Happy Birthday to Charming!!!

 I don't know how it's possible, but our first born is 32 today!  (Which really doesn't make a lot of sense, as I'm holding somewhere between 35 and 40 myself, soooo...) 

Happy Birthday, Charming!!!

This is from 1994...You were 3. 
Let's not talk about how long you've been running!!!

Neglected, but not forgotten...

My blog has been neglected for the past two years (at least!), while I got on with navigating this thing called life.  Before my eyes, my children went from children to adults (almost completely) and what they wanted and, importantly, needed from me changed drastically.  There were growing pains for us all.  Here's the thing:  I've loved being a stay-at-home mom.  I know not everyone does and that's okay, but for me, I've loved it.  I felt like I was exactly where I was supposed to be and where I wanted to be.   I never resented the opportunity costs associated with staying home. 


Change is inevitable and unavoidable and, if I'm honest, to be desired.  After all, if I've done my job correctly, my children will be independent, capable individuals who will not need me to wait in the wings, managing their lives from the shadows.  And, if the past few years have been any indication, I've done a terrific job.  My children are fascinating individuals, each charting a different path, as they wind their way toward adulthood.  I couldn't be more proud of them for bravely charting their courses (and I'm pretty proud of myself for letting go of the reins so they could!).  They've taught me so much...I continue to be transformed by the privilege of raising them.


A quick recap of the kids, and then they won't be here much (adult privacy and all that!):  Charming has been living out of the house for almost 6 years and will be 25 next month.  He's a terrific person who is teaching himself piano and programming in his free time...oh, and he's getting ready to run his first half-marathon.  Valiant is going to be 20 next month and is a Junior at EWU with a goal to finish with two degrees (one in Mechanical Engineering and one in Physics)...yeah, he didn't get that from me.  When he's not at school or work, he's contemplating Descarte or religion and is active in his church.  Buttercup will be 17 in two months...she's attending both the local junior college (through Running Start) and our local high school, where she throws javelin and does all sorts of creative things with pottery.  When she's not at school or work, she can be found tooling around in her little truck, most likely headed to or from one gym or another, or headed off to a sporting event.  (Oh, yeah, she's pretty darned pleased by the Carolina Panthers right now...she's a fan.)


So, back to my blog...now that you know where I've been, I hope you'll forgive my absence.  I have been doing so much, I'm eager to get back to sharing it with you.  Random thoughts, sewing projects (I'm pretty proud of my progress!), my CrossFit fails (a shoulder injury a few years ago seriously derailed me...still no pull-up, darn it!!), mostly grain-free recipes (Amish Baked Oatmeal is still a morning favorite--haven't given up oats entirely!), DIY, and anything else that occurs to my blogging mind.


Anyway, to the people who asked (last year!) where I got the wheels for my New Craft Table, my husband just found them at Home Depot.  They're nothing special, you could use any that will support the weight of your table.


That's it for now...have a great day!

Back to Blogging after a Four-Month Hiatus!

It has been four months plus since my last blog post.  You know how people always say things like, "Oh, I can't believe how much time has passed?"  Um, I am not going to say that!  I can completely believe it.  We've had a crazy busy past four months and I'm actually glad that things have finally calmed down enough that I have the time to blog again. 

Let me catch you up:

Superman is home for good!  Woot!  Yes, indeed!  After almost three years (!) of contracting overseas, Superman came home.  Best of all, we managed to "sneak" him home a month earlier than the kids expected!  We pulled off the last, best suprise of the journey.  The kids thought their dad was coming home on December 1, so imagine the surprise when the two younger kids registered the sound of my car pulling into the garage, registered the sound of the door opening, didn't even look up when someone walked up the stairs, and then caught sight of their dad!  It was amazing.  We kept the surprises going by inviting Charming to meet up with us for dinner and got to see the look on his face when he walked into the restaurant and saw his father!  Seriously, being able to surprise your adult and almost adult children is NOT easy and oh-so fun...

The spider knew my secret!

The next night we had dinner at the house and the boys decided to play around with Nagle family deadlifts.  (Seriously, Crossfit families are just weird!)

