"When we wanted what we never had, we did what we'd never done." Class of 2011

My timing on this post gets a ginormous FAIL. I know I have been promising to sit down and do this for weeks and weeks now.. you just wouldn't understand how taxing it is on me to never get two days off in a row anymore. There's never enough time to get anything done!

Anyway...

Back to the day in question... My babies were graduating from High School. I'm not even kidding! How did these little ones grow up in the blink of an eye? It seems like one minute Madi was gibbering "tappy tappy tappy" all day long and Carley was asking me to braid her long, curly locks. Sigh... If only I could go back and play with those dear little ones again. It would be magical, to be sure!

On June 2nd, 2011, Carley did not ask me to braid her hair.. and although I'm sure there was gibbering of some sort in our house that day, it wasn't Madi's childhood trademark, "tappy, tappy, tappy." Instead, I think I did most of the gibbering, and by the way things were not getting done, I think it's safe to say that I was gibbering to myself. ;)  I was almost ready to leave when I took one look at the girls' graduation gowns and knew there was no way I was letting them walk in those wrinkled messes! So I whipped out the iron as quick as you please, and declared war on those wrinkles! Have you ever stopped to consider how slippery those gowns are? Keeping the gowns on the ironing board was a lot like wrestling a bathtub full of eels. Good thing Madi was there to lend a hand!

Ironed gowns in hand, the two graduates headed off for the college campus while I urged the others to hurry. I was somewhat amazed that they weren't ready yet since they had all been told what time we needed to leave. I desperately tried to keep my stress under control so that the day could be appreciated and enjoyed properly. We were a little later getting out the door than I had planned, but it would have been so much worse if Hubby hadn't stepped in to be helpful by taking Linz to get the stockings she needed. (I'm grateful for Hubby's errand running skills!)

As we drove to the event center for the graduation, I finally had time to think about what it was we were doing. I suddenly felt as if I had swallowed a basketball. My throat tightened up and I found it difficult to breathe. It wasn't long before the stinging in my eyes signaled the onset of the official graduation sob-session. (even now I feel the threat of tears in my eyes just writing this!) My little girls have grown up. How long before they don't need me at all?

When I graduated, I hit the road running. To be fair, I was an extremely rebellious teen. A lost, confused and very angsty teen. I was glad to be rid of high school, and I vowed to never look back. I still haven't been to even one reunion.. just in case you were wondering. See, in terms of my teenage years, my buddy Stephen King said it best:  "If you liked being a teenager, there's something really wrong with you."  I totally agree! totally!

(How about you stay on topic and get back to the story, Nicole?)

It's entirely possible that the reason I worry about my little chickies flying the coop too soon is because that is what I did. I don't want them rushing head first into adulthood before they have the skills and armor they need to be successful. I winged it.. and I did a not-so-great job of it for many years. I want more for my girls.. doesn't every parent?

So there we were, stuck in a graduation ceremony traffic jam, and I was bawling. Not sentimental quiet tears either. Oh no! I was rocking the big, ugly, sob cry that never looks good on anyone. My heart, the heart of a mother who aches to keep her little ones little, was breaking even though it was a wonderful, happy occasion. So as I sniffled and sobbed, Hubby and my other girls were laughing at me as we all hoped I could get it together before we took our seats.

After wandering around the event center, trying to find the perfect seats, we finally connected with my mom and dad... and we just happened to have the perfect seats to be as close as we could get to Carley and Madi. I'd like to be able to tell you the waterworks had stopped by then, but as we took our seats, the piano theme song to "Man From Snowy River" started playing and I lost it all over again. You see, that beautiful piano music always makes me think of my Sweet Grandma... and I know that She knows it. Call me silly, but I believe that was her way of letting me know she was there to share the girls' special day.

Watching my beautiful girls walk in to the building and take their seats, I could not have been more proud. My mind replayed the many years of classroom holiday parties, school carnivals, late night homework sessions, fabulous report cards, book reports, school picture day, parent teacher conferences and more. Where did the time go?? My girls each had wonderful academic accomplishments and they managed to steer clear of the pitfalls that many teenagers fall into during their high school years. They are everything I always wanted to be and more!

I held my Hubby's hand throughout the ceremony, and we ate licorice that my mom brought (she always has goodies with her!) and we snapped what pictures we could to remember the occasion. Once again, Carley and Madi were first. Our first girls have graduated with honors and I am mighty proud.  Next year it is Emily's turn, and the year after that it will be Ashley.. then we take a year off before Abby and Linzie graduate. Wow.. I feel like my life is on fast forward!

