Not a photographer....

I have never claimed to have amazing photography skills. I was the yearbook editor my senior year but for sure not a professional picture taker. However, I do love it when you somehow get a shot of your child doing something totally amazing. Something that is not staged that just captures the moment in it's entirety. I took this photo of Abby at the zoo last week and am in awe at the beauty and spirit of this child.

Here are a few more that I have loved through the years....

Hallelujah!

He's out of surgery and everything went well. Best news of all? His Platelets were at 405 (normal is 400). Why is this such great news you ask? Last time he had his blood drawn they were 890. YIKES! This means most definitely that there is no Leukemia (or any other possible complications) and that his life is going to return to normal very soon. What blessings! We're just going to chill at home for the next few days and take care of one another!

Here's To LOTS of Ice Cream

Sweet Isaac will head into surgery early this morning to have his Adenoids and Tonsils removed. He is so brave and looking forward to putting the past 4 months of sickness behind him. We had hoped to wait until school was out. With the return of the infection we all realized the sooner we resolve this, the better. Plus, he will get to return to school just in time for all the fun end of year stuff. I went to the store lastnight and stocked up on all his favorite cold treats. I'll try to post when we're out of surgery and everything is going well. Thanks for all the love and prayers!

TEETH

Dear Dr. Payne, (That is really my dentist's name)

Thank you for fixing my front chipped teeth. Now I can stop hiding my smile and let the pearly whites show again. And now, a certain employee can stop making fun of me. I promise to stop using them to open things, just like I tell my kids not to. You are the best dentist ever!

Your Loyal Patient

Hogle Zoo

LOST

Now that all my favorite shows are over for the season, I find myself wondering whatever will I do with all that extra time? I need to get out and work in the yard, pull weeds and get my garden planted for sure. I thought last night's finale was great! I just have one lingering question....what did Sun do with her baby and why have they never said anything about that, or did I just miss it?
Does anyone know the answer to my question???

33 Years Ago.....

...my journey began. Weighing in at a whopping 4 pounds and nearly 6 weeks early, I was eager to get my life started! I could best describe the last 33 years by saying they have been full of twists and turns, lots of joy and some pain. By far, the pain has been what has best defined me. I am most definitely a better person for having had to work through some bumps in the road. I could never have imagined arriving at this destination. It is filled with so much happiness and love. My heart is full today and I am thankful for so many of you who have made this an extra great day to remember the day I said hello to the world!

Is this Abby or me, I can't tell :) seriously

My First Easter, I hope I can still smile like that (only with a few more teeth:)

Birthday Number 2, yes I look like a boy....I had two older brothers and mom obviously dressed me in their hand me downs. Would a pink dress have been too much to ask for on a girl's 2nd birthday?

My First Birthday

And yes, that is a Budweiser Towel and a pack of cigarettes on the towel....I wanted to start things young LOL!

Gentlewoman, Penguins and More....

*Isaac says to me this morning on his way to school, "Mom, thanks for getting the door for me today and being a gentlewoman. Oh yeah, don't forget you're 33 today. Don't worry mom that's not very old, dad is old."

Thanks for remembering....I just love him and all the cute things he says....here are some more as of late:

*Isaac: "If I could take an animal home from the zoo mom, it would be a penguin. Penguins are cool."

I reply, "Where would you keep this penguin exactly?"

"Well, in the downstairs bathroom in the tub of course. But it would smell like dead fish so maybe that's not such a great idea."

Glad he came to that conclusion on his own.

*Last Sunday we were making Mother's Day Cards to send to all the grandparents. Ethan and Issac were having a very heartfelt discussion about how they were going to go about sending Grandma Beecher a card in heaven (she passed away last October). It made me so happy they even thought of her. Then Ethan turns to me and says: "Mom, dad, are we going to know each other in Heaven?" I'm sure working on that....

*We were leaving the doctor's office yesterday and Ethan turns to Isaac and says, "Mom loves me most of all." My jawed dropped. I must be doing something right if my biggest stinker of a kid thinks he is my favorite. I swear I spend more time scolding him than anything! Then I reminded both my boys that mothers love all their children equally.

Philadephia Adventures

A Rainy Night in Downtown Philly

Reading Terminal Market



Chicken Legs....who eats these, really?


COOKIES

Liberty Bell

Independence Hall

City Hall...I love this building

Rocky Stairs and also Philadelphia Museum of Art

The Skyline

First ever hospital in the U.S.

First Post Office (still in operation)

Ended my trip with ONE GREAT PHILLY CHEESE STEAK!!!

Happy Mother's Day

What a Couple of "Suckers"

KISSES

The Eth Man

Enjoying the Sundance Stream

Do We Have To????

Cute, Spring Girl

Best Dad & Kids Ever!

Yesterday was a beautiful day! I got to celebrate being the mom of the best kids ever. After Church, Jus had a picnic prepared and we headed up to Sundance. The kids had a great time chasing the squirrels and prairie dogs in and out of their holes. It felt great just to be with the four people I love the most!

Good News & I'm Back!

