The flute

1st beach of the year!

We've returned home from our whirlwind trip to LA (that's lower Alabama to you folks not from around here...) and Kiln, MS (home of Brett Favre for you folks not from around there...)

The sad thing is that we have to put our kids back in the car this week and go straight back to LA... I've got to get my hands on a video player, youtube.com on the iPhone just won't cut it this time!

Mama

This morning I heard my girl, saying to no one in particular...

"I want to grow up to be a Mama."

My heart swelled with pride and I thought to myself "maybe I am doing a good job, maybe I am a positive Mommy role-model..." How quickly I fell from my delusional pedestal when I asked her why she wanted to be a Mama - she replied...

"because then I can tell people what to do."

Sunset

Imagine this scene...8pm or so, little girl playing in the back yard after dinner, before bath. The Mom is in the kitchen cleaning up and hears loud banging on the back glass door. She frantically runs to inspect the problem. Upon arriving at the scene she sees her little girl hitting the door, wanting to come inside and yelling...

"I WANT TO SEE THE SUNSET!"

Which can only be seen from the front yard - wouldn't you fall in love with this child all over again?

My Boy...

Do I even need to tell you how much I love this little man? It's the most amazing thing to watch you baby, your child turn into a real, live little person! I can't imagine what we have in store these coming years!

Smile in my pocket

Lucy-Lou singing a song - something about a smile in her pocket... I'll be damned if it isn't the sweetest song I've ever heard!

My baby is growing up...

Who knew learning to ride your bike sans training wheels could be so emotional? We have begun the process & hope to be riding without his Dad running beside him sooner than later - more pictures to follow...

Gems in Bloom

I serve as a board member for our local domestic violence shelter - an amazing place, run by an amazing group of folks and led by, in my humble opinion, an amazing board... The women (and a couple of token men) on this board have single handedly, alright 20 handedly, created this shelter from a pipe dream to a full-on, 15+ bed, life saving, state certified shelter in a matter of a few years! I wish I could take more credit, but truthfully, all I do is show up for meetings, voice my liberal opinion & then do what they tell me... This past Monday they told me to show up, bring my camera, donate a photography package for the silent auction & then sit back and watch this incredible group of women (and men acting as valet staff) raise a heck of a lot of money! I'm so proud of the good work these women do!

Cristos a inviat...

We had a glorious day!

Easter Perogies

Yesterday I spent the morning with some good friends from my neighborhood making traditional Ukrainian perogies. We had the best time and got to bring home some yummy perogies to boot! Thanks Melina for your ingenuity, hospitality and patience!



We started with some of these...

and some of this...alright lots of this!!


combined the two and mixed them up like this...


ended up with this yummy concoction...

pulled, folded & pinched like this...

and this...

and ended up with these tasty beauties...

Spring Break 2009!

We just returned home from our big Spring break trip to my Mother's house...the good news is I didn't have one hangover, I left with the one that brought me & I didn't get sunburned! Oh, and my kids got to hang out with all their aunts & cousins!

Tic-Tac-Toe

I'm not too sure she knew exactly what was going on...which may have explained his undefeated record...

Hair...

This looks like the cover for an album from the 70's...We have a lot of hair...

Amy-Lee

This kid is a climbing machine!