Congratulations, my sweet girlies! You did it!

Life-Changing Week

It's a big week for my family. The week stretched out in front of us ushers in a new chapter in our lives and I'll be the first to admit it's a little scary because I have become quite comfortable in my mothering role as it has been for the past 19 years.

That's all about to change.

My little ones are all grown up. It seems to have happened quite suddenly. My mommy brain tells me that only last week I was holding Carley's and Madi's little hands as they waited for the school bus to pick them up for their first day of kindergarten. That memory is so bright and vivid... where did the years go?

This week, my very first little girls are graduating from high school. I know! I can hardly believe it myself! They will walk with their peers, draped in their school colors and wearing the honor cords that represent their years of hard work and sacrifice. They will fret over balancing their caps and they will secretly practice the tassel switch until they have it mastered for their ceremony on Thursday. (Not to worry, girls! It's a tiny thing to move the tassel from one side of your cap to the other.)

Throughout the whole thing, they won't be able to see the tears streaming down their mother's face... they won't feel the ache in my heart as is swells with pride (and a tiny hint of sorrow) as I watch them take this next step in their lives. My little girls won't know that I will sit there replaying every moment of their lives from their first little cries to their most recent gut-laughter over something utterly silly and wonderful. I will squeeze the hand of my Hubby.. the one who has patiently fathered them all these years and helped shape them into the beautiful women they are today. Even though he might think my tears are silly sentiment, he will lovingly support me and undoubtedly tease me about it later. (It's what he does and we love him for it.)

I can't help it, I'm a tender-heart and my babies are going to walk across a stage and forever cross into adulthood this week. There will be many, many tears. I'm so proud of them!  I'm pretty sure I will be imagining their tiny selves drowning in graduation gowns that are much too big for them. And when they look at me and smile, I will wonder how those little, five year old girls could possibly be graduating. I better stock up on tissues!

Congratulations on your graduation, my precious girls! 

It's A Big Day!

**Update-  They did not advance past regionals, but that's okay. I am so proud of them for all of their hard work and the guts it took to put themselves through this grueling process!

My oldest girls, my very first babies, are preparing for a very big interview just 90 minutes from now. Each of them won their category last fall in the Sterling Scholar competition at their High School and today is the regional interviews.

When you come from a family of modest means, scholarship money is a very big deal.

Carley won the Visual Arts category and will be presenting her art portfolio. She is required to carry everything by herself, which includes many large art pieces, and the winds are howling today! My adorable girl just confessed to me that she is more worried about her skirt flying up than anything else.  She makes me laugh!

I forced her to be cheesy for this picture.. but seriously, how adorable is her smile!

Madi won the English category and will be presenting her newspaper articles, essays and other writings. Her portfolio isn't nearly as cumbersome as Carley's so I have asked her to be the one to deal with the car keys once they arrive. 

We have been practicing interview questions and reassuring both of them that no matter what happens we are SO VERY PROUD of their many accomplishments! More money for their college education would be a blessing, but the greatest rewards on this journey are the lessons that they have learned about hard work and seeing things through to the end.      (now go kick some serious butt at your interviews!)

Their pictures were in the local paper yesterday for being Sterling Scholars. You can find that article HERE.

You can see their cute pictures by opening the links to the left of the article. Or by downloading the links below. There are a lot of kids competing against them and I'm sure the competition is tight... Good luck girls!!
2011 Sterling Scholars: Trade and Technical Education, Visual Arts nominees
2011 Sterling Scholars: English, Computer Science nominees

Scholarship Details

The final scholarship application has been mailed and now that the hard work is done, I have Carley's permission to show you some of the cool things she included in different applications. I am so proud of both of my graduating kiddos!

Division of Visual Arts Scholarship Application
For her art department scholarship application, Carley was asked to submit an essay explaining one of her art pieces. She chose her Angel painting and this is what she said:

In the past I have worked extensively with pastels, colored pencil and chalk. I wanted to create something different using the monotype technique which often results in blots of ink rather than hard, defined edges.  I am happy with the results I achieved by blending different artistic techniques in order to illustrate the piece the way I imagined it.

