Snoggy turns 14

Happy Birthday to my baby Logan.

He turned fourteen yesterday. For his birthday, he went to King's Island with his friend Ryan, came home to his favorite dinner - meatloaf, baked mac and cheese, and peas - went golfing with Tim, then had four friends over to play Dungeons and Dragons all night long.

His gifts reflected the fact that golf is his latest passion.

New golf shoes.


All decked out and practicing his swing.


He might stink up the course with his playing but he sure looks good.

In case you don't know, Snoggy stands for "very beloved son."

Free Birds

So Luke got his driver's license today.

And he drove himself to marching band practice tonight.


Although he was stuck with Logan, who had plans to go to a friend's house. When it was time to go, Tim and I followed them out the driveway with our cameras.


Sometimes I feel sorry for our boys having us as parents. We are so...parental.

To freak us out, Luke goosed the gas as they headed down the street. Does Logan look scared or excited?


Earlier, at the exam station, the second Luke's license came off the press he asked me if he could drive around the block of the exam station by himself. "Sure," I said and he headed out the door. I waited a nanosecond and followed. As I watched him turn right out of the parking lot I had a teary-eyed moment when I thought my heart would break, mostly with pride at the young man he has become. I sent blessings out to him across the parking lot, blessings and prayers and wishes that he will be careful and safe and always come home in one piece.

It has been a fun time, driving him to all his piano, band, school, clarinet, soccer, etc. all these years, talking and singing in the car, hanging around while he did his thing, then driving him home. But he's ready to take off on his own life and I'm ready to have my life back. I'm ready to get serious about this horse stuff.

We both feel like free birds.

Senior photo preview

Luke had his senior pictures taken on Thursday. Here's a sneak preview:

The obligatory suit-wearing head shot.


The musician and his instrument.


Using the beautiful piano at the Presbyterian church; getting the backdrop just so.


Getting the lighting just so.


Bond. Luke Bond.

The grins on their faces are because I had to eat crow over not wanting to spring the extra moolah for black and white photos. What was I thinking? Black and white piano, black and white tux. Duh. Get the black and white photos. Our terrific photographer took B&W anyway, despite my lack of coughing up the dough, and yeah, we saw 'em on the screen; they're beautiful.

I'm eating my crow pie and thinking of my lovely young man and his perfect photo. It's all good.

Brain Dead Blogger

I don't know what's wrong with me but I've ruled out depression and I'm trying to decide between onset of menopause or onset of Alzheimers'. I'm hoping it's menopause because that passes. My major symptom is brain-deadedness. I'm also trying to figure out what it means that the slowing down of my estrogen production is leaving me brain-dead. Anybody...anybody?

My brain is the only part of my life slowing down. The rest of my life is moving in indirect proportion to my brain, which only compounds the problem. For instance, tomorrow's schedule: Logan golf clinic, 9 to 10:15; me teach riding lesson at 10 a.m.; Luke haircut for senior photos (on Thursday) 11:30. Luke has to be back home by 12:30 to be picked up by driving school dude for two hours of driving time. Logan ortho appt. 2 p.m. Pick up new volleyball while in the big city because we have busted our other one after five weeks of play. Hurry home to get Luke to his clarinet lesson at 5 p.m.; then drop he and Logan off to help a friend with his Eagle Scout project of building a bridge at a nature center. Rush home to play in volleyball league game at 6 p.m. Feed horses. Pick up kids. Go to bed.

I'm not complaining, just reporting the facts. I love it that Luke and Logan are so involved in so many things. Their lives are full and fun and they are living passionately: Luke is passionate about piano and marching band; Logan, right now, is passionate about golf. The problem is that they are dependent on a driver to get them to these things so my things, especially this blog, have suffered.

Luke tells us several times a day how many days until he can take his driver's test. Nine days, as of today. He's not the only one counting. I thought I was dreading the day he could drive off without me but he has worn me down. Go, I say. God speed. I'm ready to be on my schedule.

Nine days....

Charlotte's Web

The local children's theatre productions took place last weekend.

Here are photos of Logan as Wilbur in Charlotte's Web.

Templeton tells Wilbur and Charlotte the wonders of the fair.


Charlotte's two final projects: The word Humble in her web and her egg sack.


Salutations! Wilbur meets Charlotte's children.


Our local children's theatre is awesome. We have planned our summer around it for the past eight or nine years and it has been one of the best things our kids have done. If you get the chance to get your kids involved in something like this, I highly recommend it. Nothin' but fun for all of us.

Wilbur was humble, terrific, and Some Pig.