Where are they now?

Catching up is hard to do!  I can summarize the kids.  They are great.  Here they are sitting out front of one of our favorite restaurants. 

The Scholar (the child I was sure was leaving the country the minute she could) has graduated and is employed in her chosen field while getting her master's at night.  She is a middle school Spanish teacher in a nearby district.  She just moved into her own apartment a couple weeks ago.  She is in and out of the house   cleaning out her room...conveniently at the same time as doing her laundry. 

The Boy Wonder, gulp, turns 21 next week.  He is such a nice kid young man.  He is a junior in college.  He proudly announced that he'd have all the credits he'd need to graduate after this spring semester.  However, before drawing those purse strings tight, he went on to say he still needed to go next year because he hadn't planned on having enough credits so didn't do his Capstone project. Doesn't it just figure?  He should have lead into the conversation with that part. 

Buttercup is a high school senior.  She continues to wow us with her swimming times, grades, acting skills, and general wit.  She is a sheer joy to have around the house.  That is, when she's around the house.  She leaves at 6:40 in the morning and comes home at 8:00 in the evening.  We chase around to area schools for swim meets, local thrift shops for costume ideas, and help out at set build every weekend.  We've visited a number of colleges because APPARENTLY she didn't pay any attention to the campuses when she went visiting with her siblings!   She's in the process of finishing her common app then the real fun begins.  Hopefully, by Christmas, we will have a college choice made. 

So, that's the nuts and bolts of the kids.  They make us proud and I'm a tiny bit...sort of...getting used to being the parent of young adults. 

Sadly, we don't have either of our cats anymore.  I think Oliver died back when I was a good little blogger but our sweet, sweet Snickers died about 1 1/2 years ago.  Oliver was almost 21.  We'd had him exactly 20 years.  Snickers was only 12 but developed a tumor.  Both were rescue kitties.  I have never, in my entire adult life, been without a cat.  It's been a huge adjustment for me.  I am sure we will get another one (or two...shhhhh) but right now I will admit to enjoying a little no-guilt freedom.  I can put a piece of stitching down and not worry about who is going to curl up on it or who is going to make off with the threads.  I don't even have to mention travel.  The Scholar has volunteered to cat sit so that gives me some comfort.  However, she has already announced that she won't do it during the summer.  (Both girls work at a summer camp.) 

Phew!  That was a long post.  Here I thought I could add one picture and a few words and cover the basics of the household.  Guess not.   I think it's time to settle into my stitching chair for the evening before it gets too late for me.