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You are here: Home / Archives for Doodle

Doodle

First day of school

Another day, Capital P, Doodle

Yesterday morning P woke Caroline and me up bright and early. And, in what will be the only time for the next nine months, we jumped out of bed ready to start the day and I cooked eggs for breakfast. Not that I'm opposed to making a delicious home-cooked breakfast. I'm just opposed to going to the effort so that someone can just move eggs around on a plate and tell me they're full. It's Read More

Blue skies, green water

Capital P, Doodle, Friends

So I'm sitting here typing this on Sunday night. And tomorrow is the first day of school. I've got school supplies stacked up, a new backpack packed, and Caroline's choice of outfit laid out on the bed. But nothing can really prepare me for the fact that my baby is going to be a fourth grader. I mean, I remember being a fourth grader. I vividly recall getting in trouble for repeatedly singing Read More

Bring your good times. And your laughter too.

Doodle

Well first I feel like I need to give a shout out to all the Oregon readers. Who knew I translated all the way out to the Pacific Coast? But there are apparently a few of you because you were all excited about the Olympians shoes that match the Ducks. So, go Ducks. And truthfully I'm just stalling because I'm overwhelmed at how to fit the last few days into one post. It's going to be a Read More

Nine

Doodle

Dear Caroline, You are nine years old today. Nine. How is it even possible that we've already come to the last single digit year? Especially since we just brought you home from the hospital like two days ago. I think the thing that has hit me the hardest about nine is when it dawned on me that nine is the halfway mark. In just nine more years you'll be eighteen and headed off to college Read More

Jumping the shark

Doodle

So we had a good weekend this past weekend. Even though I was so tired by Saturday night that I went to bed at 9:30. Which would make the twenty-year-old me very sad at the lameness but makes the forty-year-old me think that at least I'm not as lame as P who fell asleep sitting up on the couch at 8:25. But we can both blame the sleepover. On Friday night, Caroline's school had this little Read More

Tea parties, manicures and lame pedicures

Doodle

Before I say anything else I just want to say thank you for all your sweet words and prayers about the loss of Nanny. It was all very much appreciated. Last week was a hard week and I was thankful for all the love. I can't remember if I've mentioned this before but Caroline has the same teacher for third grade that she had for first grade. And in first grade this teacher helped the class Read More

Andele! Andele!

Doodle

The other night P was grilling fajitas and was going back and forth from the kitchen to the back porch. Caroline was happy to just mill around outside and enjoy her current favorite hobby, collecting bugs of any kind. I was in the kitchen tasting the guacamole when I noticed P looking out the windows. He motioned for me to come take a look. This is what we saw dancing around our back porch Read More

My little bunny is growing up

Doodle

I was going through old videos the other day because I harbor grand illusions that one day I will get all manner of memorabilia from Caroline's childhood organized and labeled. Judging from the eight packs of photos currently stuffed in my desk drawer, it's not likely to happen anytime soon. But I came across this video and it seemed appropriate to post it since Easter is this Sunday and it Read More

On the bright side I think they’re house trained

Another day, Doodle

Well, we had an exciting weekend here. You don't believe me? What if I told you we added not one but THREE new members to our family? Friday was the annual carnival at Caroline's school. And of course we'd been building up to it for the last week or so. I had to buy raffle tickets and t-shirts and volunteer for a shift in the Cold Drink booth even though I knew odds were good they weren't Read More

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Who is Melanie?

Melanie ShankleMy name is Melanie and, in some strange twist of fate, I’m also known as Big Mama because I started this blog in July of 2006 when my daughter, Caroline, was not quite three years old and I was in the process of convincing her that BIG girls use the potty and BIG girls don’t have pacifiers, thus she thought BIG was the highest compliment in the land and began referring to me as BIG MAMA.Read More

