FLORIDA

Here I am visiting the unc's in sunny  FL getting my doggie fix with their dog Cody, and I am thinking.....it's so easy here.  Hanging out, swimming, laughing, no worries, do I really have to go home?  

   Is it bad that I don't want to ever go home?

A wise woman...

   A wise woman once said to me, "bigger kids, bigger problems".  At the time my children were in middle school, hers were infants.  I laughed out loud as I mulled over the small issues I had at this point with my 2 red headed angels;  scrapes, bumps, so and so doesn't like me, what's for dinner? can I go to the movies with so and so and her mom,?can someone come over to play?...the list was pretty boring.  Fast forward to year 2011 <sigh>.  My angels are now a Junior and Senior in high school.  The hum drum issues I had a few years back have really changed.  I now have these; can I go to prom? can I stay out late? can I drive to Illinois with my friends? I am going to college in CALIFORNIA, how do I balance a checkbook? where do I go to pick up my prescription?  These seem like pretty normal end of teen year questions and dilemmas, however, my mind is spinning out of control > Did I set a positive example?  Will they make the right choices about drugs, alcohol, sex?  Will they give into peer pressure? Are they wearing their seatbelts? Do they get into cars with people who have been drinking? Do they have a strong enough voice to say no? Are they kind, considerate and caring to others? Will they succeed? Are they happy with who they are? Have they learned from my mistakes? Are they ready to be on their own?

   No one told me that parenting would be so painful.  I think back to the toddler years when both my children had some minor health issues which required quite a few minor surgeries.  At that time I thought the world was coming to an end.  That feeling has now tripled in my heart.  How will I ever let them go and feel that they are safe in this big, unpredictable world?

When in London...

   So my oldest is in London then onto Paris with school.  He paid for this adventure on his own. Quite the accomplishment for a high school senior that holds 2 jobs.  I am very proud of him.  He loves technology and has already posted a few pics of the land.  I plan on using this time as a trial period.  He wants to leave for California in July where he would start school at an Art Institute where he would hopefully obtain an Associate Degree in Digital Photography <sigh>.  It seems like just yesterday that this (oddly very red-headed) child would follow me around and wouldn't let me out of his sight.  Now he can't wait to get to another part of the country.  Bittersweet to know I must have done a pretty good job, however sad that time as flown by so fast.  Next year at this time, my daughter will also be anxiously awaiting that high school diploma in her hand and off to college <......sigh......>

Why is Jimmy John's NOT on the weight watchers point tracker?

What do you think?

Bob is a man of many faces. He loves to change it up. Awhile ago we dyed his hair platinum, so he could "grow it out" because he likes the look of roots!  Ha, look achieved, as you see. No this is not a midlife crisis, this is just Bob being Bob.  

Back to spring/pneumonia, etc.  I am on the upswing from this illness and really excited about warm weather coming.  Even though April showers mean muddy dogprints all over the Krohn household (zoo) - I'll take it.  The dogs love running out our patio door and playing rough and tumble in the grass.

Welcome spring! Or not....

So here we are, April 18th.  2 days post Bob's 43rd birthday, which was a total bust. I am recovering from pneunonia so we did absolutely nothing to celebrate.  To top it off, we woke up to this ...