Best Shot Monday (6/22)

This week I like this fun shot of a Krispy Kreme Donut. Late posting again but hey - I was busy talking about my baby :)

44 and 14 Years ago today...

Fourteen years ago today, my son Jacob was born. It was a bright, beautiful sunny day just like today. Jacob was a scheduled birth and without knowing it was my birthday, my doctor scheduled me to be induced on my 30th birthday.

The thing is - birthdays were always a big deal for me. I loved my birthday! I would start on June 1st with "its my birthday month!" then continue on - usually stretching the celebration over a whole weekend. That all changed 14 years ago when I received the ultimate gift - my son.
When they handed him to me - it was beyond love that I felt - I was, for the first time in my life, completely filled with true joy. I was part of a miracle that day. My life was already a full and happy one but he push it to over flowing - he filled every empty spot in me and gave my life a new purpose - I became a mother.

My family still celebrates my birthday with gifts and things to make me feel special - but 14 years ago I stopped "needing" that - I was shown that it is about SO much more!

First thing this morning I got a kiss and heard the words "Happy Birthday, Mama. I love you."

I love you too my special birthday gift!

Jacob Jones 14 year old today 6/09

Car shopping

I absolutely hate car shopping. We leased a car for the first and last time 2 years ago and now that the lease is about up - I was forced to do the dreaded job. You would think they could make it a more pleasant experience considering how much you are spending - but no - same old "I have to talk to my manager: - How about I just talk to your manager since you do not have the power to actually sell me a car? Grrrrr....

Anyhow - we have it narrowed down to an Acura or a Volvo. I am feeling lots of guilt about not buying from an American company especially with the state of our auto industry but it is exactly that state that has made us choose not to buy from them. I am concerned about dealership closing and where I will have to go for service or how my warranty will be handled.

Anyhow - can't wait for this to be over with and hopefully by this weekend I will be driving a new car.

Friday Fill-ins

1. All children alarm their parents, if only because you are forever expecting someone to get hurt.

2. Show me a good loser and I will show you an easy-going person.

3. Car shopping is like eating an entire box of chocolate liqueurs at one time. YUCK!

4. Too bad that all the people who know how to run the country are busy running their own households and businesses.

5. I have yet to hear a man ask for advice on how to combine a kids activity and an adult activity.

6. It is impossible to think of any good meal, no matter how plain or elegant, without Family or Friends in it.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to take out, tomorrow my plans include finishing up the car buying and Sunday, I want to celebrate Father's Day and the birthdays (mine and Jacob's are on Monday!)

Sleeping in - way in!

9:15 and all three kids are still sleeping...I need to go wake them up to start the day but I am enjoying the quiet! Problem is they won't want to go to bed until late since they are getting up so late - and the summertime cycle begins in this house...

Best Shot Monday (6/15/09)

Our freshly filled bird feeder.

Since moving to Virginia, Jacob has really gotten into bird watching. He can tell you in an instant the kind of bird you are looking at - what kind of seed they like - how they sound and where they live. I am amazed at his knowledge base! His interest has gotten the whole family to pay more attention and we have really been enjoying watching all the birds in the backyard while we sit at the breakfast table every morning.

Happy Monday!

Layouts

Today, I thought I would share a few scrapbook pages. This first one I made during a class I took at Jessica Sprague in which I learned some things about my new Photoshop Elements program. I made this photo block. Very fun! I think I will enjoy combining some digital elements with my traditional scrapbooking! :)

The next one is based on a sketch by Amy Bell:

Have a great weekend!

Last Day of School

Today is the last day of school for the year. There is always a charge of excitement in the air leading up to this day and I am thrilled for the kids. I remember the joy of that last bell ringing and racing out the door with my friends feeling the freedom of summer and knowing I had all the time in the world to just be. Ah, sweet summertime! (I hope I will have a few photos to share tomorrow.)

Friday Fill-ins:
1. I grew up thinking I had all the time in the world.
2. Google Reader was the last website I was at before coming here.
3. Why don't you go to bed? (Said to myself every night lately - I just can't seem to get to bed at a decent hour!)
4. Scrapbooking helps me relax.
5. Thanks for the inspiration. There are so many genuine and talent people who inspire me to be a better person!
6. Long finger nails on men is very off-putting. (Ewwww)
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to celebrating the last day of school with the kids, tomorrow my plans include a day of play with the family - maybe a little day trip and Sunday, I want to sleep in then do something creative!

Have a fun Friday!

