He Picked 'Em

The NBA Finals just started.
I’m no mind reader, but I’m guessing that many of you are asking, “Who cares?”

I’ll tell you the answer to that.

J cares. A lot.

He even picked the remaining two teams correctly nearly two months ago. Not so bad for a five-year-old…or anyone for that matter.



Only time will tell if the Miami Heat are crowned the champions in the end as he predicted. Regardless, it’s going to be a basketball-filled week around here.

Proving You'll Do Anything for Your Children

With the change of scenery last weekend came a slight variation from our usual sighted road kill as well. Armadillos are not native to our neck of the woods, so J was intrigued by the new animal and deeply desired a closer look. However, it seemed that every carcass that we spied was along a high speed interstate or expressway thus giving him only a blurred glimpse.

That is until we headed out to the vehicle on departure day. It was near the front end of the van that we were able to closely examine this…



No, it didn’t just happen to die in the green field in front of our van. The Best Daddy in the World spotted it while he made a quick trip to replenish our snack supply and picked it up by the tail with his bare hands and placed it in a plastic bag.

Now that’s love. Or just plain disgusting. Regardless, we had two happy kids.

Take home message: You’ve proved that you’ll do anything for your children when you pick up an armadillo carcass bare handed and transport it in your vehicle just because they wanted a closer look.



Safe and Sound

I am thanking my God for answered prayers tonight.

You see, two days ago I snapped this picture in breezy, sunny, and warm Oklahoma City while we were there visiting.

So when I heard the news of a dangerous tornado targeting the city this evening,

a little bit of me wanted to cry.

But instead I asked God to bless our dear friends and their handsome little guy

as they were experiencing this powerful natural force firsthand.

I'm not going to lie.  I had a deep uneasy feeling going on all evening long.   And then I received the message stating that sweet baby F, along with his mommy, daddy, grandma, and grandpa, were all safe and sound.

 Praise the Lord!

I'll be sure to sleep better knowing that,

but not before I say a few more prayers.

Unworthy Moments

Even though there may be a camera dangling around your neck, there are moments that are just unworthy of being documented through photography.

...like when you're casually exploring a new city on foot and your two-year-old frantically grabs her crotch and starts doing the potty dance...so you speed walk a good half a block nearly dragging your child along and dart into the nearest restaurant...and immediately upon entering the place the hostess shouts, "All the way to the back and to the right" before you even say a word...all the while the two-year-old is still holding her crotch...and after about three steps into the 75 feet journey to the toilet, your daughter begins to dribble urine on the floor right in the open...and if that's not enough to make you a victim of public humiliation, she starts screaming loudly, very loudly, "I'm going potty in my pants!  I'm going potty in my pants!"...knowing that it's too late and everyone, and I mean everyone, in the entire establishment is staring, you swoop her up into her arms and make a bee line for the restroom....that's when she really lets loose with the urine and proceeds to pee all over your right hip and down your leg...urine soaked shirt, shorts, and flip flops...and then you find yourself in a foreign bathroom with a potty dripping, screaming-'til-she-can-hardly breathe drama queen on one hip and a camera occupying your other hand...and you find yourself thinking, "At least we'll know our way out of here.  Just follow the piss trail.  Hansel and Gretel, you've got nothing on us."...and then you realize that you better keep some thoughts to yourself because you certainly don't want your two-year-old princess repeating the word "piss"...and then there's only paper towels, no hand dryer to be found...the only time in your life that you would prefer a ridiculous hand dryer over paper towels...and then you overhear your husband outside the door, so you open the door revealing your drenched self and hand over the camera...and then there's a lull in your daughter's repeated shouting of "I went potty in my pants" so she can curiously ask you, "What happened?" while pointing at your pants to which you respond, "You peed on my pants too."...and then you begin a strategy to get out of the establishment with a little less commotion than when you entered it...so you carefully place your urine soaked daughter back on your urine soaked hip and position her leg in a calculated fashion across your side and thigh in an attempt to mask a bit of the wetness...and then you take a deep breath, put on a forced happy face to ready yourself for the walk of shame and follow that pee trail right out of the restaurant.

Yep, some times are better left uncaptured.

God Loves You...

even when this world has you feeling small.

Addict

Addicted or just really passionate? 

Good question. 

Call it what you will, but I love snapping pictures.  

So when my husband planned a Mother's Day weekend that included a well thought out plan for my love affair hobby, it was as if he were speaking directly to my heart. 

Pitter patter.  Pitter patter. 

He planned and prepared a picnic lunch and a relaxing hike to this site...

and he packed outfits to accommodate a lot of mess and loads of fun.

I was thrilled!

Unfortunately, no one else was...

not in the least.

I snapped seven unhappy photos before wisdom prevailed.

As much as I wanted this to work out, it just wasn't going to happen that day. 

So instead, on that day, I quickly squeezed in some camera love by experimenting with the shutter speed,

(slower shutter speed 1/100)

(fast shutter speed 1/1000)

and then I calmly and carefully tucked my camera into its case

and helped my kids change out of the rain gear.

Disappointed? 

A little, but it wasn't worth trying to force fun upon them.

Hopeless?

Not in the least.  We have the idea and the gear,

now I'm just waiting for a better and more cooperative mood. 

Not like that day. 

I will win this one eventually. 

Oh, yes I will.

  Even if it means resorting to heavy bribery and threatened consequences. 

Oops...I think I just crossed the line there. 

Well, at least the question is answered though. 

Definitely addicted.