Technique:

I layered the scripture pages in collage form to visually mimic the chaos of a multitude of voices speaking at the same time. Using a monotype technique with oil paint, I created the focal outline of the angel. Using turpentine, I blurred edges and lightened the oil paint to add shadow to the shape of the angel’s arms and wings. Color was used only as an accent, the earth tones intentionally muddied, which added to the feeling of fatigue and anguish. Finally, I added a layer of decoupage to protect the delicate background and to add a texture to the piece that would imitate brush strokes on a painting.

Symbolism:

When I first conceptualized this painting, I thought of using scripture pages as the background because religion is the foundation of so many people’s lives. The angel image is based on well-regarded sculptures that are commonly found all over the world. By overlaying the angel image on the scripture pages, I wanted to represent the idea of how this guardian angel might feel after centuries of watching over mankind.  Some viewers say the angel is filled with hopelessness and despair due to the wickedness of the people on Earth, while others say she is grieving over lost souls. Ultimately, I like to leave final interpretation up to individuals to decide for themselves.

Effect:

Contrary to my usual style, I wanted to create a less colorful piece that would evoke strong emotions. I did not necessarily intend for it to be controversial, but even the small percentage of people that are uncomfortable by the use of scriptures may choose to openly express their feelings on the subject and those discussions were what I hoped to achieve.  

 When the piece was completed, I discovered the fitting verse, which ultimately became the title of this piece, on the angel’s broken left hand: “The Earth is given into the hands of the wicked.”

Ambassador Scholarship Application
For this application, Carley was asked to write an essay about her goals and qualifications. She was also instructed to create an "about me" visual page. Here are the pieces of that application:

Although my family’s means are modest, my parents have always worked hard to provide for the needs of their children. We sometimes had to give up our "wants" but we always had the necessities and we were taught valuable lessons along the way. One of the most important lessons they taught me was about the importance of college education. I have seen firsthand the frustrations my mom has endured because she has not yet completed her degree, and because of this she has made many sacrifices to assure that I will have every educational opportunity possible. With the unwavering support and encouragement of my family, I am able to maintain good grades, participate in leadership and service clubs, and still find time to relax and recharge when needed. With hard work and dedication, I will be a first generation college student and graduate.

            My goal is to gain a degree in fine arts and become an art teacher.  I believe that art is fundamental and every student deserves the opportunity to enhance their education with fine arts instruction. Even as a young child, I knew I viewed the world differently than most people. Where most people will admire the colors of the sunset, I see the abstract shapes of the clouds, the reflected light bending across distant hills and objects. Simply put, art is my life. I struggled in math and science classes until a caring teacher showed me how I could utilize my artistic skills by taking colorful notes to help with my studies.  It is my dream to earn my degree at Weber State University so I may teach and mentor other students facing similar challenges with their own studies.

            I have always known I want to attend WSU, but the first time I walked around the college campus and browsed the art gallery, I truly felt at home.  While my friends were pondering different college options, I never even questioned which school I wanted to attend because I knew this school would be the perfect fit for me.  I have already started making new friends in The Department of Visual Arts and I feel that being an Ambassador will further my goals here.

            I am confident I would be an excellent Ambassador at WSU because as one of the oldest of six children, being a leader comes naturally to me. I am comfortable being in a position to lead by example and I work well with people who have different opinions and ideas. I have also had the great honor of serving as the WSU Lynx representative at Layton High School this year, and I served the past two years as a Layton High Ambassador. In this position, I have specifically reached out to those students who might hesitate to join in, because as a young teen I had to push myself to participate in activities outside of my comfort zone. I know that there are many students who feel the same apprehension about getting involved, and I strive to encourage them to take the chances that I did. I have found that the benefits far outweigh the risks. Whether through school service projects or personal causes, such as cancer awareness, I have participated in so many service projects that show me the value of giving for the benefit of others. To me, service is yet another classroom and there is so much to be learned and gained along the way.

            It is my sincere hope that my application will be strongly considered. I have the time, the desire, the background and the abilities that are necessary to excel in this role, and am so excited for the opportunity. I know I will represent Weber State University proudly! Thank you for your time and consideration.

I happen to think she did an excellent job with her applications and I'm mighty proud!  I wish I could share Madi's scholarship accomplishment with you, but suffice it to say that she scored an amazing 30 on her ACT and earned the Presidential Scholarship which is a 4 year, full tuition scholarship.  

Way to go, girls! 

Little Birds Leaving The Nest

Hello February! I have to confess -This morning I have been hunkered down among my multitude of fluffy pillows and toasty blankets, completely and utterly self indulgent and loving it! This is just what I needed after the breakneck pace of the weekend.  Time to relax and recharge.

