A Beautiful Day: Part II

This one is for you Ivey. Have you ever seen anything more beautiful?

I had a lot of luck with this photo shoot. It was spur of the moment, and the lighting was perfect. I did PS the heck out of these but they were really beautiful without an ounce of editing. The sun was happy with me and decided to give me a little present. I love these pictures...and this little baby! I love how she is always blowing bubbles. It makes for a great photo! Ivey- I will send these to you tomorrow so you can print them. I need to go to bed now. I've been staring at this baby for 2 hours....I should have sweet dreams! I love you baby Day!!!!!!

such a serious stare

She's always bubblin'...

This one is breathtaking in an 8 by 10....I wish I could figure out how to make my blog accept that size! It literally took my breath away....like the one at the top.

A very happy mom...

Layton is in love! He followed her around all night. Look at his smile!!!

The happy family of three.

She has her hand in her mouth quite often so this was a must have photo.

A Beautiful Day

My neice (cousin, whatever)

Day Frances Ivey

Her story below

This is "baby Day"...and she is one of the reasons that yesterday was such an amazing Day. My uncle Dave and his fiance Cristina got married and we all drove to Lake Oconee to celebrate. Dave is my mom's baby brother. He is pushing 40, a lawyer, and the sweetest most genuine man on earth. So you can see why his getting married was a very special day...we thought it might never happen! I did not have time to edit and post the wedding pics (there are so many)so this post is going to be all about baby Day.

Let me tell you about this child. She is the daughter of my cousin Ivey and her husband Ken. Ivey is 33 and has watched many women in our family have many babies. After trying for 6+ years, she gave up, and gave her struggle to God. It was her surrender to Him and the realization that He is in control that finally brought this beautiful baby into our family. The emotional rollar coaster that she went on trying to conceive is one that many women relate to. So you can imagine the joy of finally finding out she is going to have a baby after so many years of dissapointments. When we all got the call that she was pregnant last Mother's Day, we all cried like babies. The whole family rejoiced, and for every second of her pregnancy, we obsessed over her like it was the first pregnancy in the family! You know My Big Fat Greek Wedding??? That is my family....but with a very southern edge.

Baby Day was born on February 16th, 2009. Her birth was like the 2nd coming of Christ! We love ALL of our children equally in this family but there has never been a more exciting birth by any means. I finally got to meet Day yesterday. She is the most beautiful baby I have ever seen. She is the sweetest baby I have ever met (OK Silas, you can TIE with baby Day). And the whole family just doted on her like you would expect all night.

The name Day is perfect for her. We knew her name would be different, because her mom is no ordinary woman (in a good way), but we had no idea how perfectly fitting her name would be for her. Every Day is a beautiful Day when you see Ivey and Ken with their baby Day. We have all waited for the Day when Ivey and Ken would finally be parents. They are different people since her birthday. They are lit up like light bulbs. It is really such a beautiful sight. I love you baby Day! Welcome to our CRAZY family!! (Ivey's name is Ivey Ivy. Who would have thought Ivey would marry and man named Ken Ivy? Isn't that awesome?)

(more Dave and Cristina wedding pictures to come...got some good ones)

Flashback Friday

Kailtin

July 2003

Cape San Blas, FL

"the pout"

This was classic Kaitlin for many years. She was definitely the queen of pouting. I was pregnant with Jack on this trip. It was a really fun time...the last vacation we had as a family of THREE. She wore a bandana a lot to keep her hair off of her face on the windy beach. Don't you think it made her look tough? She looks like a harley chick. I was just thinking back on her at this time and remember how young and bratty she was before Jack was born. It really did change her for the better. I think having a sibling is humbling and teaches you how to share your life with someone. Before Jack, the world literally revolved around Kaitlin...and it SHOWED. Over the years she has grown out of that bratty phase and turned into a sweetheart. Thank goodness!!

A Fabulous Day

Logan and Jack

May 21, 2009

"Pre-K pals"

Today was a fabulous Day. I hate to say it, but I can only say this about, maybe, 5% of my days...which I should add is a blessing. I woke up this morning and God was with me (as always)....but I really felt it. I immeditaly started thinking about how blessed I am to be alive...and how thankful I am to NOT be in the hospital. (I watched Gray's Anatomy last night..Tivo) It was going to be a crazy day...so I started off by praying that God would be with me and my kids in our every thought and word. I don't have time to spend telling the whole story of this day, but I wish I did. It was a day straight from God....a day He knew I needed.

I can sum it up in a few words: I woke up alive, in love, healthy, and I have a job. My kids are healthy, and were happy to go to school. I had a great day with my family and my students. I was inspired by strangers and people I know that I never thought would inspire me.

