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Happy Birthday Eloise!!!!!
Posted on November 2, 2009
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BRUUUUUUUUCCCCE!!!!!!!!!
Posted on September 20, 2009
I have been keeping this blog since 2005 (wow, has it really been that long)? I have never, until this day, had a guest author. I finally convinced the writer in the family to give us a little some sumpin sumpin.
His whole life, Noah has tried to be just like me. He tells his friends his favorite football team is the Jacksonville Jaguars. He bugs me to go fishing. He’ll even cause the rest of the family to be late just so he can change his clothes at the last minute into an outfit that looks as close as possible to what I’m already wearing. When Noah got an mp3 player for Christmas, he knew what he wanted to listen to: Bruce Springsteen, his dad’s all-time favorite. These days, he sits in the backseat of the minivan — to his siblings and his parents chagrin — singing those songs at the top his lungs, completely off key, improvising with a few made-up words. Noah hasn’t come around yet to the darker side of Bruce, those world-weary tunes about a boring factory job, a wreck on the highway, a stolen car, a union card and a wedding coat. He prefers the ones about hope, about the “Glory Days” of youth and reinventing yourself and finding so much joy you’re “Dancing in the Dark.” Some of those popular tunes I had forgotten how much I loved.
He made me love them again.
When I learned Bruce was coming to Greenville, I knew that little guy couldn’t miss it. I worked it out witha buddy of mine that we would travel together and both take our boys. I was hoping that I could either buy cheap tickets off of ebay or scalped right before the show. It worked out great and I was able to get us two tickets for less than half of the price of one seat from ticketmaster.
Now keep in mind The Boss plays a loud show. Aside from the fact that he jumps off the piano, slides across the stage on his knees, leaps into the crowd and runs around the stage, it’s also a really, really stinkin’ loud concert. We tried to prepare Noah for this in the preceding weeks, but none of what I said prepared him for the roar of the crowd the moment the arena went dark, the deafening response the moment Bruce asks, as he does every night, “Is there anybody alive out there?” Nothing I could say would prepare him for the burst of drums, guitar, piano and sax that was the first song of the show – 10th Avenue Freeze-Out.
By the middle of the second song, Noah was looking a bit worried. I leaned over and then came these saddening words: “Daddy, I think I’m gonna throw up.”
So I’ll say it for you: “What kind of crazy father takes his 7-year-old to a rock concert?”
Well, there’s a happy ending, as is with all Bruce shows. Together we walked out onto the concourse and sat on the concrete floor. I told Noah that I had seen so many shows, it wouldn’t matter to me if we had to stay outside all night. He called his mom, and as she calmed him down, I replaced the cotton in his ears with first-class earplugs they gave me at the Guest Services counter. Back inside the concert hall, I snagged two seats right on the side of the stage on the second row of the balcony in front of an exit. I told Noah: “If you get scared again, we just have to walk a few feet backwards and we’ll be out of here.”
With every passing song, Noah relaxed and enjoyed himself more and more. Now I won’t divulge just how many shows I’ve seen in the past three years, but I will say it’s enough for me to know pretty much what’s coming next. Three-quarters through, I knew what was coming next, and it was the highlight of the entire night. I’ll never forget the look on Noah’s face the very second the drummer kicked into Born to Run and the house lights went on. That little guy leaped to his feet, played some air guitar, pumped his fist and sang EVERY SINGLE WORD. He had listened to that song over and over again before the show. This time, he didn’t need to improvise. He knew the words. At one point, everyone in our section was watching Noah instead of Bruce. One guy came over and shook my hand and told me what an awesome kid Noah was. Then he gave Noah a fist bump.
Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, Bruce played Noah’s other favorite songs, Glory Days and Dancing in the Dark. It was the perfect ending to a perfect day.
I’ve always liked Bruce because his songs are about real-life experiences, the ups and downs, the renewed and never permanently-crushed American spirit. I love going to his concerts because I always see people smiling. After the first few songs, Noah smiled. And he danced. And he sang the words to the songs I’ve been listening to my whole life. He likes those songs. I like those songs. A couple days later, a few members of the E Street band said in an interview that they will soon take a “hiatus” from touring. Some speculate this is it. Bruce is 60. Members of the band are even older. There may never be another tour. We may have seen the last of the E Street Band shows.
But those songs aren’t going anywhere. And neither will Noah’s memory of that night.
Decades from now, Noah won’t remember the nausea, the setlist, or the long drive home. But he will remember the time he saw Bruce Springsteen — one of the greatest rock & roll musicians of all time – and that his dad took him.
Yes, I WILL be saving these photos and this post for a scrapbook page…mmmmmm… I think I’ve seen a Jolee’s Boutique electric guitar….
