascara, blush, chapstick)
3. Comfortable black shoes
4. Tennis shoes
5. My camera
Funny how two of my basics are shoes...but what did you expect? Black shoes go with everything and what they don't go with the tennis shoes do! Used to be all I wanted was curls in my hair, now the very thought of curly hair makes me shudder. The make-up is just a given, the older I get the more I need to cover :) As for the camera...I seldom go far from home without it and as I tell the kids, you will never be in this moment again so you need a picture to document it! My motto is you can never have too many shoes or too many photos!
So, what would your five necessities be?