1:59 = I'm Adopted!

"Another One Bites the Dust" is one of my theme songs. It's a song most Americans love or at least can identify within the first two beats (with the exception of probably my mother). I remember singing to Queen at the top of my lungs with my cousins in their Camaro back in 1980. I was so little, and I had no idea what was ahead of me on this road of life, but I knew me some Queen.

A few short months after the Camaro phase, I was adopted.

Now, you tell me that Freddie is not shouting, "I'm adopted!" at the 1:59 point in this song.

I'm telling you, this is my song.

Bob's Birthday!

Yesterday was Bob's birthday. It was a normal, busy day in the Lemmon home. I feel bad. We didn't eat cake or even sing. He opened a gift from the kids and I but then later realized it was a piece of equipment he didn't need, so we'll be returning it.

I'm sure glad his birthdays always last all week! I'm hoping for a fun weekend.

Z's Visit!

When you are fifteen years older than your baby brother the relationship is quite different than that of a typical brother and sister. I went away to college when he was three. He knew me through the phone, and he isn't much of a talker...especially over the phone. One day I called to check in. I had called him "Duke" from the day he was born (middle name and an honored family name). My four year old brother answered, and I said very excitedly, "Hi, Duke!"

He responded, "My name's not Duke. It's Zac."

This was the most he'd really ever spoken to me over the phone, and it was clear to me I didn't know him the way I thought I did.

I was busy going to school, getting married, and having kids while he was occupied with growing up, playing ball, and finding a very special girlfriend. Our lives have just been in two different playing fields.

This week Zac came home for spring break, and he came over a few times and hung out. He is an adult now, and I see that our playing fields are now in the same complex. We are not on the same field, and we are certainly not in the same game, but it's something, and I'll take it!

I love you, Z! I'm so proud of you. Hang in there.

Lexi Loo Who!

Lexi turned two! We had a great time visiting with family at the park in the cold wind.

She is now a member of The Treehouse Kids Club. She made her first visit right away, and I was a proud auntie.

You Are My Sunshine!

You Are My Sunshine
My only sunshine.
You make me happy
When skies are grey.
You'll never know, dear,
How much I love you.
Please don't take my sunshine away.

I would often sing the chorus of "You Are My Sunshine" to Buddy when he was a baby. Sometimes I would whisper it to him at 2:00 in the morning, so I would not wake the others sleeping. Once in a while I would hum it with tears in my eyes as I rocked my new son. Then there were times I would run through the lyrics in my mind to get me through a frustrating mom moment.

My mom would sing this song when I was a kid. I only know the chorus because that's all she would sing. I'm guessing that's all she knew or all she could get through. Each time she would sing it, she would cry. I would worry and wonder why she would cry about a song. As I entered my teen years, I would roll my eyes when she would cry so easily. "How embarrassing, Mom!" Now, as an adult/mother I understand fully (probably as fully as possible) the lyrics, the meaning, the emotion of this song.

Maverick is my sunshine. He will never know how much I love him. I begged each night (heck, all day, too) to not have him taken away.

He is the sunshine that proves I weathered the storm. We did it, Buddy!

My sunshine turned six years old yesterday!

I love you, Buddy.

Family Fun!

This is Lemmon family entertainment...Bobby Lemmon family anyway.

Three Boys.

I often refer to Tiny and Buddy as "Two Boys." Not often...ALWAYS. I can say it when I'm doting on them. I can say it when I'm annoyed with them. I say it several times a day. I love my Two Boys.

We played at the park yesterday. I took a picture with them and the picket that has my first son's name on it (Thanks to the awesome Pam Weatherwax.).

Three Boys!!!

Mom's Birthday!

Boops and Kibbee



Laners



Mom, Carol, Grandma, and Joyce




While I was away with Katie seeing Joan, my mom's birthday came and went. Auntie Carol was awesome and pulled together a luncheon for the Berryman ladies when I got home.

Retreat!

Just Joan and Katie Kat in Baltimore at the harbor.




Joan and I showing off our Lumberjack pride at Edgar Allen Poe's grave. We love you Z!!!




Coral reef made from yarn...crochet...Picture for you, Megan Hall! This is featured at The Museum of Natural History.




Just a small piece of The Library of Congress. WOW!!!




Dinner at Chang's. Thank you, Janie.




My sisters and I have this dream of a yearly sisters' retreat. It has only happened once.

This year for Christmas Bobby bought me a plane ticket to see Joan in Columbia, Maryland. Katie was able to go, too! Three out of four isn't too bad.

We spent a day in D.C., a day in Baltimore, and a day in Joan's apartment.

Very relaxing.

Thank you, Bob!

Missed you, Kellumbus. One day we will all be together again...We might be grandmas by then, but we'll do it for sure. Maybe Zac and Adri can come by then and push us around in our wheelchairs.