Happy Holidays!

just in time!

With only 8 days to go until Christmas my family & I finally took our Christmas card pictures! The card is made & uploaded to the printers...let's just hope they get here before we leave for the holidays...

Bubba

You'll notice that those are my boys...big boy & little boy... they are both taking part in a student film and this was the 1st reading of the script. Alvin, has about 2 lines in the movie. However, Amos is playing the role of the 7 year old Bubba in a film adaptation of Michael Bishop's short story Love's Heresy. I won't spoil the ending except to say that it's "smashing..."

Sanford & Sister

In his ever enthusiastic way - our boy brought home 4 LARGE bags of recycling from Montessori today...what was suppose to be a little craft project emphasizing recycling quickly turned into an attempt to build a jet from trash...he may be on to something...the US Airforce may be contacting us soon...

Crystal Ball

Who needs one? I can already see my future & I don't like it one bit!! Can you believe this boy is already getting calls from girls? Older ones at that... damn 8 year old Cougars!

"Where does the sky end?"

giving thanks

Sure, some of these are a given, cliched, trivial - but, none-the-less, they are some of the reasons I am thankful!

1. my wonderful husband - the one who drags me to concerts and then lets me dance - no matter how silly I look!

2. my amazing son - the one who drives me crazy, inspires me to be a better parent and fills my heart with pride every single day!

3. my precious girl - my beautiful child who loves her brother more than anyone in this world, dances like no one is watching her & is a wonderful mother to her little kitten

4. my wonderful family - close, extended and chosen

5. the opportunity to create and thrive in my own business

6. the future and what it holds

7. the past and what it taught me

8. our new kitten who is full of joi de vivre

9. our wise and old dogs

10. my green car

11. friends that let me drop in on Thanksgiving day without blinking an eye

12. popcorn with nutritional yeast

13. my new mac

14. neighbors who invite us in with open arms and full tables

15. beautiful, healthy babies

16. not having to do laundry

17. netflix

18. pandora.com

19. this blog & all the blogs I read, like this one which makes me proud and keeps me wanting!

20. a new administration - change/hope

21. our health

22. esty.com

disclaimer: no turkeys were harmed in the making of this thanksgiving list!

Autumn

A few days ago the kids & I went on a fall walk with the specific purpose of photographing the fall colors. Each carrying our own camera, we walked up & down our street. Although, we didn't get very far, too many fabulous things to photograph, we had a great time & came home with loads & loads of pictures!



Can I tell you how proud I was of my boy getting down low for a new & different perspective?



This just might be the coolest picture I've ever taken!

Love this one too! My boy was hiding behind a bush as this couple walked by with their dogs!

We have the most gorgeous Ginkgo tree two houses down from ours! I wish it lived in our yard! How could you mind raking up these beautiful leaves?

The Scariest Thing EVER!!!

True story...


The other night we were finishing up dinner. Both kids had finished their meals and were up wandering around the table. The Husband & I were trying to have some adult conversation, when the next thing I know my boy is whispering in my ear...the scariest words a mother never wants to hear...


I looked at my husband with fear on my face, my stomach had dropped and it took a few seconds for my brain to catch up with reality. He could tell that I had been struck by fear - and said "what did he say?" to which I replied "you will never believe what our 5 year old boy just told me!" And he said "I think he told me, this afternoon, when I picked him up from school!"

My sweet, precious, naive', five, nearly six year old little boy walked up to me and whispered in my ear...



..."my girlfriend is pregnant!"

Skyper

It was just time for a new picture, sorry it took me so long!

Jurassic Park

It's amazing what you'll find around my house these days...pe examplu...

The latest scenario is the "Lingenfelter Animal Shelter". The whole front of the house now contains every stuffed animal my children own (try explaining that to the electrician!) They've been grouped by species, and placed in cages built with pillows, because they must remain separated - i.e. the dinosaurs and nesting vulture.

Trick or Treat!

Happy Halloween!

Karate-Kid

Some of you may already know this, but my boy is taking Taekwondo and LOVES it!! You can only put up with Kung-Fu Panda moves for so long before you realize that maybe the kid should take lessons... He's been taking lessons for nearly two months and this week he was tested for his 1st belt - how exciting! We weren't sure if he was ready, I mean he's only been doing this for 2 months, but his instructor, Mr. Young told me "I wouldn't ask folks to test if they weren't ready...duh!" Alright, I added the "duh", but it clearly was implied! Anyway, we think he passed, at least he looked the part...cute!