2 down 1 to go

Yesterday, Sam graduated from elementary school and will be moving on to middle school for 6th grade next year. He is thrilled to be done and is looking forward to summer. (they officially get out at 11:00 on Friday) I can't believe I only have one left in elementary school! People are not lying when they tell you their childhood will fly by!

The ceremony was a bit too long and everyone was antsy by the end but they had a nice luncheon afterwards for all the 5th graders and parents. I didn't get any usable photos during the ceremony - the lighting and seating were terrible but here are a few from the luncheon.

Sam and I:
Sam and his friend David:

Best Shot Monday (A day late)

My friend Lee (you have to put her blog on your reader - her posts always inspire me!) posted a link to Tracey Clark's site. She hosts a "My Best Shot Monday" challenge. Basically she encourages you to post your best photo from the previous week. I immediately wanted to play along. Many weeks I am sure I will not have a "quality" photo but I will have a nice record of things I have enjoyed so here I go - a day late but what else is new?!

This is one of my favorite photos from my trip to Cape Cod. I love the water and the color of the plant. I also love that among all the beauty that Cape Cod offers I was able to focus on something small that might be found in any yard. Photography helps me to see the world around me in glorious detail!

Hope you will decide to play along too - would love to see your photos!

Happy Mail

For as long as I can remember, I have loved to check the mail. Even before I actually got mail - I was always excited to walk down to the end of the drive and open the mailbox to have a look at what was inside. I remember coming home from school and looking at the box before I would walk up to the house - but I would wait until I walked up to the house and dropped off my books then I would walk back down to the mailbox to do the daily check. Loved that part of my day!

To this day, I still love to check the mail - you never know what you are going to have waiting for you! Never a day goes by (except Sunday) when there is not something waiting in the mail box. Sure - many days it is just junk or worse yet bills but other days it will hold magazines or catalogs that I enjoy looking through. But what really keeps me checking with excitement each day is possibility! You may just open the box and find a letter, card or package waiting for you. Happy mail = happy day!!

Just recently, I got a fun little goodie from my friend Lee for participating in a give away she hosted on her blog. (Thanks Lee!!) Have a look at this little piece of fun that was waiting in the mail box:

Making today a good day,

Friday Fill-ins :)

A busy bee on Cape Cod

Friday Fill-ins (want to play along? Check it out here.)

And...here we go!
1. I am loving my new home. I feel like I am really settling in!
2. My favorite thing for dinner lately has been food on the grill.
3. So glad that my dog isn't one that does much bark! bark! bark!
4. A nice long walk is always refreshing - I really need to do it more often!
5. Love to share some good news.
6. When all is said and done, I am happy with my life.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to settling in with the family - maybe some TV, tomorrow my plans include lots of sports - both soccer and baseball and Sunday, I want to go new car shopping and decide what we are going to buy!



Happy Friday!

Headed for the Championship Game!

What a game tonight! I have to admit that I sometimes find baseball boring...the first two hours can actually be enjoyable but by the third hour I am usually done and am just waiting for it to be over. Tonight was different - there was an energy in the air right up to the end. Tonight Sam's team, the Mariners, played a great game and pulled it out 3 to 2 putting them into the Championship game this coming Saturday! The boys were so excited!! Sam played well and made a beautiful catch at second base so he was thrilled.

More about Cape Cod

As promised yesterday, I wanted to share a few more pictures from my weekend in Cape Cod. This first one is a group shot of us having lunch in an English Pub (fish and chips - yum!) I had such a great time with these ladies - each one unique, each one bringing a fresh perspective to the table yet we all blended amazingly well together. That must be one of Lee's many gifts - to see women that would compliment each other and to pull us all together. (Thanks Lee!)

One of the fun things we did was to go on photography field trips. Just out and about to photograph things we thought were beautiful in their own way. That is another great thing about being with women who have similar interests - they don't mind when you stop to photograph something that others might think is strange and they don't think you are silly when you get on the ground to do it. Here are a few of the non-beach photos I took.

An all American ice cream shop:

A tree trunk I found interesting:

Church steeple (screamed New England to me):

A red, white and blue festooned gazebo:

A swing in Lee's front yard:

A garden plant after the rain (I think these are my favorite pictures - love the green and the water):

Spring flowers:

Thanks for looking and letting me share :)

Cape Cod

Back home in Virginia today after a wonderful weekend in Cape Cod, MA. The weekend was spent with a group of fun, interesting, kind and talented women and it was refreshing to say the least. We shopped, talked, ate, laughed, crafted, walked the beach, play with our cameras and generally enjoyed each others company. I had a great time! I have lots of photos but need to get premission to share some so for now - here are a few of my favorites from the beach:

More to share tomorrow :)