Five Brown Kids

I packed my suitcase again and flew out to South Dakota for Taye's graduation. It was a tough year - he felt all alone, classes were hard, the schedule was exhausting, loneliness was a constant even though he did hang out with classmates a few times.  But he did outstanding in all of classes, and developed a really good routine and some serious study habits. He knows he can handle grad school now.  When I left him all alone last January I put 12 monthly boxes at the bottom of his dry erase board. He had methodically crossed them off month after month after month until I showed up to take him home! We went to see Mt. Rushmore (a giant F-you to the indigenous people of the area - steal their land, genocide their people, break the treaties, and then disgrace their sacred lands with stone carvings of white dudes). And then drove through beautiful Custer State park and literally ran into some buffalo.  We went to the YMCA every day to workout. Taye said their was a worker ther...

One hundred and one things going on!   On a very chilly North Carolina day Blythe and I went to see her bestie star in The Little Mermaid.  Georgia was magnificent!  Scotia spent the weekend at the Capital Classic swim meet! My work team went back to the food bank for an afternoon of service.  Love hanging out with them outside of office. I've been at NC State five years and got to go to a huge lunch for all campus employees celebrating 5/10/15 etc years of service.  One lady was honored for 50 years of service as an extension specialist. She bounced right up to the stage to accept her award.  She loved her job.  5, 20 and 10 years Tyrone came over and we decorated the tree.  Blythe dressed up for Taylor Swift day at school. Blythe at a neighbors birthday party.  Scotia at a swim team brunch.  Up next Taye's graduation, moving home and checking in on Derick. 

I got Derick's mom and dad out to see him. Thanks for donating to the fund ! Derick is in rehab at the Mayo Clinic still. Learning how to maximize the arm strength and some finger movement that he has. Next week he will move to a transitional rehab in Minneapolis.  I'm so grateful for the social workers and business offices of the Mayo Clinic, they are always in contact with me, and have helped make all the paperwork and plans so seamless. And Hannah is an absolute star keeping up with him. Derick's dad was so relieved to find that his son was receiving exceptionally good care. Signing his own name.

At the end of semester awards ceremony Blythe got a "Wonderful Friend" award and a Science and Technology class award.  Later in the day she had her drama club parent performance.  Blythe was the gardener in "Stone Dragon Soup" and she was so cute! 

Scotia had a swim team Friendsgiving.  Tyrone and Blythe went to the Christmas Parade. Blythe was counting down the minutes until Jaxon got home.  They play Minecraft on his phone and my phone, in the same world, working through the same challenges and you can hear them happily chatting back and forth the whole time.  We went to the Browns for Thanksgiving. I cooked sweet potatoes, carrots and cranberry sauce. Scotia made Oreo Delight and mashed potatoes. Blythe and Jaxon made homemade caramel popcorn. It was all delicious. My favorite meal of the year.  Never not arguing about who is tallest. Rosie joined us too.  Talked to Taye on facetime.  Talked to Derick on facetime.  We missed them and they really missed us.  Next year, hopefully. 

Scotia had her senior photo shoot downtown.  Blythe and Rosie came with and I took a few photos of them too.  Can't wait to see Scotia's professional photos.