I returned to a notification in my inbox that our company has won 2009 Best of State in our industry! This is such great news, but it means one thing.....I need to find an evening gown. Last time we won, I was 9 months pregnant...so I am sure it won't be as challenging as that! After the longest day of my life, I returned home late last night. I was greeted by the three most wiggly and excited kids and champ of a hubby ever! The trip was great. The city was amazing. I reminded me so much of the looks and feel of downtown London. I love the city life. I loved the culture, history, food and people of Philadelphia. We toured the entire city, my word...there was a bit of history on literally every street corner there. Just seeing the Liberty Bell and the actual place where the Declaration of Independance was signed made me think of the visionary men who built our country's foundation. Then I had to asked myself why we have gotten so far away as a society to all that they held dear....I couldn't snap pictures quick enough. I will post some when things calm down a bit. My favorite was the Reading Terminal Market and the rich Dutch culture all around. I even bought an apple pie for my sweetie and managed to carry it all around downtown Philly and smuggle it on the plane home. It arrived in perfect form, now that is commitment and talent! I attended some great meetings, have some new ideas and just generally feel excited and grateful to be part of such a life changing industry. Being away especially made me appreciate my family, where I live, the wonderful people and opportunities that have presented themselves in my life over the past several years. Not to mention such a wonderful husband who never complains about the extra work load and does a great job as Mr. Mom in my absence. A super clean house and no laundry was just icing on the cake. It's good to be back!

I Can't Wait to Come Home

I really need some....can't wait to return to this....wish the Ocean was part of the deal, although the mountains are a pretty great second. I brought my yoga mat with me, but a hotel room and a tv aren't the same. Can't wait to get home for lots of reasons!

I already miss....

THIS!!!!!!!!!

Philly...Here I Come!

Today begins my week long trip to Philadelphia....I will be getting to see some great history sites, eat a Philly Cheese steak (hopefully) and attend lots of work meetings. I don't mind travelling so much, but by the end of the week I sure miss my family!

Orange Soda

I had a lap full of it tonight at dinner, really. I am blogging this mostly for my own good, because it is a moment I don't ever want to forget. Ethan was horsing around at dinner and spilled his soda into my lap. He looks at everyone at the table, addresses them separately to tell them he is sorry. Everyone but me, the lady with the lap full of orange soda. Then he goes to get a towel to clean it up (after dad scolds him), and proceeds to clean up the table. I sit there laughing my guts out (literally) because he still has not acknowledged me. Once he finally realizes that maybe he should have sympathy for me, he begins to clean me up with a soda soaked towel. I end up drenched in the orange stuff. I guess I needed a good laugh because I thought this was the funniest thing that has ever happened. To make matters worse, it started to rain tonight and I went out to save the bunny from the storm. To thank me, she peed all over me. I'm just like Rodney Dangerfield I guess....I get no respect....they'll all miss me I guess when I'm in Philadelphia this week.

You Know You're from Missouri If:

A Facebook friend had this posted to their profile and it made me laugh out loud!
I added some of my own at the end:

1. Everyone you know has been on a "Float trip"
2. "Vacation" means driving to Silver Dollar City, Branson, or Six Flags.
3. You measure distance in minutes rather than miles.
4. Down south to you means Arkansas.
5. You know several people who have hit a deer.
6. You think Missouri is spelled with an "ah" at the end.
7. You've ever had to switch from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day.
8. You think ethanol makes your truck "run a lot better."
9. You know what's knee-high by the Fourth of July.
10. You see a car running in the parking lot at the store with no one in it no matter what time of the year.
11. You know in your heart that Mizzou can beat Nebraska in football.
12. You end your sentences with an unnecessary preposition. Example: "Where's my coat at?"
13. All the festivals across the state are named after a fruit, vegetable, or grain.
14. You install security lights on your house and garage and leave both unlocked.
15. You carry jumper cables in your car and know that
everyone else should.
16. You went to skating parties as a kid.
17. You only own 3 spices: salt, pepper, and ketchup.
18. The local paper covers national and international
headlines on one page but requires 6 pages for sports.
19. You think that deer season is a national holiday.
20. You get out to school for deer season.
21. You can't think of anything better than sitting on the porch in the middle of the summer during a thunderstorm.
22. You know which leaves make good toilet paper.
23. You've ever said, "it's not the heat, it's the humidity."
24. You know all 4 seasons: Almost Summer, Summer,
Still Summer, and Construction.
25. You know if another Missourian is from the bootheel, ozarks, eastern, middle or western Missouri soon as they open their mouth.
26. You think a traffic jam is ten cars waiting to pass a tractor.
27. You know what "HOME OF THE THROWED ROLLS' means!!!
28. You think everyone from a bigger city has an accent.
You know what "cow tipping" or "Possum Kicking" is.
29. You think "frog gigging" should be an Olympic sport.
30. You can tell the difference between a horse and a cow from a distance.
31. You don't put too much effort into hairstyles due to wind and weather.
32. There's a tornado warning and the whole town is outside watching for it.
33. The local gas station sells live bait.
34. Your radio buttons are preset buttons are country.

My Own Top 10 Missouri List (but not from personal experience, I swear)

1. If you have ever gone sledding by tying the hood of a car to your truck and went 4 wheeling
2. You have ever had a sleepover in the bed of your dad's dump truck.
3. If you know what happens when you put grain alcohol in the fireplace when your parents are on vacation.
4. If you know what spraying aerosol hairspray into a lighter will do.
5. If your dad makes your own fireworks on fourth of July.
6. If you eat meatloaf made out of dog food.
7. If you have ever been to Party Cove.
8. If you have a crappie or bass in your fish aquarium at home. (Justin's dad did)
9. There's green algae growing in your above ground swimming pool and you've just decided to let it go.
10. If you know what "White Lighting" is!

I HAVE to Have this.....

So, my birthday is coming up and Justin has been asking what I want. I have decided I LOVE this print and feel it is something I NEED to have hanging in our home. There's actually a lot of history behind these prints.

It was a British World War II propaganda poster discovered a decade ago at the bottom of a box.

These are pretty funny as well......


I would say that pretty much all of these apply to the kind of life I lead......funny!
MR. HILL HELPFUL HINT: You can find it on my fav site etsy.com