Tuesday, April 24, 2007

2 months


This layout is darling Dani at two months. By this posting she's closing in on three months. How, may I ask, is it possible that she is only three months old? It seems that she's been with us forever. On the other hand, how is it possible that she's already three months old? Such a time warp.
She is fat and happy and healthy. She's over 12 pounds and 25+inches long. What a little pork chop. Allison calls her the sausage baby. She's called her that from the first day. She is a sausage baby, but we don't want her to get a complex.
In a few short months she and Katie will be moving back home. They'll get an apartment and wait out David's deployment here instead of being stuck somewhere all alone. A hard situation for them but better then the alternative. We can hardly stand ourselves for the excitement of having them here. It could happen as early as July, but certainly by the end of summer, if all goes as expected. Poor David. I feel bad for him, as he is head over heels for those two girls and will be very lonely while away. We'll just have to take lots of photos and video and make sure to keep him up to date on all the new little goings on.
Digi kit is Shabby Princess "Vintage Flowers"

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Prayers for those.....

Just so terribly saddened by the tragedy at VT. What a waste of life. I've been reading others' views on the situation and in some circles there is a bit of hysteria over non US citizens and gun ownership and gun ownership in general. There's also ramblings about more security and cracking down and how to keep this sort of thing from happening in the future.

I think its dangerous to pigeon hole people. All immigrants are not mass murderers. Most of them are hardworking, law abiding individuals who came to this country to seek a better life for themselves and their families. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that how most of us got here? Aside from the Native Americans who were already here and those who were brought here against their will, I'd say we all fall into the immigrant category. I'd also point out that by immigrating to this country and seeking permanent resident status a person goes through a rigorous background check process that most US born and breds never receive.

As for gun ownership....I don't care for guns. I know how to use one, I choose not to personally. However, my husband, father, brother, BIL, uncles, cousins...all hunt. They have that right. They own guns. They have that right. They secure them properly and are responsible with them. I don't care for guns, but if they are purchased legally and cared for properly and securely, I don't have a problem with people owning them. I do have a problem with a disturbed young man, who has a known history of mental instability being allowed to purchase a gun. That needs to change.

I think at the bottom of this whole thing we need only focus on the fact that he was ill. He was most certainly mentally damaged and needed serious help. There are mentally ill people in our midst daily. We just don't know it. We go to work, we send our kids to school, we shop in stores and malls. The ill are all around us all the time. What makes a person crack? What is the straw that finally breaks the camel's back. Who knows?

Are we ever safe? NO. We are always in harms way, daily. We drive our cars, fly in planes, cross busy streets. We go up and down the stairs in our homes and handle sharp objects and cook on a hot stove. We use power tools and ride bikes and don't wear our helmets. We live in hurricane prone areas, or tornado alley or flood planes or on earthquake faults. We could be struck by lightening or drown in our own bathtub. We are never safe. So no matter what we do, it won't be enough. We will never solve all the world's problems. We just won't. That isn't to say we shouldn't take precautions. We prepare for what we can and then we get on with the business of life.

People like that young man are like bad weather. They come along now and then. They create havoc in their wake. We pick up the pieces and rebuild from the rubble and move forward. We pray for those lost and those who loved them. We learn a life lesson about not taking things for granted. We hold our loved ones a little closer. Then we move forward.

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

My Guy


Alex, age 10. Basketball player, skateboarder, juggler, unicycler, novice trumpet player, teller of sappy jokes, lover of pandas. This year (4th grade) has been a year of huge growth for him. He has decided that one can be a jock and a scholar. He has really taken to reading and enjoying it. He has decided that its best to get the homework done right away and have the rest of the evening to "hang with his friends" cuz in 4th grade you don't play anymore; you hang. He is often the voice of reason on the sibling front. He and his dad are buds. They fish and taget shoot (BB gun) together. That is precious time. Other changes this year are a sudden interest in grooming. Caring if the hair has been washed more than once in a week. When did that start? He's nearly as tall as me and we wear the same shoe size. He's all arms and legs anymore. This is a fun age. Still able to be a little kid but than remembering to be more grown up and cool. Next year (5th grade) will be the last year of elementary school; for both of us. I've had a kid in elementary school for 17 years. How do I make that change? Well, I don't have to think about it right now. We still have 5th grade to get through. But the wind is changing. Am I ready?

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Answering Kim's blog challenge


Easter. Ah, the flowers are blooming, the bunnies are hatching and sad little children all across the globe are being dressed in Easter finery that is itchy, tight, stiff and sometimes, downright ugly. Case in point. This is poor poor pitiful me circa 1976. Notice my very first pair of real grown up panty hose. No one told me they would be slippery and slidy and practically fall off everytime I stood up. These were the days prelycra were the hose would stretch and bag and hang off your legs like elephant skin. They also made it very hard to keep your shiny white Easter shoes on your feet. Move on you'll notice my baby blue knit skirt and sweater set. So very stylish. Monochromatic colors are supposed to be flattering, yes? And shall we talk hats for just a moment? The Queen Mum had nothing on me that year. This hat was the rival to all hats. I look a little Sally Field aka The Flying Nun in this thing. And its covering my ever so stylish Dorothy Hamell hairdo. That is a crime if ever there was one. Add to that my wire rimmed granny glasses and you have a fashion plate to beat all.
One last observation before I sign off. Note the plastic Easter basket. Tiny little thing isn't it? Hardly big enough to hold a chocolate bunny. Shameful.

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

I love belated birthday gifts




I received a lovely album in the mail today. My sister, Ellen, scrapbooks from time to time
and she's been hounding me for photos for a couple months now. I couldn't figure out what
she was doing. Then this showed up. She used original photos. She didn't crop or enlarge anything.
I love the white border on these old prints and the tiny date stamps on the edges. The theme and
layout of this album reminds me of the little books about mothers or friends or life in general. Do you know the ones I'm talking about. One is called "The Blue Day Book" and we have one with a panda on the cover called "A Black Eye Is Not Always A Bad Thing". There little life lesson books. Thats what this reminds me of. I laughed outloud, I cried a bit and I just have a warm, buzzy feeling all over. Thanks Ellen. You made my day. And I love the way the slant of time makes childhood all rosy and glowy. But if I remember correctly, you were a major pain in my butt. But I love you anyway, and I'm the only one who's allowed to pick on you.

That's One Way To Do It

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Crawling