Graduations, T-Shirts, and 10 Years

Andy’s cousin Nelle has been a staple around our house for the last three years.

It was kinda like we had our very own adopted college student.

She would come over, use our machines to do her laundry, our water to wash her car, and eat our food.  She often brought her boyfriend or friends over.  Who would do the same.  Phone calls were always “Hey, what are you making for dinner tonight?  I’ve only eaten a piece of toast and I don’t want Mac & Cheese again.”

In exchange, we would take advantage of her babysitting services.

She lived with us one summer.  She and Henry referred to each other that summer as Roommate.

When I would punish Lucy for something, or tell her she couldn’t have a fifth cookie, she would cry “I want my Nellie!!!!”

Because obviously I’m the meanest mom in the Universe, and Nellie would make it better.

All of that to say that Nelle has been such a constant in my kids’ lives the last three years, that the fact that she graduated and has now MOVED AWAY has been bittersweet for our little family.

I mean, we’re obvious ridiculously proud of her.  We certainly didn’t expect her to be a Professional Student and just keep taking classes forever.  But…dude.  She’s gone.  

Super annoying.

So I did what any mama in mourning would do: I made shirts.

The morning of.  As in, I ran out of printer ink and had to run to WalMart two hours before we had to leave.  As in, I had to beg Andy to help me at the last minute because that’s how I roll.  Never mind I’ve known for the last YEAR she was graduating.  Details.

Getting a decent picture of kids in said shirts was another task altogether.

Here Henry is demonstrating the Fake Glassy Eyed Smile.  It’s real nice.

Okay, let’s try again.

Andy is behind me clapping and yay-ing and looking like an utter fool.

Henry is completely unimpressed.

People are staring.

 What you can’t tell from these pictures is that Owen would BOLT the second we set him down.  Thank you baby Jesus for super quick DSLRs because I would snap the photo the milisecond Andy was out of the frame.

I’m actually kinda shocked at how it looks like O was sitting all patient like.  But I assure you, he was not.

Because he is CRAZAY.

What you also can’t tell is that I had actually put little shoes on O.  Since it was a special occassion and all.  He cried and cried and was so upset.  We couldn’t figure out what was wrong with him.

Until we took off his shoes.  Then he was fine.

Dear Andy, I’m sorry I’ve inadvertently raised our son to be one of those hippies who walks around barefoot all the time.  All I wanted was to squish his fat baby toes.  Lo siento.  I promise he’ll find a job.  Somewhere.  Eventually.

In an attempt to get a more natural smile out of Henry, I suggested they clap.

Jill is the best.  This is the face she makes when we tell her something is funny.

She fake laughs and covers her mouth.

The cutest.

Okay, what if we throw our hands up and yell “Yay Nellie!!!”?

Nope.  Still nothin’.

Forget it.  I give up.  A children’s photographer I will never be.

I had to include this one.

Simply because I love the way the girls are looking at O Bo.

A more adored baby there never was.

The three Bigs just fall all over themselves for him.  Always.  Every day.

I swoon.

Okay, so to draw out the torture, let’s try to get a picture with the signs Mommy made!  So fun!

LUCY…I have about ten pictures just like this.

 I think we finally had to bribe her with cupcakes to get her to hold the sign BELOW her face.

Cupcakes are Lucy’s love language.  She is her mother’s daughter.

And then Jill.

This is impossible.

Yes, the kids had to sit in t-shirt order.

Yes, I made them switch seats when I realized that the shirts read Go To Nellie Way!

Yes, I realize Nelle couldn’t read them from that far away anyway.

And no, I don’t care that I’m ridiculous.

Andy sported a bunch of alumni gear.

Because he’s totally like that.

 The backs of the kids’ shirts were a little homage to each of their favorite Nellie Activities.

Things like trampoline jumping…

 dolly playing…

story reading…

and diaper changing.

I’m We’re gonna miss her.

Andy and I graduated from this same school, in this same (now upgraded) stadium TEN YEARS AGO.

To the day.  Literally.

And I kinda freaked out.  Because it doesn’t feel like ten years ago that I wore that synthetic gown and sat in that hot sun.

Look at how cute and unprepared for life we are.

All young and graduated and newly married living in a TEENY apartment filled with Ikea furniture.

I want to sit Young Dumb Us down and say “Look, I know you won’t believe me, but you’re gonna have FOUR kids.  Twins, actually.  That’s two more than you are planning on.  In fact, now that I mention it, go ahead and remove the word Plan from your vocabulary.  Also, Control.  Because both words will eventually be so absurd to you, that you will both burst out laughing when you hear them.  You’ll go through heart surgery with one.  Cerebral palsy and epilepsy with another.  In fact, one will even eat glass.  And you’ll get through it.  In fact, you’ll even love each other even more then you do now.  Just strap yourselves in.  It’s about to get crazy up in here.  Also, Jeannett…you should wear a bikini every. single. day.  Even in the winter.  Because those days will be long gone soon enough.  Because, twins.”

It does not feel like ten years AT ALL.

And it terrifies me.

Because the next ten years are gonna feel the same.

Only this time, ten years from now, Henry will be 16.

And that is just wrong.  So wrong.

Look!  There’s Nellie!

I remember that feeling.

So excited.  Accomplished.  Energized to take on the world.

It feels like yesterday.  But it was ten years ago.  TEN!

Isn’t she so cute?

You can see the nervous excitement.  It’s almost her turn.

I SO remember that feeling.

TEN years ago.

A dear friend of mine (who has since passed), told me that although he was in his 60’s, he honestly did not feel in his mind that he was a day older than 19.  Sure, he had more life experience.  Yes, his body ached.  But, there were often times that he looked in the mirror and was surprised at his own reflection.  To see an old man in the mirror often didn’t line up with who he felt like in his mind.

I totally get that.  I mean, I’m not 60, but I don’t really feel much older than 21 either.

I certainly didn’t feel 10 years older than those kids in black caps.

The funny thing is that I remember thinking that being in your 30’s was SO old.  I was the middle aged mom with the four kids running around that day.

So unhip.

I was stressing beforehand.  The thought of four little kids sitting in the hot sun during a, let’s face it, boring ceremony sounded about a pleasant as…I don’t even know.  Something really unpleasant.

But, they did really well.  Great, in fact.  Even if Henry is obviously super annoyed with his annoying mom who likes to take way too many annoying pictures.

Finally, Nelle was all graduated and official and such.

Time for more pictures.

Because of course.

Lucy was having none of it by this point.  She just kept asking for the cupcakes she knew were waiting at home.

I adore this picture.

SUCH a mom moment.

Can you just hear me?  “Lucy, we are almost done.  If you stop whining and just smile ONE TIME we will be able to go home.  But if you can’t get it together, you will not be allowed to have one of Nellie’s special graduation cupcakes, okay?”

Lucy’s face.  I die.

Success.

Mostly.

Dear Nellie,

We love you.  We are proud of you.  Just hurry up and get your dumb graduate degree and move back.

Love,

The Gibsons

Dear Tess,

Glad you’re still here for another year.  I don’t know how any of us would survive without at least one college student rummaging the pantry.

Love,

The Gibsons

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jeannett

I'm a mom to four. A wife to one. I believe in story. I love telling you about mine and would love to hear yours. There's really no sense in wasting our suffering and not sharing in each other's joy. We're all in this together...even if it doesn't always feel like it.

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