I am in a hurry so I can't really tell the story of today, but I will say that I saw God all day, in every word I spoke, in every child I spoke to, in every struggle I faced, and in every ounce of joy I experienced. It was a truly awesome, regular, just glad to be alive, kind of day. The kind of day I might have found flaws in years ago, but today I see as perfection. After years of my journey with God...I can finally see what life is all about. It's about appreciating life and all it has to offer. It's about seeing the blessings that are in front of you and thanking God for them. It's about being thankful for what you have, and not what you wish you had. I could go on and on, but I need to go be mom.

The pictures you see are of Jack and Logan. Logan is one of my students. His mom and I are friends, and she is my room mom. I have Jack's class come to my 3rd gade class every month as our reading buddies. They love it, we love it, and everyone benefits. Today was our last visit and we made it a good one. We read books, took a tour of the school, and had a picnic. Logan is like one of my own kids, and he and Jack really enjoyed each other this year. I am terribly emotional about saying farewell to my students after 2 years together, so today was hard. Every day for the next 2 weeks will be hard, but it was still a great time. I LOVE this picture of Logan and Jack. Jack really looks up to Logan so he felt cool getting his picture with him.

There are more pictures to come. I chose these pictures to express my day because it was the best I could do to explain how blessed I feel today (great husband/great kids/great job/so much love!). Many days I feel as though I could scream at the top of my lungs so I fully embrace a great day.....can you tell?

Tomorrow I may blog about how much I want to scream at the top of my lungs, so today I am going to bask in the glow of this beautiful day. The weather was gorgeous, work was great, my mom-in-law picked up my kds and spoiled them so I could work in peace, I came home to a husband who was happy to see me, my kids had good days, there is only 5 days of school left! What else can I say? Stay tuned.....reality is bound to kick in...but at least I have the HOPE for another day just like it!

American Girl

American Girl Cafe

Sunday, May 18, 2009

Beth, Kaitlin, Ashlyn, me, (Jennifer not pictured)

We had a fabulous time at the American Girl Cafe Sunday. Beth has given her granddaughters the dolls and thought it would be fun to go to the Cafe all dressed up like their dolls and have a girl day. It was a really crummy day outside so it was nice to do something that wouldn't exaggerate my bad-weather blues. I forgot my sim card and was HIGHLY dissapointed that I was unable to take pictures. Thanks Beth for sending these to me! They are cute. You can tell how tired I am by the editing. I did an absolutley terrible job editing them but don't have the energy to care. Just glad to have the pictures to remember our day! And thank you for planning such a special day! I know it was meant for the little girls but this big girl surely had fun. I almost bought my own doll and outfit to match but I figured that would be a little creepy.

I can't help but laugh at myself though. I am turning into my mother more and more with each passing day. Since bathingsuit season is here, I figured I'd go easy on the calories and get a veggie sandwich. This low calorie treat was followed but nothing more than a 1500 calorie slice of cheese cake that Kailin ordered, and I ate. So much for bathingsuit season. I think I'll stay under the umbrella covered in a towel and eat cheesecake.

Flashback Friday

8th grade

1992

Eric and I: My 13th birthday party: I remember my friends all being really giddy about the fact that I had a "boyfriend" from another school....and he was TALL, and a football player!!Oooooh....ahhhhhhhhh.

1992: Me, Eric, Corey Butchko, Laura Merchant

This phot0 was taken 17 years ago at a cheerleading competition. That whole "17 years ago" thing is really hard to swallow. Eric and I were a few months into our little 8th grade relationship. I don't look too thrilled, but it has nothing to do with Eric. I was being a brat because we had lost the competition to Walton, and they did not deserve it (of course, right?) I remember being mad at my mom for wanting to take a picture when I was in such a bad mood. Looking back on this makes me see how similar Kaitlin and I are. She gets really down after a loss too and pouts just like this!!!! What I LOVE about this picture is that Eric is smiling. Little did he know...he had his arm around his future wife! A woman who would someday BEG for a picture of him smiling like that! Awwwwwww. It is still neat to look back on these photos because I had no idea I would marry him and have 2 kids with him someday....just thought he was this cute boy I wanted to "go out with" for a little while. Funny.

Hey Beth and Nick- thanks for giving Eric and I a night to ourselves! We are enjoying our computer time without the kids running in here fighting or tattling on each other. We all know what happens to the kids when we get on the phone or the computer!

Kindergarten!!!

