P52 - Week 52 - melt in your mouth

As you can see, my snowman obsession knows no bounds!


But seriously, aren't these guys fun?!?!?

They don't look quite as cute as the ones I saw pinned on Pinterest, but I did my level best and the niece and nephews for whom they were made will simply love them! And on top of that, I had fun making them! I'll use slightly smaller marshmallows next time, but otherwise, I probably won't change much.

And with that, we close out this project for the year! I've tried to do these projects before, but always found some reason to call it quits long before even the half way point. So I'm feeling pretty good about myself to have made it to the finish line.

So ... Happy New Year everyone (even though that's still more than a week away)! I pray the best of your past will be the worst of your future!

P52 - Week 51 - T'was the Morning Before Finals

He's SO CLOSE to the finish line for this semester! And he's running low on energy ...


But thankfully he has his bulldogges to provide physical and emotional support! The three of them will snooze like this until breakfast is ready (for all 3 of them) then the Boy will get busy with starting his day for real. This Boy loves his pups! And as you can tell, they love him right back!

What a blessing!

P52 - Week 50 - Recipe for Academic Success

"So you think you want to be a (Renaissance) Baker?!"

Wonder Boy cooked up (yes, sad little pun intended!) this "game show" idea as part of a project for his World History class. I thought it was a pretty clever way to tackle the project. Many of the kids in class paired up to work on this project, but the Boy found himself the odd man out this time, so he had to get creative in a way to involve others without actually making them part of the work-side of the project.


As part of the project, he had to bake some fresh bread using a recipe for "Rustic Rye Bread" we found on-line. It turned out GREAT and I'm glad that we got to enjoy that part of the project at home (he only needed photos of him baking for the project).

I say it a lot, but I'm going to repeat myself here: I am SO PROUD of the effort that the Boy puts into his school work! As has become "the norm" for the end of a semester, he is bogged down with multiple projects and exams - all with due dates before the holiday break! But he just puts his head down and gets his work done. And as proud as I feel about the grades he brings home, it is his effort and attention to detail that truly warm my heart!

P52 - Week 49 - the Mythical Texas Snow Beast

Just looking at this photo brings a chuckle to my heart! This freak snow shower (we got 4"!) was Wonder Mutt's first time to have the opportunity to prance about in a white carpeted lawn like this.


The snow didn't last long. Wonder Boy didn't even get a day off from school (& he really was hoping for one). But while it lasted, Wonder Mutt here couldn't bear to come inside! He simply HAD to examine each and every fluffy flake in his yard. He pushed his little snout right down in it and plowed across the yard again and again and again.

When it did finally melt away (about 30 hours after the initial snow fall), he was exhausted and slept for the better part of two days!

Maybe it's best that we live deep in the heart of Texas where this kind of precipitation is a rarity - he might run himself to death if it stayed on the ground for weeks or months at a time! That's something we'll have to consider if we ever have the opportunity to relocate.

P52 - Week 48 - My World

We usually try to get out for our annual family photo some time in early November, but that just wasn't in the cards this year. In the end, I think it all worked out for the best as we had the PERFECT day, in the PERFECT location for photos today!


The two are most certainly my whole world! They make me smile even on my darkest days and when we share our best days, those days become even more incredible! I am so blessed to have them in my life and I hope this photo will serve as a reminder of just how blessed one can be in this life.

P52 - Week 47 - Holiday Cheer

As is our custom, we pulled out our Christmas decorations the day after Thanksgiving and started getting he house prepared for the holiday season to come.


I'll admit though, I am having a hard time getting into the holiday spirit this year, so to help move me in that direction, I broke out my paints and the table top easel my guys gave me for my birthday and came up with this fun little guy.

I have been noticing over the past few years that I have "a thing" for snowmen. Maybe that is because we live in such a warm climate that snowmen are almost a figment of fantasy. One of these years, it is my dream to spend the holidays somewhere that we can have a white Christmas and maybe I'll finally get to build one of these guys for real!

P52 - Week 46 - Birthday Blooms

We picked up these yellow roses for Nanny's celebration of life gathering back in the spring. After the service, we planted them in the front yard and they have been such a bright, beautiful reminder of my mom!


But as lovely as these have looked over the last 6 months, it is nothing to the spectacular show they are putting on now! And that seems entirely perfect as this week would have been Nanny's 71st birthday and a bouquet of brilliant yellow roses like this would have made her birthday dreams come true.