Another Makeover

Just before E celebrated her second birthday, she transitioned into a big girl bed.  Her room, however, remained the same baby room that it was with the exception of the crib and rocking chair. 

Although the change is long overdue, I finally got around to removing all of the beach baby nursery decor and was left with a clean slate.

Well, not exactly.  Who am I trying to kid?

This is the usual state of her room.  It takes this one-girl-wrecking-crew a matter of seconds to cause mass destruction in any setting.

So after some picking up and reorganizing, I was left with a clean slate.

Ah, that's better. 

Anyway, it's time to transform this room into one fit for a princess.  I've got a few ideas, but interior decorating certainly isn't my strong suit.  And because the bed comforter is relatively new and I'm not the biggest fan of painting, we're planning to build upon the sunny walls and circles on her bedspread. 

Now, we just need to find the time to get to work.

Not So Humble

I interrupted E while she was playing so nicely with her dolls to say, "E, you are beautiful." 

She confidently nodded in agreement and added, "And funny too."

The New Look

If you've visited here before, I"m sure you've noticed the new look. 

To be honest, this blog design thing is much more difficult than it appears to be.  That's why I haven't updated things since the beginning of my blogging time.  I know that's only been a year, but this place needed a little updating.  My kids have changed oodles since then.  For example, E has (untamed) hair now.  Anyway, if anyone has tips to simplify a blogging makeover, please fill us all in.  Please!

So after all of that confusing work and lost hours of sleep, my husband told me he preferred the old appearance. Once he saw it on a different computer which displayed the backgrounds and fonts correctly, he shrugged and said, "It's ok."

Did I waste my time?

What do you think?

Wishing You All a...

Happy Mother's Day!

Piano

Starting lessons last September, J was ready (and nervous) for his first real piano recital.  The bow and grin at the end make me smile every time.  So proud!

Pull My Finger

During a competitive matching game tonight, E halted the action by extending her index finger to her daddy. 

She firmly instructed, "Pull my finger." When Daddy obliged and nothing happened, E shrugged her shoulders and responded, "It's out of batteries."

One Year

Exactly one year ago, this therapy session blogging party got started. 

Really, I'm flattered, but you can hold your applause and rowdy hollering.

Well, I suppose the proper blogging anniversary celebration would include an extravagant giveaway.  However, I still have three frozen infant mice carcasses in my freezer because I didn't follow through on the last (and only) one I had attempted, so I'm going to pass on that idea...unless, of course, there's someone out there in need of three frozen infant mice carcasses.

Ice cold rodents or not, here's to another year of blogging!

Random Thoughts of a Half-Marathoner

 I hope I don’t have to poop.

 Beautiful running morning. Perfect weather.

 I love the pre-race energy that’s buzzing through the air.

 I’m so excited for J (my dear friend and rookie half-marathoner).



 Where is my family?

 Ready or not…

 I hope I see them so I can ditch my phone and jacket.




 I can’t believe I’m even trying this. I’m so unprepared.

 One down, twelve to go.

 Sun’s bright. Should have brought shades.

 That dog is huge and furry. Is it Barkley from Sesame Street?

 This is a huge dude running next to me. He’s got to be a football player.

 I wonder if L (sweet friend who lives in the neighborhood) is working today.

 That drink didn’t work out so well. Try again with the cup that has the straw and lid.

 There’s someone I know. I love to see familiar faces.

 Thank you God for each breath and my beating heart. Thanks for knees too, even hurting knees. Without any knees, I wouldn’t be able to run.

 Hope my camera is ok. I’m glad I just sent the kit lens along.

 “Chafe now, brag later!” Funny sign unless you’re the one chafing.

 There’s D (Steve’s aunt)!

 This trail is packed. Keep moving people.

 I’m so thankful for freedom. Can’t believe this guy can run with his backpack and uniform on…wow!

 I wonder how J is doing? Hoping she doesn’t hate me after this.

 Not sure about this. I haven’t run more than nine consecutive miles, and that was in mid-February.

 Hang in there knee. Hang in there.

 I should have taken tomorrow off work. Sitting at a desk all day isn’t going to feel good.

 Am I going to lose any toenails?

 I can take another dose of ibuprofen at 2:00.

 Those blisters last year were impressive…in a bad way.

 Mile 11! That’s all! What was I thinking?

 Positive thoughts…positive thoughts.

 “Mortuary up ahead. Look alive.” Not feeling too lively right now.

 How did I ever run 26.1?

 Positive thoughts...positive thoughts.

 Just the song I needed to hear right now.

 Do you really need to smoke while watching 10,000 people run by you?

 One mile left!

 How can that guy be running in an Iron Man (later was corrected by my soon…Flash Gordon) costume that looks like it’s made out of rubber? That can’t breathe well.

 So glad I can turn off. Those poor full marathoners! Why would anyone want to do that? Oh wait…

 How did I ever do that? That was crazy!

 Almost done.

 I’m going to need some ice.

 Ice, Ice Baby…too cold, too cold.

 Made it! Knee is so sore, but not quite as tight as I had figured it would be.

 Can’t wait to see J cross the finish line.

 We should have discussed a common meeting place. There are a lot of people here.

 I’m freezing! Wish I had a jacket now.

 Can’t be completely certain, but I think I have all of my toenails intact and no blisters. Could I be so lucky?

 She did it! Yeah! So proud!

 Let’s go warm up.

 What a beautiful morning for a run.

 I’m so glad I didn’t poop.