The Anticipation of Easter

With Easter just a week away, I'm feeling a little sad. Why? Because Easter just isn't what it used to be. It can't be, not with teenagers.

I've been struggling these last few days with this question: what are we going to do for Easter? How can I make it special? I come up empty-handed.

We have no family coming this year, and we aren't going anywhere. The boys are too old for community Easter egg hunts, although they still want to have one at home. We don't go to church. They still want to dye eggs. So, I guess that's something. I will boil a dozen or two eggs, and look on as they make a mess dipping them. I will make deviled eggs because Eduardo really likes them, as do I. I will make a carrot cake, even though Eduardo does not like that, but the boys do. We will hide plastic eggs in the yard, filled with coins and candy, and they'll enjoy the hunt. Especially when they find the special gold and silver eggs, containing a ten or twenty (I haven't decided yet!). I will make ham, and the four of us will eat dinner together, maybe in the dining room, and we'll use my good china.

Is that enough? I guess it's not so empty . . . it's just that I miss the magic of the holidays when they were little, and believed in such a ridiculous concept as the Easter bunny, leaving Easter baskets full of candy and toys. They'll still get a basket, but there'll be no mystery as to where it came from.

I suppose that what I need to keep in mind is the beauty of my family. That we'll spend the day together, and celebrate spring, and life. We may have lost the magic, the mystery, and the "cute" factor, but we have each other, and isn't that even more precious?

Birthday Pumpkin Pie!

Cameon's birthday dessert of choice has become a pumpkin pie. I made one lastnight and we had it after dinner tonight, and I have to say, it was pretty darn good! He was happy. His birthday dinner was breaded chicken cutlets, buttered noodles, and peas with pearl onions. We didn't have 13 candles, so we settled for 3.

The Slingshot Project

Here he is - the "new" teenager. When I got home from work tonight, he was busily constructing a slingshot. Yes, a slingshot. It looks pretty good, right? Trouble is, it doesn't "sling" very well. So now he is on a quest, a quest for a real slingshot. Apparently Olympia Sports carries them. Apparently his father is going to take him there tomorrow. After all, he has birthday money burning a hole in his pocket, so why not? This is my Cameron - impulsive, creative, and a little bit quirky.

Cameron Turned 13 Today

Yes, it's true - my baby is now 13 years old, and I am the mother of two teenagers! How this happened, I'm not quite sure . . .

At 13 Cameron is a very, very sweet boy, er, young man. He is gentle, and thoughtful, and somewhat quiet by nature. Not much seems to bother him. At home he prefers leisure, but when it comes to school, he is a hard worker. He has made straight A's in the first two quarters of 7th grade this year and is very proud of this, as he should be. His biggest passion? I hate to say, but it appears to be playing X-Box. If we allowed it, I think this is all he would do. But we don't, of course. He also likes basketball, and snowboarding and skiing, but I don't think he loves those activities. He doesn't play baseball anymore, but he has taken a liking to track, too, and could probably be good at it if he pursued it. If he practiced basketball more he'd probably be great at it, he certainly has the height (he's a little taller than Tyler already!), but he doesn't. And I don't think he is aggressive enough. He is tall and slender, with kind brown eyes and an easy smile. The girls do like him, and he seems to like the girls, but they are his friends - for the past year or so he has forsaken having a "girlfriend" and I have encouraged that! No need for all that complexity at age 13.

Cameron says he wants to be an architect, and I'm encouraging that, too. I don't think it's a passing phase, since he's been saying this for awhile. He also says he will build me a house some day. I plan to hold him to it! He's already drawn up plans and made a model with a kit he got for Christmas.

At this age, Cameron has become extremely messy! His bedroom is always in a state of complete disarray, much to my dismay! I have tried to teach him to do better, but it doesn't sink in, unfortunately. He is a picky eater, too, and frequently doesn't want to eat what I cook for dinner. He can eat a slew of cookies, however, or a zillion chips, and not gain an ounce. Very unfair.

He is very affectionate. He hugs me and kisses me often, and tells me he loves me. He is also very loving and affectionate towards Tootsie, our dog. And he is generous and giving; rarely do I see him being selfish.

As a baby Cameron was difficult to handle at times - he cried so much!!! - but I am pleasantly surprised at the young man he is turning out to be. Happy birthday, Cameron, I am so glad to be your mother and have you in my world.

Craft Fair

I am going to take the plunge: I'm going to be in a craft fair this summer! It's actually the 4-H Fair, but I'll have a table in the craft show area and I am sooooo excited! Bought a tent this weekend, and more beads, pretty boxes to display my cards, and I'm psyched! More preparation to do, and I know this will be an investment of sorts, but if this is something I love doing, shouldn't I pursue it?

I just made this necklace for a customer at the salon where some of my jewelry is displayed. 

Handmade Cards

Here are two handmade cards I'm sending out this week.

Happy anniversary, Sandy and Sam!

And happy birthday, Robyn!

What is it about making these that I love so much? All of it, I guess. The paper, the colors, the ribbon, the flowers, the tiny, shiny rhinestones. LOVE my threading water border punch. The chance for creativity. I would make these all the time, if I could only justify spending that much time on them. 

Mother's Day Cards

Both boys made me sweet Mother's Day cards last Sunday.

Unedited . . . 

Cameron's:

Your the best mom ever because you cook for us, you love us, your there for the family, and you take us where we wanna go! Your the best

     Love

           Cameron

Tyler's:

Dear Mom,

I love you for everything you do for us. From breakfast to dinner, from sick to healthy your always their and helping! I'm blessed to have a mom like you. I love you!

Love, Tyler