Happy birthday in Heaven Mom! I love you and miss you more than I can properly express, but when I see these bright yellow blooms welcoming me home when I pull into the drive, I feel just a little bit closer to you.

P52 - Week 45 - Mr. & Mrs.

I'm so excited to share this week's photo!


This young man came to work for me a few years ago. He quickly outgrew his role in my group and has moved on to bigger and better things, but I am thankful that we still get the opportunity to work together off and on.

He's always been pretty hush-hush when it comes to his private life, but he took that to new heights and surprised us all when he scheduled a last-minute day of leave so that he and this sweet lady could tie the knot. Just like that!

I am so glad they let me do this little photo shoot as my way of congratulations. I got a rare glimpse into their world outside of work and it looks like a great place to be! I wish them many more years together, now as Mr. and Mrs.!

P52 - Week 44 - Second Showing

Fun fact: I'm addicted to radio call-in games!

Over the years, by playing these games, I've managed to win a wide range of fun treats! I picked up some cash one year ON MY BIRTHDAY. It's not unusual to be awarded restaurant gift certificates. And once, Wonder Dad and I ended up with tickets to see the American Gladiators in a live show!

This fall, I lucked out and picked up tickets to the Texas Renaissance Festival! We try to make it there each year, but it is always more fun when you get to go for FREE!


This fire-wielding fellow's name is Arsene. We had the pleasure of catching his act at the Colorado Renaissance Festival when we were visiting Colorado Springs in August and we enjoyed him every bit as much this second time around. In fact, I think I may have enjoyed this performance even more because I had a scare that I had lost my cell phone back in Colorado. And since that was not weighing on me this time, I was able to fully enjoy the show!

It's been a tough month, but it sure has been nice to have this little escape back in time to take our minds off of things!

P52 - Week 43 - Dapper Dan Man

It's orchestra concert night at Wonder Boy's high school, so it's a chance to see our favorite guy get dressed to the 9s in his tux!

He's in need of a hair cut, so he had to use a generous amount of pomade (actually, hair gel) to get this dapper look down, so we dubbed him our "Dapper Dan Man!"


Two points if you know the movie reference!

Now ... off to the concert!

P52 - Week 42 - the Grands

It's been a long couple of weeks, planning Papi's funeral. The headaches have been constant along with the ache in my heart.

But this bunch right here (& a few more not in the frame) has kept me going in large part.


I am glad that most of them really don't understand why everyone is so blue. They have cookies and punch and all of the cousins are together - a set of circumstances that is usually reserved for holidays - so to them, it feels a lot like a party.

And really, THAT is what Papi would have wanted. Like my sweet mom that went earlier this year, Papi really didn't do depressing. He did big laughs, family, and he NEVER turned down a cookie and a Coke-a-cola. So raise your bright red can of carbonated sugar water, take a bite of your favorite cookie, and wish our favorite guy a peaceful passing!

P52 - Week 40 - Super Sweet 16

Sixteen is a serious milestone! Wonder Boy is not one for big celebrations but we can't let a bid day like this go by without some kind of shin dig to mark the occasion.


The Boy requested his all time favorite dinner - carnitas served in bacon taco shells - and a nice big pizookie for dessert.

We've had a tough week, so ordering up a favorite dinner and dessert was the very least we could do! And in the end, I think he had a good day.

As for me, I really can't gush enough with how proud we are of this young man. He is the light in our lives! I love his wacky sense of humor and his insatiable curiosity. I admire his self confidence and his gentle heart.

I am so proud of this amazing SIXTEEN year old! He is my favorite 16 year old in the history of 16 year olds.

P52 - Week 39 - Double Trouble

Oh, these two! Talk about Trouble with a capital T!


These two are just a match made in heaven! Wonder Boy loves his Mutt and the Mutt thinks the Boy simply belongs to him.

Wonder Mutt gets to share a room with the Boy and that means cuddles like this are common place!

P52 - Week 38 - Mr. Musica

I gush about it all the time, but I am just in AWE with Wonder Boy's musical abilities. Everything started with the viola, it grew exponentially with the piano, and now seems to be capped off by the classical guitar. The Boy's musical gifts are just that ... GIFTS ... to the whole family. Even the furry, four-legged family members love it when he plays.


But it is Wonder Dad and I that seem to get the most out of practice time at our home!

I know Wonder Dad took a huge leap of faith when he sold off his own electric bass guitar to make this particular musical endeavor possible for the Boy. But it has evolved into such a special time for us, I am so glad he was willing to make that personal sacrifice for the enjoyment of the whole family.