I have witnessed so many life changing moments with my girls and each one carries just a hint of sadness when I stop to realize that we are on the threshold of a new chapter in their lives. New chapters usually mean an end to the old chapters.. you know, the ones where they are my little girls and they need me to take care of them. In the blink of an eye these little creatures are all grown up and thinking about taking complete command of their own lives. Now I have to consciously stifle my instinct to speak up about what I think they should do and let them make those decisions (for better or worse) on their own.  This is new territory for all of us and as exciting as it is, it's still a little scary too.  Have I taught them well enough? Do they have the skills they need to hop from the nest and soar?

Last weekend was dedicated to all things scholarship. Carley has been working hard to earn college money and I was doing everything I could to help. She had an interview on Saturday with the art department at WSU and she did so well! She spotlighted her Angel piece and the members on the panel told her they could look at it all day. (Me too!) Carley came home so excited about her future at WSU. She will be entering her Angel piece into their art show coming up soon and I'll be sure to let you know when we hear anything about the department scholarship.

After the art department scholarship, we dove right into the Ambassador scholarship, also at WSU. This is the scholarship I am crossing my fingers for. Being selected as an Ambassador would mean a full ride scholarship plus a small stipend each semester which would probably be enough for books too. All of Carley's high school preparation has been leading up to this scholarship and we worked very hard on her application for it. I think she's the perfect candidate but once again we can only wait and see.

This waiting game is going to give me even more gray hair!

Finally we finished up yesterday with the Delta scholarship. Carley said all along that this one would be the easiest to do and she was right! Because we had worked so hard on the Sterling Scholar application and the other two for WSU, all we had to do for the Delta scholarship was pull pieces from each one as needed. It now sits on the counter waiting for me to mail it off today and with that, scholarship season has officially come to an end.

Now we wait.

Madi has a full ride to WSU based on her ACT grades. We are so proud of her! She didn't want to apply for any other scholarships and I struggled to accept that. We had a few bumpy moments when I tried to push her into doing something she didn't want to do and then I had to just let go. I can't make decisions for them.. even if I think it was the best thing for her, she wasn't interested and forcing the issue only made us both miserable. This is the part where I have to learn new skills and let them make their own choices. I'm still extremely proud of Madi's accomplishments and I want nothing but the best for her when it comes to her college experiences. I know she'll do great!

My oldest girls are so grown up now! They are preparing for college life in which they will take those steps as (mostly) independent women. The choices they make from now on will guide the direction of their entire future. That's a big deal! I  know they are excited about college and the new doors opening all around them. I hope that their choices will always be the best ones for them. But man oh man is it going to be tough on me!

One spring a robin built its nest in the sheltered nook of our front porch. We watched this beautiful fella build his nest with carefully chosen twigs, grass and bits of shiny things. We invested our hopes in the brightly colored eggs that we discovered in that nest one day and we carefully roped off the porch when those adorable little birds emerged. Hours were spent watching that little family from our living room. We saw both parents taking care of the little birds that awkwardly stretched their necks each time food was offered. For weeks we delighted in the changes of the little birds and they grew stronger and cuter by the day. One day I watched as the round fluffy babies hopped up on the edge of the nest and vigorously beat their tiny wings against the slight breeze. I held my breath fearing this would be the day that they flew away for good. But after a nice workout, they hopped back into their cozy nest and carried on with their happy chirping when their parents showed up. One morning we checked the nest and it was empty. Those little birds had flown away without warning and we missed their presence. However, as the days went on there were sightings of those little birds hopping around our yard and we were so happy to see them doing so well. We were grateful that we had seen their beginnings and we hoped they would always be happy, healthy little birds.

My girlies are so much like those little robins.

I have taken care of these girlies for over 18 years. I have carefully watched over them and tried my best to make decisions that were always in their best interest. I tried to surround them with happiness and love and give them the skills they would need to always do the right thing. I admit, I'm not ready for this phase. My instinct is to keep guiding them and making decisions for them. Now I have to make myself take a backseat... it's time to see how well they will do on their own.  This is the part where I am supposed let go and oh my goodness it is so difficult to do!

They're going to be just fine. Better than fine.  They're going to be rockin' awesome!

