Year in Review-2001

 RIGHT NOW

I'm thinking what in the world have I decided to take on?   I woke up this morning and looked at the bookshelf in the corner- thinking will I ever get it pared down to the point of satisfaction?  Lucky for me-  I have recently started listening to a couple podcasts on building sustainable habits and I am now reminding myself- it's not an all or none approach that will work-it's small steps.

So this morning, before I head out to the gym- I am taking a few small steps and will start working on 2001.

2001-  Yes, that year, that month, that day that we will never forget.   

9.11.21-  Where were you when the world stopped turning?  It would end up becoming a lyric from a song and also a question many people asked each other in those early days after this horrific tragedy.   

On 9.10-   Thing 1 and I had coffee with Clifford the Big Red Dog..

Ok, I had the coffee- Thing 1 probably had just juice...

For me- I was knee deep in the daily tasks of motherhood-  flipping channels from Barney to Blue's Clues in an effort to keep the morning routine moving forward with minimal meltdowns. 

I caught a quick glimpse of a news channel and noticed the World Trade Center was on fire.   My initial reaction was "Oh, looks like NBC is promoting another movie-wonder what it is".   I soon realized this was no Hollywood scripted event-  it was real.   Next I thought "it must be an accident".   Shock took over as I realized this was no accident but instead an act of incredible hatred.     

 In typical mom mode, I continued about my day- hauling Thing 1 off to preschool. For the Things-it was just another day in their childhood routine.     Not a game changer like so many families whose loved ones would never come home.   Not a game changer for adults like myself, far away from the direct impact of this tragedy, but suddenly reminded in a horrific way that everything can change on a dime.  

May I never forget the silence of the school yard -as other adults reached out in shared pain and sorrow, nor may I never forget the resilience of the American people and our fearless troops who in the years to follow, would continue their heroic efforts to take out the terrorist organizations that plotted and planned this devastating act.  

But what about the rest of the year- what made the year special?

There were cars to be washed...

And a car to be bought-  

Olga the '75 Mercedes-she would be the "first" of a few classic vehicle  purchases-

Hats to be worn..

From the youngest...

To the oldest- 

From just for fun...getting into the spirit of the rodeo in Cheyenne..

to symbolic of all the hard work that was put in..

With Dom receiving his Masters from Regis University-  Computer Information Systems-Network Technologies

and recipient of the Charles Baggage Award for Academic Excellence

It was indeed a YeeHaw year of fun!

There were hugs to be had from mom..

to Great Grandma Irene...

Ok, in full disclosure, her dementia was pretty advanced at this point

 she wasn't sure who those  Asian babies belonged to but she remarked they sure were cute...

Grabbing cuddles from busy Things is no easy task...

But Auntie A got an A+ for effort

Allie has indeed mastered the art of snuggling..

A trait she most likely inherited from her mother...

Whether it was just our cozy crew of 4...

or even more...

We were grateful for a chance to create special memories..

Final reflections-   This project is about simplification.   The album, in its original format, held way more pictures and countless details of every day life.   

But in the spirit of what sparks joy, and reining in the clutter that comes with holding onto everything ever crafted, I am letting go of a lot of the detail and instead have chosen to focus on the bigger picture and that is- the joy I had spending time being their mother!