Signed the paperwork, got the sweatshirt...

...he's going to University of Michigan :)

What a long, emotional, and sometimes overwhelming journey this has been. Colin really started looking at schools last spring, then did some auditioning last June. Lots of applications and essays during the fall, then more auditions in the winter. And then BOOM, it's done and you wait, and wait, AND wait. The audition part of the process made the whole thing a lot more stressful than the normal college application process, and I have to say that it all became all-encompassing from about December through a few weeks ago when C made his decision. I am glad to have this part of his life over with for sure!

He is thrilled; it was his first choice school. Their MT program is highly regarded and after visiting we can clearly see why. It is amazing, the faculty, the students, as well as the school itself. It is a great fit for C, and somewhere I can see him grow both academically and vocally/theatre wise as well as personally over the next 4 years. The reality hasn't totally set in yet for me. But between our move, and him going to school across the country there are going to be a lot of changes to get used to next fall. As I've said on numerous occasions, I'm gonna miss this kid. Oh, and please allow me this little mommy brag, he was named class salutatorian, good for you Colin!!!



On a side note, the yard sale went GREAT, we got rid of everything! It always amazes me what people will buy, and that they want to haggle over a 50 cent item, I guess they enjoy the thrill of the chase!

Also, thanks so much for the "welcome backs" as well. It's nice to be posting again, however I'm sure it's going to be very sporadic for a while still. I haven't had much time to check out what everyone else has been up to, but I hope to soon.

I hope you all had a fabulous Mother's Day! Mine was the first day I haven't worked my fingers to the bone in probably 6 or 7 weeks. It felt GOOD, and I even slept in until 8 o'clock which was heavenly!
Thanks for visiting!

Stick a fork in me, I am DONE!

The last 6 weeks have been absolutely IN-sane. Every spare minute was spent getting our house of the last 18 years ready to go up for sale. There was SO much to be done, and honestly, there were times I didn't think we'd make it. But...we DID! Today our agent had the photographer come by for pics, and the for sale sign goes up on Wednesday!

Tomorrow we're having the "mother of all garage sales." It was supposed to be last Saturday but it rained :( then Sunday we'll clean out the garage (happy Mother's Day to me), and then that's it (other than finding a new home...minor detail...LOL).

Anyhow, I haven't picked up my camera at all this last month other than to take headshots for 65 of the cast and crew for C's school musical. So I sat out on my front porch this afternoon for about 10 minutes and shot some of the blooms from our garden. It felt great, though I am horribly out of practice! I figure I'll be booted out of the house a lot the next few weeks for showings, so hopefully I'll get the opportunity to shoot more soon!

Thanks for looking!

You know the info has got to be good when the envelope says this:

It sat on the kitchen table for 8 1/2 LONG hours today until C got home. I am forbidden to open his college mail. GRRRR.

Anyhow, this say it all:



He's into his third choice school, yahoo! He's already in his first (but don't know if it'll happen due to finances), and waiting to hear from his second, but he is THRILLED to be in this school and they gave him some really good scholarship $$$ to boot. He is so happy to have some choices! Now he can let some of the other schools that he had as safeties know "thank you but no thank you."

Oh and B, this is what C wanted you to see before talking to you, so please give him a call :)

While editing these pics...

...it really hit home how much I'm going to miss this kid when he leaves in the fall. I am so excited for him to start his grown up life, and cannot wait to see where it takes him. At the same time sometimes it hits me like a ton of bricks and I get pangs of "dang, I'm going to miss him" as well. I have a feeling I am going to be a sniffling mess at graduation.

Anyhow, he and a bunch of his friends went to the semi-formal dance Friday night. They've been boycotting dances for the last year or so (long story), so I was surprised that they decided to go. Unfortunately his date didn't come by here, so I'll have to settle for the pics taken at the dance of the two of them. However, I warned him that for Prom I will be taking pics, no matter if it means me going to his date's house to do so!

I got a few quick snaps before he left and I almost kissed him when he said: "is that really all you need?" If the light hadn't been fading FAST trust me, I would have been all over taking more pics since he was being so cooperative about it!

I think this first one will probably be included with his (gulp) graduation announcements:



:( on cutting off the tippy top of his head on this next one. He was whipping his head back and forth towards me and just being goofy. I love the easy, full smile and twinkling eyes:



The wrist corsage for his date, that ribbon is seriously PINK dontcha think:

Another Hellebores

I really like the way the light was hitting this first one:

Fun with the fisheye

Couple more pics from last week at the Seattle Center. The first two are with the 10.5 fisheye, the second two with the 28-70.



No, the sculptures do not bend over in real life:







Thanks for the advice about helping to keep C motivated. The trip thing won't work unfortunately, we're actually taking him and his best friend to WDW for a week later this month. I guess I should have waited to dangle that for after graduation ;D However, Starbucks gift cards just might work...he's like his mom that way, major addict. Fingers crossed!

Oh and:
Just a reminder, the 30% off sale on prints ends THIS SUNDAY the 23rd. If interested you'll find more info and a link over that-away ----->

Gotta love a 17 YO who only wants a Hula girl as a souvenir from Hawaii

C is an inexpensive traveler at times. A $5 souvenir and he is happy as a clam. However, he has discerning taste when it comes to Hula girls. He looked in several shops to find the one that was the right size, had the right facial expression, the right colors, and just the right amount of cheesiness to her.

I've never had anything decorating my car before, but I kind like her. It amuses me that people can't help but to give her a little nudge when they're in the passenger seat.

Shot while stopped at a red light in downtown :-)



Speaking of my 17 YO son. Does anyone have any advice for helping keeping him motivated during these last few months of high school? He has always been a very conscientious student, more so than most. However he is so "over" schoolwork, especially now that he has some college acceptances in hand. He has a bad, BAD case of senioritis. We've never been ones to dangle rewards for hard work, but I'm beginning to wonder if we should try it....hmmmm, what could I dangle? His middle-of-the-third-quarter report from school was less spectacular than I know it could have been :( I've tried the "could you do it for me?" Jewish mother guilt thing - it's ok for me to say that, I'm Jewish ;) ...it's not working very well...