A kindergartner and college student.......

The skills learned in kindergartner and college are uniquely the same........

Share everything.

Play fair.

Don't hit people.

Put things back where you found them.

Clean up your own mess.

Don't take things that aren't yours.

Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.

Wash your hands before you eat.

Flush.

Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.

Live a balanced life - 

learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work everyday some.

Take a nap every afternoon.

When you go out in the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together.

Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup: the roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.

Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup - they all die. So do we.

And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned - the biggest word of all - 

LOOK.

Reflecting on these sentiments, I wonder if I have done enough to teach these two kids and the answer is profoundly NO! Because as I was mothering these beautiful souls, I was also learning and growing myself. Mistakes, shortfalls, trials, and yes, even, failures, occurred daily. 


The "village of people" which I made sure my children were and are surrounded by are the saving grace for them and me. Raising a healthy, united family amongst the ever changing structure of the traditional definition is challenging, yet continues to be what and I the collective group which I choose to be with are striving for. Gratitude for their shared values and actions is expressed by my choices in where I expend my energy, resources, and time.

.........and I will continue to do so until these children 

(pictured below) 

graduate from high school!!!!!!..........

It takes a special son to join his Mom to drop off her LAST and only daughter at her FIRST day of kindergarten! Trying to avoid the

 ---  U G L Y   C R Y  ---

Brandon graciously provided a box of kleenex to Mom. 

(surviving the rest of the day...not so easy!)

Hunter arrives at his high school on his FIRST day as a sophomore! The school completed construction of this "Little Theater" last year and it is a beautiful addition to the school. An eye for fashion sets Hunter apart from his older brother, Brandon and wearing his new shoes will most definitely make him smarter!

Enjoying a quiet breakfast before he rushes to catch the bus, Carson's smile shows his excitement at starting middle school as a 6th grader. 

This is the LAST picture of the 3 brothers before Brandon begins his college experience. With these "hulks" around, Carson is certain to avoid a "pantsing."

What many high school students will do to fellow classmates if they decide to wear sweatpants. It is far to easy to catch the wearer of the sweatpants off-guard and pull their sweats down. Any other form of clothing on the bottom is not to be messed with.....only sweatpants. (ever met a MIDDLE SCHOOL BULLY?)