Oh you know... Just 4 years later...

 Hiya Kiddo...

It's just after midnight on August 24th, 2020.  In 6 short hours, I will wake you up and we'll get ready for your very first day of High School.  High School!!  

I couldn't sleep, and even though I haven't looked at this blog in forever, I found myself here.  I guess that's how it is with big moments, new beginnings, you're drawn to take a peak back into the archives. It's crazy how fast time has gone by, if I close my eyes I can still feel the weight of you in my arms, smell the top of your head, feel you settle into me as you fall asleep.  How are we already at your last chapter of childhood?  

Bittersweet.  A word I never fully grasped until I became a momma.  I'm so very proud of you my sweet boy, you are and have always been such an exceptional kiddo.  I'm so excited for your future, to watch you chase your dreams, follow your heart and achieve all that you set out to do, and yet... I'm sad. Sad that it's all gone by so fast, that before I know it, you won't just be across the house, that I won't be able to stick my head through your door, listen to you breathe... 

You were anxious a bit tonight when I said goodnight, this year has been a wild one, with Covid and your heart surgery and being out of school for so long.  We didn't get to tour the school, a new one to you, so much bigger than anywhere you've been before.  We're unsure of where to drop you off and what doors you'll go in through, what building your classes are in and how you'll make it across campus between bells.  I know you'll figure it all out tomorrow and this week.  This year more than ever, momma is being forced to let go, to not have it all planned out for you, to step back so you can find your own way.  Ugh... it's hard to let go.

You are a Freshman.  A High School student.  You have started the last phase of your childhood.  Enjoy it my sweet boy, have more fun than you can ever imagine.  I have no doubts we'll sail through these years, much too fast, with lots of laughs, tons of pride, probably a few disagreements, but most of all more love than ever.  I promise to make the most out of these next 4 years, to try my best to not hold on too tight, to keep my embarrassing mom stuff to a minimum, and to be here for you, no matter what.

Proud of you doesn't even begin to cover it kiddo.  You are my truest joy, I love you.

You've totally got this.

Love,

Momma

Yearly update - Ha!!

Dear Greyson,

Well, it's been almost a year since I've updated or added anything to your blog... I wonder now that your older if it's something you hope I would keep up, or if sometimes it might be too much of an invasion into your privacy... 

Tonight though, I will blog because, recently - you let momma take a few pictures of you!!  A rarity these days for sure!!

Photographing you reminded me of why I fell in love with photography in the first place, you have always been my muse.  I look at these pictures and I'm overcome with such a wide array of emotions and I love that I have them, captured in time.  I'm so very proud of the young man you are becoming.  Thank you for always being such an example of the good in the world. 

I love you so much!!

Love,

Momma

check, check... is this thing on??

Since I'm officially the worlds worst blogger... sigh... I'm just going to add a few pictures from the past few months, that will sum up the awesomeness that is you, my sweet Greyson...

 

 

 Getting straight A honor roll is kinda your jam... You did it every quarter of third grade...

 

Leggo Land is your new favorite theme park...

 

You had your tonsils out... Surgery was rough, you were nervous... Luckily they gave you some good drugs and when they wheeled you away from me, this was your face... I still giggle, every single time I look at it...

 

Recovery was tough... really tough. 

 

but... you eventually felt better...

 

and continued to get straight A's!!

 

We went to your first Hockey game!!  Go Bolts!!  You loved it and we plan on seeing many more this winter!!  Especially since our Bolts are conference champs and came awfully close to taking the Stanly Cup this year!!!  Yay! Go Bolts!!

 

Once again you won terrific kid!!

 

You got to go to your first concert!!  Maroon  5!!  We took your best friend and had a blast and a half!!  You sang along to every song but 2, arms in the air, head thrown back, singing at the top of your lungs... I had more fun watching you than the show....

 

Your basketball team kicked some major booty and you as always, you were a main superstar!!

 

You were the cutest clown ever is the school musical!

 and.... you got a new puppy!!  You named him Larry and it's the perfect name for him... He's cute and silly and we love him - a lot!!

 

Yep, more straight A honor roll... I told ya, all 4 quarters!!

 

You've made friends in the neighborhood and love to hang out in our pool, perfecting your silly ways to jump in!!  Luckily this summer, un-like last you're getting lots of pool time!!  (Even though, this summer, momma broke her ankle so no pool time for me!!)

 

You've mastered the art of paddle boarding... unfortunately because of mommy's broken ankle we have not gone much this summer...

 

You were in the group of 4, 3rd graders who read all 15 sunshine state reader books and passed the tests for the first time ever!!  Only 18 students grades 3-6 did that this year and there are over 800 students in those 4 grades!!  As a reward the school took you in a stretch LIMO out to lunch one day!!  It was pretty awesome!!!

and now it's the middle of the summer... 2 weeks in, Momma broke her ankle, so we've had a lot of down time... Sorry I'm messing up our summer buddy... I'm in a walking boot now though and we leave in just over a week for 10 days in Canada!!  Thanks for being such a huge help to mom these past few weeks, while I recover... You've helped me clean, made me breakfast, lunch and dinners... you've taken care of everything and always made sure I had what I needed.... I love you to the moon and am so proud of what an amazing young man you are!! xo's

Momma

Disney Cruising...

Once upon a time, just last week...

 

We packed up on Thursday for 3 Magical nights upon the Disney Dream - and what a dream it was... I'm not sure that we have ever packed more fun into a 3 day time frame, but we did and at the end we were exhausted, sun kissed, and happy.  Our cheeks hurt from laughing so much, our belly's may have ached from the over abundance of delicious foods, but our brains were full of amazing memories and so much love for a perfect weekend...

 

You and Maggie the sea lion... Just getting some hugs!!

Cuteness!!

After our first dinner onboard... Oh how I love you!!

Bahamas!!!  Woot Woot!!  Headed to Blue Lagoon!

Now that's a big boat!!

Giggle fest...

Giggle fest continued...

Trying not to giggle...

SOOOOOO handsome!!

Momma's most favorite spot!!

The view from Momma's most favorite spot!!

Pirate night!!  Arrrr!!!  Hanging with the towel monkey... Quick steal his golden eyes and mouth - you are a pirate after all!!

The boat at Castaway Cay...

Us and the boat after snorkeling at Castaway Cay!!  We saw a sunken ship with Mickey and Minnie!!

Chilling in the port hole windows...

 

Your favorite spot!!

 

 

What a whirlwind of a good time...

 

Next time a week long cruise for sure - 3 nights was not nearly long enough!!!