Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from our wacky family to yours!

Rya's Kindergarten Class

Ms. Schuck and Mrs. Irving's Kindergarteners.

Would You Like to Build a Snowman?

This is South Carolina's version of "Would You Like to Build a Snowman?" 

Mrs Suggs' Third Grade Class

Currier looks so thrilled.

Foster Puppies

Santa Visit 2014

We took the kids to see Santa tonight at Towne Center.  Currier asked for an Xbox, Plants vs. Zombies video game, Minecraft video game and Legos.  Rya asked for a vanity, make up and Barbies.

Dear Six Year Old Rya D.,

Saturday Spa

Wildfire Dance Recital

Rya's dance class put on an end of the year show last night.  She was in four routines.  I noticed she did more lip syncing than dancing so maybe we should get her in singing classes next year?

Tooth Fairy is Going Broke

Last night at bedtime Currier lost a top tooth and Rya lost a bottom tooth.  The tooth fairy had to dig for loose change at the bottom of her purse late last night. 

Dear Eight-Year-Old Currier,

I’m having a difficult time seeing you turn eight.  My mother died when I was eight so I think maybe I’m struggling because I’m forced to look at you through my mother’s eyes and I can only imagine the terror she must of felt knowing she wouldn't watch her eight-year-old grow up?  Although you’re so grown up in some ways there are so many ways about you that are so sweet and innocent.  I just can’t bear the thought of ever leaving you. 

You’re very bright but you’re also very gullible.  There’s a scene in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation were Clark and his family are sitting at the table for Christmas Eve dinner and Clark announces “ Hey, Kids, I heard on the news that an airline pilot spotted Santa's sleigh on its way in from New York City.” And Cousin Eddie asks, “You serious, Clark?”  I've nicknamed you “Cousin Eddie” because at least once a day you ask, “You serious, Mom?” to one of my many ridiculous lies wonderfully, imaginative stories.  I love that about you! 

You lost your best friend last month.  Bruco got very sick very fast and was gone within a week.  You spent every moment you could beside him right up until he died.  I felt unsure about having you and Rya there while the vet ended Bruco’s suffering but once we were all in the room and in the moment, I knew it was exactly the right thing to do.  We all had our hands on Bruco’s frail chest when he took his last breath.  There is no better way to leave this earth than to be surrounded by the people who love you.  I wanted to protect you from the pain of loss but the truth is death is a part of life and it’s inevitable.  I hope the experience of losing Bruco taught you that even death can be incredibly beautiful if you just stop and pay attention to it.     

You’re finishing up your last year at Laurel Hill Primary School and moving on to Pinckney Elementary School next year.  You didn't enjoy the second grade as much as you did Kindergarten and the first grade.  You begged to stay home from school a lot this year by faking sick.  Sometimes I caved and let you stay home but most days I forced you to face your fear—the bullies, the tests and the bus ride.  Currier, I hate to say this but bullies, tests and bus rides will always suck but the older you get the less you care about that nonsense. 

 

I’m not going to leave you, Currier.  My job is not done.  There are millions of fantastic stories albeit straight up lies to feed you.  There are more sad losses in your life that you’ll need me for an inappropriate laugh.  And there will be many more years of school that I will try my hardest to help you overcome and when it’s all over I’ll buy you a beer and we’ll laugh and laugh and laugh and look back at the time you were eight-years-old and how simple and innocent and sweet this time was and we'll laugh some more.  

All my love,

Mama

Celebrations

An evening dip to celebrate Currier's first day of being an eight-year-old and Rya's last day of preschool.

Currier's 8th Birthday Party

 We celebrated Currier's 8th birthday today at the house.  We had a Minecraft theme and set up the waterslide jumpy castle.

 It was a great day with great friends.

And lots of presents, laughs and silliness.  

Tooth Fairy is Coming!

Rya lost her first tooth on Mother's Day and totally stole my thunder.  Typical.

Rya D

The Mad Hatter: "Have I gone mad?"

Alice: "I'm afraid so.  You're entirely bonkers.  But I'll tell you a secret.  All the best people are."

Brucoli "Bruco" Balent (2004-2014)

Charleston—Bruco Balent, 10, passed away peacefully early this morning surrounded by his family. He was a devoted pack member, a colossal pain in the ass, a loyal best friend and one regal looking son of a bitch.

Bruco was born in Sicily on November 1, 2004. Born into a litter of Italian Greyhound puppies, he was named after the Sicilian port town, Brucoli. After spending his first two years of life with an US Navy family that moved on to their next duty station without him, he found his way into the Balent Family where, without a doubt, he belonged.

