Medalist!!!

Science Fair work started at Thanksgiving. Jack worked on selecting 5 different topics to research and experiment. None of this was easy, especially when you don't really want to listen to what your parents have to say about things. In the end, Steve and I offered our assistance when we could but Jack did an amazing job on his project all on his own, down to typing all of the written material and using the computer to create a chart to show his data.

I was happy to find out that he earned 100% on the completed project. And even more thrilled to hear that he placed in his school's Science Fair competition. Out of 72 fifth graders he earned a 2nd Place  Medal.

Jack and the other 5th grade medalists

The completed project

Meet Charlie...

Abby has wanted a dog of her own for years. She had asked Santa for a puppy for the last 3 years. Luckily, Santa is smart and asks moms and dads if kids are ready to take care of a puppy before delivering one to a unprepared child on Christmas Eve and Abby has asked for long lists of other things that she "needed". This year Santa was stunned to see just one gift request on Abby's list- a puppy. After a long conversation with Santa, it was determined that Abby was ready for a dog. This dog...





Charlie-

The King Charles Cavalier

Born on July 20, 2012- the day after Abby's birthday!

Charlie is quite the character. He loves the kids and they BOTH love him. There is much debate about WHO Charlie gets to sleep with, who gets to feed him, who gets to sit with him, who puts him in the crate in the morning... oddly enough, no one is fighting over picking up his poop.



Holding on or Letting go... Holiday Edition

We have moved out, I am trying not to hold on. The holidays is presenting a problem of Christmases past- family traditions, memorable decorations, and time spent with loved ones. Last year, Abby in all of her 6 years of wisdom announced that "Santa has never disappointed me, and neither has MOM AND DAD." No pressure right? I am a Christmas hoarder, I love Christmas decorations, Christmas trees, Christmas music, Christmas parties (and Hanukkah, too), Christmas cards and letters, Christmas movies, the list is endless.

When we moved out I gave away one of my favorite fake Christmas trees, the one that is used to display holiday card from friends and family- letting go. I brought with me 2 trees each with their own significance and box full of memories- holding on. For a woman who used to have a 4000 square foot house that would display 7 trees during the holidays, 2 trees is quite the downgrade.

Today's struggle is with holding on or letting go. He brought over 20 boxes of Christmas decorations yesterday. I want nothing to do with any of it really, I am ready to let go. But then there are the kids to think about, the expectation of Christmas is pretty high. So what do I hold on to? My brain does not even want to consider any of it, it can all go back. And then I talk to him- "what am I going to do with 17 boxes of Christmas decorations?" he says. Sigh- holding on. Each item I picked holds some memory, a nugget of the past where we were happy, some more significant than others. What do I do with them hold on or let go? I wish I knew the answer, none of this is easy, but being that this is Christmas it makes it that much harder.

Happiness is a Choice...

The path that my life had been on has taken an unexpected turn. I am on a road that I never expected to be on, but I am finding that I am happier than I thought I could be- alone, single, without the big house and all of the things that I believed would make one happy. I have found that I had disconnected from friends and family, reconnecting without conditions and stress. True friends.

I am finding the "old" Rachel.

Welcome back!

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Pinterest Party 2012...

This girl needed a party...

This girl deserves a party...

And one week after moving I was able to pull this off.

And it was successful if I do say so myself!



 

 

Clever friends with nimble fingers!
Photo booth props have been so fun to have.

 

Delicious treats!
Eggs and candied meat!
Fruit AND Veggie turkeys!

LOTS of presents and crafts!

Happiest of recipients!

DESSERT!

Pinterest has Made Me a Crazy Person...

Kids are at swim practice with Grandma and what do I do on the eve of Summer Vacation? Think about the pictures and interviews that that need to be completed tomorrow. YIKES!

Click graphic, it will open and save picture, print from the saved document. I am incapable of doing it the fancy way.

 HAPPY SUMMER VACATION!

Where Have You Been???

Medicare. Holiday Parties. Christmas. New Years Eve. Work. The Gym. MAUI! The Kuhtz Family's busy calendar took the wind out of my bloggy sails (oh- and Pinterest and streaming Netflix are great time consumers if you aren't careful), enough to make me think that I should quit blogging altogether. I just couldn't do it, there is something about keeping a written history of our family that still appeals to me, so I am rededicating myself to my blog. Once a week is what I am going to plan for, just like "Junior League Mondays", Wednesday will now be called "Written on Wednesdays. See you tomorrow!