temptation

What in the world was I thinking when I bought all this? How in the world am I suppose to stick to my New Years resolutions with all this hanging around? Why in the world haven't I thrown it out by now? Who in the world would blame me for eating it all tonight & starting off fresh tomorrow?

gifts

Did I mention that some of us had a very good Christmas?

Christmas Flannel

What a wonderful Christmas!! As you may have noticed - we've been out of town - a week to be precise! It was nice to wake up Christmas morning with 2 of my 3 sisters. The 3rd joined us the next day and the Christmas spirit kept on giving! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday & that you were indulged by your Santa! More later!

Sad, Sad Story...

This is a sad, yet unfortunately true story...fortunately, one day - our family will laugh & laugh about it...one day... (alright, I admit it, I'm laughing now!)

My boy had a terrible allergic reaction yesterday! Every time his benedryl would wear off he would break out into these GIANT welts (imagine your worst mosquito bite x 2.33)! Well, this morning was his final handbell performance, to be held in front of all the parents of his Montessori classmates...all of them...in front of... are you following me here... we thought it was fine, a good idea for him to make the performance, after all you couldn't see the welts!

There he was, standing in front of all those people and he started to itch...not on his arm, not his neck, not his belly...but on his legs... near his crotch...he's four - nearly five, he doesn't even think twice about sticking his hand right down his pants to scratch...in front of all of those parents...

Looking back through the pictures, because, yes I did document the whole ordeal, it breaks my heart, what were we thinking? Why didn't we just leave him at home? Bad parents, bad parents...

Bells will be ringing...

It's started...school programs! We had our family's first yesterday, and actually have our second tomorrow. See what I mean, once you start you can't ever stop! Needless to say our boy was magnificant with the bell - they all were actually! We were as proud as we could be & like every other parent there we watched it via the video camera & camera. Kodak moments baby!

Hey Mama!

My best friend...

even though I don't get to see her nearly enough...she does live 1/2 way around the world...literally! And, she stole my boyfriend...luckily, I found my own! I wouldn't have her any other way!

Babyland General

I know, I know...you're sick of posts with old folks...I think the past 10 or so posts have had nothing to do with cute, precious, eat-them-up kids...so without further ado...I give you two of the cutest kids evah!





**On a side note...this picture was taken at Baby Land General - Home of the Cabbage Patch Doll - or better known as "home of the bend over so we can charge you more for a doll than your real baby cost to deliver!!" That ain't no lie - can I hear some Amen's?

Moi'

Finally...me...how awkward is this? What can I say about me? My sister, Carolyn, tagged me a few weeks ago to tell 7 things about myself... Seven...hmmm...I can do that!

1. I was hit by bus and broke my pelvis while vacationing in Thailand.

2. I like to iron, especially my kid's clothes.

3. Although I disagree with him, my husband says I really enjoy slapstick humor... he says I laugh hysterically anytime I watch a scene with someone falling or getting walloped.

4. I am just learning to knit & I love it! I can only knit a garter stitch & scarves, but will have plenty of scarves for the future!

5. I met Bill Clinton and he had the most fabulous hands I'd ever seen!

6. I don't like to share certain foods with other people, even my kids! These foods would be...bananas, cheese & yogurt. I will break off a piece of my banana for you, but I won't let you take a bite of it.

7. I have lots of theories - Like we should send our elderly to developing countries for retirement... Homeless folks need to unite & call themselves a religion...


Now I believe I'm suppose to tag 7 other folks...
so that would be Fiona, Kerri, Katie, Katie, Blair, Danielle, and Katherine

Fie-Fi-Fiona

My dear friend Fiona, the one who ceremoniously left me earlier this year... I know, I know I should be over it...but I'm not...maybe one day - but to be honest, I don't think she wants me to get over it either - she loves the fact that we still mourn their move...

These past 8 days or so have been fantastic! I have loved sharing my wonderful friends with you! I should have said this in the beginning, they were introduced in no particular order...that is until now... I saved the craftiest for last!! This Mama is one mean crafter! Need a Halloween costume, but too lazy to sew...call Fiona! Need an adorable shirt with your child's name and social security on it...call Fiona! Need fancy handwriting...call Fiona (and you'll be getting that call soon!) There really isn't anything this woman can't do! I swear this is a direct quote from her...true story... one day she and her husband were having a squabble about the state of their home, apparently he felt it wasn't being kept up to snuff...she cries out to him "I told you I wasn't a cleaner - I'm crafty!"

