Mama of 2 P's in a Pod

 Listening to the Chicks...this song is definitely my mood lately. Running away, always seemed silly as a child but makes so much more sense as an adult, especially with life now. The culture, the political climate, adult responsibiliries (nod to Tommy Pickles from Rugrats). All of it. Let's go. Let's sell the house, the things in the house and just go. Where? I'm not sure but not here. Realistically, here we are. So many life changes, every day seems to be something new to add or subtract. One kiddo graduated college in 3 years. We threw a hell of a party. Other kiddo started an adult type job, doesn't pay much, includes a lot of blood, sweat and tears and miles on a car. But I'm proud of her and excited to see her grow and take on all of it. Both are moving forward, that's all I can ask. They are happy, working on getting healthy, but damn, this world right now, it's hard. They both feel the weight of it. I keep reminding them that their generation can mak...

 2024 wasn't pretty. It's not that it was all bad. There were some incredible times and some truly beautiful moments. However, there were some definite dark times. Times that I'd like to file away in the "move on" pile.  I don't walk away from 2024 without acknowledging the lessons learned. I dipped back into old habits way too many times. THANKFULLY, the waist line didn't expand too much and the checking account has recovered. I'm hoping to walk into 2025 ready to take on life and live it, rather than react to it. Seems pretty simple right? Here's to a happy, healthy, hopeful 2025! May we all be better versions ourselves.

 I don't blog much, if at all. I don't write much, if at all. That makes me sad putting that to words. I miss being creative. I miss finding words just flow, and flow and then flow some more. I feel like this part of life, is so busy and by the end of the day, I barely have time to gather my thoughts, much less share them. I need to adjust the balance of what I do each day. I have been able to find more time for myself, working out, reading etc. But more adjustments need to be made. Even if I'm the only one reading my words, I need to put them out there. Watching our girls navigate adulthood is humbling. I think at their age I just winged it and pretended to be an adult, pretended to have it together. At my age, it's pretty much the same thing, only now, I have to guide them through it and pretend I know what I'm doing. I have no shame in admitting any of that to them as we guide them, or attempt to. Life is way harder now than it was when Kris and I were there age....

 I love this blog. Love what I've logged of our life together, with these amazing little people who have grown up to be amazing not so little (but still my babies) people. I will touch in every so often here. But I have started a new blog, to just add to life around us as these kids become adults etc.  Come and read me. https://frommykitchentabledodds.blogspot.com/

 Summer went by faster than I have ever seen it. Maybe this is how life is now, with grown children? Or maybe we just packed it so full, we didn't have a moment to sit down and over think things.  England was great. And not so great. Our oldest struggled some, food and textures, people and their lack of ability to be reliable or just basic good human beings. But I do believe, overall, it was worth it all and she came back with experience, core memories and a better sense of the world. I know this will just continue to make her hungry to explore more of it, and I love that. I would love to travel some of it with her too, to see it through her eyes. That is one of my favorite parts of parenting, seeing it all through their eyes. Vacation was so quick it was barely a blink and we were back in Kansas. I loved it all. I'm glad we made it a longer time away than we originally talked about. I think we all needed every single minute of it. Being able to share something we love, Disney...

 Our oldest heads to England to study abroad for a month on Saturday. A whole month. Away. Across the pond. Living in a castle nonetheless. I am so incredibly excited for her and terrified at the same time. I know this will open so many doors for her and will hopefully help her to open herself to life and new experiences. I am trying to not over think or over worry or over anything, to just let it ride and see how things go. I am so proud of her for jumping. For her willingness to do this and see what's out there. It's just so hard to have to share her. I've been very spoiled having her around and honestly she has become one of my best friends, as much as a child can be. She is still my child, grown up or not. I can't wait to see where life takes her, I hope I get to go along for part of the ride! Our youngest begins her college cheer career this week. They have their first round of insane practices. She is so excited and so ready for something that belongs to her. I am...