Heartfelt Apology

I probably shouldn't memorialize Brady getting into some trouble at school. Rather a good mommy should share his many accomplishments and wonderufl moments. Well, yadda yadda yadda, the blog is supposed to be about our lives, right? The good. The bad. The ugly. Well, this is really none of those. It's simply cute.

Brady had a note written in his agenda yesterday that he was being too silly and disruptive during Literacy Centers, and although Mrs. Sigman had warned him of his behavior several times, Brady had been unable to settle down and focus quietly on his second edition Johnny Appleseed Book (he decided to make two so that he and Parker could both have one). Thus, the note home to Mom.

As I organized his nightly homework, I added a plain sheet of paper to the top of the pile and asked him to please write Mrs. Sigman a note apologizing for his rude behavior. I did not help, coach or even look at it until he had folded it up and asked for an envelope. Of course I took a peek!! And I'm so glad I did. ;-)

In case you can't read it, it says:

Dear Mrs. Sigman (with some spelling alteratons!) I am so sorry Mrs. Sigman. I will be better tomorrow and the next day and the next. I am sorry Mrs. Sigman for what I did. I am sorry that I was lowd in class and disruptive (he misspelled l'oud', but got 'disruptive' correct). Brady. I like you.

Now who could possibly stay angry with hearts and hand-holding under rainbows?

Glimpses of the Softer Side

I have often said that as close brothers, Brady and Parker are both the best of friends and the worst of enemies. For the most part they play together really well (and for that I am truly grateful!)

Many times their games and imaginative play just happen around the house without me taking much notice. Yet their play the other day simply made me smile.

They created a slumber party for all their loveys - every stuffed shark, dog, snake and bear! Each lovey had a place to sleep, complete with blankets and pillows - separated of course by size of the animal (for their own safety, I am told.)

Most of the boys' play is rough and tumble in nature - bouncing, throwing, hitting, running, jumping, wrestling, falling. As a mom of two boys it's nice to know that I have instilled a softer side in there somewhere as well ... even if I don't see it all that often!

Over the Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge...

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food and water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.



The sign on her cage at the Humane Society read: "Black Lab Mix." We didn't plan to get a puppy that day. We were "just going to look." We saw her. We took her out. We played with her. We went to lunch.... We came back and got her that afternoon. Halle was meant to be ours, and though she certainly was NOT a Lab mix (we quickly realized we were duped on that one!), she was in fact a wonderful dog.

She was smart - often too smart. She was protective, though I'm sure she couldn't truly hurt a flea. She was watchful. She was sweet. She never snapped or snipped or barked in anger.


Halle was undoubtedly the "alpha dog" in our house. Jules never quite figured out that she weighed twice as much and could have simply sat on Halle to win dominance. Their roles were set in stone. Halle was the first in, first out, first to eat. Jules happily wagged her tail behind.

When petting Halle she would rest her paws on top of your arm, leg or hand - almost as if saying "Yes, I pretend that you as human are truly the alpha animal, but just so we're clear, it's a game I'm playing, and you really aren't where you think you are on the totem pole." Move your hand on top, and she was quick to correct you with her own.



I wish I had a puppy picture to share, but 13 1/2 years ago we didn't have digital cameras! She was an adorable little fuzzball. Even more than a picture I wish I had video of her puppy "butt-tucking" days. When she was a puppy she would race around our house on Tanglewood with such speed that we had to pull our feet up onto the couch and just laugh. She looked like a black streak shooting through the room!

Halle Girl was our family's original runner - well before Bill got the bug, Halle had it. Open the door just a crack, and she was through it. Blink and she was five houses up, out of reach and exploring the world. In the earlier years I would freak out, get in the car and go searching for her. Then I realized that just as consistently as she ran, she always came home. Her sense of direction was impeccable (though we often worried that if Jules followed, Jules might get lost at sea!)


Halle loved to run. She needed to run. One hot summer day she came home limping when she ran on the streets and burned the soles of her paws. It didn't stop her. Next time the door opened a crack, she was through it.

I remember a day when Brady was a toddler, and Halle lie sleeping on the floor. Brady waddled over and fell on top of her back, startling her awake. Her dog instinct had her whip her head around, ready to protect herself. In a flash she saw Brady's little face, zipped her mouth, lowered her head and submitted to his weight. I knew at that instant that she would love my boys as I do, protect them best she could and herd them when necessary.

We would often joke that Halle was mine and Jules was Bill's ... though we adopted them together and they both held our hearts. Halle slept next to me. She followed me endlessly around the house. Her eyes seemed to always be on me.


Today I miss her presence in every room and beside my bed. I know she runs in the grasses and delights in the hills on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge. Maybe she even has the vigor again to butt-tuck through the meadows, delighting God as she did Bill and me so long ago.


We love you sweet Halle Bear, and we'll see you again one day. Until then, may the meadows always stretch open wide for you.

Birthday Bash ~ Back to the Blog!

After a LONG hiatus from the blog, I have humbly come home. There are hundreds of pictures and many events to share, but I will start with a wonderful birthday wish to my 7 year old guy!!

Brady's 7th birthday once again fell on Labor Day weekend, enabling us to celebrate with all sorts of fun activities!! Friday we headed to the Atlanta Zoo to see the baby giraffe (6' tall when born!), the new Malaysian Bear and of course the "WORLD OF REPTILES"!!! And no trip to the zoo would be complete without a train ride and some rock climbing!

Saturday morning we laced up our tennies and went running to the US 10k Classic for the boys to compete in the annual 1/2K race! Racing in different age groups, Mommy ran with Parker and Daddy ran with Brady.

While it might have been Brady's big day, Parker placed 5th in boys in his age group and brought home a real race medal!

And to top it all off, Grandy came to cheer us on!

After refreshing with some Gatorade and a Popsicle, it was time to change out of race gear and into our navy and gold!

Thanks to Aunt Kathy and Uncle Steve, we were able to celebrate Brady's birthday at the GA Tech Opening Day Game against SC State... and did I mention we whooped 'em? :-)

After the game Nana and Grandy came over for a drink and some gift-giving - and much to Brady's delight he received the forever-coveted Nintendo DS! While Mommy has said 'no' to this moment for several years, Daddy (and Brady) finally convinced me that my baby was no longer a baby. He was a very psyched kid!

For Brady's special birthday dinner we surprised him with a visit to The Burger Club, a yummy new-to-us restaurant in Vinings that serves fantastic burgers, sandwiches, fries ... and beer and wine (I called to make sure!) Among the 6 of us I'm sure we ate thousands of calories and hundreds of grams of fat ... but it was worth every greasy bite!

And then - just to make sure we can no longer wear our skinny jeans - we headed back home for a little cake and some singing!

Labor Day will find us at Six Flags Whitewater Park, where we will enjoy a day of water slides, wave pools and a final summer hurrah!

Looking at my big guy I find it hard to believe that he is really seven years old - something about 'seven' sounds so old to me! His body has lost that 'little boy' shape. His face and eyes are that of a true 'big kid.' His academic abilities have exploded. His reasoning, understanding, empathy and other fabulous social characteristics are clearly maturing and developing.

My mother has always said that "a loved child has many names." Well, Brady sure fits the bill! 'Niblet' before he was born. 'Squiggle' as a little kid. 'Squirt' as an older kid. And I can only imagine what the nickname will be in another few years!

He is an amazing kid - who brings so much joy and goofiness and laughter and cheer to our world. Bill and I are thankful every day for him .. and especially thankful for his miraculous life every September 4th!