I'm so glad that Fiona & I are friends! She's been more than supportive over the past year & a 1/2 with my photography, willing to do anything in the name of creativity, always up for sharing a beer with me, an awesome mom & wife & a great friend! Cheers to Fiona!

Deb

Salt of the earth is what I think of when I think of my friend Deb! One of the hardest working mothers out there! The Mom of two of the cutest kids - I think what I admire the most about Deb is her ability to put her family before anything or anyone else! She doesn't hesitate to say no to events that she knows will interfere with their precious time together! But, this also means that I don't get to see her nearly enough! One of my favorite Christmas' with my new family was a impromptu Christmas day dinner we had with Deb & her husband and new baby boy.

I will also say that she must have the patience of Job! Why, you ask? Well, let's just say her husband is a connoisseur of collectibles...especially cars! Cheers to Deb!

Shanda

When someone says"you should meet so & so, you have so much in common." I usually think to myself "sure, whatever..." But, when Diane said this about her new friend Shanda, she was right! Although, it was over a year before we realized our similarities and became friends. When we did meet up again and I got to know more about her I kept thinking, "oh, I want her to be my friend!" We've actually become fast friends! I know I've said this in nearly every post, but Shanda is another of my go-to friends! She's always up for an adventure - I don't know if she's ever said no to anything I've suggested. The mother of two precious boys, Shanda is a full-time Mom - and I mean FULL-TIME!!! No 3 hours a day of Montessori break for this die-hard Mom, no way! And she does it all away from the comfort of her own home! (It's a long story, but she & her family are currently staying with her sweet, kind grandparents.)
One of the reasons I'm so glad that Shanda is my friend is that I believe she makes me a better parent! She makes me face and hold onto the values I want to instill in my family. It's like we hold each other accountable - and that's no easy feat in today's world! She keeps threatening to move away from our fair city and I'm sure she will sooner than later - but it's alright, because I know that we'll always be friends - no matter which time zone she's in!

Casey

Casey, Casey, Casey...where do I even begin? I knew about Casey before I'd even met her - or at least my imagination did... Early on when my husband & I were dating we went to a baseball game - someone at his work had given him 4 tickets - and he said he might invite his friends Bob & Casey...that's all he said, but my imagination took over... I can't remember what I thought, but once I met them I realized that my overly active imagination had been wrong - I do remember one thing...I thought for sure they were old... a lot older than me...uh - no!

Casey was another member of the "game night" group, is married to my husband's biggest sports buddy & mother to one of my children's favorite playmate. I think that Casey would agree with me that she's been through a lot of shit! More than most people think they could handle! However, I believe that Casey is a testament to strength & determination. I've seen her down! But, I've also watched her wiggle her way back up & out stronger than ever! She's a inspiration to everyone who knows her. A friend you can always count on for a wise word or worse...the truth! Three Cheers for Casey!

Kerri

One of my dearest friends here in town is Kerri. It helps that our daughters are nearly the same age and dear friends in their own right! We became friends not long after I married & moved to our quaint, little town. In fact, Kerri & her husband were part of our "game night" crowd, which consisted of two other couples. At the time none of us had children...once they came along things changed drastically... Kerri is a fabulous cook & actually has her own cottage industry...a catering business, which I seriously recommend. She's also one mean cake decorator as most folks around here can attest to. I'm so thankful for Kerri, she has been one of my staunchest supporters in my own business endeavor, is always willing to keep a child or two, willingly listens to my rants & rages, loved our new President at the expense of friends & family and always, often much to my chagrin, is willing to look at both sides of an issue! Cheers to Kerri!

Markette

Markette, one of, if not the one, who came up with the idea of our weekly (when the sun is still out) neighborhood gatherings - the mastermind! A brilliant woman, with a distinguished career, (even with the police at her house all hours of the day & night.) She's dedicated to her family, both near & far, a great mother, a super wife and a more than generous friend. She's always the first to volunteer her house, a pizza or beer for a gathering of friends. Our families couldn't be more different at times, but strangely enough that seems to make us better friends, ones who appreciate each other's differences. Cheers to Markette!

Melina

In keeping with my theme of the week (or 8 days) I now present to you...Melina!! I probably know Melina the least out of all the ladies I'll be introducing you to - but that doesn't mean I don't think she's a pretty neat woman! She's relatively new to these neck of the woods & I met her soon after she moved here. I guess I should say I accosted her on the street one day while she was walking with her uber-cute son, River. Seriously, I was walking to pick up my boy & met her near my house, introduced myself and then asked if she wanted to join me on my walk - I think I talked the whole time! But, you know what? I'm so glad that I did, because she & her family then slid right into our neighborhood routine! Melina is a scientist and an environmentalist (maybe even an environmental scientist...) she is really good with kids, a great teacher, an even better Mom and I'm pretty sure she loves chocolate!

