My Elder Climbs the Trees

We bought our house because of it's climbing trees.  

My older girl, now 10, has been a tree climber from the beginning.

I'd find a house online and decide it looked good, and then we'd drive to the house itself.  If there were no climbing trees or good outdoor space for the kids to play, it was a no-go from the beginning.

We have several good climbing trees, one in the front and two in the back.  

This one she chose to climb today is not typically her "favorite tree".  

She climbs up and nestles in the crooks between branches and trunk.

Ten years old.   We just cut her hair short recently.  It was not something she readily agreed to, but she knew it had to be done.  Her hair has always been her pride and joy.  Short and sassy, a good look for her.  She likes her short hair but tonight she screamed to the Gods, "I wish I had straight hair!"

Oh!  My older daughter.  Takes my breath away.

She is smart and talented, generous and kind, such a good heart and spirit.  

I am soooo lucky to be her mom. 

 I have two very great daughters and I am blessed and proud and full of love for them both. 

She'll still try to climb clear to the top of any tree.  

I keep telling her I worry not about her, I worry about the tree. 

 I'm afraid she'll catch a weak branch and fall.  

She climbed down this long branch all the way to the ground.

And, she's down from the tree.

The serious look.

She can make herself cry, too.  Real tears.  She wants to be an actress.  Lol

I feel A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.

I want to share what I just told a friend. Rather introspective moment, I guess  I feel A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. Like my life has changed 100% in the last 10 months. I feel so positive and satisfied; despite my mistakes and occassional misgivings. That's a powerful statement, isn't it? When we're in our 50's, I want you to remind me of this conversation and ask me if I feel the same way. Where do you think we'll be? In 10 years. I'll be... The mom of a college student with my baby getting her drivers license.

An old friend, whom I've know since high school, responds "I'm glad to be rising wit' da same wave, being so conscious of da spirit of da times.... I'm glad you're refresh'd by a day dat's equally great& dreadful... Onwards.... ~ Friend"

Could there have been a more perfect response?  My friend is a visual writer, I'd say.

I took this photo of the Winston Mutual Building a year and a half ago, in October 2012 --  it was such an amazing sight to see the shadow of the tree against the entire expanse of the five story building. Truly took my breath away. I don't think the tree is even there anymore...

Project 365: Day 17, Snow!

Snow in our part of North Carolina is rare, and something that everyone gets excited about.  It has literally been raining for days and days (weeks?), dark, gray, sad...

For a few days now, they've been telling us the snow was coming.  Yesterday, they were pretty sure it was going to hit us.  This morning, we were looking at 1-3" (and it was still 47°).  At lunchtime we were looking at 2-4" (and the temperature had decreased about 5°).  By the time I picked up the girls from school, they were predicted 3-6" (and the temperature was still hovering around 40°).  Well, it's down to 34° and it's thundering and lightening... and SNOWING!  (Thundersnow!) 

  

It didn't start until after dark, and the snowflakes look like a million stars in a vast galaxy. 

And I've got two very happy girls.

And even better, they've already called school off for tomorrow.  

Yeah, we roll like that.  This is the south, after all.

Project 365: January 1, 2013, Day 1/365

Happy New Year!  First photo of the day.  My girls, ages 4 and 8.