Among the graduations...birthdays...OMG!...the 15th anniversary of my 29th birthday...there are many other milestones our family has reached, recently, that I just haven't had the time (or, energy) to blog about (you're welcome) but, in their own way, are each very special and yet it's hard for me to understand that some may feel our family's triumphs to be horrifyingly mundane, just the same.

Including, my family.

"What do you mean, she's bridging, AGAIN?!?"

Tuesday night, Thing Two (the alarmingly mature-looking 12-year-old, on the right) bridged over with her troop from Juniors to Cadets and celebrated completing her 7th year in Girl Scouts.

"I mean, didn't they just do that, ALREADY?!?"

Yeah, 3 years ago.

[heavy sigh]

"Alright...relax...what time and where?"

My poor husband, Garth (not his real name) after all these years, it's finally come down to this.

"Do I need to pick up anything?"

His life has become one BIG honey-do list.

"Nope, I already stopped and got the cookies."

Aaaand I seemed to have misplaced my Domestic Diva pin...a...long...time...ago.

"WOW, the whole family's here?"

Yeah, I guess it surprises me, too.  A little.  No, they do NOT always get along (I know, act surprised anyway) but, ever since they were young, my husband Garth (not his real name) and I have raised our children as "a pack" and yet, try to empathize with them by letting them know, that we know, being in a family, this big, seems like a burden now.

[knocks on wood until knuckles bleed]

Perhaps, one day, it may mean that there's a better chance that someone's got your back and, as beautiful as the world is, there's always going to be someone, or something, ready to prove us wrong!

"Where's Mini-me?"
 

My husband had just finished talking with the troop dads (probably bonding over sports, tools, having to show up to these types of things, or something) and was surprised to find our row of metal chairs, one short.

"She's over there."

One of her sister's buddies has a younger sister, who happens to be in Mini-me's Brownie troop, too.

"Aaaand I think she'd be ready to move into their house, by next week."

Brothers and sisters can be tough - especially, so many and just wait until they get older - but, in the end, Thing Two knows that she is lucky we ALL showed up AND on time, too!

"Hey...Liz!"

One of the other troop moms was making her way through the crowd of parents, came over to me and I instinctively reached out for a hug (I'm one of those, too) but, she grabbed my arm and casually whispered into my ear.

"Did you remember to do ANYTHING for the leaders, this year?"

[eyes go wide]

"Did I mention, we bought cookies?"

[shrugs]

No, we are NOT the perfect family (shuddup, Sis) but, we sure as hell look good...especially, when we're together!

Aaaand my husband Garth (not his real name) has finally agreed that I really don't need to crop him out of pictures, anymore, either.

So, what DOES he really look like?