Here's to summer! 🥂

 Dearest M,

I started off April with a trip to Nashville for a 50th birthday celebration with Stacy and her friends. When I got home, I received not only a fantastic greeting from the pups, but you hung with me all night, going to Orange Leaf, having heart to hearts, walking the dogs with me, and actually letting me hug you (what?!) ❤️ I'm so glad to be home!

In other big news, you got your 2nd National Honor Society nomination and award this year?! Geesh kiddo! Below was your Westerville North ceremony night, and then later you received one from Ft. Hayes. So cool!

And a rando sleeping pic of me and UPB. What a cuddle bug.

I'm digging the closeness we've been having lately. All of April has felt like we've been spending more time together, talking about the big and little things, all of which are important in the minutiae of life. Just like when you were little and I nicknamed you "Late Night Talk Show"...this has the same feel. You will come and plop down, thinking of the things you want to catch me up on, ask for my opinion, or just spill the tea from school and friends. It's felt so good.

Mother's Day - no pics, just quality time together. First, Oakland Nursery and Weilands for a surprise for Kelly. Hard because her mama isn't here anymore. Intro'd you to smoked salmon at Weilands. Yum! Then tacos and beer at Yabo's (steak fajita, Nashville chicken, Mahi Mahi, Korean chicken, smashburger, and tandoori chicken). So good. Home to power wash the deck together, then ice cream (w Audrey) and a nap. We talked and goofed and had such a good time together. The night before you even spent time with me, too...frozen yogurt and taking the dogs to a new dog park where we laughed our asses off at Peanut's antics. Even Grizz made friends. Made me so happy. You know quality time is my love language and you delivered. 

Time at the dog park always wears Peanut out.

And another anecdote from the dog park with Dad...

Last weeks of school brought panic attacks for you. You came downstairs on a particular Sunday night and told me. We worked through the anxiety, I showed you some somatic techniques, we giggled, and then took a mile walk and talk around 11pm to get the scaries and excess energy out. I'm so glad I could help you through this, working together on it. This on the heels of an entire day together the day before where we went to greenhouses, lunch, Petsmart, and you painted my plant shelf purple for me while I gardened. Then I threw together some bang bang chicken at your request. It was a long but great day while also feeling hard as we faced some challenges. I just love you so much. I truly believe we can weather any ups and downs, no matter the size, as long as we face them side by side. 

Found a painted turtle in Mike's yard that we re-homed back into the creek.

with his stick collection at home; he brings one home from nearly
every single walk and adds it to the pile

In May, we went to a celebration at Kevin and Beth's for Memaw and Papaw's 80th birthdays!

for some reason, you were the designated cake cutter

Then we made an impromptu Memorial Day weekend trip to Buffalo to see Julia and her family during their shopping trip to the states. We learned a lot about your potential anxiety triggers and definitely have more to talk about with your therapist. The social anxiety reared its ugly head and you could barely eat the entire time we were there. To be honest, I was getting extremely concerned. We got through it, though, and all in all are still glad we went. Julia is such a sweet person and a good friend for you. And we'll figure out this whole anxiety thing...everything is manageable once we find the right tools.

first ever state line crossing on a road trip with you driving!

I joined you in taking my pills crushed up in yogurt, just like you...one of these days you'll learn to swallow them whole

Victoria, Olivia, you, and Julia
(after dinner at the home of the first 
and original Buffalo wing)

found free Naloxone at a rest stop and you wanted 
some to always carry with you, just in case
(spoken like a true future nurse)

babies clearly missed me

promptly destroyed the toy we brought home for him

you spotted these guys on a trip to Microcenter, haha

UPB loves to sit in here on the patio

our new Pride flag came!

just a silly pic of me and the girls out for Ashley's June birthday

the boys on neighborhood watch

if I fits, I sits

Daddy picked our blueberries...so yummy

Lao Lao went to Pride like this...as Mrs Roper

the treat dealer in action

one of my favorite ways to spend summer mornings

Double G loves the blanket Kelly crocheted me

and Peanut loves his new noisy chicken

an old pic you showed me from when Pip was still with us...
I'd never seen it before and it made me smile

cuddles

I headed to Ashley's parents' house on the lake and it was a good weekend with the girls. Just what I needed.

In June you were supposed to take your STNA exam for school, but unfortunately on that exact morning the power for your school, as well as the surrounding blocks, went out. We waited for over an hour, but it wasn't coming on anytime soon so we ended up leaving. Since you had wanted me to drive you to the exam to help with your anxiety, we decided to go out to lunch together before heading home. Later that day, I went to another No King's protest and then back home for you so we could take the dogs to DQ for some pup cups. Spontaneously, we decided to go check out the Pride Festival downtown so you could see what it was all about. It was a fun day, as was the day prior when you and I decided to go into Dublin for lunch, then grabbed some of Weiland's amazing smoked salmon, and to Kelly's to practice taking her pulse (in preparation for your nursing exam that we thought was to happen the next day). You've been doing that lately, asking to randomly stop by Kelly's when we're out and about together. I adore Kelly and it feels so good to know you feel as comfy around her as I do. 

And speaking of things you've been doing lately, you've also been reclaiming your nickname of Late Night Talk Show...as you are hanging in bed with me while I'm winding down for the evening. Lol

Since you've been majorly anti-camera in recent years, I don't have many pictures but I've loved all of our time spent together. Including the week we had together when dad went to the Dominican Republic for his friend Steve's wedding. You and I were full of team work; you helped with chores and dogs, talked with me late into the night, we shared jokes and laughs, and had meaningful conversations about our lives. I truly cherish the time we share with each other. Nothing like it! 

Grizz carried an Irish Spring box with her for almost
an entire walk one night...weirdo

 Since we are fully into the swing of summer now, we took the dogs to Hoover for some water fun to cool off and beat the heat.

Peanut is terrorizing you by shaking all his water
off directly in your vicinity

and Peanut decided he LOVES Lao Lao's garden and 
mostly only walks in the rows, like a polite boy

So thankful we have Hoover so nearby...and that Peanut intuitively knew not to step on Lao Lao's baby plants. Ha.

Here's to summer!

Love, 

Mama