On another note, thanks for my friend Nate, this computer is going a bit faster! Amazing what tripling the memory will do...especially considering there wasn't hardly any to begin with, duh!

Slow as Christmas

It seems that every piece of electronic equipment I depend on for my business & my sanity has decided to check out... So, now I'm stuck using this antiquated computer that is so freakin' slow that it might just be the end of me! Seriously, if you hear of my demise, ask "was it the computer?"

On another note...notice anything new?

Infatuation

I can't even begin to tell you how much my girl loves her cat! Here she is singing to him as he lays contently listening to his "mama"! To be honest, we're all a bit smitten with ole' Skyper...who knew?

Purple

Yesterday, in honor of October being Domestic Violence awareness month, we participated in a local Domestic Violence candle-light vigil - my boy was enthralled by the speakers & their stories! Not too mention the prospect of holding a lit candle...

Introducing...

Skyper!!

and one very happy, little girl!!

Prue & Roy

Is it possible to love someone the moment you meet them? Even if you don't know a single thing about them? Then the more you get to know them the more you realize your instincts are right on? Last weekend Alvin & I had the pleasure of spending the weekend with these two absolutely, wonderful people, Prue & Roy! I'm sure they won't mind me sharing their age with you - they proudly shared with us... 91 this year!! And, they've been married 64 years - that's right SIXTY-FOUR years! One person, 64 years...WOW! I love how they can sit across from each other telling a mundane story and manage to crack each other up! Roy still makes Prue giggle.


These two are an inspiration in so many ways... I know that Alvin & I both are in awe of their love, their stamina, dedication to their community and each other! Thank you Prue & Roy for a memorable weekend! Until next time!!

relief

Oh, I'm so glad they made it home safely!

fierce

Just waiting for this fierce guy to get home!!


**Yeah! They're home!! Thanks Meghan for chauffeuring my babies safely!!

Alvin

A couple of weeks ago, we were in the big city for a show & dinner - alright, we went to Sesame Street Live & then Zesto's, but it sounds so much better the other way around... Anywho, as we were leaving Zesto's we noticed a man coming towards us, actually scooching towards us. He was in a wheelchair, obviously disabled and was using his legs to propel himself backwards in the direction he wanted to go - quite a feat! So, we did what every other family visiting the big city does...we hurried the kids into the car, averted our eyes & tried to get away as fast as possible. But he was quick - and managed to engage my sweet husband in a conversation, I couldn't hear what he was saying, but I could tell that my main man was just trying to be polite & waiting for the inevitable ask...

Normally, we don't carry cash - you have to have some to carry it - but for some reason that night we were flush! So, I grabbed up 2 one dollar bills, handed them to my husband and instructed him to give them to the man, which he did and then promptly got in the car. Once in the car he turned to me & said "Did you see that man? He was missing 1/2 his skull!" To which I said..."WHAT? What do you mean 1/2 his skull?" And he replied, "his head looked like a deflated basketball!" Apparently, as told to my husband, his name was Alvin, he'd had a tumor removed from his brain and was lucky to be alive. Here's this poor man, scooching around Atlanta in a wheelchair, no money, no home and probably very, very poor health care - and all I could scrounge up was two measley dollars??? What kind of person am I? The Catholic guilt started making its way through me - I found more money, handed to my husband and made him pull back over, roll down the window & hand this guy the rest of the money.

My husband: "Hey, Alvin!"

Alvin: "Yes?"

My Husband: "My name is Alvin too, here ya go!" (gives him the cash)

Alvin: "Thank you sir! You know my birthday is December 25th - they say I'm blessed!"

My husband: "Whatta ya know? My birthday is December 24th!"

Whatta ya do with that?

!!Deuxième Parti!!!

Alright, I admit it...I went a little overboard... But, honestly - I had a great time doing this! For several months this idea tumbled over & over in my mind and in the end result, I have to say, was pretty close to the one in my head! Well, if you don't count the deluge that forced us to cancel the par-TAY on Satur-DAY!!


Happy Birthday Sweet Girl!

!!Birthday Celebration!!

WOW! How did this happen? My baby girl turned four!! ACK!! It was such a super day that it deserves two posts...we'll start with the 1st party of the day...her Montessori celebration!


Walking around the "Sun" four times - signifies how many times the earth has gone around the sun since she was born.


Snack time! We had popcorn!

I also learned that popcorn bags double as great hats! Who knew?


Singing "Little Pig" - apparently the most requested birthday song!

She sees her Daddy!

Rain, rain, go away!

This is why we are having to postpone today's birthday party...or should we have still played through? Nah, the cupcakes aren't even decorated...