This past weekend, Sammy and I took the kiddos, minus Anthony because he was sick, on a trip to Leavenworth to stay in my Cousin's Airbnb for 2 nights! He was gracious enough to invite us to stay there for free during his slower month when he didn't have anyone booked.
We were silly and made road pizza and road chicken nuggets for snacks for the drive, lol.
With love, Mama Hauck
2025. This is the year Anthony graduates. This is the year he will leave home for college. I'm really struggling with this, though I try really hard not to show it. I just start to feel all the feels, and then I have to choke it back and turn it off. I know he is struggling with it too, so I try to show him calm and my confidence in everything being ok.
We have done so much.....
Homecoming festivities done.
Gown, cap, and tassel ordered.
Class ring ordered and received.
Letterman coat designed, ordered, and received.
Patches put on letterman coat.
Senior photos taken.
Photo book of senior photos designed and ordered.
Senior photo chosen and senior quote sent in and submitted to yearbook.
Senior project for school in the works.
Colleges looked at.
College chosen.
Current transcript requested and received.
College application filled out and submitted.
Accepted to college.
Major chosen and declared.
Advisor given.
Senior night financial help at high school done.
FAFSA done.
Online scholarships started.
Senior photo chosen and sent in for town banner.
Graduation announcements designed and ordered.
Yearbook letter to Anthony written and photos submitted.
Yearbook letter to Anthony's friends written and photos submitted.
Graduation photo cards and photo magnet for all of Anthony's friends written, designed, and ordered.
Still to do....
College tour.
Dorm and room chosen and secured.
Meal plan chosen.
Pick up cap and gown.
Continue work on online scholarships.
Do local scholarships.
Senior project slideshow created and presented.
Graduation.
Final transcript requested and sent in.
Graduation party decorations ordered and party planned.
Graduation party.
College dorm room medical box curated.
College emergency car kit curated.
College dorm necessities list created and goods purchased.
"Open When" letters written with cash and special goodies inside.
All caught up on dentist, derm, and dr appointments.
Extra retainers ordered.
Feel all the feels.
And I'm sure many other things I haven't even thought of yet.
I had a lot of fun designing Anthony's graduation announcement/party invites. I made two different ones, a simple basic one for most people, and then a larger, more detailed one for close family. I was lucky and got them at 50% off! I also ordered some fun address labels.
I know it's only January, and google is telling me it's too early to mail them out, but....I'm going to get them in the mail anyway. At least the ones to family and to anyone who wants theirs early. The rest I'll mail out in March. Which is also still early, lol, but I don't care. I do what I want.
Another item marked off the to-do list.
With love, Mama Hauck
Every winter, the seasonal pond on the edge of our property fills up due to all the snow melt off. This means it's time to go kayaking! It's our favorite late winter activity to do, and we ohhhhh so impatiently wait for the pond to be full enough for use to go.
Two years ago I got my first mammogram. At the age of 36. I had to demand one after I found the lump in my left breast myself during a self breast exam. And it wasn't covered by insurance because I'm under 40. (Fun fact.....my annual mammograms are still not covered by insurance, even though I am in the high risk category and I am definitely medically in need of one yearly.) In my heart I knew it was breast cancer. Still, how shocking that your very first mammogram results comes back with a cancer diagnosis?
Definitely not a great first experience. Scanxiety is 1000% real. I will fight anyone who says it's not.
Last year, I felt so ill walking into the hospital for my mammogram. Nauseous, anxious, and shaky. I just about bawled. It's not the mammogram itself....that's easy peasy....but all the feelings associated with the experience.