Boys will be boys...the hardest part?  Holding on to the bar!

Charming deadlifted Superman...

"I've got you, Dad!"

Then Valiant stepped up to deadlift Superman...

Valiant was up next...

Then Superman deadlifted little Buttercup.  With...

Buttercup had no problem holding on!

...and without the bar!

But she found it a little more difficult to be the bar!

Then life began to settle back into normal-for-us Nagle5 craziness.  Man, it is good to have Superman home!

I hope you'll enjoy the ride as I fast forward you through the holidays and the projects and the other good stuff that makes up a normal life...I'll give you a few hints of what is coming up:  Scrabble, stairs, bed, hearts, and frames!

Wow! Happy Birthday, Charming!

This beautiful baby is turning 21 today!



This is what he looked like on the occasion of his first birthday!

Superman and I couldn't be more proud of him.  Like all of us, he's had his struggles and his challenges, as well as his triumphs and successes.  He's met them all with dignity and grace.  Really, is there anything else we can ask of these children we've had the privilege of raising?



He certainly doesn't fit in my lap anymore!

Happy Birthday, Charming!  Your father and I are so proud to call you our son.

An Early Christmas Gift

After growing up in a house with pets, it was only a matter of time before Charming became lonely for the companionship a pet provides.  When he moved out on his own, we told him that when the time was right, according to him, we'd buy him a cat for his apartment.  Well, last month, the time was right.  We headed over to PetSmart's rescue center and found a companion for Charming.  That evening, Aimee came to live with him as an early Christmas gift.

She's a unique little kitty.  She's a two-year old Manx, which means she doesn't have a traditional long tail.  Nope, she was born with that stubby little thing.  Funny, isn't it

She and Charming seem to be getting along just fine, don't you think?

I think she finally got tired of Buttercup taking her picture, though...doesn't it look as if she's saying "no more pictures!"?

Not Quite What We'd Planned!

Have you wondered where I've been?  Well, wonder no more!  Even before Thanksgiving, the Nagle5 household was crazy busy.

On the Saturday before Thanksgiving, the local ski areas in our neck of the woods opened early...way early.   We couldn't believe it...we love to ski!  So, bright and early (but not too early!) Sunday, the kids and I headed up the mountain.  Look how beautiful it was...BEFORE Thanksgiving!!

Charming and Buttercup helped each other get their gear on.  (Look at the trees...aren't they gorgeous?)

Don't they look ready for a fun day on the slopes?

Unfortunately, before I could get a terrific picture of Valiant, I got this picture.  Yes, this is what you think it is. This is what happens when you come down the slopes via Ski Patrol toboggan.

First we were at the First Aid Station...aren't the flamingos a festive touch? (Kate?  Flamingos at the First Aid station?!)  Ski Patrol gave Valiant a hot water bottle to take the chill off while they figured out what the boy did to his knee.

They had to cut open his "actually long enough jeans", which caused his mother a twinge of pain.  Turns out he broke it...sigh.

Next stop, the ER.  Look how kind Charming was to point out where the injury is?  (Okay, he was actually threatening to poke it!)  A few x-rays and a CT scan later, it turned out Valiant had a fracture of the tibial plateau. 

Monday saw us at the orthopedist (holiday week=crazy schedule).  Fortunately, he didn't seem to damage the meniscus or the ACL, so, if he can keep from displacing the fracture until the 5th of December, he'll have a quick and easy recovery (otherwise we're looking at surgery).  We definitely had a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.  (Keep your fingers crossed that I can keep a 15-year old immobile for another week.)

So, our first ski outing this year was not quite what we'd planned.  Still, the conditions on the mountain were awesome until the mishap and we all had a blast.  Charming and Buttercup are ready to head back up the mountain and I'm right there with them (we'll just have to find something to do with Valiant while we are skiing)!

Dress-Up for Halloween

On Monday I showed you the pictures from last year's Dress-Up for Halloween.  Let me show you what a difference a year makes.  Can you believe how much they changed in one year?







Buttercup looks like a little lady, doesn't she?








Look at how grown-up Valiant is getting.












Oh, and let's not forget Charming.  He headed out after work to join us.


