Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Knock, Knock

knock.knock


I've been neglecting the blogging lately, but I have a really good excuse: FABULOUS weather. It has been absolutely gorgeous here, and therefore, we've been out and about every single day.

And let's talk about that for a minute. When I meet new people, they invariably ask, "Do you stay home with your kids?" My answer is yes, I do....in theory. It seems like we are never actually home! The Critter is in preschool 2 days a week, we all have a Bible study class one day, and then we go to our local gym several times per week. Throw in library day and naptime, and that's the week, gone...poof! Again, I'm just amazed at you people who do it day in, day out. I just don't think I'm organized enough for that.

I'll be back later!

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Friday, September 22, 2006

Yeah, yeah, so I'm late again. I'm recycling one picture, as the last item hasn't been fixed up yet! (It will make sense when you get down there.)

Here's what Kristine wants to see this week:


Something I've outgrown:

clearance


Actually, these fit...because they're new....because I had to buy all new shoes after baby #3.

Something I've overcome:
over.come
I used to worry more than I do now, and it accomplished nothing, but to make me a wreck. I don't worry about things over which I have no control. That's someone else's job, and I'm just along for the ride. God set it up that way, and who am I to say I know better?

Something I need help with:more.time
Could someone please add about 6 hours to the day? Or at least slow down the 24 we've got now. It's passing too fast, and there's too much to do.
Did you play? Let me know so I can come check it out!
Have a fabulous weekend!

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Sunday, September 17, 2006

Touch.Release

These were the words from OddMix and here's what I came up with.


mother.child


A mother's touch can make everything better.

monster.boy


And sometimes you just have to release the real you!

We had a fun birthday party this weekend, check the flickr for the other photos.

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

104.7

shoe.girl


No, it's not a radio station.

It was the reading on the thermometer when I officially became worried.

The diagnosis is Roseola, and the worst- at least healthwise - is over. Now if she can stand the gawkers recoiling in horror she should be ok.

I'm sure we shared our germs with numerous unsuspecting souls, but hey, some unsuspecting soul shared with unsuspecting us. Pass the Motrin.

We got out for some fun for the first time in a week. The top shot was at the beginning. The one below was at the end.


angry.baby


Needless to say, she's still a bit wiped;)

Check the flickr for the other photos.

Monday, September 11, 2006

Remembrance

Remembrance



Where were you?

That is the question that people ask about that day. I was working in a public school in downtown Dallas, and had just checked on the 5th graders in their special area classes. A teacher came running down the hall yelling "We're at war! Someone has attacked the World Trade Center!" My first thought was to shut this woman up so we didn't have widespread panic and confusion among the impressionable young children within earshot of her hysteria. My second thought was. Oh, my God, please, no.
I will never forget.

We set up a television in the school library workroom so that teachers could come get updates during their off-periods, and got it up and running just in time to see the plane fly into the second Tower, live. I remember feeling that it couldn't be real, but alarmingly, I knew it was. We also watched as both Towers fell, live.
I will never forget.

When I got home that afternoon I, my husband, and a friend of ours walked to the local 7-11 to pick up the special edition of the Dallas Morning News that had all the photos, and the latest updates. There were dozens of people milling around outside waiting for the issue to arrive. What struck me was the the absence of planes overhead, which was unprecedented. The quietness, the somberness, and the general peacefulness of our little neighborhood in the midst of this tragedy was deafening.
I will never forget.

My mother was in the last stages of her battle with lung cancer at the time, and I remember feeling so sad, and a bit angry, that her last months on earth were marked by the experience of such misery all around. She died in December, and the Trade Center attacks were still front page news. She had become addicted to CNN, as had many others, and every time I saw or spoke to her she was upset by the needless misery spoken about and the vivid images broadcast.
I will never forget.

My husband had a business trip to New York in late November of that year, and came back with amazing stories and pictures of the cleanup efforts. We had planned a trip to the city to visit friends for New Year's Eve before the attacks and before my mother's death. We kept our plans and had a nice time. The city was very subdued, and there was an anxiousness to people on the street, just under the surface. It was, and still is, a changed place. It was a very emotional trip for me personally, and I got immensely drunk on Sangria at a Spanish restaurant the night before New Year's Eve.
I will never forget.

My husband and I have a tradition that whenever we travel somewhere, we always purchase something indigenous to the area to bring back to display at home. The art piece pictured above was created by John Suchy, an artist born and raised in Brooklyn. This was our memory piece from that trip.
I will never forget.

I pray that on this 5th anniversary, each person who has been touched by this tragedy is beginning to find some measure of closure and peace.

I will never forget.