The Earth Is Given Into The Hands Of The Wicked

Today I am helping Carley prepare for a scholarship interview tomorrow and she chose to highlight this piece for the interview. So although today's writing is for Carley and won't be published on any blog, I wanted to at least share this beautiful painting with you.

The Earth Is Given Into The Hands Of The Wicked -Monotype in Oil, Carley Randquist 2010

I always wished I had artistic ability. Though it appears my daughter ended up with all of that particular talent, I don't mind. I'm one proud mama! 

Wisdom

Me:  "Oh Carley, life is so hard sometimes."

Carley:  "I know... but what else are you gonna do?"

What Happened In 1992?

January 1992

Wednesday 01:

George H. W. Bush becomes the first President of the United States of America to address the Australian Parliament.

Saturday 11:

Paul Simon is the first major artist to tour South Africa after the end of the cultural boycott.

Sunday 12:

A new constitution, providing for freedom to form political parties, is approved by referendum in Mali.

Thursday 16:

El Salvador officials and rebel leaders sign the Chapultepec Peace Accords in Mexico City that ends a 12-year civil war that claimed at least 75,000.

Wednesday 22:

STS-42: Dr. Roberta Bondar becomes the first Canadian woman in space.

» January 1992

February 1992

Saturday 01:

The Chief Judicial Magistrate of Bhopal court declares Warren Anderson, ex-CEO of Union Carbide, a fugitive under Indian law for failing to appear in the Bhopal Disaster case.

Friday 07:

The European Union is formed.

Monday 10:

In Indianapolis, Indiana boxer Mike Tyson is convicted of raping a Miss Black America contestant named Desiree Washington.

Monday 17:

A court in Milwaukee, Wisconsin sentences serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer to life in prison.

Wednesday 26:

Xocali slaughter. More than 600 people of the town of Xocali, Azerbaijan, are killed by Armenian forces during war in Karabakh.

» February 1992

March 1992

Monday 02:

Moldova joins the UN

Friday 13:

In eastern Turkey, an earthquake registering 6.8 on the Richter scale kills over 500.

Tuesday 17:

A suicide car-bomb kills 29 and injures 242 at the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Wednesday 25:

Cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev returns to Earth after a 10-month stay aboard the Mir space station.

Tuesday 31:

The television news program Dateline NBC premieres.

» March 1992

April 1992

Sunday 05:

Siege of Sarajevo begins when Serb paramilitaries murder peace protestor Suada Dilberovic on the Skenderija Bridge.

Thursday 09:

John Major wins the UK general election.

Thursday 16:

The Katina P. runs aground off of Maputo, Mozambique. 60,000 tons of crude oil spill into the ocean.

Monday 20:

An all-star concert in memory of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury is held at Wembley Stadium in London.

Wednesday 29:

1992 Los Angeles riots: Riots in Los Angeles, California, follow the acquittal of police officers charged with excessive force in the beating of Rodney King. Over the next three days 54 people are killed and hundreds of buildings are destroyed.

» April 1992

May 1992

Thursday 07:

Three employees at a McDonald's Restaurant in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada are brutally murdered and a fourth permanently disabled after a botched robbery. It is the first fast-food murder in Canada.

Saturday 16:

STS-49: Space Shuttle Endeavour lands safely after a successful maiden voyage.

Sunday 17:

In Thailand, the so-called Black May begins. Thai police and protestors start attacking one another. By midnight, the current Thai government declares a state of emergency, and military troops, equipped with M-16 rifles, open fire.

Friday 22:

After 30 years, 66-year-old Johnny Carson hosts The Tonight Show for the last time.

Sunday 24:

The last Thai dictator, General Suchinda Kraprayoon, resigns following pro-democracy protests.

» May 1992

June 1992

Monday 08:

The first World Ocean Day is celebrated, coinciding with the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Saturday 13:

The Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League logged the first (and, to date, only) shutout in league history, defeating the San Antonio Force, 50-0.

Monday 15:

The United States Supreme Court rules in US vs. Alvarez-Machain that it is permissible for the USA to abduct suspects in foreign countries and bring them to the USA for trial, without approval from those other countries. No reciprocal right is recognized for the reverse to happen in the USA.

Wednesday 17:

A 'Joint Understanding' agreement on arms reduction is signed by U.S. President George H. W. Bush and Russian President Boris Yeltsin (this would be later codified in START II).

Tuesday 23:

Yitzhak Rabin wins the Israeli parlamentary elections..