(Oh, and for those of you who are wondering...that is just gorgeous 12-year old girl skin...not a stitch of make-up.  Beautiful!)






Whaaa!  I have no more babies!!!

Help! My young Prince Charming needs some help!

 Dear Bloggy Friends,

My boy, Charming, has impressed his father and me by making pasta from scratch!  Yep, if I did nothing else right, I raised a young man who is cooking from scratch, really from scratch.  Anyway, below is the post he wrote on Superman's blog, sharing is success and posting some of his questions. 

Can any of you share your knowledge and help him?  As you can read below, he's having a few issues and doesn't quite know where to go now.  Even if you can't help, I think pasta from scratch is worthy of a pat on the back, don't you?

Thanks a lot!

(Written by Charming and taken from 365 and a Wake Up)

So this is my first moderately successful attempt to make pasta. As you can see, it certainly looks the part. And I'll be completely honest -it was totally fun to make. So here's what I learned:

 

1 - Don't put the entire ball of dough through the machine at once. It can't handle it, and you'll end up tearing your dough. The recipe I used called for two cups of flour and three eggs and I had to divide it into three pieces to get it to go through right.

2 - Pasta dough is soft, especially when you've rolled it out all the way. It's also very fragile, and that pasta you see up there actually mushed itself back together simply through its own weight. Be sure to separate your pasta strands.

3 - Boxed pasta is apparently seasoned. Either that, or however I made my pasta turned it very, very bland. Soft and tender, yes, but bland.

OK, so making pasta was totally cool. I'll admit to being a little hesitant after my first try, but after making sure I properly kneaded the dough, let it rest, and put it into the machine as manageable chunks, it was really actually ridiculously easy. Literally, you just pop it in the machine and it gets long and skinny. Two cups of flour and three eggs equated to a sheet of pasta easily twelve feet long by six inches wide. Now, with that said, I found the pasta just a tad bit chewy, so I think I'll stop at the second-to-last thickness next time.
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Shoot Me - Fire Pit Fun - 28 of 52

We love to go camping.  Seriously love it.  Unfortunately, with all that went on in the Nagle5 world this summer, we found it impossible to go camping even one time.  It was terrible.  Fortunately, the cool nights have made using our fire pit fun again.  (Sitting around a fire when you're sweaty just isn't fun, you know?)

Last week, I got the opportunity to keep my pinky-promise to Buttercup and we did s'mores.  (I don't get s'mores...I love cooking marshmallows over the fire, but I don't like eating them.  Do you see my problem?)

Valiant (aka the Lord of the Fire!) started the fire...he doesn't like s'mores, either.  Can you tell how thrilled he was?

Buttercup, however, was thrilled!  Can you tell?

Even Charming showed up and enjoyed being with us (even if he hates having his picture taken!).  (He brought homemade pumpkin pie...wasn't that cool?)

The great thing about having a fire pit in our own backyard?  I can show up in my slippers!

 

Look!  We did scary Halloween lighting by turning off the flash.  It is getting us in the mood for October.

Head over to Carin's at Forever in Blue Jeans to see what everyone else has been up to this first week of autumn.

On His Own...

Well, my first child has officially flown from the nest and is starting the next chapter of what has already been an exciting life.  Yep, Charming has moved out and into his own apartment.  No roommates.  No college cafeteria.  Just Charming and his "charming" new apartment. 

We loaded him up with the furniture we could give him and with the labor of friends, the trailer of Grandpa John's and some grunting and sweat (yes, he's on the 2nd floor), we got him moved in.

Buttercup even tried to embarrass him by wearing those socks and slippers. 

It didn't embarrass him, but Valiant was a bit bugged. 

He showed the boys his bedroom and it was time for us to go. 

He wanted us out, so he could start his very first night in his very first apartment and I could blame him.

I made him smile for a least one picture by telling him I was sending it to his dad and I hugged him and told him how proud of him I am.  Then we left. 

It was weird.  Happy weird.  Not even bittersweet.  He's worked so hard for this and is so obviously ready for this.  I was nothing but excited for him. 