Friends

A few months ago, during one of our neighborhood get-togethers, I photographed the women in our group... It's hard for women to let themselves be photographed, we're always so hard on ourselves! I think the images turned out beautiful! I don't think they even do these women justice! So, if you'll indulge me - I'd like to celebrate these wonderful women for the next several days!

Jodi - seriously, one of the nicest people I think I have ever met! She had big shoes to fill when she moved into the neighborhood & man, has she filled them!! Jodi lives directly behind us and has become our go-to woman when it comes to taking care of our animals when we go out of town! I can't tell you how many times my kids have made their way over to their house & stayed for hours upon hours. She doesn't bat an eye when she looks outside to find us jumping on her trampoline - uninvited! She's a rock for her family, an awesome Pilate's instructor and an advocate for kids. We've thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Jodi & her family and are so blessed to have them in our lives!

Fool

This wasn't my idea - it was a photo shoot for a friend's Christmas card...but I had to try it - they looked like they were having so much fun!

This totally isn't what I was going to blog about today...but how could resist?

**what's up with the tongue?

mea culpa

Sorry for the lack of posts...you know it's been crazy around here...traveling,visiting family, eating, visiting family...you'll forgive me won'tcha?

Do you like my hat?

I do, I do like your hat!

Fall!

What a beautiful autumn day! And, we took full advantage of it!

Where The Wild Things Are

Leaf hunt

I had nothing to do with this picture other than taking it! We were out on a leaf hunt when they found this bridge, stopped, unloaded backpacks and began documenting their finds.

The Husband

You know I go on & on about my kids, our new president, and whatever else is running through my head, but I don't really say enough about my sweet husband...why is that? He sure is good, to me & to our kids. He's kind to the ones he should be and the ones he doesn't want to be (read: me & the kids...). He's loving and generous. He's handsome as all get-up! He works hard for our family, doesn't get to watch sports when he wants, drives the older car (albeit cleaner), suffers patiently through my whims, even indulges them sometimes!

Maybe I'll go thank him right now. . .

SURPRISE!!

Well, a lot has taken place here the past few days... besides the obvious... I just had my 40th birthday!! I know it seems impossible - me - forty - but it's true! My children have been reminding me and anyone else we run into...

The entire week has been one big celebration! One day flowers, another a President, the next a CD, then a book... Unfortunately, I was sick as a dog on my actual birthday...and no, it wasn't from too much celebrating the night before...

Last night the husband & I headed to the big city & to IKEA...that'll wear you out! Who knew we needed all that Swedish stuff?

Then to top it all off...a big Surprise party...without all the SURPRISE!! Can I help it I'm super keen & it's hard to pull a fast one on me? Regardless, it was beautiful! Thanks to my wonderful husband, family & friends I had an excellent fortieth birthday!! Thank God it's over!

**kids lined up for yummy cake

How about `dem cookies?

GOTV

Today's indoctrination included getting the kids out & going door-to-door "getting out the vote"!

It goes without saying that tomorrow is a big day! I hope everyone gets out & casts their vote, if they haven't already!

See ya on the other side!!

Spaghetti lunch

If these two aren't the cutest!

Yes, he did!

It's true...he called me! Who knew it would happen? Me & 20,000 other faithful volunteers! You know he really didn't even have to bother...he had me at "hello"! I'll be out there these next 72 hours doing what I can to get him elected! It's exciting!

Trick-or-Treat

We just had the best Halloween ever!

tuckered out

We have never had this happen at our house - my kids are like the Energizer Bunny...they keep going & going & going. . . Well, apparently today's activities pooped this girl out! Voting at 8am, breakfast at Chick fil-a, school, lunch with friends, pumpkin carving, large dirt hill playing, grocery shopping, bath-time and finally dinner - dessert proved to be too much!

Yes, We Can!

We are the change we've been waiting for!

Sir Amy Lee

Tonight as I was putting Sir Amy Lee to bed he told me... "I love you more than all the people in the world love God..." That's a lot of love!

Come on...

