The Meg

Everyone needs one of her, (and not just for her vampire abilities!) but lucky for us, we get her!  :)  She has these captivating eyes that show off her sweet spirit and drink in everything she sees. She has a talent for "soaking it up"--be it cooking, drawing, dancing, knitting, well, the list just goes on and on. I'm convinced there's nothing she can't do!

She inspires me to be better. The last couple of years she has made such an effort to serve her family. Not only will she jump to help someone out when they're having a tough time, but she'll also think about what she can do to help someone and then...do it! For example, she loves to make pre-schol for Thanny. She'll plan out a letter to work on, some games to play, and read and sing with him. Occasionally she emails him about it, just makes his day.

From scratch...delish!

Yesterday, after some interesting dinner conversation, she was sporting the gangsta look.

 Today she is busy cooking up a play with her sisters.

Tomorrow? Who knows?  But I can't wait to find out!

Sometimes you just gotta go

Do you ever have one of those days where you could use a good laugh?  Today was one of those...and I got one.

I've been excited to see Thanny (I KNOW!  I KNOW! It's just a quick funny detour and I'll continue with the neglected, I promise...probably.) go outside by himself and play on the deck.  Apparently, left to his lonesome, he's creating quite the cozy little world out there.  When I asked him today (he was inside) to put the cat outside, he responded in one jaunty breath,  "OkayIpeedontheporch."

Well . . . alrighty then.

I encountered a small swell of emotions, as stress relieved itself with my school-girl giggles.  Once I got over the shock, I thought of my nephew who shot a stream over bar (what are those called? the ones you "twirl" on?) at the school playground (in his defense, he wasn't in school yet) and his mom brushed it off as "farm boys who go when they need to" syndrome.  When I heard the story I felt a bit sorry for my boys who had, to my knowledge, only used inside flushing bowls and the occasional pair of pants.  Would they grow up right, missing such a manly experience?

Today, anxiety quelled, I stand proud . . . (?)

I'm not the only one.

So for anyone else in need of a laugh . . . use your own porch, please.  ;-)

Cherry Rush

Going down the line of forgotten  post-free children.  I had a child in '98, tambien.  Yep, conceived in Costa Rica.  (too much info? sorry.)  Hard to believe she's eleven, she's been through a lot in those years.  With a little sister after her snack, she's plenty privileged to practice patience.

If you have not heard this girl's highly-contagious laugh, you simply cannot die yet.  It's like the 8th wonder of the world, music to the ears, a rush that bubbles through you until surrender is your only option.    A Cherry Rush.

Friends are so dear to her heart.  She cannot have enough.  It's hard when you parents keep moving and you have to say more goodbyes than you want to!  But making new ones is oodles of laughter!

This past year has been especially enjoyable for me to watch her grow and develop.  I've witnessed, what feels like, a resurrection of sorts.  The rebirth of her smile, capabilities, energy, and zest for life.  It's rewarding to see what we can endure, to see what she has endured and overcome, as well as who she is becoming.  I feel privileged to be a part of her journey.

The Neglected

From the looks of my blog lately, one might conclude I have two children. I'll admit, some days I breathe in fleeting images with just two kids in them. But my imagination won't allow them faces or sizes, because how could I choose just two of them? Really?

It's easier for me to blog about the little ones for several reasons:

• I didn't blog when my older ones were younger (or take as many pictures) and want to capture the little cute things that disappear altogether too fast.
• They don't change their behavior for the camera.
• They do so many different things on a daily basis, that there's always a new moment to capture. 
• I have older ones to take care of the younger ones so I can blog! 

Yes, it's wrong, and in so many ways.  I see it, you don't even have to point it out.  But if it's itching-your-scalp-irritating (as I can sympathize), go ahead. I'll read them your compassion.  Poor things.  I'm thinking of installing a Paypal donation link for their therapy bills.  =)

Well, for those of you who may have forgotten--I have a 13-year-old.  He starts his morning with a shower and reading from the best-books.  (I don't know what the complaining is about teenagers!  Or, perhaps I speak too soon, time will tell, I suppose.  Until then, I'll gladly bask in my ignorance.) 

