Lost: Writing Mojo

I'm in the process of trying to find my writing Mojo - but until then, I will just have to post some pictures of pure cuteness! And perhaps some nature along the way...

First... we have the Oliva collection...







And the Carter collection....







How about a little touch of family pics...








And a little nature to finish out the mass-photo post!

Landscape Pictures

Recently I took some pictures while attending our family's annual winter reunion in Southern Indiana. The family has been gathering like this for decades, in the town church that dates back to the days when some of the wood used in the church came from the trees on the family farm, and were crafted thoughtfully by the hands before us. In these parts, generations have been born and passed in the same family homes sprinkled among the farms in these southern towns.

In the summer, the leaves are bright on the mighty oaks, the vast farming fields are rich with corn rows and beans, and the silver shining from the silos can be seen in every direction. The silence is hard to describe, not hearing the roar of the city like I'm used to hearing outside my windows. But it's warm and lush and peaceful.

In the winter, there is a barren stillness when one looks out into these fields. Snow crusted rows of overturned soil leftover from the October harvest, hides the livelihood of what the ground has to offer each year. The chill in the air that takes no effort to cut right through you because there are no big buildings to shield the wind - only land that outstretches as far as the eye can see.

On this particular 2 hour drive to the reunion, there were several things that caught my eye out the window that would have made a great snapshot, and I wished that I had taken out my camera sooner. But with all the chatting and catching up, it is hard to step away and snipity-snap all the things I was hoping to.

Here's what I did get though... enjoy!

Above is the quaint church that stands proud. This is where we hold the winter reunion each year.

Above is the cemetary on the church grounds, tucked neatly between farmland.

Above is the headstone of my father-in-laws beloved parents.

Above is an example of the many working family-run farms that dot the town.

And above here, we have a train carrying loads of what appears to be coal. At the time, we were able to tell Carter that Santa has that train ready for naughty boys and girls coal-filled stockings....hahaha!

Day 17 - Mellow Monday

Since I can't keep the camera out of my hands long enough for you to miss seeing pictures of my kids... I present to you the latest installment.

It's nice to catch your kids doing something that requires imagination. Like drawing, which he enjoys now and has come such a long way with his fine motor skills. He's into making rainbows with pots of gold as you can see.




The eyecolors on our kids are so interesting to us. Carter's are blue like denim jeans, such a deep hue of blue. They remind me of my late grandfather's eyes, and I love to just stare at them when the sunlight hits just right. They are so unique, I think.



Olivia's, well hers are like the Caribbean waters. My sister-in-law has eyes like the tropical seas too. Can't go anywhere without someone making a comment about O's eyes. I'm sure Melissa has the same compliments!




This is a child engrossed in Sesame Street. I often find her all dressed up in a hat and boa, just being still and thinking Elmo is talking straight to her! The boa was on the floor, but I couldn't resist this shot.

Day 11 - A Day Of Thanks

A huge THANK YOU to honor those today that have served, and are serving our country. Let us not forget those who have also died for our country! I'm thankful that you volunteered and gave of yourselves to protect the USA.

I'm proud to be an American - and so are they!

Here are a few of pictures honoring my Dad's most recent service overseas before retiring from the US Air Force.

Day 10 - Ballerina Girl...

....you are so, lovely.

Thanks for the new Tutu, Auntie Melissa!

Day 8 - Quiet Mornings

Just a little picture post today, showing the kids doing something that makes my heart go pitter-patter with warm fuzzies.

Being quiet.

And sharing.

Just b'cuz....

...because sometimes you have to admire a cute picture of your kids in order to get you through the day without duct-taping them to the wall so you can get some stuff done.



Let's just say, that today.... is one of those days that she's lucky she's cute!




I'm just sayin'...

One down, thirty nine(ish) to go...

....weeks left of school.

The first week of school is officially over. We survived! By request, my little man asked me when I would bake him a cake "just because" - so today was as good of a day as any right? It's a good excuse for some chocolate anyway....



So here he is, ready for the big day last Monday. He was a little nervous the first couple of days, but I think it's old hat for him now.



There are 10 children at our stop this year. Gettin' on the bus....



Here are a couple of pictures of his classroom, taken at the open house last week, and a random shot of me and the kiddos the night before school started!

Are you a member of this club?

Well it’s official. I got my first “I hate you!” from my kid. I can’t recall sputtering those words this young (7), but I can bet my parents heard it a time or two out of my mouth. Karma is biting me in the behind. I was pretty mouthy as a child, but again I don’t think I was this young with attitude, maybe I was. I remember in my preteen and my teens though, ouch. So I guess I do know the feeling of not being able to bite my tongue, but is that really hereditary? I mean, look at this face - he doesn't know how to hate anything, where'd he learn this?

He was playing in the yard with some friends and I asked him not to do something on the swing set that was dangerous. He stopped then started doing it again a few minutes later. I told him to come over and sit on the deck for 5 minutes and I would tell him when his time is up. He kept asking if time was up yet, so I informed him a minute is added each time he asked. Finally, about the third time he asked me and I turned him away again with an added minute, I heard him say under his breath, “oh, I really hate this… and I hate you too” as he went to sit back on the deck. I stood there shocked for a moment and wondered how to handle that. I know he was mad and had a right to be, but saying he hated me was simply unacceptable.

He was told to come inside and stay in his room until dinner. We had a talk about it after dinner and then Tom talked to him about it later as he tucked him in. It’s sort of bitter sweet you know. Coming from this particular child, we almost rejoice in the fact that he knows how to be spicy, but it’s catching us a little off guard. And isn’t this spiciness supposed to be reserved for daughters? They are the ones made of sugar and spice you know…

Back in the olden days (ha-ha), when I was little, one punishment you’d hate to get would be soap in the mouth to “wash out the backtalk”. I didn’t get it too often, but I can recall the times in my life that a bar of Ivory Soap was introduced to my taste buds. Not fun. Picture the scene in the classic movie A Christmas Story when the character Ralphie was sitting on the toilet seat cover with a bar of soap sticking out of his mouth.


Yep, not fun. Sadly, I’d probably be arrested in this day and age if I did that to my kid. But I still threaten it. Then I have to chuckle when he asks me serious questions like, “will I make bubbles in my mouth if you put soap in it?”, “what if the soap doesn’t get all the ‘sassies’?”…. geez, how do you keep a straight face when you’re asked these questions?

Oh, I also got a note slipped to me from him while in his room. I instantly thought of my sister in law whose child slipped her a note out of anger one day and it lovingly said, “Mommy butt”. Isn’t that funny? It’s always funnier when it’s not your own child… Anyway, mine said (spelling left as is): “To Mommy from Carter. Dear Mommy, Carter wonts to go outside and play with my frinds.” He definitely gets and A+ for persistence. Little gems like this get put into his memory box next to the "I Love You, Mom" cards. It’s all about balance right?

Anyway, I’m not sure how it feels to belong to this new parent club of “haters” now. I feel anointed, yet a little defeated. It’s pretty much the way I feel about those horrid pregnancy stretch marks now on me forever. You try so hard to do your best job with your kids and this is how they thank you! Where’s Dr. Phil when I need him? Maybe I should mail my Mom a box of Ivory Soap with a note of apology, and the letters S.O.S…