About The River

Wednesday, February 28, 2018

The Count Down is On and it is the Hodgepodge

Me and my Senior in High School .. during a recent xc ski in Upper Michigan. This post will mostly be about him .. the count down is on to his graduation.
Join all of us at the Hodgepodge.
Joyce asks the questions.
We answer the questions.

 1. Are you currently operating at 100% capacity? If not, what % are you? What's keeping you there?
I just asked my husband if he felt I was operating at 100% capacity. He said "Yes".

 2.  Have you done your taxes? Planned/booked a summer holiday? Thought about or started your 'spring cleaning'? Besides what's listed here, tell us one task that needs doing before spring rolls around.
Yes, taxes are done. I just need to help Sam do his, plan to do that this week.
The boys have a River Rafting trip planned for this summer.
Yes, we started "spring cleaning" last Saturday. 
Graduation party plans .. those plans need to get done before spring gets to far along.

 3. What's a favorite food from your part of the country?
Cheese!
Wisconsin Cheese is the BEST!

 4. This isn't a leap year, but let's run with it anyway...look before you leap, a leap of faith, grow by leaps and bounds, leap to conclusions, leap at the opportunity...which phrase might best be applied to your life currently (or recently)? Explain.
Growing by leaps and bounds.. our oldest son is graduating in May. I am growing in parenting by leaps and bounds to a young adult. I am blessed with the deep conversations we have. My heart strings tug as plans of heading off in his own direction become more and more. I cherish each HUG I receive in the morning and at night. And I love the hugs he gives me when I stop in and visit him at work.. I am growing leaps and bounds in this change of parenting.

 5. As the month draws to a close list five fun and/or fabulous things (large or small) you noticed or experienced in February.
Snow
Skiing
Sunlight twinkling on the Snow
Blue Sky
More Snow

 6. Insert your own random thought here.

What has been a favorite Graduation Party Menu you have enjoyed? 
Or
Ideas for a Graduation Party Menu.


 

21 comments:

  1. It's a hard step to let a child "go" and move into their own young adult life. I am sure you have done a good job of preparing him---but that doesn't make it any easier. I hope you have a wonderful Wednesday! xo Diana

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  2. Oh I know all too well how difficult it is to let our kids go on their own direction, especially when my oldest daughter Nicole left home to go do her Theses in Ecuador where we had to wait for a month before we could get news of how she was doing. She lived amongst the Quechua Indians and had to learn to speak Spanish to communicate.

    I'm glad you love the snow as for me, I'll take the thawed ground first.
    Hugs, Julia

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  3. It is hard when they go away, but at the same time, it's a good thing because it means that you've done a decent job at parenting! Both of our girls wanted to go out to their favorite restaurants for their HS graduations. They didn't want parties or anything like that.

    BTW just looking at y'all in the snow makes me cold!

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  4. You are really organized! Your son has a part time job, and is graduating very soon...big changes ahead! And it seems like you are well prepared, and appreciating every minute of the present.

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  5. How wonderful in regards to your son!
    I'm not sure that I am ever at 100 percent. (Laughing) I must be over or under?
    xoxo Su

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  6. Oh we too are counting down. I can't believe how quickly the end of the school year (and of high school) are coming up on us. Party ideas, huh? I do not have any good one, but I bet Pinterest does!!

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  7. Oh I should have thought of CHEESE! Yes, cheese is probably my favorite food from Wisconsin and Craisins a second - or vice versa. Anyway, I know you've been operating at 100% due to all the snow and now the warmer temps so you can go skiing - or at least not windy and dull days. I think of you every day and imagine you skiing. Really. You guys are wonderful parents and your oldest will do just fine. God will lead him. xo Graduation party food? Meatballs kept warm in a CrockPot, wild and white rice, huge green salad with Craisins! :-))

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  8. My spicy Thai peanut noodles are very good and can be served cold, warm or at room temp so they are great for a grad party! I love sunlight sparkling on snow. It's been kind of warm and mild here. I'm ready for spring! Senior year is so bittersweet! Going through a lot of the same emotions but this one is my "baby"!