The Boy has started some on-line lessons and we are hoping that it will work out for him as I think he's picked up about all that he can from watching YouTube videos.

P52 - Week 37 - Birthday Mutt

It's Wonder Mutt's 4th birthday, but you would never know it to see him - he thinks he's still 4 MONTHS old!


For his big day, we let him have another go at the squeaker toy he was given by the staff at the place where were occasionally board him and the puppy princess. He was much more ready to attack the little fuzzy treasure this time around, but I think he found his greatest joy in playing keep-away from the puppy princess! He must have charged back and forth across the backyard for the better part of an hour trying to entice her into giving chase!

All in all, I think it was one of the best gifts we could have given to him!

P52 - Week 36 - Music Calms the Savage Beast

Our puppy princess might not appreciate being called a "beast," but she really does love listening to the Boy practice his musical instruments.


We ALL enjoy it actually, especially on a weary Friday evening like this one.

We are all beginning to adjust to the new schedule that comes with the new school year. Wonder Boy is adjusting to the increased workload his teachers are expecting from him. And we're all doing our best to establish a "new normal."

So it was especially nice when the Boy pulled out his guitar for a little practice tonight. He played for over an hour and even took some requests towards the end. It was the PICTURE PERFECT way to unwind at the end of a long week!

P52 - Week 35 - A Minor Delay

It's been an "interesting" week around these parts as Hurricane Harvey tore its way across Texas. We are so blessed to have been spared the worst. In fact, we only had to hunker down and endure a bit of cabin fever while the winds and rain howled outside.

For the Boy, however, the biggest impact was that his summer vacation was extended by an extra day due to the storm.


He's ready to go back, regardless of what he says. He's been considerably more idle this summer than in any summer I can recall. And I know he craves routine and structure almost as much as I do. But even more than that, I know he's ready to be with his friends again.

I hope he has a FANTASTIC sophomore year!

P52 - Week 34 - The Monday Blues

This sad little face sums up exactly how I feel about Mondays most of the time:


But despite his forlorn look, he was such a cuddly, snuggly, little ball of bulldogge! He was a bit unsure about playing on the slick floors, but once he was in my arms, he was a licking machine!

It's just what the doctor ordered, imho!

P52 - Week 33 - Be Still My Heart

I'm having one of those "mommy moments." My Wonder Boy (Wonder Guy?) is on the door step of his sophomore year of high school, tenth grade; he's also a few weeks away from turning 16 years old (& all that that entails) and my heart is all mush.


I'm excited for him and I simply LOVE watching him grow and change and ... I don't know ... EVOLVE ever more into such a fine young man. It's not that I miss the days when a kiss from mom and a chocolate chip cookie made for the BEST.DAY.EVER for him. It's not that he's filled with teenage angst. But I still find myself clutching to every possible minute with him right now.

I don't want to return to the past (though I certainly like to reflect on it on a regular basis) but I'll admit that I'm in no rush to meet the future either. I truly want to embrace this particular moment that is so ripe with possibility.

P52 - Week 32 - Barbara Manatee

Barbra Manatee (Manatee, Manatee)
You are the one for me (one for me, one for me)
Sent from up above (up above, up above)
You are the one I love (I love, I love, I love)"

This week's share is two-fold. First ... look at that sweet face!

Wonder Mutt's breeder has a new litter that has just opened their eyes and they are cute and cuddly and everything wonderful that is a new pup!

As I was going through the pictures, I kept thinking that the pups reminded me of .... I couldn't put my finger on it, but I kept thinking there was SOMETHING about these sweet little beasts that struck a chord with me.

These little guys are only a few weeks old, eyes only open about 3 days. And while they have started to move around in their little nest, on top of blankets, carpet, and one another they really don't have their "sea legs" yet. So when we brought them out on the hard wood floors, the were having a hard time getting good enough purchase to stand for more than a couple of seconds. So instead, they kind of "swam" around the living room. And that got me to thinking that their body shape, heavy in the front and tapering to the hind legs, really made them look like manatees!

And I can't even start to think about manatees without recalling the days when the Veggie Tales silly song "Barbara Manatee" was a favorite in our home! In fact, I expect to carry the melody with me for at least the rest of the day now that the thought is firmly planted in my mind. I hope you will too! And if you have never had the pleasure of hearing this little ditty ... well ... check it out here!