This was taken in my backyard. The flower has seen better days but I still like this shot. These are very hardy flowers and grow and spread easily in our yard. The coneflower lasts for several weeks so you can enjoy the purple color in your garden during the later part of summer.
When you have kids almost everything they do is picture worthy, in fact you are yelling grab the camera so much it should be your kids first words.
My little guys (16 month old twins) were just finishing their baths and one was being dressed while the other was standing in his crib. My husband suddenly said “look at how cute that is” and I saw my naked son snuggling his blanket and looking so adorable as every little kid does with his naked butt in the air (it is when you are an adult that this becomes just wrong and sometimes disturbing). So my husband said….wait for it…”I am grabbing the camera”, so he ran downstairs while I finished dressing our other son. I walked out of the room to see what was taking my hubby so long when I heard the crying. As we both entered the bedroom, camera ready, the damage had been done. A naked boy, time and air do not mix, the pee was everywhere, baby, blankets, sheets, crib, floor……….where did all this liquid come from? Clean up began and a lesson was learned.
What a wonderful day yesterday, the sun was shining, burgers were cooking on the grill and family was over to celebrate Father’s Day. My two little boys were playing in the yard having a great time with their toys. Finally one of my son’s wanted to head in my direction so his uncle picked him up and handed him over to me, I gave him hugs and kisses and then realized that something was not right. I smelled it first and quickly started my search…..there it was in his little fist….a smooshed piece of dog poo, now spread on my arm as well! My old self would have been jumping around declaring how gross this situation was, but my new mom self did not even spare a second thought and instead jumped into cleaning and disinfecting action mode. My husband had looked 2 or 3 times around the yard picking up everything in sight before our guests arrived and the boys came out to play, but I guess if there is something disgusting around your kids are bound to find it, get into it and share it with those they love!
There were 12 of us in all, gathered in the rain with little light left in the day, some of us shedding tears and some of us silent in remembrance. Yesterday I attended the burial of a beloved friend and pet. My brother’s dog had spent 13 wonderful years touching our lives and sadly it was her time to pass.
My brother’s lilacs are the darkest purple you have ever seen and they were slowly cut and laid out for each person to gently toss down as a last parting gift and sign of love for the girl that we all knew. It is a true sign to this wonderful companion and a show of the truest friendship that so many came on a Friday night to show support and respect for a pet that was so much a part of all of our lives that the now empty house, usually so full of life and hope, is left hollow for the time being.
My brother shoveled the first bit of dirt upon the grave with my husband at his side and as time passed each man among us took a turn to stand beside my brother and help in his most painful task.
With love and sadness, we will not forget you, your gentle spirit and the joy you spread among us!
This is a very small flower that always grows in the spring in my front yard around the stones and flower bed. Several of these flowers grow around each other and are about 6 to 8 inches tall. If any one can identify this flower that would be great.
Balloons
I took this picture the day after my twins first birthday party with the camera set to color accent blue.
Today one of my twin boys was sitting on the floor playing with his toys. The sunlight was coming through the windows in streams and I watched as this little boy put his hands up to the light and pulled them out and then put them back in the light. Then my son tried to grab a piece of the sun, not once but twice. I don’t know why but this touched my heart and brought back a memory of me as a four year old in my room running my fingers through the sunlight that appeared in one spot on my floor. There was something so sweet and innocent as I watched my one year old, close his fingers around the light and then open his hand closer to his face only to find that he could not actually take a piece of that magnificent light for his own.
So the other day I was not feeling that well and even ended up throwing up, I was miserable. Meanwhile my hubby was downstairs happily preparing himself some food knowing I was sick. I leaned over the stairway and asked in my weakest voice for some Vernors (my go to, sure to feel better drink of choice). “Sure” my husband replied “want some chicken nuggets too?”. I asked in my very least sarcastic voice “Did you just hear me getting sick?” “Yes…so do you want some?” he said innocently. I will just end this story here and mention that I did not eat any chicken nuggets.
I took this picture at my brother’s house in the summer of 2008, I was just learning (and still am) how to use the different features on my camera. I love the colors in this shot.
As I have mentioned before I am the proud owner of a Jeep Commander who is now being forced to drive my husband’s minivan so he can have my car for awhile (it is a miles thing). Anyways, as the mother of twins I finally had the chance to get out and do some shopping on my own while my husband was at home with the boys. I happily jumped into my Jeep. As I began to drive around I started to smell something unpleasant and as I got in and out of the vehicle for several stops the smell only got worse. My husband called to see how my day was going and I immediately asked him what he did to my Jeep, “I had breadsticks in there yesterday on my lunch break” he replied. Breadsticks? Okay they can smell like sweaty gym socks but this was more like a puke with beer breath with somthing else mixed in scent that I could not put a finger on and as the car got warmer the smell intensified. I kept the windows cracked at a tolerable level due to the winter weather and continued on my way.
About two weeks later as I was running around my front lawn in the wind trying to catch blow away boxes from my garbage that had not yet been picked up, I suddenly slid through a pile of bait fish near the curb. First thought…Why Me? Second thought….I am going to kill him. Yes you heard that right, my husband had been ice fishing and forgot to remove these leftovers from the car. I even recall mentioning something sliding around in the back of the Jeep and my husband saying during that phone call that it was his ice fishing sled. Hmmm…..that explains the mysterious scent. Now I have seen this pile of fish before (although last time I was spared from having to smell them for a day) and as I told my husband then and will again, the cats in the neighborhood ignore his offering and a week later I have to send him out with a bag and gloves to remove his dead friends from our yard. What must the neighbors think?
Ice Fishing-Perch caught by my friend Russell
