City Life

Flynn must've told me HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMA, about 25 times yesterday. That in & of itself is a gift. Forget the fact that I ended up w/ a fever & a nasty sinus/allergy/cold/virus thing & didn't really sleep last night.

Something funny though about the South County pedestrian system (or lack therof). Jeff was at the McD's by Babies R Us. I ran into the Walgreen, catty-whompus (how do u spell that anyway??) from there. I was all, "Oh, I'll walk over there." Feeling all city-like. Haha... as I stood at one intersection through THREE cycles of lights and it still never turned. But that wasn't even the worst thing... the worst was the STARING. I guess each motorist was shocked to see someone standing there who wasn't either:

• Selling giant pixysticks in exchange for a donation to their church
• Selling Gus's Pretzels
• Selling a paper
• Holding a firefighters' boot & asking for change
• Holding a cardboard sign (which, after standing there for several minutes, I did get a little hungry & started to consider it)

So then, I give up on that intersection & walk down to another. Which didn't even have a signal for the way I was wanting to go. AAAARGH. Forget it. I stood there & waited for Jeff to come riding up in his silver horse, I mean minivan, and save me.

So much for city life.

Double Digits

I hit double digits today (well, I'd been in double digits, but today I hit twin digits).
And there are a few things I'd like to do for my birthday....

Take a shower. An uninterrupted shower. One that doesn't involve little hands reaching through the curtains. Or a voice that charges into the room yelling, "Momma, I have to go to the bathroom..."

Sit down & eat a meal. I mean, feed myself...and only myself. A quote from the movie, A Christmas Story (Jeff, correct me if I am wrong on this, Oh Master of Movie quotes), "My mom hadn't eaten a warm meal in over five years..."

Spend this entire day & not check our bank account balance & have some type of crying spell.

Watch a 30-minute tv show. I don't care, it could be Sanford & Sons. Just as long as no one is standing in front of the tv. Even if they have a cute diaper backside.

Feed a meal where everyone eats, no one says, "I don't like it Momma", no one spits at me, no one wipes their little 1 yr old hand all over their foody mouth, then all over their eyes, nose, hair, ears and me.

Not wipe noses today (even though, to count, I've already wiped noses about 17 kajillion times).

Who am I kidding....
we all know that this is exactly what I want to do...
on my brithday and everyday.

Thanks Mom, for working really hard on this day thirty, a, ahem, I mean, twenty three years ago. I hope the fruits of your labor have paid off.

Genius Artistry

Flynn was in the livingroom drawing on her magna doodle.

"Mommy, come wook."

Me - ignoring her.

"Mommy...Wook!"

Me- still ignoring her (I'm really good at it).

"Mommmmmy! Wook at my TURKEY!"

Me- realizing I've been ignoring her, decide to finally stop washing dishes and go look at scribbles that she calls a turkey.

But I had not prepared myself for this genius, prodigy, work:

Now I know that everyone thinks their child is talented, the best, above normal. But I have enough education in early childhood to know that 2 year olds should only be capable of heads and maybe some eyes. This girl draws legs, arms, mouths, ears, noses, rosey cheeks & eyes (last night she even drew PUPILS within the eyes!). And on this turkey masterpiece, she has a side profile (which is rather ingenious in & of itself) with not only eyes & a beak, but that red thing that hangs below it & that ugly nob on the head.

I had to take a picture because I knew in just a matter of time, the drawing would be erased. I also knew Jeff or any other adult wouldn't believe the marvel I'd try to explain (they'd be imagining her tracing her hand like a turkey & putting some eyes down), not THIS!

Awww, pride....aaahhh chest puffed up.

Curiosity Caught the Cat

Rt after that last post, Jeff quickly emailed me with the subject line reading, "i read the blog!!! WHAT????" I'm sure in his mind, he saw yet another responsibility... or maybe he saw me all scratched up.

