wine on the keyboard

Baby Boomer

Empty Nest

by Kay~Kacey on 1/22/2009

Sigh. It didn’t help to come home to the whole empty nest thing. I don’t think it was very considerate for The Geeky One to run away from home move out and leave me to come home to this empty nest thing.

I’m a big baby. It took me two days before I could go downstairs and look at his room. (he had a big room in the basement.)

empty nest

Sigh. It’s so bare. Well, almost bare.

desk area

I guess his phone call that he got “almost everything” moved out was a generous description of “everything.” 🙄

thumb tacks

But then, he’s a generous child. See? He left me thumbtacks on his walls. You know, in case I need them… :coffee2:

fishing photo

But see what I found in the “almost everything” clutter he left behind? This adorable photo of him when he has a boy. I think I’ll steal it from him keep it for him.

I know it’s good that we launch our kids into the world. I know this. I’m proud of him. He’s not far away. I’m sure I’ll do fine once I get used to the quiet. Once I stop opening the door to the basement to tell him something. Once we learn to cook smaller meals for just the two of us. Once SuperGuy quits stocking up on cereal.

But right now? I miss him… I miss all five of them.

They Grow Up

by Kay~Kacey on 1/5/2009

Yes, they grow up and they run away move out. The Geeky One moved out last week. “No, I’m doing fine,” she lied.

I went from a house full of boy noise to an empty nest.

He bought a cute little house not far from here. That part is good. He’ll still probably drop by often, right??

new house

In a great twist of fate…the two days it took to move him in…the weather here hit 60 degrees and full sun. Nice.

boxes in garage

We carried boxes and stuff. Unloaded stuff. Climbed a bazillion stairs. All the boys were in town, so there was lots of beer help. Soon the garage was filled up with boxes to be broken down and taken to the recycling center. (not my job!) The kitchen was all sorted away. Isn’t it cute?

new kitchen

I think The Geeky One knows how to cook…

But The Geeky One’s favorite room in the house?? The Man Room. Yes, some of you would call it a basement. But we call it The Man Room.

The Man Room

A big screen TV. Video games. Betsy (his computer… 😉 I told you we had a thing about naming our computers!). Really, what more could a man want from a Man Room?

Man Chair

Well, a Man Chair, of course! Can I just say, this Man Chair is SO comfortable that I considered becoming a man so I could have one of my own! It’s a recliner that’s like 1 1/2 times as wide as a regular recliner. It slides forward as it reclines to you can have it flat up against a wall…or a pole in this case. I lust after this Man Chair. It is so cool.

Anyway, I’m doing FINE. No really. . . It’s a good thing when our kids spread their wings and move out into the real world. It is. Honest. Truly. Sigh. I’m okay with an empty nest. I’m fine…

All the Little Pretties

by Kay~Kacey on 12/19/2008

I love our Christmas tree. Well, not so much the tree itself. It is an artificial tree (can’t stand the thought of cutting down a tree for just a couple of weeks–though I admit I miss the smell of a fresh tree.)The tree is old. Maybe 20 years? It’s falling apart a bit.

But the ornaments! I love the ornaments. So much history and memories packed onto those branches.

night before Christmas ornament

I’ve had this ornament since my very first Christmas tree in my first apartment. The whole poem is written in the ornament. It’s fragile now, but I love it. I always tell the boys “this was my very first ornament.” They act like I haven’t said that to them every Christmas for the last 20 odd years. 😉

Joan Walsh Anglund ornament

This one I’ve had forever too. A Joan Walsh Anglund ornament. I got one of her calenders every year while I was growing up. Yes, they were overly sweet, but I loved them. There’s a matching little girl to him too, but I couldn’t find where she was hiding on the tree to take her picture. We have a LOT of ornaments…

handmade ornament

All of the boys made one of these angels in kindergarten from their little feet and hands. Only one seems to have survived, but I prize it more than the most expensive ornament you could buy.

snowman ornament

Every year my mom gives each boy an ornament, with their name and the year on it. They’ll have a starter set of ornaments when they have their own trees. But I’ll sure miss them on my tree. But do the math…5 boys, yearly ornaments. Yep, we have more than one ornament on each branch.

Mizzou Tiger Ornament

We have the obligatory Mizzou Tiger for sharing the school spirit.

pretty heart ornament

I’m allowed the few, random, pretty girly ornaments…though they are WAY overwhelmed by the male stuff like … Balls–baseballs, footballs, soccer balls, hockey pucks…you name it. What is it with males and balls?

Rudolph ornament

Well, and of course, a Rudolph ornament. Actually, quite a few of them. Who would have guessed?? 😉

I know people have lovely Christmas trees. Matching pretty ornaments and lovely bows tied strategically on the tree. But I love my kaleidoscope of bright ornaments all stuffed here and there on the branches. So many memories. So much love.

(Don’t forget the Photo of 2008 contest will be up here on the blog on Monday!)

← Previous Entries

Next Entries →