A Mayflower's Musings

Tuesday, January 12, 2021

Winter Blues

Gosh today was an uphill battle.  I physically felt sick from some wintery blues-  more like RAIN blues!

I’m not gonna say much cuz I’m super tired and want to nod off to dream world now...but after a long day of everything feeling heavy and hard, it ended hopeful.

Maisie made a cake!  (We only had to go to Joanne’s three times and two grocery stores!) I should say she also made dinner-  but that’s usual now on Tuesdays - hurray!  We played trivial pursuit as a family -  Ruby requested a game instead of a show!  And also... Ruby’s math teacher sent this great text:

💛Good evening! This is Mr. Howard from Patton. We have been recognizing the great work and additional effort Ruby has been putting into Math class and wanted to pass it along to you. We are really proud of all her hard work!💛

I’m so proud of her!  Put some wind in her sails and mine as her mother too!



A beautiful end to a dreary day!  We’ve got this!

Monday, October 26, 2020

Palm Springs Get AWAY










Mike and I got a quick getaway at Mike and Pam’s place in Palm Springs two weeks ago..  

It was HOT hot HoT!! 

Tuesday night to Saturday early morning we enjoyed some relaxation.  

For the memory keeping -  the shows we watched were Yellowstone and Handmaids Tale.  I finished reading The Help and started reading The Book of Lost Friends.

We were too lazy to cook much-  but Mike did make me breakfast every morning and did the dishes for me too!  We got take out and snacked on lots of chips and salsa and drank some beverages.

I had a hard time relaxing but I think it’s just that season of life -  kids are busy and doing school at home... and Pam was sick so I worried.  And on the swinging pendulum of anxiety in my life I’m in an upturn!

But I came home ready to work more on my health!  And really enjoying these kids right now so I think next time around will be another family vacay.  Dedicated to our hubby wife time too though-  such a balancing act!

Sunday, October 25, 2020

Ruby at Twelve

A quick note for the records is that Ruby is now 5’8’’ and has surpassed her sisters and me in height.

Quarantine sleep was good for this beautiful basketball player of a girl!

Currently she is doing three private lessons a week to increase her ball handling skills and shooting accuracy!  We are so blessed to have a very close relationship with a super star athlete named Kylee Arzner.  Kylee is a senior at Mac High and has signed with Colorado State with a full scholarship to play basketball on their roster!  I cannot rave about Kylee’s talent and hard work ethic enough!  

It’s pretty sweet that we have known Kylee for quite awhile and that our families are close friends that spend a lot of fun times together.  So when Ruby is under Kylee’s tutelage, there is an ease and camaraderie about their interaction!  Ruby respects her highly but also knows she’s loved by her big sister like mentor too.  And Kylee pushes her really hard but is ready to cheer her on and laugh with Ruby too!

I’m excited to see Ruby continue to improve and hopefully play some basketball games in 2021!

Beyond basketball Ruby is hanging in there with distance learning - although she’d definitely prefer to be at school with her friends!  Luckily one of her best buddies, Finley, comes over two times a week to do her school alongside Ruby. 

Proud of this ‘not so little anymore’ one!  Thirteen is right around the corner!!!!








Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Maisie and Me

The first weekend in October, Maisie and I went to our favorite beach house-  or should I say-  little river house -  for her birthday!  It was actually the 4th year in a row that she has asked that we do this get-away instead of a big birthday parties..

I do believe I love these weekends as much as Maisie! Maisie’s birthday is on September 27th and it is the fourth birthday we celebrate that month!  So, by that weekend I am always so exhausted.  And I always treasure my 1-1 times with my children. It’s easy and purposeful and so important to me!

This time we watched all five Twilight movies-  she had never seen them and it had been a very long time since I had.  We had take out (pandemic style) at Grateful Bread, dined outside at The Riverhouse, shopped at our favorite clothing store in Pacific City, took a walk on the beach, sat on the deck, slept and ate lots of candy!!  

Pretty much divine!

Thank you Uncle Dave and Christie for the blessing of our little Woods cabin and the memories it continues to offer our extended family!  





















Saturday, May 2, 2020

First puzzle of quarantine...finally!











I should say first puzzle for me.... Maisie has done quite a few!!  This one was really fun!  ðŸ–¤

Friday, May 1, 2020

Cabin Life in Quarantine


Well, after all the packing and a very long drive, we arrived yesterday late afternoon!  To lots of snow!!!  
We have settled in and are having a really lazy Friday!
No cabin fever yet-  it’s so good to be in a new setting. New surroundings and feels like vacation -  so giving myself an excuse to relax for a few days!  




















We love this place so much!  ♥️ It’s HOME!  

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

10 years tomorrow....

Ten years ago tonight, I imagine I went to bed like any other night in that season-  probably tired. I had a curly haired, six year old daughter in kindergarten, a spirited 4 year old in preschool, and a two year old, who was so easy going sometimes it’s hard to remember her toddler years.  Pretty sure we were in a recession and work was rough for Mike.  

I had no clue that my dad would be going to bed for the last time -  not to wake up ever again.

I remember getting the call midday I believe... because someone had to go get Daphne for me from her afternoon kindergarten....

It was an awful call.  No one wants to lose someone dear to them without getting a chance to say goodbye and I definitely didn’t get that moment.  I don’t think I’d seen him for 3 weeks maybe.  Most of the time we talked on the phone briefly.  He was really sick and didn’t travel to me much- I think he came for Christmas that year though.  And his home wasn’t the best place to take little ones.   But those are somewhat excuses because I wish I could go back and spend more time with him that last year... those last years.

Then again, I think he knew us kids were really busy raising our little ones and he was proud of Les, Jon and me.  Time has allowed me to forgive myself for that... 

I still wish though for that last conversation and hug.  Also I have so many questions for him now that he’s been gone for ten years and I’m in a different place in my life.  I think he and I were more similar than I ever thought and I’d love to ask him about his struggles and his hopes and dreams. 

I could go on and on but I’m on the verge of crying and I really need to go to bed!  Tomorrow is a BIG day here.  Lots to do-  need my rest.

One last thing, though that I say over and over -  60 is way too young to die and I so wish he could have had that retirement he always seemed to be excited about!!  
Oh, and of course I really wish he could see the kiddos now.  They have changed so much and they are really amazing individuals with unique gifts.  And of course he never got to meet Henry and Dad would get such a kick out of him .  I do like to think he can see us sometimes but not sure how that works.  

Well, miss you forever Dad.  The next couple weeks- on our little vacation are going to be dedicated to you.