Days Gone By

How ironic that yesterday I posted about how busy we are... and now I'm about to share about my latest fun on FaceBook.
Don't judge me.

I have been resurrecting photos to share with my re-connected friends, some from Kindergarten! And why not share them with you too...

this one has really brought some peeps out of the woodwork. front row center, mom, about those shoes...why? why??

the year of the hair (top row center)

and with my 2 h.s. BFFs.

scary hairy

and here (I think 1992?) i was really going through a love with hairbands.

I'd like to act all embarrassed, like the styles then were so hideous. But now, they've all come back. Making me feel OLD.

Remember How I Said That Only Certain Things Happen To Me?

I mean it. I am such a dork (circa 1993).

My BFF Heather got married in '93 - so I was 20 & dorky then too. She picked out these really pretty dresses - they were super elegant, black velvet bodice, sleeves with a slight puff (if I remember correctly), & a high waist that started a fuchsia a-line skirt. Complete with a big bow in the back (if I remember correctly). To help me get ready, my mom ironed the skirt part, which was wrinkled pretty badly.

The church was equally as beautiful. Old, stone walls...high cathedral ceilings which echoed every sound. The plan was for me to go down alone, as I was the Maid of Honor, where I would meet the Best Man at the first pew -- which led us to the two stairs leading to a raised level (platform, whatever).

I had on some sassy black bow heels, which made me all that more nervous - as I've never been a high heeled girl; especially when I'm walking down a lllllong aisle, with everyone staring at me.

So it's 'my turn' to walk down. I probably walked really fast, didn't smile, didn't look at anyone, my pits were probably sweaty, & I probably had to pee.

As I ended the aisle, I breathed a big sigh of relief, what with me not falling & all.
I took the Best Man's arm & took that first step.

Then.

RRrrrrrrrrip......(imagine the echo through that old church)

No way. That did NOT just happen.
I looked down to see the toe of my shoe TOTALLY THROUGH the bottom of the dress. Like ALL THE WAY THROUGH.
You know how sometimes a few seconds seem like AN ETERNITY?
That was one of those times.

I had to REALLY quickly figure out how to get my toe back through my dress -- and completely out of the hole, so that I could - you know - go ahead AND WALK(!).
I kinda looked at the Best Man - he looked at me (admiringly I might add, as he had a weird crush on me). I thing I muttered something like
OH LORD HELP ME.

So, I got it out & looked down at this gaping hole hanging down.

Heather comes down the aisle, in all her glory, & the minister begins the Lord's Prayer. Not one of my most reverent moments - I'll admit, but I had to point it out to her & that seemed like the perfect time.

So she busted out laughing. Then, the bridesmaid to my left started laughing AGAIN (but this time she peeed her pants).
Thy Kingdom Come... and three heads of curly up-do's were bobbing up & down in laughter.

One of my many VERY EMBARRASSING moments - that I now can laugh (& laugh & laugh) at.

Maybe if you're REALLY good, I'll track down a photo of this, scan it, & share.

SAYONARA 2007

Omigosh, where does the time go & why does it go so quickly?

Jeff & I were so busy going as many places as we could, without the hindrances of car seats & telling a certain little boy not to lick the handle on the target cart, we didn't talk about this past year.

I think while you have small children, the biggest mistake you make is to not slow down... to not sit down & play. It's always running out the door to dance, to a doctor's appointment, to work, to a party. It's always 'no Momma can't play right now, I've got to fold these clothes', or 'make a phone call' or 'vacuum'.

After our relaxing break, we barely yielded back into the fast lane. Today was our first official back into the swing of things & we were gone most of it.

So, this is my ode to reflection - and thinking of this past year & what it meant to us.

The year started out with sick kids. And Jeff on the mend from his emergency appendectomy. Then, he lost his grandma. Then -- a miracle for the St. Louis area, Shawn Hornbeck & Ben Ownby were found, & returned home to start restoring their young lives.

We found out my aunt was cancer free & rejoiced in that. The kids saw their first movie.

We went to the zoo, to the Science Center, fell in love with Bambi.

We got a "new" playset, was 'promoted' to the position I currently hold, had a great Egg hunt, Flynn started Dancing School.

Went to Grant's Farm, inherited a swimming pool, had a terrible scare with Flynn & an accidental exposure to an "unsafe" cookie.

We celebrated our Cinqo de Anniversary @ a B & B...a complete surprise for me by my romantic hubby.

Bubs got his first Big Boy haircut, we enjoyed yet another wonderful trip to the Beach.

We went camping, Bubs turned 2 (& gave up his beloved Binks). We enjoyed a Cardinal's baseball game.

Flynn started soccer, I made a big butt of myself at a US Women's soccer game, we camped again (& had yet another close call). We trick or treated with the best of them...as a princess & her frog.

Flynn turned 4, we were thankful at Thanksgiving. Flynn officially started preschool.

We were caught up in the merriment of the season, Santa visited us, we were thankful that God sent us His son Jesus, celebrated His birth, & are thankful once again that God has brought us through yet another year.

We anticipate what this year, 2008, will hold for us. The excitement, the growth, the changes, the opportunities.

Our family is not perfect -- pretty far from it actually.

But find freedom in Christ,

“... as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Joshua 24:15

Oh yeah,

Happy New Year!

Memories, Installment #1

There is always guilt to be had when you are a Mom. There's always something you did...or didn't do....or said....or should've said.
And when baby #2 comes along, your time is divided & with that the fact that you can't do all that you did with baby #1.
But for my baby #1, there's something I did for baby #2 that she didn't have at that age, and that's this blog.
From the point at which I started this blog, 18 mos ago, I've been able to anecdote most cute things the kids have done & said. That 18 mos encompasses most of Gabe's life.
But not Flynn's. There are several cute things she's said & done in her life that never got recorded.

The other night I tucked Flynn in. She asked me to tell her a story. One thing that I've learned from my dear nieces is that no story is better than a story about yourself especially from when you "were little".

And so, I searched the dusty corners of my mind for a story about Flynn as a baby, that I thought Flynn as a preschooler would appreciate.

I came up with this one....

It was three years ago. A very hot & sticky September day. Jeff's school district was 'marching' in the town parade & at my urging, we were participating along with his school. The theme was patriotic, so I put Flynn's cute Ralph Lauren red & white striped polo dress (thank you Ms Heather) & sunglasses on her. It was nap time, so less than 10 minutes into our 45 minute walk, Flynn had nodded off in her stroller. It must've been in the 90s & thanks for Missouri humidity, we were all sweating & thirsty. I rested my can of soda in the cup holder, which sat in front of Flynn....because she was after all, asleep.

As we reached the end of the parade route, we spotted someone we knew, a parent of a former student of ours. We detoured off the parade route & started chatting with her. As we were catching up, I motioned toward our baby whom she'd never seen or met. As I drew back the stroller's 'umbrella', there sat 10-month old Flynn, can upside down over her face....

enjoying her first coke.

Skunk

Watching a Curious George episode with the kids sparked this memory of mine....

now, mind you, this happened when I was probably 7'ish, so I can not be held responsible for any fabrications or embellishments...

My Grandpa lived next door growing up, the way I think it should be. And he had a part in just about everything we did. Eating supper with us most nights, etc.

My Dad had just finished building our garage. And being in a somewhat rural area, we got a visitor. A skunk had decided to check out our garage & everything in it.

Long story short (only because I don't remember the in between), my Grandpa cornered the skunk in the garage.

And you can only imagine what happened.

Him & everyone around him (don't remember who) was sprayed.

And most likely bathed in tomato sauce that night.

Just like George.