You've made me do it...I'm having to call you girls out...Katie, Kara - and I'm sure there are a few others out there who have blogs but aren't being forthright with the goodies! You know I'm nosey, I want to know what's going on in your lives too! Vietnam...Atlanta...and I know there are other places out there too!

Come on...share the love!

School Pictures

Here are my kiddies school pictures - whatta ya think? Pretty darn good photographer wouldn't you say...

hotties...

Will you hold it against me if I tell you that I had never tailgated until this past Saturday? What fun! I'm sure it's even more fun without 2 kids under four running around... Truthfully, we all had a great time! We've actually planned another one - I know I should start slowly, but when you begin at nearly 40 you don't have much tailgating time left...

*and can I just say dayum...my hair is short!

pumpkinlicious

I'm milkin' the pumpkin farm for all it's worth...

bunny love

She closed her eyes, snuggled up close and breathed in all that was this bunny!

The boy

We had the best time this past Monday visiting a Pumpkin Farm. I'm tellin' you it was the best money we've spent in a long time! Not only were there pumpkins to pick from the field, a tractor full of hay to ride, but also a little petting zoo, a hay loft to jump from, a hay maze, roasted corn on the cob, yummy pumpkin pie & several large bins of corn for kids (all sizes) to play in! We're definitely going back next year, especially since we have a whole year to start saving for it...

A funny from my boy... Today we were in the car and he told me that Madison is no longer his girlfriend. Swear to you these were his words... "she broke up with me." Again, do I have to remind you that he's FOUR freakin' years old?

Also, yesterday he asked his dad if we had "PBSkids dot org?"
his Dad said "I believe so"
he said "no, I mean PBS kids dot org backslash"

Seriously, we need advice!!

Home again, home again...jiggety jig!

We just returned home after a 5 day trip to my parents house... We had a pretty good time! Really enjoyed spending time with my Mom, Dad & sister Jamie. The man of our house ran a 15k race on Saturday and we all went to watch him cross the finish line in pretty good time! I'll post more later from our awesome time at the pumpkin patch - it deserves its own blog, if not more!

peace out!

MIA

We left town for a few days, I know I should have warned you but I hate goodbyes... We are at my 'rents house visiting with my father who is home visiting from Iraq and for my Mom's birthday which was today.

The other day Lou & I went with my sister Jamie to purchase her wedding gown. Lou enjoyed herself - playing around those beautiful gowns. I tried not to think about the day we go shopping for her wedding dress - let's hope it's in 25+ years...

Saturday Soccer

Getting ready for a corner kick. He looks so serious...

More CPT'ers

We were fortunate to have Carol Rose over for lunch yesterday. Carol is a co-director for CPT. The kids adored her!

I'm sorry to say that Carol had to witness the need for more non-violent training at our house... You'd think Amy-Lee could find a better time than her visit to pretend to handcuff Lou and put her in the back of the squad car, all the while holding her head and saying "get in the back & watch your head..." Someone, anyone, please tell me how a kid whose tv exposure is limited to Dora the Explorer, Diego and other G rated movies comes up with these ideas???

Small World

A few years ago, right before the Iraq war started, I kept up with an organization called Christian Peacekeepers Team (CPT). CPT is a group of volunteers who "get in the way of violence. CPT intervenes in situations of violence." So, there they were, a team of CPT'ers who were getting in the way of a start of a war. I kept up with their daily website updates, reading about their days, their frustrations and fears. There was one young man, Scott who wrote several updates.

Fast forward a little over a year later - the husband & I were in Columbus for the annual SOA watch. We were having dinner at a local diner that was packed full of folks from all over the country (and world) who were also taking part in the SOA rally. At dinner I notice a guy who was the center of conversation & I recognized him as the young man from the CPT group in Iraq. I felt as if I had had a brush with a celebrity...

Fast forward even further - 3 days ago...the CPT steering committee is meeting here in our little town & we've been asked to host a couple of people in our home for the duration of the meeting. Friday night we were invited to join the whole group for a fellowship of sorts, food, stories of peace initiatives and music. Guess who I meet? That's right...Scott! He's now a seminary student at Ilif in Colorado & still active with CPT. Pretty cool, huh?

One more...

I need a day like this...

more edisto

This boy didn't go to school today because he insisted on being here when the ladies who cleaned our house were here... he can't stand the idea of something going on without his presence...

hmmm...I wonder where he got that from...

Edisto

I am sorry to say that I haven't even begun editing the pictures from our wonderful beach vacation this summer! I just started looking through them and am filled with nostalgia! We really did have a good time, even if we stayed in a crappy place!