It doesn't matter though, as "Orange" (Flynn named it, making me worry a little about her color skills, being the cat is blk & wht!...or maybe our obsession with the color orange is starting to cause some damage), is now in a cage, well onto his/her way to the Animal Control.

The lady was delivering the cage, showing me how to set the trap, etc. when up struts Kitty. Went right up to the lady & seemed to know he/she is what we were concerned over.

My first experience with trapping animals. Beginner's luck?

Stray Cat Strut

Last night, Jeff had to chase a cat/kitten from our basement. He/She had ran in the door while he was coming inside w/ Walmart goods.
It is skinny & not necessarily mangy; but definitely roughing it. So what did I do?, I fed it. I know you're not supposed to BUT it was so skinny w/ ribs hanging out & I thought abut the thing all night.

Well, now the Animal Control is giving us a cage to catch the cat. Haha. Like my own version of Crocodile Hunter. Hey Mates, she's a wild one! Look at'her arch her back. Matey, look at these long claws! She's going to scratch me!

Anyway, good luck to us.

Jefferson County Signs

Here in Jefferson County, there is very little outlet for humor. I'd expect something like this in the city. Either way, it was a good laugh for us once on our way to Nana & Papa's. We laughed so hard, I decided to bring along my camera the next time so I could capture it for you all.




This sign is a close 2nd to a sign we saw on our road once while they were doing some construction. It was one of those orange signs that said MEN WORKING. Only someone had written "gay" above MEN. And added "it" below WORKING.

TGIF for all of us.

Party Hearty pics part 3

Party Hearty pics part 2

Party Hearty

Happy First Birthday Gabe

August 22, 2005, the day you stole my heart.

Dear Gabe,

I can't believe this day is here. And although we celebrate and thank God for our first year with you, I can't help but feel a little nagging deep in the back of my heart.

Because your first birthday means you're growing up. And it won't be long until I watch you get on that school bus to go to kindergarten, or watch you score your first soccer goal, or go on your first date, or graduate from high school, or see you waiting at the alter for your bride to walk down. Those things seem like an eternity away... but time passes so quickly. And when those days come, I'll look back at this day & say, "It seems like just yesterday we were celebrating your first birthday...."

I thank God so much for deciding that we should be blessed to be your parents. You've added so much to our family. You've given Mommy & Daddy a little boy to love and you've given Sissy a Bubby to love and grow up with. You're such a tough little boy but yet so sensitive. Your feelings are fragile and you have so much love. You are a cuddler and give hugs and kisses. But watch out if someone stands in your way.

A month ago you started walking. And last week you got your first tooth. You love to eat almost as much as you love to play. You're a Momma's Boy. Some people say you look like Daddy & some say Mommy. You remind Mommy of Papa & definitely have his height.

Mommy has so much fun watching you grow up. You really are a joy. You are happy everyday & seem to enjoy life. I hope you'll always have such an attitude.

Today my prayer is that your years ahead will always be this happy and healthy. Mostly, that you'll grow to be a man of God and know firsthand His love. I already pray that your life will be as it's intended and that you'll be blessed enough to one day know the love and happiness that your Daddy & I feel each day.

Happy First Birthday to my Baby Boy.

Love,

Mommy

Somebody Thinks They're ONE

Are You Tired of Beach Photos?

I like to call this one "Surfin' Safari"

Nana & Bubby resting, during a night walk

FJ at Gulf World, looking at the "Mamingos"

Minus the tags, this is really cute

I love this one, one of my favs of the whole 'cation pack

Even More Photos

More Fab Photos

Good times.

Just In Time for the Birthday Cake

It seems that turning ONE isn't enough for Gabe. He has to cram in a couple more milestones, like getting his first tooth.

We had a miserable Sunday & I knew it had to be happening. So Monday he woke up with it, it seems he knew most kids have their's by one.

He also had a first this week, as he drank milk for the first time ('real' milk). This was a milestone Flynn never got to hit. He of course loved it & did well.

