I'm mostly convinced that I'm not ready for him to ever leave for real.  So this is the perfect slow start for the two of us...he, completely ignorant of the real thing...me, completely unready to truly let go (or is it be let go?).  

I cracked up when Mandi related London's driving over concern:  "I don't even know where my classroom is.  What if I get lost?"    

I love these littles.

(thanks to all who bid for their generosity..I wasn't sure what to expect, but am so happy with the contribution to such a worthwhile cause)

The cake bidding got intense between two ladies I love...one I admire from afar and one from my very own neck of the woods (or "near Mexico", as she says on her blog).  Me with my friend Melissa:

at a D-backs game a few weeks back (after Eric took a horrible picture & we decided to do our own).

Melissa is zany & fun and I can't wait to create a cake that will do her own creativity justice.

My heart has nearly burst reading through the generous posts and auctions over the past few days.  This tribute from HogieWogie touched me most.  And spurred me to my knees in Gratitude.  Because we simply must hold on to the good of every day.  

Best wishes & love to the Nielsons, their family, their friends, and all who have been touched by this cause. 

To check out more of my cakes visit my cake gallery.

To check out more Nie day auctions (they are ASTOUNDING!) visit Design Mom.

To check out one of my favorite Nie posts click here. 

To donate any amount directly to the fund click here.

I bought this file box at Target for $10.  And glued on these chipboard letters (I've done letter stickers before, too).

printed tabs in a cute font.

(you should have seen me & Jim)

So - of course - they got to nudey about a bit more.

And this woman is one of the loveliest strangers of all. I haven’t ever met Nie Nie in person, but her family love, her life love…well, their power is boldly emitted through every word she writes.

Last week, like so many, I was horrified to hear of the plane crash that left Nie Nie and her husband in critical condition. I was touched to read her sister’s updates…to think of their four children being lovingly cradled by sweet sisters in mom’s absence…to hold my own little men *that much* closer...to look back on some of the reasons why this woman I’ve never met feels more like a lovely friend than stranger.

The Nielson family faces a recovery that will rely on countless months, countless dollars and even more prayers. In an effort to help, Design Mom (yet another lovely stranger) has declared this coming Thursday Nie Nie Day, encouraging people to auction items, contributing the proceeds directly to the Stephanie & Christian Paypal Fund.

I plan to join this effort by auctioning off a cake here at Momentary Madness. Bidding will start on Thursday. Any custom decorated cake for any occasion (obviously limited to people in metro Phoenix area)...so please spread the word to anyone you know with an upcoming cakeable occasion (birthdays, holidays, showers, parties, anything in the next six months). Check out some of my creations by clicking "my cakes" on the sidebar.

Also check out Design Mom this Thursday...if cake is not your thing, there will be many silent auctions on the blogs of many lovely strangers.

But I digress. Because this is more about cake than quirks.

I’m here to praise Jim’s latest “yes”. A few weeks ago I handed him a sketch of a cupcake stand that I “absolutely need”. And a few days later it was built & in my ready hands. And I adore it.

Here it is with a baby shower cake I made this week (for Jenny...thanks!):   

My first attempt at a sugar paste person.   There's definitely huge room for improvement, but I now feel much more confident working with the stuff.My kitchen still wears a layer of sugar.  And my mind is already dizzily seeking "the next project!"  It's a disease. 

But, back to that first day...Little brother insisted on a front yard picture, too.   He's both too big and too small.  A troublesome mixture. 

Perhaps we made too much of a production, but both Jim & I took Aidan on his first day.  I didn't want to miss it.  And I knew Jim would be the best remedy for our twin nerves.  The jitters were obvious in A's demeanor, but when the time to line up arrived, he swallowed the nerves and turned stoic.  Even Grandma Scott would have been proud (okay, that's just me talking...she would have expected no less, of course).

The boy came home that day with an insane amount of nervous energy...to such a degree that I wasn't sure if I could face more school days.  But every day since has been a pleasant surprise.  He loves P.E.  Loves music.  Loves homework.  And I secretly hope he'll always love school every bit as much as I did.

Well, this morning a similar flood of emotions overtook me when we met his Kindergarten teacher.  I surveyed the room, craning to take in the maps, posters, books, blackboard that will come to fill his days...hoping desperately that he'll come home spilling stories and details.  Because I want to know who sits next to him, what he laughs at, what makes him sad, what makes him sigh.  Forever. 

Of course I won't.  We can't always own each other entirely.  But, still..

He sat at his desk today with surprising ease.  Surprising because last week's school shopping was witness to all too many worries ( "Can't I wait one more year?"). 

Luckily, his dad has a knack for assuaging trauma in us half-Hendrix humans.  I caught them mid-chat this morning.  And saw Jim's soothing words take effect.  He always tells his boys that they are powerful.  And it's true.  Tonight he gave each of them their first father's blessing.  Tonight is also the five year anniversary of our temple sealing.  I've never felt more grateful to be a part of this family..to be surrounded by these men..to have them now & Always. 

Even if the first bits of earthly separation start with Mrs. Cammack's a.m. Kindergarten tomorrow.

D glued to Kay's hand

The 24th of July is always reunion time.  This year we invited Mandi and her family to join us because I think they're plain sick of hearing us gush about Alpine and Luna.  But by the end of the trip, all anyone was plain sick of was mud.  There was plenty of rain to dampen most of our outside plans. 

The rain was kind enough, however, to sit out the Parade and Rodeo. I'm sure the Luna parade is typical of any tiny town, but to me it's a singular experience.  And one the kids love because of the candy that is thrown.  The pile gets so high that by the time the parade turns around to come back down the street (yes, you heard that right), Jim is throwing candy back at (not "to", of course) the very givers of the bounty.

Aidan adores Miss London and willingly shared his hat. 

I adore this serious Miss Reagan.

The parade may be typical tiny town fare, but I'm not sure about the rodeo.  It boosts the population of this town from 150 to at least 10,000 one weekend every year.

Jim's cousin riding the flag in to the Star-Spangled Banner.  She starts at a walk, then steadily gains momentum with the song...sweeping around the stadium at a full gallop by the end.  It gets to me every time.  

And I loved this picture of Jim's brothers.  They were working down at the catch pens during the rodeo. Ya...they're not cowboys.  Cool, yes.  But, no wranglers, hats or belt buckles.  We're not cowboys.  

But I can't vouch for this next little generation.  Yet. 

Jim & Davyn

Aidan