Lots of Jazz Hands…
Posted on September 14, 2009
Big day in the Lyons house. Eli tried out for 4th-5th grade choir and MADE it! He was so excited! He said in his class 14 tried out and only 3 made it.
Congratulations Elijah!!!!
In other news Ellie was able to buy her first lunch from the school cafeteria! Evidently this was a big deal, because she drove me nuts all weekend making sure I had enough money for it! I think she believes if she eats cafeteria food, then she can sneak chocolate milk in everyday. Today she ate chicken, bread and peaches…no rice or carrots!
A BO-dacious post…
Posted on September 6, 2009
So the other day I had to run to the grocery store while Eli was at Tennis practice…I had Noah and Ellie with me, but since I just had to get a few items, I figured I could make it quick. As I rush around the store I am continually telling the kiddos to hold onto the basket or each other and to “stay tight” which is my term for staying together. Ellie finds it hard to hang onto the basket so she kept trying to hold onto Noah.
They walk for a little bit holding when hands, when all of a sudden Noah throws Ellie’s hand away from him, “Ellie, don’t hold my hand–people are going to think we are together!”
I just start laughing, “Noah, trust me, NO one is going to think you are together…”
“Yes, mommy, they will! They will think we are on a date!”
“Noah, you are at the grocery store at 5:00 with your mother and your sister–no one is going to think you and Ellie are dating!”
“Well, I’m old enough to date, so they might.” “They won’t, Noah.”
“Well, I DO have a DREAM girl.”
“WHAAAATTT???”
“Yeah, she’s my dream girl. You know what that is? A girl I dream about?”
“Is she pretty?”
“UMMMMM, YEAH!” (this is said in a deep gutteral, not like his normal high pitched squeal)
“Well, you are not old enough for a dream girl, so just forget about her.”
“I am too. I’m going to take her on a date. And, I don’t want you to go as a chaperone or anything. I am old enough to go by myself.”
“Forget it Noah, you are not going on a date now or for a long time. You can just forget about dream girls too. You are too young. Little boys who sleep on Mommy’s floor are too young for dream girls OR dates!”
About ten minutes later….
“Mom, I won’t have a dream girl or go on dates, if you let me sleep on your floor.”
That’s my boy, Noah, that’s my boy.
My BO-dacious Boy
Ellie
Proud of the boy…
Posted on August 25, 2009
Future Tennis Star
Just because he is cute!
The little monsters first day…
Posted on August 21, 2009
Just a quick one so that everyone could see the first day photos…we took Noah to his class first. He was good; found his chair quickly and had a seat, looked up and smiled at Mommy and the camera. His teacher seamed nice. We dropped Ellie off next. She has the same teacher that Noah had for Kindergarten…she saw Ellie and gave her a big smile and hug. The only tears were daddy’s, lol. Ellie did just fine although she did seem a little shy about things. I think she will do fine though…she usually makes friends pretty easily. Eli was the hardest this year. Although he wanted us to walk him to his class, he DID NOT want me taking photos! I managed to snap one which shows just how little he appreciated it! I guess he is getting to that age.
Heading off to school August 18, 2009.
Three BIG kids!
My Belle in her cute uniform.
Noah THE BOY Boah
Ellie Bellies First Day!
Eli NO PHOTOS Belie
“THE BUSSSSSS, THE BUSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted on August 19, 2009
This morning it was first bus day…meaning that we got up and around to get the kids on the bus for school! No more of that nancy pansy mommy taking them…LOL. This year supposedly our bus time was 40 minutes later than last year’s time and we were really looking forward to it. I mean those extra minutes make a world of difference between stressed out and easy peasy before school.
My friend, Bridget (Holla Back!) called and was worried that her son, had already missed the bus…since her time was supposed to be 20 minutes before our time, she ended up driving over here to drop him. So there I am standing in my boxers and t shirt with coffee in my hand, when the bus pulls up…20 minutes EARLY!!!!!
I run screaming at the house “BUSSSSS, BUSSSSSS!” and grab my camera so that I can catch Ellie as she gets on the bus for the first time…
I am running and she is running, so the pictures are a little fuzzy…but you get the idea.
(She also drank her chocolate milk out of a regular cup, not a sippy cup, put her own toothpaste on her toothbrush and ate cereal out of a BLUE bowl this morning…it only took a day for her to change and want to be a big girl…makes me sad.)
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August 20, 2009 at 2:06 am -
you forgot to mention that she also got a job and applied to three colleges, accepting a scholarship to one, and that she’s wearing make-up, skirts that are too short and has attitude with her mom.