Yes...you heard me.....I'm a going to teach Kindergarten next year!!!!! My Principal announced some very exciting staff changes today and one of them is ME! I am beyond excited about this for several reasons. #1: I LOVE change, and am the first to offer to move to a new grade when the opportunity comes. I am committed to hopping around for the first 10 years of my career so I am jam packed with experience. This gives me a great advantge as a teacher: flexibility and experience. #2 Kindergarten is what I have always wanted. I am the first to tell you all about my problems...but insanely secretive about my hopes and dreams. Teaching Kindergarten is something I LOVED and have missed since I left 3 years ago. It combines everything I love about teaching (the kids, the fun projects, the celebrations, the excitement, the newness, the love, the hugs, the cuteness) and eliminates everything I don't like about teaching (the grading papers, the stress of the BIG TEST, the jam packed curriculum). #3 Jack is entering Kindergarten so I will be on the same hall as him!!!!

I am so excited I can't stand it...but sad to leave the team of teachers I have come to know and love. The positive side of switching grades every year is getting to know new people and forming new relationships. The negative side is leaving them and not interacting with them as much. I am going to stay positive though. Yes, it will be hard to start all over in a new grade, on a new hall, with new teachers, a new classroom, new rules, new standards, new files, new EVERYTHING, AGAIN....but I think I will be happy there. I will be working with some really great people and you can't beat those little tiny great people I will get to spend my days with. I plan to stay in Kindergarten for a while so I can get my Masters and be comfortable in a grade while doing so. But life is not about planning...it's about being happy with what is already planned for you. I did request that I move to K....but you never know if what you request is possible. I feel blessed.

SO.....Mr. Jack and I will be on the same hall next year. I will have a 5th grader and a Kindergartener in one building (my building) and I'll be snuggling into my 4th year of teaching. GOOD STUFF!

Happy 31st Birthday Eric!

Is it wierd to give a "shout out" to your husband on the internet? Does that mean we have communication issues? It kind of wierds me out a little when other people do it (after all...husbands and wives DO live under the same roof), but I'm doing it anyway.


It's you birthday...go Eric. It's your birthday......go Eric.


I will be the first to admit that 31 is not as exciting as 30. Eric had to coach basketball tonight so he's bringing home some Mexican take out. Sound fun? There's more. On the way home from school, Jack opened the window and OUT Eric's birthday balloon flew! Typical.....you try to do something nice! After I yelled at my seemingly innocent child and felt like the worst mother in the world....I found a way to laugh off the incident and blame Murphy for his rediculous laws. Poor Jack......he let daddy's balloon fly out the window on the WRONG day for mommy! I had to feed him ice cream at 3 pm to band aid my "Mother of the Year" moment. It worked like a charm! All is forgotten.

So that's it......a long work day, no balloon, no cake, Mexican take out, and basket ball practice. Sorry Eric! Welcome to Adulthood...and life past 30! At least you have a wife that loves you enough to yell at her innocent child over your birthday balloon!

I love you Superman!

Mom's Day

Mother's Day Photos

A Mother's Day Story

The Day: Mother's Day Evening around 9:00 P.M.

The location: Snuggle time in Jack's bed

Me: "Goodnight, Jack...I love you."

Jack: "I love you too, Mommy."

Jack: "Mom, is it okay if I call you mom instead of mommy."

Me: I guess that's okay....are you big now?"

Jack: "Yeah...I'm big now."

( This moment was followed by me crying next to him trying not to let him know I was a big baby.)

It's official...my kids are big. And he decided to do this on Mother's Day! Oh it was such a sweet moment, but such a sad moment. Now I'm just mom.

Kaitlin's Play and a little mischief

Thursday night was Kaitlin's school play: Captain Bree and Her Lady Pirates.
The kids were amazing!! I was so impressed with the talent that exists at this
level. Many people didn't know Kaitlin could sing and were impressed by the
voice that came out of that very timid girl! It was a great night and Kaitlin did
awesome. My camera was having a BAD night. All of the pictures were blurry.
I am about to upgrade my camera and make the investment to a Nikon D200.
My favorite lens (the 50 prime) does not work on auto with my camera,so it's time.
Plus....I am not at all impressed with the sensor on this one (the D40X). I feel like
I have to edit everything!! I'm tired of editing. So I don't have many photos to share
but the night was awesome and I am a very proud momma!

Kaitlin's tournament went poorly. They have not won a s.i.n.g.l.e. game. They are a
bunch of good players who don' listen. They'll get there, but it's hard to spend your
entire weekend in a gym (or in route to one) and not win anything. Regardless, the girls
seem to be enjoying themselves so we press on.


On stage during a song....she playe one of Captain
Bree's main lady pirates.


After the program was over...Jack disappeared. We found
him minutes later outise in the parking lot hanging on a POLE!
Great...I have a pole dancing 5 year old.