He's helpful with the younger two.  (Argh, see, even now--I can't leave them out of this!  Just dare me to do a post without them...but...aren't they cute?!)

He'll even humor me with a pose now and then.  (He's quite flexible, no?)

What was I talking about?!  He's just as playful as ever.  Apparently, one can never grow too old for a game of peek-a-boo. 

In all honesty, I love this stage.  I remember when I was younger, 12-14 year old boys...well, I just didn't get 'em.  They were obnoxiously annoying, they whispered and giggled in colossal proportions.   However, now that I have one on a daily basis, I think they're great!  It's fun to see him becoming his own person.  He's getting his own little quirks, like drumming his fingers.  (I was going to say more, though on account of the incessant drumming that jumped  in my head, nothing else is getting through.)

The annoying humor I thought boys had at that age, is now quite endearing.  I love watching him try to deal with things using humor. Instead of being annoyed or snapping when someone is on his case, he'll respond with some type of joke.  I think some people call it sass.  Maybe I just don't get it (?); I see it as his way of feeling out...what works and what doesn't as far as communicating and interacting with others.  Maybe my definition of sass is skewed.  I think of sass as disrespect.  I don't respond to that very well. :)   Anyhoo, I don't have any complaints of my two-month bout with a teen.

Well, enough with the ramblings.  I'm off to capture "older" moments, cause I know we're all to poor to pay for that much therapy.   =)

Musings

So, I was loading up the tank and scrubbing the windshield on the van tonight when it dawned on me I could hear someone.  (For me... pretty impressionable.)  I glanced around and noticed an animated woman on a nearby payphone; she had a plastic grocery bag with a few items in it on one arm and the phone in the other.  I studied her, mainly out of curiosity, cause I wanted to see if I could understand anything she was saying (not in an eaves-dropping kinda way, but in a "can I really hear someone when I can't see their mouth" kind of way).  When I realized I couldn't, I got sucked into deciphering her body language as I washed the windshield: "is she laughing or is she mad?"  I knew the voice was going up and down, the head threw itself back occasionally, and the arms bobbed a bit, and her legs were basically in sync with the rest of her.  As I was in the midst of assembling the mystery, I heard a very exasperated, "NO! I'm Not ...." and that was it.  Definitely not laughing.  Steaming. 

Anyway, I don't know if it's 'cause I'd been reeling with disgust at my unhealthy relationship with my camera card (that had me in Walmart's photo lab for 48 minutes! and grumbling off empty handed) or a dawning that I am missing more sounds as the days go by, or what, but my emotions must've been a bit tangled.  As I was climbing back in the van, I had such a longing to help and know this woman, who, a stranger, suddenly felt like a sister to me.  As I got in the car and volleyed with is she a lunatic with a gun? a mother of four? and what's her story? I started the car still undecided about what to do.  

When I looked up she was half-way across the large parking lot.  That's fine, I can leave that way, I said to myself.  So I slowly, um, stalked her across the parking lot.  Then...well, I'll make this long story short. I kept on with my stealthy stalking for about three blocks.  I kept trying to go home, but the wheel kept turning after her. (Am I scaring you yet?)   I'd really like to end this account with our meaningful conversation or even our heavily-awkward moment, but no.  Probably three different times I was close enough to roll my window down and release some form of mouth-babble.  I didn't, I just watched her trudge on with the massive weight on her shoulders.  Eventually, with a silent prayer for her, I turned toward home.  (Lucky girl!  Who wants to know some  lunatic's been following her around in the darkness?  Not me.)

Her image stayed with me as I drove home.  She looked as if she'd lived more lifetimes than her young age could afford, and I wondered where and what she'd come from.  As I took a moment to walk through what I imagined her life may have entailed, I found more gratitude for the life that is mine--for this road I've been privileged to walk, skip, and stumble on.  I felt compelled to keep my new-found friend safely enfolded in the wrappings of my heart as a reminder to me that even if we (I) feel alone we're (I'm) not (not talkin' 'bout creepy follwers:)), and to nudge me out of my comfort zone when someone (who I'm not stalking) might be in need of a shoulder, a kind word...a friend.

