Thursday, June 28, 2007

Thursdays Theme : BEGIN

S and M started these plants as seeds, in April. I am so glad they like to play in the dirt! I hope it's the beginning of a love affair with gardening!
I can't wait for the day we can have our own garden.

We almost purchased a house this week and i was going to take a shot of packed up boxes.
How frusturating to be thisclose but no cigar.

Still, i remain hopeful that it will happen soon!

I also Begin a new job next week. I have worked off and on since having my first child 9 years ago.

I really can't wait!

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Thursday, June 21, 2007

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

summer

You Should Spend Your Summer at the Beach
You're a free spirit who is always thinking of new ways to have fun.And you don't just love summer... you live for it.So, you really should blow off your responsibilities and head to the beach!



Happy summer solstice :)
It's almost the last day of school as well, and by the tingling in my toes, butterflies in my tummy anticipation you would think i was the kid! But i can so vividly remember that feeling. FREEDOM! And, looking back, summer was always good to me. It wasn't like Christmas, built up to be so much bigger and better in my mind. Nope, summers for me were exactly as i hoped they would be. Swimming and sleeping in and Popsicles and riding my bike to the 7-11 for my moms cigarettes. Okay, so the last one is horrible and in hindsight i cannot even imagine what my mom was thinking, but with the change i could pick out anything i wanted, which was always taffy that would melt in my pocket on the way home and be melty and yummy and oh so good. To this day taffy says summer to me.
I can't say that i see the same excitement in my kids face that i remember feeling as a child, and i don't doubt that it's because these days summer break comes complete with workbook's to fill out, reading lists to read, helmets to wear, and sex offenders down the street to watch out for.
So, while i can't say that i would ever send my kids to the 7-11 for anything, let alone cigarettes, i am kinda sad they won't get the chance.

Monday, June 18, 2007

Sunday, June 17, 2007

what i did and didn't do on Fathers day
















Today we took D to the beach for Fathers Day. Well, if you count him driving us, paying for and planning the whole day himself.
But really, that is a gift for this man. This man that hates my driving, likes to spend his money and being in control of how he spends the day.

It was a lovely, glorious, fantastic day.



The weather was just right, the waves were high and knocked the crap out of all of us. (Sam's words there). The kids played nicely, and didn't fight at all. No really, at all!


We really had a great day.
Until i got home and checked the machine.
My dad called and left 4 messages. I assumed he was in manic mode and didn't return his call.
On fathers day.
yay me.
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Update
Thanks to a perfectly times "Happy Fathers Day from the Cat" card in the mail, all is forgvien.
Oh, and he really was manic.

Friday, June 15, 2007

giving thanks...........

I lead a really lucky life. I am a young white American girl . I live in a free country with access to medicine, education,clean water and a thermostat that is usually set at 70 degrees. While some people wouldn't think those facts make me lucky, i know better.
I've one employed husband, 4 gorgeous, funny and happy kids, also with good health & free education. They don't think that makes them lucky, but again, i know better.
And my parents that are alive and kicking and care enough about me to call 40 times a week. This drives me crazy dad, and it's why i haven't told you i have caller ID, because i know it would hurt your feelings if you knew i was avoiding your calls, because yes dad, i know you know better.

Here's the problem. I don't see myself as lucky. In fact i live by the old adage, "if i didn't have bad luck, i would have no luck at all" and in fact i would consider that to be my mantra for at least 6 of the last 10 years.
And lets face it, some really bad things did happen over the course of the last 10 years. My baby was diagnosed with cancer. It sucked. It still sucks. But last week he turned 9! See, Dr. I...you told me me to take him home and make him comfortable, but thank goodness i knew better.
And you believe me, there is not a day that goes by that i don't thank God, Heaven and Earth and kiss the very ground that he walks on that Sam is here with us, alive and well......but it took me reading this post, over at thisblog to see how lucky i really am. http://ingliseast.typepad.com/ingliseast/2007/06/the_gift_of_lia.html
But you see, she is lucky too. Lucky to have known her sweet angel boy, if only for a short moment here on this Earth.
But because of her and her poignant writing on what was surely the worst thing to ever happen to her, i have a new take on luck. Sometimes when life hands you what appears to be the worst luck of all, it is possible to find a moment, a morsel, a glimpse of peace. Of hope, of joy, or luck.
It was good luck that little Liam was able to stay around long enough to give his parents a peaceful passing. They got to hold him, know him and love him and to say goodbye. He was lucky to have them.
I know that i won't soon forget him and everytime something bad happens, i am going to try and find a little morsel, a moment or a glimpse of peace, hope, joy or luck.
Godspeed Liam.

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Imagine its the early 1900's

And you are a Cowboy,
















and you spend the day gunslinging and riding horses.
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Thursday, June 7, 2007

Thursdays Theme: Spin


really the spin is metaphorical here......As we walked laps around the track we were all reading placards about cancer awareness...... the spin was obviously "awareness".

For more spin themed pictures visit tracy @

Monday, June 4, 2007

My best shot Monday


It was the magic hour........
for more best shots visit Tracy @http://picturethis.com
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Sunday, June 3, 2007

luminaria

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honor

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Sam

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boob man


go figure my little nurser would gravitate to this one!
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my survivor...


i'll bet on him any day
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Galaxy of hope

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Gray matters


Our team
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our voices will be heard


we raised a grand total of over 90,000 dollars...our team brought in 8,018
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galaxy of hope.


Sam and Maddie sold over 500 moons.
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Friday, June 1, 2007

tomorrow is

Relay for Life.......also known as one of about ten reasons i have'nt been blogging as of late.
Our team, Gray Matters; Waging the War on Brain tumors has raised over six thousand dollars for the American Cancer Society and the kids raised somewhere around 600 of that themselves. I am wicked proud of them. It's bound to be an emotional day with Sam starting the day off walking in the first lap of the day, the Survivors lap.
I'll be sure to post some pics!
Stop Global Warming