Playing hooky.

Just over a week ago, in the middle of graduation chaos, Juliana and I played hooky.

We had to be up and out of the house early for a doctor's appointment so we decided to play hooky instead of returning to school.

For fun, I booked us for manicures and pedicures - her first 'real' ones (if you don't count the years of painting little toes and fingers in our bathroom as 'real').

Her excited grin as she almost disappeared into the giant chair was worth the price of admission.

We followed up with crepes, waffles and fruit for brunch.

And then off to Ikea to find all sorts of treasures for her bedroom.  Along the way we tried out all the 'rooms' to decide which one we'd like to live in.  Her favourite (and inspiration for some of her purchases) was the bed with tons of pillows.

We had lots of fun on our long awaited, much needed girls day.

Too bad it had to end with a trip to the dentist.  

Just for a cleaning.  

But still.....

My Graduate.

He did it.

Grade eight is done.  They've had their graduation and tonight they will return from their three day trip.  All that's left is a BBQ on Wednesday afternoon and then the rest of the students will line the school hallways while the grade eights parade through, high-fiving all the little ones, and head right out the front door of the school for the last time.

But, wait, I'm getting ahead of myself.

We all scrubbed up pretty well.  And the sight of my boy in his suit stopped me dead in my tracks.  We managed some quick family photos before the evening began and then I watched him work those dimples. All. Night. Long.

The "Under the Big Top" circus theme was a big success.  A group of hardworking parents managed to pull all the pieces together to create a really memorable night for our kids - from the big circus tent over the stage to the elephants parading around the entire gym - the school was filled with the sights and sounds of the circus.

And then we watched as our kids proudly walked across the stage to collect their diplomas with pride.

(You can lead a boy to a suit, but you can't make him change his shoes.)

Finally, the night ended with the mother/son dance. Which we did. Without even practicing first.  And, most importantly to Sheldon, no tears from me.

Truth be told, the evening was overwhelming for many reasons.  But, in the end, I left with a heart full of pride as my baby finishes up his first 10 years at school and gets ready for the big move to high school.

Congratulations Sheldon.

For Peter.

For the children we share.

For every time you make me laugh.  (Especially the it-hurts-my-belly laugh.)

For every pair of socks you leave at the front door.

For every bouquet of flowers you bring me. (Even the discount ones that the ladies in line remind you to rip the sticker off.)

For every t-shirt I find that smells like Old Spice.

For the details you have to tell.

For giving me sleep-ins.

For all the songs you sing.

For the times you send me out of the house to find serenity when the kids are driving me crazy.

For every time you've filled up my gas when it was almost empty.

For letting me buy the ridiculously expensive coffee maker when a cheaper one would have been just fine.

For every time you've brought me a pecan pie, just because.

For golfing with Sheldon.

For letting me get in the clean sheets first.

For your tears at Juliana's dance recital.

For sharing the experience of being a parent with me.

Thank you.

My house is a disaster.....

....but here's a peek at what 24 hours (over 3 days) in a school gymnasium can look like:

The circus is coming!  The circus is coming!

But first we will celebrate Father's Day tomorrow.  Which in our house (and probably a couple of others) will be re-named as Exhausted Mother Day.

Hopefully Peter will understand.  :)

Countdown to Graduation.

What?  Blogging?

I seem to have given my personal blogging time away so that I could coordinate Sheldon's grade eight graduation.  (Actually I've given my blogging time, my reading time, my computer time, and a good chunk of my sleeping time......  Not my drinking time though.  There is always time for a glass of wine.)

We are now just four days away.  Four days with a LOT more to do.  But after a day at the school doing decorations, an after school haircut, and a visit to the tailors to beg for them to hem his pants before Monday, I feel like it is all starting to come together.

A few weeks ago Peter took him to pick out his suit and shirt.  Last weekend Sheldon chose his tie and his shoes - skateboard shoes, if you must know.  I figure that if I've got to shell out mucho bucks for shoes then they might as well be ones that he'll wear again.  The deal is that he absolutely cannot wear them out of the house until grad day, lest he wear a hole in them.  (It's possible.  Trust me - we've been there.)

And so, for the last week or so, his suit, shirt and tie have been hanging on his closet door, waiting to be put on.  It's like that shirt and tie have been taunting me.

This afternoon he laced his shoes.  Purple laces.  He's 14, you know.

I

I've been keeping busy, busy, busy.  But I'm telling you - they start to talk about the mother/son dance and I start batting my eyes like a fool to keep from welling up.

Meanwhile, back to the circus.  Not my family circus.  I mean the one that we are creating for the kids who chose "Under the Big Top" as their theme.  I'll be dreaming of elephants, old-time clowns, a big tent, and rows and rows of red and white flags.

I'll let you know how it goes.