Then I decided I'm weird for not being sad.  But maybe the college experience prepared us both for the fact that he's supposed to move along, fly from the next, do his own thing.  I guess he has a whole new meaning to apply to "Independence Day" this holiday weekend!


I'm happy.  He's happy.  It is all good.

Graduation...

"Don't cry because it is over. Smile because it happened." - Dr. Seuss

My baby boy will be graduating from Whitworth University this afternoon. We're so proud of him.

Dropping the Boy Off At School...

Obviously, someone has a sense of humor, as this is the sign that greeted us upon our return back to Charming's dorms.


The kids helped their big brother carry his stuff back up to the dorms. (You don't want to know what Buttercup said about the dorms...truly. It is a bunch of boys living together.)

See you later, Charming...have fun these last six weeks!

Shoot Me! 9 of 52

Carin at Forever in Blue Jeans has challenged YOU to get in YOUR pictures for an entire year. This is definitely an easier said than done kind of project, but everyone is having fun with it and I'm really glad I'm doing it. To see how others have gotten themselves in the pictures, head over and check out their entries this week. There are some really creative people out there. (Hey, Superman, didn't you say you'd be jumping in to this, too? Where are you? We need a hero!)

Okay, so I'm already nine weeks into this challenge (unbelievable!) and still going strong. Unfortunately, I still snapping when I can as opposed to thinking it through, but hey, I'll take credit for doing at least that!

This is a picture of my Prince Charming with me, the Queen(!), on the occasion of his 19th birthday. Nineteen?! Already? Where did the time go? Actually, Charming was a true prince and smiled a big smile when I whipped out the camera on the way back to his dorms and said,
"Wait! I need a picture with you for my blog post!" He admitted that he'd actually been reading my blog (I'm shocked!) and that he likes the project, so he cheerfully let me snap three whole pictures! This is the one that has the best shot of him in it, so in honor of his birthday, I went with it.

Thanks again, Charming! You are an awesome son...

Friday Photo Flashback - Birthday Edition

Well, it is Friday again (already!), but this time I'm not struggling to find pictures to share for Friday Photo Flashback. If anything, it was tough to narrow it down today. Why? Because today my first born, Prince Charming, turns 19! Yep...already...I blinked and he went from this:

Our first day home from the hospital...notice the birth documents are actually on the bed next to him.

To this: Charming's first birthday.

To this: Walking around in Mom's boots (I know, he'll probably kill me for this one).

To this: Summertime tan...too cute.

To this: 16 on a boat in Priest Lake, ID.

and finally to today...no picture because he's in the dorms (but I'll be seeing him tonight)...he's graduating college in May and on his way to his "own" life. He just doesn't understand. He'll always be my baby.

So, Happy Birthday, Prince Charming! We think you're the best!

Head over to More Than Words to see what else is going on as people mosey on down Memory Lane this Friday Photo Flashback.

Friday Photo Flashback

It is that time again: Friday Photo Flashback time. It is time for me to pull something out of our pre-digital (or at least really, really old) files and share a flashback photo with you. This walk down Memory Lane is the brilliant idea of Alicia at More Than Words and I've been having a terrific time revisiting the past. Don't forget to check in to see what the rest of the gang has come up with...their memories might take you back, too.


The picture I've picked to share this week dates back to Halloween 1994. Charming was 3 1/2 and I made his costume. Following in the family business, Charming wanted to be a superhero. He wanted to be Superman. Okay. I can do that. Tights, a leotard, red briefs, a homemade cape and, of course, the "S" made out of felt. He was, as you can see, adorable. The funniest part of this costume was the the concern Charming had while we were making it. He had a long conversation with the lady at the store where we sourced the tights and leotard about how he needed "boy tights". I remember frantically signaling behind him to get her to agree that these were, in fact, boy tights. (She almost didn't!) Once assured that his leotard and tights were "boy" tights, he allowed himself to have a blast.


This picture was taken at a neighbor's house...she was just so tickled at how much fun he was having. I know the boy still doesn't believe it, but he, too, will be a superhero...it is obviously in his genes!

What do you think? Pretty darned adorable, wasn't he?