I have intended to write about a dozen times before now. I have even wrote mini blogs in my mind about certain things that have taken place the past month, but I just never found enough time to chronicle them. But, Aaron is working late tonight, and Z has the neighbor boys over watching a Pokemon movie, so it's me time.
Today is the 46th official day without my beloved dog. It's still very surreal at times, and it's weird to no longer being a dog owner. I finally dreamt about him, one time in a disturbing dream, then again the other night in a much more pleasant dream. I woke up from the first one very upset, with wet eyes, and feeling exhausted emotionally. Thankfully, this second one was much more mellow, and it just made me miss him & his velvet-head. I'm not quite ready yet to get a new dog, but at least the pain of losing him is not as poignant as it was a month ago. Baby steps.
We have kept very busy since last month, with Easter, Z making his First Holy Communion, and a strange event that resulted in me getting my first concussion. It's always something, right? A few pics from Easter:
Broke out the egg coloring kits and kept tradition making colored eggs. Z still whole-heartedly believes in the Easter bunny, even to the point of getting into a verbal squabble with a classmate over his validity. I'm guessing this will probably be the last year he believes ... sniffle.
We draw on them, too.
Aaron's KISS egg.
Z's superhero egg, who landed on the moon.
Aaron's muscle man bunny.
Our finished products.
Z's loot. The sodas were an extra special treat, because he gave up
soda for Lent, and actually lasted all 40 days.
SIDEBAR:
My reward for lasting those same 40 days alongside him.
I missed these little guys so much.
Hunting for eggs.
Ready for church, but a tad queasy from drinking soda and
eating Kit Kats, all before 9:00am. Lesson learned.
The feast, later on.
The stars of the show.
Buttermilk pie, with coconut.
And buttermilk pie, sans coconut.
About two weeks after Easter, Z made his First Holy Communion, and it was such a beautiful day. We were so proud, but it was yet another bittersweet occasion because it was another reminder he's getting older. He looked so grown up and so handsome, it melted our hearts.
His gorgeous cake from The Cake Plate.
That catches us up to today. In between we have had lots of family time, one bout with illness (Z had a 24-hour stomach bug), and one unexpected trip to the hospital.
I managed to make it 36 years without experiencing a concussion. Unfortunately, my lucky streak ended last weekend when Z and I were playing around in the La-Z-Boy. I started to tickle him, he tried to get away, and the chair got top-heavy & flipped. Our brick fireplace broke my fall, and made a mess. They say head wounds always bleed like crazy, and that is oh so true. I had a puddle of blood on our lovely wood floors within seconds, and my son watched with the kind of expression kids get when they watch a horror movie too early in life. He stared at me a lot and petted me gently over the course of the next few days, and even made dinner during the week. There were no fights to brush his teeth at night, or get to bed on time ... hmmm, maybe I should bleed from the head more often?
As I stated in the beginning of this entry, we have a mere two weeks until Alaska. To say we are excited, overjoyed, and about to come out of our skin with anticipation would be an understatement (or three understatements?). Z is even getting revved up and ready to get back on the cruise ship. I'm glad he loves them as much as we do! Next week is our last week of 2nd grade, and then we have one week left, which will be filled with basketball & art camps. As hectic as it might get, I'm so happy we're all booked up until we leave because then time might go by faster. These past few weeks have been draaaaaaaaagging on and on, torturing me one mind-numbingly slow day at a time. I'm ready to jump in bed at 8:00pm every night when the kid goes to bed, just so I can go to sleep sooner and the next day will get here faster. I'm like a little kid before Christmas. Yes, I'm geeking out over this vacation, but what a happy geek I will finally be in 14 days -- arctic air blowing through my hair, drink in hand, free food everywhere I turn ... ahhhhhhhhhhhh. BRING IT.
Until next time ... peace & pastries to all!