I'm grateful for a moment that left me desiring to be and do a little more, a little better, than I am and do today.

And I hope I haven't scared you off of payphones.  :)

Gwowin Up

Well, Andy and I tried tossing the camera in the microwave, but it didn't seem to help our issues any.  So, maybe tomorrow we'll see about a new card.  :)

But what I did capture, before the aforementioned twister, was a lot of Thanny.  Not only is he catching up to Ellie's height (sadly that's not sayin' much..but still!) he's growing all over the place.   Here's a few tidbits of late dat has me heart a smilin':

• words:
• "thank-you" (yes, without prompt)
• "I'm glad you're my mom" (how can I not mention that?!)
• actions:
• sharing, namely with Rachel
• his beloved rag of a blanket
• his milk (his own, not just hers!)
• his mama's lap (often he'll give it up completely)
• his banana
• his smile
• activities
• art
• somersaults
• eating and eating new foods (ah, ahhh, ahhhhhh! yes, I'm singing)

where did he get those long fingers?

"uh...deez a wadda gue on my fingoes"

"Ahhh!  She's poeing off my skin!"

Caught 'im!  See...good manners.  :)

Just toppin' it off

My angel.

Okay, I confess.  We were making a get-well card for a dear friend of his who may or may not have been taken to the hospital after an incident with my adorable, *cough* tame . . . angel . . . as I was saying.   :)  (And Roxi, glad he's alright. I'm sure Owen would've liked the card, but sadly this pic is all that remains.)

He really is sweet, sometimes you just have to study a bit to see it.

In a way, he reminds me of someone else I know.

He appears (pretends) to be rough around the edges while his insides are teddy-bear soft.  Okay, so you can't tell that from this picture either.  But let me explain the pic at least . . . gas.  It's a regular thing with him; he fires up a striking rendition of Yellowstone's fumaroles.  He has other talents, too.  But that's not what this post is about.  Suffice it to say, he has layers...yes, like an onion.  Potent, tearfully potent.   :)

Yep, it's microwave man.

If you're wondering why I let him off so easy . . . well, he's fulla bull. (Plus, I didn't want to leave a 250 word comment full of number signs, exclamation points, at symbols, and the like on my family friendly blog.)  :)

Did you really think I would leave it at that, little b?   Did ya?  I have more ammo; I will use it. ;p

For the record, I'm proud of you for using a crock-pot. 

But. next time you're cooking, and I'll play.  :)

Smotty Ponts

I think you can safely assume, if I'm not posting, I'm having camera issues.  The latest, according to fujifilm, is that "you have the wrong brand of memory card in your camera, and the camera finally figured it out" (?) . . . "yes, after three months." 

Uhhhkay.

If that's the case, I've been jipped--I wanna be a camera!!  I mean, how much figuring can one little cammy do whilst lounging around this place?  I'm jealous. I've actually (okay, lie) been dreaming about it...just one day waking up (well, someone else waking me up, if we're being technical) and finding, that through no effort whatsoever, I have indeed "figured it all out."   Seriously, is it just me?  Is it cause I wasn't made in Japan? Am I missing some batteries?  (K, don't answer that.)

Tomorrow I hope to get pictures off this unworthy card, insert a clever one, and proclaim that indeed, "I am not smarter than a . . . Fuji."  I'll leave my pride hangin' out in Walmart, but I'll  get pictures! and then cookies and . . . another diet book.  All will be well.

But until then, enjoy our angelic, cutie-patootie kitten . . .which I may or may not be smarter than.

Discovering

There are so many discoveries I've enjoyed watching my babies learn. For example, the finding of their feet, voice, nostrils, and belly button. But this one is dearest to my heart:

It's changed my life. I hope they discover the change, too.