Bruco was a cunning foodie—one time he jumped up onto the kitchen counter, made his way to the stove, flipped the lid on a pan of boiling hot beef stroganoff and ate half of it before getting caught. Bruco was above shitting in the yard, so most of his shits were taken on the master bathroom floor, which his mother continually defended as being "so close to toilet trained”. When Bruco wasn’t busy stealing food and shitting in the house, he excelled at cuddling and spent every night under the covers beside his mother. Bruco was known by many for his love of squeaky balls, outsmarting squirrels, humping his handicap brother and his basic “fuck you” attitude.

He is survived by his human mother and father, Coleen and Trent, his human brother and sister, Currier and Rya, his dog brother, Paolo, his reptile sister, Rosy, a half dozen Seamonkeys, as well as numerous friends from near and far, all of whom loved him dearly (and a few who hated him because he bit them, which they probably deserved anyway).

Because of his irrational fear that his family would throw him a cat themed funeral despite his hatred of cats, his family will hold a private service free of any type of "theme”. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you hug your dog a little tighter and longer today. If you don’t have a dog, then the family feels terribly sorry for you because you are missing out on one of the greatest friendships of a lifetime. Go to your local shelter and adopt a dog today!

Happy Easter

Strawberry Picking

I took the kids strawberry picking this morning at Boone Hall Plantation.  We got three big buckets full and plan to eat strawberry shortcake for dessert all week!

Currier's BFF, Conner, is just as wacky as Currier.  Crazy attracts crazy.

Easter Egg Hunt

 I volunteered at Rya's preschool this morning for the Easter egg hunt.  It was fun to see her routine in the classroom and then watch all the kids push, shove and shank their way to find plastic eggs filled with candy.

Myrtle Beach Spring Break 2014

My friend Stacey bought a condo on Myrtle Beach that sleeps 24 people.  She rents it out but the week of Spring Break she reserved it for herself and some very lucky chosen friends.  I'm so grateful that we were asked to come spend the week.  The kids had a total BLAST!

Boone Hall Plantation Strawberry Festival

This was the first year we went to the Boone Hall Plantation Strawberry Festival and I'm so glad we did because it was SO MUCH FUN!

I Guess I'm Proud?

Sibling Love

Don't let this picture fool you.  Just seconds after this photo was taken Currier called Rya a skank and Rya kicked Currier in the nuts.

Foster Puppies

Meet our newest foster puppies, Buddy and Emma.  They are beagle mix buckets of love!

Springtime in the Lowcountry

I got this great shot at Boone Hall Plantation just as the earth is waking up from it's winter nap.  Thanks to my great friend, Ella, for using her Photoshop skills to lighten up the image and give it that dreamy background.

Soccer Mom

I'm not cut out to be a soccer mom. I don't stand on the side lines screeching, "Get the ball! Get the ball!" I don't yell at my son during halftime, "If you're not out of breath and dripping sweat then you're not working hard enough!" I sit on the sidelines quietly watching and occasionally when my eyes meet my son's I wink and give him the thumbs up. 

Currier played goalie for part of the game tonight and let two goals by (he also saved two!) and one teammate shouted, "You suck" and the mom sitting two people down from me said, "C'mon! They need to change goalies!" Currier ran over to me for a sip of water and said, "I'm doing terrible." While giving Currier a hearty hug and staring that woman down I said, "You're doing fine. It's just a game. Just do your best and have fun!" 

Later in the car I explained that team sports teach us what we are good at and not so good at. We have the opportunity to make the things we're good at great and the things we're not so good at better. It's our choice.  I also said, "Life is too short and too hard to worry about such silly dumbfuckery!"

Cheryleeski's Visit 2014

My cousin Cheryl came for a weekend visit.  From the airport we went straight to the Catch the Leprechaun 5K race.    

The next morning while the kids were in school we pampered ourselves with a facial at Shealy Skin Spa.  

And then we continued the pampering when the kids got home from school by getting pedicures.  

On her final day we went to our mutual friend Sara's house for a reptile party where Cheryl coined the phase "reptile dysfunction".  Always a wacky time when Cheryl's around.

Rya's Preschool Class

I think Rya is going to be like her mother—Always the tallest kid in class and always the chattiest.

Little Helpers

I've been waitressing a couple nights a week at my friend's restaurant, Long Island Café, since last February.  Sometimes the kids have to come into work with me to help set up if Trent is running late in rush hour traffic.  Both kids LOVE to come and help set up for the dinner shift.   

Crush

Currier met Sophia at Hampton Beach while we were in New England for a two week visit and he became quite smitten by her.  We ended up having dinner at her house, another beach day/water slide day and a simple hangout play day.  They truly enjoyed each others company and have remained in touch.

Currier sent Sophia a ring for Valentines Day.

And they communicated via Facetime so she could thank him.  It was so sweet.

Happy Valentine's Day