TristanIsNine

T had a half day of school and spent the rest of the day with Braeden and Ms. Sheila!! And Braeden was nice enough to come to the basketball Saturday too!! Work was nuts.. but this was office therapy... then, I got off work, went and picked him up for a birthday celebration with G! Tracy brought the coolest cookie cake! and of course, there was singing! then two hours of video games!!  Thankfully I get to catch up with my friend too!! So thankful their friendship has lasted so many years!!! Tonight he's off to hang out with Davis after a few basketball games. We're ringing in 10 nicely so far!!! Happy Almost Your Birthday Tristan!!

You wanted this SO badly Tristan.  You are SO good at math... but it's been a very stressful time for our family.  You've handled it well but I just wasn't sure.  Then you wanted THIS one thing so badly. You had to earn it.  All alone.  And you did. I never tutor him in math. THE ONE THING I CAN... he doesn't need.  So - we go back to 4th-grade science, social studies, etc. together! LOL THIS YOU DID ALL ON YOUR OWN!!! 5th place in your whole school!! ON TO MATH OLYMPICS!!!! rabbit face! PURE PRIDE!! and then killing it across the board! Proud Mom alert!  Proud Mom alert!!! We're pooped!  Gotta rest that big brain for tomorrow!!!

Ruth Ann came over and Holt cooked dinner. I didn't feel well so I just kind of chilled... So did Baylor... Holt and Ruth Ann left at 10pm so T and I hung out and watched TV and were silly.... But at 11:59 and 30 seconds... we BOUNCED! and then he busted me so we laughed... and bounced straight into 2019!  THIS HAS TO BE A BETTER YEAR!! Happy New Year to us - AND YOU!

Tristan and the rest of his class had to practice mailing a letter.  They made the envelopes... and wrote a thoughtful letter... and sealed it off with a snowman! He was so proud of his letter and said it was too hard to do another one.  He spilled something on his first letter and had to start all over... so in his mind - he was done. He re-wrote to Grammy and that was that. Great job Bud.  You made her day!!

We skipped our normal tradition of Christmas Eve with the Mays and went to Prestonwood with Ruth Ann.  It was a beautiful candlelight service. then we headed over for dinner.. and family time T opened his NY Christmas gifts and was a very happy (and spoiled) boy!! Then he asked if he could sleep in his own bed.  I really wanted to make it special for him.  And it didn't really work out that way and he still said it was the best Christmas of his life.  He said he just loves being home.  Me too buddy, me too!! He got to open one gift from under the tree and he chose Zach and Sol's gift.   Baylor snuggled up and then guarded the tree while I enjoyed a glass of wine. Meanwhile in Kentucky....LOL - he's just a kid after my heart Christmas heart!! They flew into Nashville so the fam (minus my mom - too much walking) spent time touring and loving the sounds and sights...

Sue is my friend that just gets me.  She doesn't try and change me... she just deals with "who I am" - the good the bad and the ugly.  And I'm thankful. and she loves Tristan as if he were her own... and I love her kiddos... BIG! and these two are thick as thieves... and I have to soak in every snuggle, every picture... every moment because they are fewer and more far between.  But it's ok - it's life.  I'm just thankful for EVERY SINGLE MOMENT. and this Christmas I'm doing my best to pray, take care of me. Worry less about what others think of me. I just read that someone else's opinion of me is none of my business.  It's SO true. I have an audience of one.  One. I'm going to laugh louder and love bigger. I'm going to give more and expect less. I'm going to be content. I want to be a better version of me... and LIVE free of others opinions. ...