Oh, how praying rests the weary!
Prayer will change the night to day.
So, when life gets dark and dreary,
Don't forget to pray.
-Mary A. Pepper Kiddler

Blank

I'm wondering how-in-the-world I was able to blog for almost thirty days straight. My fingers are itching to crawl on its favorite board tonight, but as for the mind...blank. B-L-A-N-K. Perhaps, I'll run with it:

B: Bread. I've made more bread this week than I desire. Pumpkin bread, coffee cake (bread-ish!), wheat bread, wheat bread, cookies (okay, fine), wheat bread, and almost-wheat-cause-I'm-outta-wheat-flour bread. And even though I'm sick of it, Monday I'm gonna delve into all white in hope of sedating this hankering for crescent and cinnamon rolls. (I feel heavy just thinking about it. Or is that just cause I'm heavy? It's all very confusing.)

L: Too bad blank doesn't start with "B" cause's that's what I'm drawin'...again. Ooo, got it! Laundry. Do you know how much laundry there is with eight (8! when did that happen?) people in one house? Uhhhhlot. And unless Andy is doing the laundry, you can count on finding at least one load in the dryer. Always.

A: Always. Always check your teeth before going into nerve racking meetings. (Have I mentioned my bean story?) That just speaks for itself.

N: And while we're at it, never. Never assume I heard you. If always (see ''A") was speaking--never's gotta be screamin' in your ears. =)

K: Konfession (yeah, sush!): I've been spending extra time in the bathroom just to read "Nitty-Gritty Grammar". Yep, it's that good. And no, I'm not applying it tonight. (Remember my brain/finger issues?!) But just for fun, bonus points if you can find all my screw-ups. (Please limit yourself to just my writing. My brain can't handle real stuff. :p )




nights, all

What's This Supposed to Mean?

They like their hands.

That's all I can come up with.

:)

Thanny Rush

If you know Thanny at all, you know I could probably sub him for my daily sugar rush.   But I don't.  I'm in want, er, need of both.

I caught him in what can only be labled as thanny crash.

(I am clueless as to how we claimed an empty space in this house)

this is about as long as they last

Thanny's been sitting on my lap as I put his pictues up here.  I asked him what I should write about it.  He said he was in there "cause I was invisible.  Me and Megan were playing swords.  I had a carrot sword and she had a pencil sword."  (Next time I'll give her something edible; he didn't stand a chance.)  I must confess though--the last picture is a set-up.  He really wanted one with him coming "outta there" so after some futile attempts, we got this.  It's my favorite.  Where would I be without this rush?

Delimma

Yesterday's choice:

The unveiling:

I don't think I get it.

Poetic bleh...ing

So I couldn't do it--wax poetic that is.   But in my reading today, I came across (in sensible fashion!) what I pathetically attempted to express, and then some.

"...We seem to demand instant everything, including instant solutions to our problems...
It was meant to be that life would be a challenge.  To suffer some anxiety, some depression, some disappointment, even some failure is normal.
...if {you} have a good, miserable day once in a while, or several in a row, {stand} steady and face them.  Things will straighten out.
There is great purpose in our struggle in life."     -President Boyd K. Packer

So still...cheers!...to miserable tomorrows.

For You, Peggy

Dan's bed as I went to peer on his dreaming...no Dan, just a book and book light.  He was busy with another business...

As for Cher's picture...I couldn't get it to load last night, but here she is arrayed in healthy slumber!  :)  (She's doing great; thanks for askin'!)

And just for fun...Rachel (precisely 10 minutes ago) in her new (slightly large) pj's sporting her favorite toy.  (It's the Leap Frog gift you sent--she rocks out to it all the time!)

Bleh

Blah.  Meh.  It was one of those days. Not bad, not even uneventful, just...bleh.

 A day that induced this for dinner:

with a side of this:

yet still didn't hit the spot.  (I know! that's what I said.)

 A day that when all was said and done, left me ready for this:

(I seriously cannot handle this much sweetness)

and clamoring for this:

If you can't tell from the picture, it happens to be the coziest blanket ever and my fuzzy mismatched socks.(which dispite the day's 11 loads of laundy--still couldn't find their match) 

A day that, perhaps by merely existing, just makes the rest...better.

So, in that vein...here's to miserable tomorrows... 

promising... losses of...sorrows...?

Okay, I'm not waxing poetic tonight...though I did warn you...

bleh.

:)