Onto cake & ice cream!

Two, If By Sea

My favorite part of the trip was the very moment we took the kids out to the ocean. Two days of driving, I anticipated that very moment. I wish I could know what through their minds. One of the first things I said to Flynn was, "God made the ocean."

"Flynn, I'd like you to meet the ocean."

"Gabe, ocean. Ocean, Gabe."

I have myself two beach bums here. They LOVEd it. Gabe crawled like a crab through the sand (didn't mind the hotness) while Flynn spent hours washing shells in her bucket, then returning them to the sand.

And Flynn's new saying is, "I love you Bubby. You're my best friend."

I became increasingly aware of the fact that it is almost impossible to pose & photograph four people, two of them under three, while the morning sun is rising in your corneas; all while hoping your hair doesn't blow in front of your face or someone doesn't walk in front of you.

Either way, isn't it a gorgeous photo? Almost looks fake.

We had such an amazingly memorable time on our First Family Vacation.

A special thanks to my MIL & FIL who provided our lodging. It's awesome to get a Christmas gift in August!

Headin' to the Beach

Aaah... today Flynn tore off the last link to her "vacation chain", signifying the last day 'til "cation". And as we do last minute preparations, Jeff obsessively loads bags with a strategic plan. And I try my hardest not to pack too much.

Flynn has no idea that her anticipation of nothing more than fun begins with being restrained in a seat for 14 hours. Lord help us.
I'm sure I'll have plenty of stories to post upon our return.

Sand & surf here we come.

Eternal Instants

I was gone for several hours yesterday evening. And when I approached my street & came around the corner, there I saw it:

Two little heads, looking out the window for me. I saw the dark silhouette of Flynn's ponytails & just a bit lower, I could see the paleness of Gabe's round face.

There could be no sweeter sight. And so, I took my foot off the gas & just rolled. I was stuck in that moment & was reminded how I am the luckiest person on the face of the earth.

I stared at them through the glass...'til I saw Gabe's hand go up & down with a wave -- w/ help from Daddy. Then, they were off & I could already hear Flynn yelling, "Mommy's home, Mommy's home!" If not overwhelmed by the urge to run in & embrace those sweeties, I could've sat there forever, staring at their sweet faces from the yard.

My favorite author (well, favorite author of books for 'big people'), Max Lucado talks about something called eternal instants. Here's some of what he writes about the type of moment I had last night, staring at my loves through the window...

"An eternal instant.
A moment that reminds you of the treasures surrounding you.
Your home. Your peace of mind. Your health.
A moment that tenderly rebukes you for spending so much time on temporal preoccupations such as savings accounts, houses, and punctuality.
A moment that can bring a mist to the manliest of eyes and perspective to the darkest life.
Eternal instants have dotted history.It was an eternal instant when the Creator smiled and said, "It is good." It was a timeless moment when Abraham pleaded for mercy from the God of mercy, "But if there are just ten faithful." It was a moment without time when Noah pushed open the rain-soaked hatch and breathed in the clean air.
And it was a moment in the "fullness of time" when a carpenter, some smelly shepherds, and an exhausted young mother stood in silent awe at the sight of the infant in the manger.
Eternal instants. You've had them. We all have.
Sharing a porch swing on a summer evening with your grandchild.Seeing her face in the glow of a candle.Putting your arm into your husband's as you stroll through the golden leaves and breathe the brisk autumn air.
Listening to your six-year-old thank God for everything from goldfish to Grandma.
Such moments are necessary because they remind us that everything is okay.
The King is still on the throne and life is still worth living. Eternal instants remind us that love is still the greatest possession and the future is nothing to fear.
The next time an instant in your life begins to be eternal, let it. Put your head back on the pillow and soak it in. Resist the urge to cut it short. Don't interrupt the silence or shatter the solemnity.
You are, in a very special way, on holy ground."
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