Friday, September 08, 2006

SPF: War of the Worlds

Welcome to Friday, Stuff Portrait Friday to be specific.

Kristine's directions are to hunt down and snap photos of the following things:

This is a ‘thinking’ SPF. Yes, no kids…no dogs…no cats.

1. Your Freedom
2. Your Hope
3. Your Wish

Keep in mind, it’s ‘Your World’.

I followed the directions.....mostly;)


My Freedom

freedom

One of the things no one tells you about being a parent is that you will never be alone, ever again...or at least until your kids realize what a dork you are, and want nothing more to do with you. I llooooovve my time alone. I used to really enjoy the commute to my job because it was quiet, I could think, and I was alone. I adore my kids, but I really miss being in my car by myself. To look in the rearview mirror and see 3 empty car seats is my view of freedom.


My Wish...

wish

...is that these are not the only two colors I see this fall and winter. After 3 years of harsh summers, very mild winters, and practically no rain, I long for true seasons. Maybe this year?


My Hope

IMG_3738

...is that my children will grow to be productive, faithful individuals who possess the warmth of the glow, the steadfastness of the flames, and the knowledge of the power being in community with others. I'm reading this book, and it's having a profound effect on my thinking.

There are no pictures of kids, dogs, cats, so technically I followed the rules. My family is a huge chunk of my world, and to cut them out completely discounts the real me.

Did you play?

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Skewered

spike
That's how I feel now that this Beta thing is in the works. I can't comment if you're not Beta or don't have anonymous comments enabled, and Blogger won't allow me to set up a non-Beta account.

So all you Blogger people, it's time to take the plunge....into the Beta pool. It's really easy, and fairly painless.....well, except for Cara...and she's such a smart girl I know she'll get her fancy template figured out in no time.

You're gonna have to do it sooner or later, and I miss being able to leave comment!

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Numbers

3 children up, dressed, fed
1 dog, fed
4 bags/backpacks
3 drinks
1 bottle of formula
1 lunch
2 snacks
3 extra sets of clothing
4 diapers-size 4
4 diapers-size 5
1 completed emergency contact info sheet including 'codeword' (!)
483 million raindrops (niiiice timing...)
1 golf umbrella (broken)
2 B*lues C*lues rain panchos
2 kiddos dropped off at gym childcare
1 last-minute dash into the grocery
1/2 cup broccoli florets
2 preschool teachers
1 Critter
6 classmates
26 pictures
1 worn out Mama
9 a.m.

With each and every new step down this road of motherhood, I am increasingly and utterly in awe of all you working parents who do this every.single.day, and at the literal crack of dawn. I am also acutely aware of how lucky I am to have the option of staying home with my kids.


first.day



It was a good day.

Sunday, September 03, 2006

Baby/Boy

baby...boy
2-9-03: almost 4 hours old; 9-2-06: almost 4 years old


My Critter starts preschool on Tuesday.

I'm really looking forward to the new things that he will learn, and the new friends he will make, and the new experiences he will encounter.

But....

...my baby starts preschool on Tuesday.

Saturday, September 02, 2006

Beta

GAAAHHHHH!!
This beta mess is ticking me off. I've been trying off and on for two days to leave comments for you beta-switching-people who're all technical and computery, and the blogger-beta-b won't let me.

Do I have to make the switch to be able to comment on yours? The FAQ doesn't say a word about it.

Friday, September 01, 2006

SPF: Return

Family, preschool, funerals, trips....yada, yada, yada. I'm sure there are actual stories in there somewhere, but the creativity has gone on hiatus. I'll work on it.
Today, however is Friday, and that means it's Stuff Portrait Friday, where I don't have to come up with my own stuff....I can let Kristine do the thinking, and I just take the photos....or dig them out of the archives.

As so often happens, I read the directions wrong....one of these days I'm going to get this whole reading thing figured out for good, but for today, this is what you get: my own version.


My support

the.man


Emotional, financial, parental, sometimes physical. This man provides them all well. Here he is sitting in front of his two computer monitors, where he can be found 95% of all his waking hours.

My sacrifice

bellybwc


I willingly did this to my body 3 times. It will never be the same, I know, but it is slowly regaining a bit of its former look. (And those who will tell you that "9 months on, 9 months off" thing? They lie. After 35 it's much harder, and it takes longer.) Oh-so-worthy, but definitely a sacrifice.

Something red.

something.red


Lantana from my backyard. It's supposed to be 'sunset' which is a mix of red, orange, yellow and fuscia, but it's still pretty.

Better late than never, that's my motto.
Did you play?
Have a wonderful weekend.