Peter & Sarah, Prom 2013...

They have known eachother since they were three.
They have gone to school together since kindgergarten.
They had a great time at prom!  xoxo, H.

He's In!!

WOW!!! The college hell is over!! So in a nutshell ....

Evan applied to De Paul, Loyola, St. Johns, St. Thomas and U of M. We also had applications in to University of Florida and USC, but never sent the application money. About a year ago Evan said.....I can't wait to move far away. But about 6 months ago, he said I want to stay here to go to school. 

Evan got into every school except the U of M. Wait Listed!!!! His number one choice. He got the letter in March. He really believed he would get in. He said he just had a feeling. I really did not think it would end well.

About a week ago I talked to Evan's Admissions Counselor and he basically told me we should move on and pursue his other college choices. 40,0000 applicants, and only 5,000 freshman spots. A record high year. So, we moved on. Sent our money into St. Thomas, his second choice, and did just that. Evan was very bummed. But said he would do so well at St. Thomas that he would transfer to the U his sophomore year. We thought it was a done deal on Friday.

Tuesday, of this week, he stayed home because he was sick. In the afternoon, he came running out to the kitchen. He went onto the Application Tracker for the U. It said....Congratulations Evan, you've been accepted to the U of M.
WHAT!!!!! Tears started flowing ....I have NEVER seen him so happy. He couldn't believe it. Then an email followed. 

So, Evan is a Gopher, like his Mother was. :) He loves Minneapolis! He has some good friends that are going and is soooooo excited. He is not sure of his major, but Criminology, International studies are some top choices. He will also do ROTC.

At school Wednesday, I am sure he was flying high! They had the annual inspection for ROTC. The best part and very ironic, the inspectors were from the U of M. He met them, and they told his Colonel they were impressed with him. WOW! It couldn't been better timing. 

All we want....is for our kids to be happy. This worked out well. Just like Emmy at Butler. Things just work out for a reason. I have always believed that.

love, k :)  

worst spring ever

I hate to be a downer....but THIS HAS BEEN THE WORST SPRING EVER!!!! EVER...EVER....

Ok, no T Swift. What in the world. April 18th yesterday and we got 6 inches of snow. This is so bizarre. Steve remembers almost 19 years ago, May 1st, 2 days before Evan was born, we got snow. I really think that is the last time!

You have been busy blogging sissy!!! Glad you like your job! Emmy will be home soon! Peter got his license!!! Yes! Life is good!! ....and I know Spring will eventually show its face!!

love, k :0

She can't imagine life without them...

...her life in a nutshell...her future house roomies too when they live together in The Deep End.  Abby, Sarah, Milly and Adrianna are her swimmer best buds.  Missing from the picture are her other two dear friends, Kate the Great Roommate and Liz Subrin, both sweethearts.  H.

mmm mmmm...

Life is SHORT...

And can change in an instant as the terrorist attack on Boston has reminded us. 

Chris and I also narrowly avoided a bad car accident on Sunday coming back from Butler.  It made us just want to get HOME and talk to E&P.

Being kind is the best thing ever.  I count my blessings every day that I've been lucky enough to get the job I now have...I am surrounded by truly good and kind people.

Home today and enjoying every single second of it after a crazybusy weekend.

xoxo, H.

this and that....

Lately, I've been annoyed with people who send long emails when a phone call would do much better!  This happens at work (good Lord, just walk into my office!) and it's happened with some committees I'm involved with.  Just pick up the phone....especially if you want an opinion!  Texts and emails do not equate to good communication.  Phone calls and hand written notes do.  And, better yet, in person!

Emma will be home for the summer in 3 weeks.  She is sad about leaving her life at Butler.  A lot of girls are staying for the summer.  She is hoping to visit a lot...hmmm, I am thinking once or twice.  I expect this summer will be interesting.  She's used to no curfew.  She is not going to be hanging out with the group that was at our house all summer last year.  I think it's an opportunity for new friends and new fun, but I think she will be counting the days to August 17!  We can't wait to have her home, but I am worried she doesn't/won't feel the same. 

Peter has a lot on his plate...drivers test, prom, ACT.  He is, predictably, out of sorts this week.

Had lunch with my dear friend Audrey today.  I adore her.  She is Sam's mom.  Sam is a senior and was on swim team with Emma.  A few years ago, I made it my resolution to find a new friend and I picked her.  We went to lunch and we've been doing it every few months or so every since!  Audrey is from New York and I love her accent and her wonderful practical way.  She is so kind and one of the best moms I know.  She is generous with her friendship, with conversation and hugs. 

We are getting a kitten for Charlie the Cat this summer...hoping he will boss it around instead of us.

Raining like CRAZY today, but the grass is greening up!  The four letter word SNOW is in the forecast for Thursday...it will be short lived.

xoxoxo, H.

Problem solved!

Kept a breeze blowing all afternoon, which allowed me to focus on reading PAC bylaws and conduit guidelines!  Now if I could just get a treadmill under my desk!

YESTERDAY was definitely a day leaning toward springtime (ahhh).  I drove with the windows open and finally had to close them because a wasp was trying to get in!  The snow is gone (except for the huge banks) and the birds are singing loudly!  It's wonderful.

Emma will be home from college in exactly ONE MONTH.  It's true...the year flew by (Jan/Feb were a bit long, but that was more weather related!) and I can't believe it was only one year ago yesterday that we walked into Coach Stewart's Hinkle office and Emma signed her letter of intent!  She LOVES Butler and we all love her friends. She made the right choice!

This will be a different summer...our first without All City swimming.  That means our weekends are free...such a bizzaro thought.  For TWELVE years we've spent every single summer Saturday at a swim meet.  It will be a bit bittersweet, but I will still have wet pool towels in the porch all summer...both Emma and Peter will be training with BAC every morning.  We are looking forward to some new weekend activities...biking, farmers market, sleeping in, who knows?!   Definitely some fun getaway weekends!  Hopefully visits from Emma's friends.  Endless possibilities.

Whatever the summer has in store, we will embrace it!  Hate to even let the little thought enter my brain, but it could be our last summer with both kids home.  I hope not, but they are growing up! 

xoxo, H

observations from the office...

It's been a month since I started my new job and this is what I know...

• the temperature in the building is fine until noon then it thrusts us all into menopause symptoms...even the men!  The last two hours of each of my three days in the office are torturous.  I feel like I'm in a heat coma and accomplish little during that time.  Not a single window opens in the building and we desperately need fresh air!
• therefore, I'm starting to bring ice packs to work...not to keep food cold, but to hide under my thighs!
• people who eat lunch in the break room are significantly unhappier than those who get out of the building for an hour.
• water cooler chit chat is real...so is cubicle chit chat.
• office furniture is U G L Y and it doesn't need to be (it also should not be mauve and seafoam).
• it is possible to get a short work out in during the day in the private bathroom...squats, leg lifts, push ups against the wall).
• people are really nice and everyone has a story!

xoxo, H.

crushing my spirit!

Emma and Peter have decided to pinch my arm every time I laugh loudly...or as they insist, "cackle."  I agree, I am pretty sure I laugh loudly, but conducting a Pavlov-like experiment on me is mommy abuse ;) !

I don't have an "alternative" laugh...I'm trying out different ones, but I can't find one.  xoxo, H.