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  9. It sounds as though you've done a very good balanced job with your senior. He still has good conversation with you and he is also very responsible. That snow is beautiful. Graduation celebrations for our kids was dinner at a nice restaurant.

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  10. Cheese is definitely one of my favorite foods : ) I think the transition to this season of life with grown kids takes a little getting used to, but honestly now that I'm mostly settled in to it I love it. Grown kids are so interesting! Are you having a dinner or lunch? A lot of people or a few? A salad bar with grilled chicken and shrimp is easy and everyone can pick and choose what they want to put on their plate. Or big trays of baked ziti with salad and bread? A baked ham with rolls and some easy make ahead sides? I'm sure whatever you decide will be wonderful. Everyone will enjoy gathering to celebrate the graduate.

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  11. I always enjoy seeing your family pics in the ice and snow. You seem to have a great time together.

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  12. The snow is beautiful! It seems the week of it we had is all the winter we're going to get which is sad. Our graduation menus changed with each daughter as all 4 have different favorites and ideas of a fun celebration. The biggest we had was with DD2. We joined in with 4 other families and had a huge celebration at the county park and had Sticky Fingers cater it. It really depends on the size of the crowd, time of day, the graduate's favorites, etc. I was ready for mine to get out there and enjoy college once they graduated. I think I was tired after raising the four of them. LOL

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  13. I just know your son will be fine, Carla, he has wonderful parents and a good upbringing and he'll never forget that or the love your family shares.
    Enjoy your week! xx Cheryl

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  14. What a wonderful photo of you and your oldest son! I had lots of graduation celebrations and kept things simple. Lots of nibbly type foods...you could make lots of interesting snacks with cheese! I hiked by myself yesterday...wish you could have been here to go with me! Hugs!

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  15. Letting them go is hard but if they make that transition easily and happily then you know you've done a good job which I'm sure you have. And then they come back (sometimes for longer than you or they planned lol) and move on again, hopefully gain a partner and then the family hopefully expands. Lots to look forward to. You definitely seem to enjoy snow. Would you like some of mine?

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  16. LOL I am glad you admitted to being a cheese head and loving the cheese made in Wisconsin!!!! How can you not like cheese right!!!! Yum!!! You are so good to prepare and talk about getting ready to grow as a parent and let go as your son begins the next phase of life. Going off to college is a big life transition for both of you. He will do really well because of how you have prepared him to be a great person in life. He will make you so proud I promise. I remember when my girls went off. It is hard that first semester when you are adjusting and they are adjusting but then after Christmas break something wonderful happens and they fall deeply in love with college and you adjust too. I promise this has happened to so many I know that went through this with the first one off to college. He will carve out a wonderful life and it will make you smile to see the wonderful adult he is becoming. So exciting. Happy Thursday.
    Hugs,
    Kris

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  17. I laughed at your husbands answer to your asking him if you were operating at 100%. There isn't a husband on the planet who would have answered any differently. Congratulations to your son as he embarks on a new leg of his journey through life. Congratulations to his parents for their getting him up to this point. Keep hugging that boy.
    Thanks for your visit to my blog page and for your comments.

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  18. Glad you are at 100%! It is so hard to believe Sam will be heading off to college. It seems like last week you were writing that he got his drivers license!
    How about a taco bar?

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  19. Way to go at operating at 100% and starting your Spring cleaning! Wisconsin definitely has the best cheese. Are you on Pinterest? I would just do a search for graduation party ideas.

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  20. 75% tops. I should get moving.
    Amalia
    xo

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  21. Oh Carla, you always pull at my heartstrings when you talk about your boys! I do agree the hugs make putting on our brave faces is much easier! xo Planning a graduation party will be fun!

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High Fives from Wisconsin!