Make my day!

Hello PEOPLE! Just wanted to update my blog with a little about me.  I am awesome.  Enough said.

Here is an up to date photo of me, myself, and I.  I am happy in this picture because while I showered, my dear husband made me coffee and ran the dishwasher.  Now that is utterly delicious of him.  That is why I hang around with him.  He always has these cool little surprises that make my day.

My next home project will be the kitchen.  So take a good look at that ugly green sponge paint, said I would change that 9 years ago when I bought this house.  It will happen this year. It is a personal guarantee.  I will do before and after when I start :O)

Steamy Morning

This is precisely why I love the morning.  It is quiet and beautiful and full of possibilities.  Nothing has gone wrong at this point in the day (it is just too early and I haven't done anything except get dressed and make breakfast).  I thought my readers may enjoy this shot of my breakfast waking up.  When was the last time you caught your food yawning and stretching and steaming just for you to eat it?

Morning with the 3Ms

I rarely get my kids outside in the morning.  We take a very long time to wind down but, an even longer time to rev up in the morning.  So, to get outside in the early morning sunshine was a rare treat.  I especially liked the shots of the kids' puffy faces and messy hair.  But, I think I loved the calm that they all seemed to have at a such an early hour.

I don't need portrait studios to catch what I love about my kids.  I can catch bedhead and silly smiles all on my own.  I think it is awesome that I get to capture a little bit of my life with these kids when they are calm.  One day I will post pictures of them crying and being a real pain.  But, it is seriously hard to catch them with film--mostly because I don't shoot when I am nuts! :o)

Little boys ♥ Dinosaurs

We were leash training Biscuit and I caught a couple of shots of him waiting to play. He picked up a toy and just waited until it was time to be released.  He has matured a whole lot in the past couple of weeks.  And as excited as he gets to see everyone, he is doing better with his limits and boundaries--which is really a GOOD thing.

  Yes, he is playing with his dinosaur.

I ♥ my beautiful dog.

Lion Sleeping with the Lamb

Anyone that has two or more children understands why it is so special to catch them getting along (unsupervised).  They spent the entire day battling with each other over any little thing.  Then bedtime comes along and it is us against them and they are united.  They sneak in little words and giggle as they run from bedroom to bedroom.  For some reason they really believe we can not hear every little noise that they make.  That makes me smile now but, it won't tonight when I tell them to go to bed.

Lucky for them, I have proof that they can get along without shouting, fighting, and complaining about each other.  From now on I will just send them to bed!!!

Lucky

I can not tell you how many times I have been told, "You are so lucky!"  You know I don't ever think about the things that make me lucky.  But, it is nice to know that sometimes I really am lucky.  With that in mind, I found this shamrock sitting low and quietly in some weeds, waiting for some luck.  It is all about what you look for in life.

Somedays are NO FUN!

This week is our kids' Spring Break from school.  I had several fun things lined up to do for the week but, OF COURSE, someone has become ill.  I feel terrible for all of them, mostly the sick one because he feels sick.  That aside, the other two deserve a little fun and I have had them home the entire time.

Here is a picture of what sick looks like on an ordinary day.

I kept thinking, "Is he actually gonna pick his nose?" But, it never got in the nose it was almost as if he was checking to see if he himself was still breathing.  I stood by for 3 or 4 minutes of this but no luck.  Would have been a fun picture! Oh well. Don't you love how I can find something funny even when my sugar is feeling like yuk?

Gotta run, my sick one has woken up from his nap. Tragic...still has fever.

Woody and Birdie

I spent some time outside with Mack straightening up.  He kept pointing out that he could hear the "bodes" (birds).  So, I of course, grabbed my super bad ass awesome camera and went hunting.  Here are two little guys that I found perched just overhead.

Awesome!  I know.  I kept thinking these birds would crap on me and (heaven forbid) my camera if I didn't hurry with shot.  I can not believe they were both in the same tree and just a couple of feet away from each other.  I could hear an owl hooting too but, I couldn't find him.  I think he may have been in the neighbor's tree. I love that there is this kind of wild life in my back yard--in my tree.   I love what nature brings to my life and I know that today, nature was a big deal to my baby boy.  This was way better than pulling doggie doodie today. :o)

Today I got to watch my son play his last basket ball game of the season.  It is truly amazing how quickly some kids turn on to a sport.  Not mine of course. Mine just like to run around in circles and do their own thing.  But, I still managed to get him taking a few shots.  Although most came out too blurry for me to post, I thought these were the better.

I especially like the shots when he didn't know I was looking.  The others he is moving so much that I can't get him into the artistic frame that I want.  Since, I am just an amateur, he will have to get better at dribbling "still" so that I can take a picture!!! LOL!!!

I hope enjoyed the good ones!  Mommy is so proud of you little man.

Malcolm's Party Madness

Birthday Boy and our lovely guests:  Wish you all could have been here.

 

Pinata Time!

 

Some of these kids swing really hard.  I guess this is because so many of them are on a baseball or softball team at this point.  I will have to limit their strikes to 3 next year!

Here are some more photos of the kiddos when they didn't know I was gonna shoot them (with the camera)!

Happy Birthday Malcolm!

Hug O' War

I will not play at tug o'war.

I would rather play at hug o' war,

Where everyone hugs

Instead of tugs,

Where everyone giggles,

And rolls on the rug,

Where everyone kisses,

And everyone grins,

And everyone cuddles,

And everyone wins.

-Shel Silverstein

I am one in a million.  I am as unique as only God could have designed.  I am Malcolm.

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Birthday Big D!

This day is a special day because my nephew celebrates his birthday.  I can not believe how quickly 20 years has passed by me.  I look back and I can remember clearly the day he was born, the sound he made, and the way he felt in my arms. 
Now I see a grown man, studying to better himself, and trying to make his way in this world.  Now his arms are much larger than mine and his hugs are fewer.  I imagine that my sister has a special emotion today because she is now she only has one teenager left.  This one is now a young man.  Happy Happy Birthday D!

Us on the Everyday

Ever have one of those days that makes you just want to go outside and play?  We often do and spend the time in the back yard.  This time we took the opportunity to visit our neighborhood park instead.  My children all had a fantabulous (my own invention) time.  Enjoy some of my sweet family photos.

 

I love these shots of my kiddies.  Although, I wish I could be in more of them.  I can not wait to get a new lens.  It will be nice to take better pictures of my beautiful children.

My Baby My Girl

There is nothing usual or commonplace about my dear daughter.  Look at her and you know that her flavor is deep and rich.  She has the sweetness of confection in her soul and she never fails to let that shine through. I see this photo, which was intended to be a shot of my baby, and I see a big girl. I can't believe how quickly she grew up.

I miss the tiny little baby that used to climb in my arms and sleep.  I miss the giggling head of curls that showed her true excitement.  I miss the beautiful little moments that I had just for her.  She breaks me when she says she just wants a little more of my time. I really wish I could have more.

Now, I enjoy the deep emotion that she can express.  I enjoy the tenderness that she shows to others.  I enjoy her surprisingly intellectual conversations. I enjoy her witty jokes and her ability to grasp allusions and metaphors.  I enjoy her uninhibited dancing and singing.  I enjoy making crafts or cooking something (anything).  I get to teach her everything that I know.  It is awesome.

"Michelle, she looks just like you!"  She does have my exotic traits but, she couldn't be any less like me.  She has a kindness and mildness that I can only strive to achieve.  She is as beautiful and miraculous as God intended. She is one of a kind and I could not be happier for her.