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Happy Easter! 💕 Happy Easter! 💕
At our house if you want the Easter Bunny to bring At our house if you want the Easter Bunny to bring you a basket, you have to dye eggs. I don’t care how old you are and that you’re leaving for college in 5 months.
When Caroline was three, I enrolled her in dance c When Caroline was three, I enrolled her in dance class. She hated it. And after the recital she announced, “I beat all those other girls”. Which made us realize maybe she needed to try a sport. Preferably one that burned a lot of energy. Thus, we discovered soccer. ⁣
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After twelve years of watching her play on fields all over the country, the ride ended last night. Her team fought so hard but came up short 1-0 in the last three minutes. ⁣
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For twelve years we have cheered as she ran on the field. I’ve washed more soccer jerseys than I can count. I’ve pulled cleats that smell like the devil’s footwear out of backpacks, iced injuries, given pep talks and yelled at refs. ⁣
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We’ve had the thrill of watching her score game-winning goals and the devastation of being in the orthopedic ER until midnight praying it’s not a serious injury. ⁣
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Like life, soccer has been filled with highs and lows. Victory and defeat. ⁣
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Caroline, soccer has developed your strong will, your character and your tenacity. It’s taught you to get back up when you’re knocked down. It’s taught you to be a leader on and off the field. It’s made you better, stronger, and more resilient than you’d have been without it. It’s given us car rides to games and practices that are some of my favorite memories. ⁣
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Your senior season was the one I wasn’t sure would even happen. Between a pandemic and lingering injuries, I went into this year knowing each moment was a gift. ⁣
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You’ve known for a while now that you were ready for a new season of life that doesn’t involve soccer. And the beauty of God bringing one season to an end is that He’s bringing a new one to life. I look at you and know the possibilities of what you’ll do next are endless because you listen for God’s voice and follow where He leads. Dad and I can’t wait to cheer you on in new fields and adventures. ⁣
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In the words of Winnie the Pooh, “How lucky we are to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard?” 💙⚽️💛
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Photos by @doubllel
Last night was Senior Night for soccer. Alamo Heig Last night was Senior Night for soccer. Alamo Heights won 5-1 but the real win was that I managed not to cry. Caroline asked me before it began if I was going to cry and I told her there was a 72% chance I could hold it together. ⁣💙
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(In fairness I did get teary earlier that afternoon and about ten minutes before we walked on the field)⁣
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Having a senior is a weird mix of emotions. I know I’m going to miss her like crazy, but there’s also a bigger part of me that sees how ready she is to go. She’s ready for new adventures and new beginnings and I want those things for her. ⁣💛
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I know from our brief tenure of owning hermit crabs that they eventually outgrow their shell and go in search of a new, bigger shell. I’m not sure why my mind goes to hermit crabs for parenting analogies, but that’s what this is like. She’s outgrown her shell and is ready for a bigger space with more room to move and grow. ⁣💙
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It’s this weird dichotomy of being sad to see the beginning of the end and being so excited for what she has ahead. As C.S. Lewis said “There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind”. ⁣💛
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Photo by Mary Candee
I know I’ve over posted but two snow days in one I know I’ve over posted but two snow days in one week is truly a once  in a lifetime event. ❄️
I have to say it’s been snow fun and a week off school  and getting to share this with Caroline, knowing her time at home is coming to an end, feels like the most gracious of gifts. ❄️💙❄️
#onthebrightside #snovid21
I promise I’ll stop with all the snow pictures ( I promise I’ll stop with all the snow pictures (maybe) but Caroline and I started off our day determined to build a snowman. We found out it’s harder than it seems, especially because our snow was so powdery. ❄️⁣
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But we persisted. Or rather we waited until late this afternoon when the snow was a little easier to pack. ⁣
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And we were more proud of this modest little Aggie snowman than I really should admit. What she lacks in structure, she makes up for it in heart and Aggie spirit. 
👍🏻❄️💙

The Latest on Twitter

Melanie Shankle@BigMama·

It’s been a heck of a ride. 💙⚽️

Reply on Twitter 1375286284462084096Retweet on Twitter 1375286284462084096Like on Twitter 137528628446208409681
Alamo Heights Soccer@AHgirlsSoccer·

AH lady Mules Soccer will take the field against Cedar Park in round 1 of the playoffs tonight. Come out to Orem Stadium at 7:00pm to show your support for the Blue and Gold!!! 🐴 🆙

Reply on Twitter 1375094632992899088Retweet on Twitter 13750946329928990883Like on Twitter 137509463299289908812

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