Well dang it all anyway...

...my mom used to say that when my ears were around to hear. My dad's version may have been more colorful. But shoot, people! I thought I was going to be better at this in 2019.

Here we are late on the evening of May 6 and poof - 4 months have evaporated since my last post.

It seems as though the same feelings I've been having the last few years have not gone away: the days are fleeting. Fourth grade has about 18 days left until it expires. She will say goodbye to our beloved Mrs. V after two great years with her.

So we haven't been lazy in all this quiet time.

We welcomed our new little buddy, Penn Michael.

Our bed continues to be THE place EVERYONE wants to be (translation: not her bed)

We got some great quality time with my gal pals, and embarrassed Ella endlessly.

We hosted a slumber party for my the big kids.

We celebrated Mama B's birthday!

 And wouldn't you know it - the week Ella had spring break was also Holy Week. I work for a church, that has something going every spare moment, of every day, the entire Holy Week. She was a trooper and magnificent helper. She helped deliver meals to a few folks.

 She took a few moments to pose with me AND carefully placed Panda and Sealy in the church sanctuary.

 We invited Roz and Grandma and Papa for the Maundy Thursday feast.

 And because she was a patient little thing, when I got the call that a foster home was needed for four babies...I could not say no. And she was the happiest little girl this side of the Mississippi. Agnes, Sam, Hiro and Oscar were with a foster family that a medical emergency. We swooped in and took over. They have been some of the easiest kittens we've ever known. Ella had her favorite in less than 60 seconds.

Easter Morning!

 We left the kittens at home and took a roadtrip to the Henry Ford Museum to finish up spring break. Ella's main goal: find that Rosa Parks bus and sit in her seat. She seems to be equal parts fascinated and haunted by Civil Rights issues. Dear Lord, that makes my heart sing although I don't dare fuss about it because, "Mom! Stop making such a big deal! {insert eye roll}"

Help me. The recorder...

2 1/2 weeks later...still awesome and chubbier

Sleepovers galore, made even better when Mama Sar and Daddy John take them for drinks.

Thirteen days away from DOUBLE DIGITS for our girl and 51 years for me. So I'm 51 and it doesn't freak me out to announce it to the Internets. There are days I feel 34. There are days I feel 61. I know I'm a much better mom because I was 41 when this all started but there is some solid evidence in my book as to why folks embark on the parenthood journey at a younger age. For reals.

~H