» June 1992

July 1992

Thursday 09:

Democratic presidential nominee Bill Clinton announces that Al Gore will be his running mate.

Friday 10:

In Miami, Florida, former Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega is sentenced to 40 years in prison for drug and racketeering violations.

Tuesday 14:

A major fire consumes an entire city block in tourist destination Gatlinburg, Tennessee, destroying the "Ripley's Believe It Or Not!" Museum and several other local businesses and attractions in the process.

Monday 20:

Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9's Fragment Q1 hits Jupiter.

Friday 31:

A Thai Airways Airbus A300-310 crashes into mountain south of Kathmandu, Nepal killing 113.

» July 1992

August 1992

Wednesday 12:

Canada, Mexico and the United States announce completion of negotiations for the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Tuesday 18:

NBA basketball player Larry Bird announces his retirement after winning an Olympic gold medal as a member of the U.S. Dream Team.

Sunday 23:

Hurricane Andrew hits South Florida.

Monday 24:

Hurricane Andrew hits South Florida

Monday 31:

Pascal Lissouba is inaugurated as the President of the Republic of the Congo after a multiparty presidential election, ending a long history of one-party oppressive rule under the Congolese Workers Party.

» August 1992

September 1992

Friday 11:

Hurricane Iniki, one of the most damaging hurricane in United States history during its time, devastates the State of Hawai'i, especially the islands of Kaua'i and Oahu.

Saturday 12:

Abimael Guzmán, leader of the Shining Path, is captured by Peruvian special forces; shortly thereafter the rest of Shining Path's leadership fell as well.

Wednesday 16:

Black Wednesday: the Pound Sterling is forced out of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism by currency speculators and is forced to devalue against the Deutschmark.

Friday 18:

Nine formerly pro-Albanian marxist-leninist parties hold a conference in Strassburg, Germany.

Tuesday 29:

Brazilian President Fernando Collor de Mello resigns.

» September 1992

October 1992

Sunday 04:

An El Al Boeing 747-200F crashes into two apartment buildings in Amsterdam, killing 43 including 38 on the ground. See Bijlmerramp

Thursday 15:

In Russia, Andrei Chikatilo is found guilty of 52 serial murders.

Friday 23:

Akihito becomes the first Emperor of Japan to stand on Chinese soil.

Saturday 24:

The Toronto Blue Jays become the first non-US team to win the World Series. This is also known as the first real "World" Series.

Thursday 29:

The Food and Drug Administration approves Depo Provera for use as a contraceptive in the United States.

» October 1992

November 1992

Tuesday 03:

U.S. presidential election: Democratic challenger Bill Clinton defeats incumbent Republican George H.W. Bush and independent candidate Ross Perot.

Thursday 05:

In Detroit, Michigan, black motorist Malice Green is beaten to death by policemen Larry Nevers and Walter Budzyn during a struggle.

Thursday 12:

Absolutely Fabulous airs its first episode on BBC1.

Friday 20:

In England, a fire breaks out in the Private Chapel room of Windsor Castle, rages for 15 hours, and seriously damages the northwest side of the building (an investigation found that the fire was ignited after a spotlight came into contact with a curtain over an extended period).

Tuesday 24:

In the People's Republic of China, a China Southern Airlines domestic flight crashes, killing all 141 people on-board.

» November 1992

December 1992

Thursday 03:

The Greek oil tanker Aegean Sea carrying 80,000 tonnes of crude oil runs aground in a storm while on approach to La Coruña, Spain, and spills much of its cargo.

Friday 04:

President George H. W. Bush orders 28,000 US troops to Somalia.

Saturday 05:

Kent Conrad of North Dakota resigns his seat in the United States Senate and is sworn into the other seat from North Dakota, becoming the only US Senator ever to have held two seats on the same day.

Wednesday 09:

US Marines land in Somalia

Thursday 31:

In the last of the great ITV franchise renewals, Thames Television, Television South West and Television South cease broadcasting, replaced by Carlton Television, Westcountry Television and Meridian Television respectively.

Friday 18:
Carley M'lyssa and Catherine Madison were born!

Happy Birthday my sweet girls!!

SEVEN Days!

This is one of my all time favorite pictures!

In seven days, these adorable babies will be 18 years old.  EIGHTEEN!  I can't even stand it. They will always be my very first little girls, the ones I practice my parenting skills on as we head into uncharted waters, and above all else... my very first besties!

Now I need to figure out what fun things we can do for their birthday next Saturday!