I guess that’s the one thing Lyra avoided by being a homeschool mom, no buses pick the kids up, although I wish they would sometimes.
I was thinking of you today Renee. It gets easier, and that’s too bad that it does. At least you’ll always have one that will never grow up.
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A sick stomach…
Posted on August 17, 2009
I woke up this morning feeling all queasy inside with an overwhelming sense of dread. It took me a moment to search my thoughts as to why I would feel this way…and then I remembered; today is the last day of summer and tomorrow my last baby goes to school.
Even writing it, makes my blood run like ice in my veins…(melodramatic? huh, maybe…)
Today I get to sort and separate three children’s school supplies.
Today I get to go through all the kids clothes and make sure things fit.
Today I get to get uniforms, back packs and lunchboxes ready.
Today I get to put my kids in bed at 8:00. (This is a good one, LOL)
Today I get to kiss my baby one last time before she becomes a “big girl.”
Tomorrow, I have to send her off to the “big, bad world.”
Can I just say, I am not looking forward to it?
I have that same feeling I had when Eli went to school. Like this is one of those monumental changes that alters the course of your life. Although she will always be my baby, from this point on she is rushing towards adulthood. Knowing now how much the boys changed in those first few years of school, I can only imagine how much MORE a girl changes…
Although I am excited for her…I know she will LOVE school…I am sad for myself. I am going to miss having her around. She has been my shadow for the last five years. Often spontaneously climbing on me to give me hugs and kisses, or wanting to snuggle “down” and watch some Dora, or sit behind me brushing my hair while I work at the computer. Ellie has always been the one who wanted to be with me the most. I will miss those things…those quiet times we had during the day when the boys were at school.
So now I have to live with myself regretting all the times I wished away…all the times I was ready for her to go to school, all the times I wished I had a moment of peace. I will miss her asking me for an apple, some juice or chocolate milk, a cookie or any of the other numerous items she would ask for in a day. I will miss her quiet times of “artwork.” Hearing Dora or Blue’s Clues in the background and taking her to Target.
In short, I am just going to miss her. So much.
So now, I am going to go and do all those things, “I get to do today…” But, the last one, the one where I kiss and hug my baby one last time before she crosses that line…I am going to make that one last…I am going to spend extra time making it count.
And tomorrow, I can’t think about that right now, if I do, I’ll go crazy, I’ll think about that tomorrow. After all tomorrow is another day.
Happy Birthday Eli!
Posted on July 23, 2009
JulieFest 09
Posted on July 17, 2009
This past weekend was our girls weekend celebration of JulieFest 09. It was Julie’s big 4-0 and Joyce’s 39th. We ended up having 5 AWESOME days together.
Since we had not been together as a threesome since 2007, we did lots and lots of catching up. It was so nice and easy to just sit around and have casual conversation with people you have known for so long. We were very diverse in our subjects, talking about kids, work, hairstyles, makeup, clothes, husbands, parents, food, church and pretty much anything else. We usually throw in a couple of “remember when” stories just for the heck of it.
Of course, we did lots of other fun things too. We got massages, ate at Basil’s, did a house tour and toured a plantation, ate at Outback, went to the beach, I got sick-they got their toes done, shopped at Stella Nova, went to a couple of movies, watched movies at home, went to church, ate at Kickin Chicken, got ice cream, ate at Wasabi’s, got coffee at Barnes and Noble, relaxed and read our books (you know you are good friends when you can sit around read your book) and talked, and talked, and laughed, and laughed. Good times, good times.
Uggh, my nose looks HUGE!
Really? Another picture?
Another up the nose shot!
These last couple were done the night that James was here. We decided to make kebabs…there were DE-LISH!
Yum Yum...KE "BABS"
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Ando – great story! Richard said you ought to send this story to Bruce Springsteen’s public relations people. They would love it! It brought tears to my eyes when I read the last paragraph about remembering. You are doing great things with your kids. We’re so proud.
Love, Rich & Karen
This is so cute. He will remember it forever. Those one on one trips can really bond you with your kids. I know Josiah and I always seem to get so much closer when we go on one. It’s so cool that he knew the songs too, he had the FULL experience. And I think- one should see thier first rock concert with mom or dad.
As far as Bruce, I will forever have a bit of a weird feeling in my stomach when I think of seeing him in concert. I love it and really enjoyed myself but I also got fired that day so …. unfortunately it’s just weird.
I think Karen is absolutely right. You need to send this post off to “Bruce’s People”. I had tears in my eyes while reading most of it. You and Renee are great parents. Noah will never forget this experience. My first concert was the Doobbie Brothers…and yes, my dad took me.