How could I not post this picture? We bought these
crayons that write on the bath tub walls. I will write something
and he will guess what it is based on the letter sounds. He doesn't
know that trouble is written behind him... but isn't it fitting?????
He was in the posing mood and I got a series of shots with crazy faces.
This one was just to perfect. He is so MaCauley Culkin circa 1992.

Flashback Friday

Kaitlin's first bath (she was 2 days old)

March 1, 1999

In light of Mother's Day I had to post this picture of when I first became a mother. It's strange to look back on pictures of Kaitlin's babyhood and see myself in the role of motherhood at such a young age. Technically, 20 is not young by human standards, but it felt very young by society's standards. I feel like I am 20 years older than that person. The beautiful thing is that regardless of my youth and lack of awareness of the enormity of the job of being a mother, I knew one thing for sure when I fist saw that precious little girl. My life-and most importantly my heart- would never be the same.

From the very first moment I saw her face I was so in love with her that I could harldy let myself feel it. I took me a while to really let myself feel it. I was so afraid of the feelings I felt for her. I know now that I was just not mature enough to handle those feelings at first. But in a very short time I came to realize that I would never love anyone else the way I love her (and all future children). As soon as she was born all of my fears went away and I could not imagine my life without her. I knew I had to raise her and protect her and teach her everything I knew. But what did I know? I was 20! I knew we were just going to have to grow up together.

I remember staying up loooong nights nursing her all night and crying my eyes out in my room. It wasn't a sad cry...it was an exhausted, head over heels in love, oh my God I am a mother, cry. I loved her so much that the jealousy I had for my friends and their freedom had vanished and I felt so sorry for them because I had this beautiful baby girl and they didn't know the love I knew. I no longer cared about what I was missing out on...I would smile and thank God because I got to spend those days with this little tiny person that I loved so much and they spent their days with hangovers.

Ooooh I could write a book about being a young mother, I really could. For now I will just say that sweet little girl has taught me more about God and love than anyone else....without even knowing it. We have raised each other, with the help of several other phenominal women. I am so thankful for my kids and so blessed to be a mother, no matter how exhausting it is at times.

I often wonder...what do people do that don't have kids?

All I know is I am so glad that I am a mother. Being a mother teachers you the true meaning of sacrafice, selflessness, acceptance, forgiveness, understanding, patience, and love. It's a blessing beyond words. No one can prepare you for the how much being a mother will change you. You can see it on every new mother's face. There is something different....something really beautiful.

Happy Mother's Day!

Silas Homecoming cont.....

This one tugged at my heart...Addie hugging her daddy so sweetly....




Silas had an allergic reaction to a bug bite and his poor skin is
all broken out in bumps...apparently he could care less!


Such joy in his eyes meeting his grandmother.....


He's not too sure about his grandfather... :)
Only kidding, he was smiling away at him and grabbing his face
but I was shaking with laughter and the pictures were blurry!


You mean I really get to hold him?


Family of five


Silas is wondering why all of these people keep staring at his family and
flashing bright stuff at them. He'll get use to it. For now I think he may
be questioning all of it. :)


This is Angie's best friend Ashley, also an adoptive mother.
She knows how this feels. You can see it in her eyes and her
HUGE smile!

OK...now I will go back to blogging about my family now. I just had to share this awesome time with my family and friends who don't know Angie. This is by far the most exciting thing that has happened all year and I wanted to make sure I documented every ounce of it that I could. I also knew I'd never get my hands on her pictures so I'd better take my own! :)

more

Here I am at school on my lunch break looking at the photos from yesterday again and again. I have many more and will edit the 2nd round this afternoon and post them this evening. I cried the whole way home last night and again when I was editing them. It really is the kind of experience that I can't put into words. Watching a family come together like that after 2 years of waiting...knowing that family and love is all we really have as people and that love is our sole purpose for living. It's the essence of life, and witnessing that joy first hand was magical. I can't wait to see the pictures from the REAL photographer....you will be amazed at the difference between an amateur (sp.) like me and someone who actually knows what they are doing! For now, mine will have to do. Love you too Angie! Again, thank you for letting me be a part of such an awesome day!

Welcome Home Silas James Tariku Carley!!!!!

Oooooh Silas.....do you know how much you are loved?

My dear friend Angie and her husband Joe have been waiting 2 years for thier son. They finally met him last week after traveling 16 hours to Ethiopia and I had the privledge of meeting them at the airport today as they arrived from their loooooooong flight from BACK from Ethiopia. They were exhausted, but Silas smiled and smiled and made everyone fall in love with him in seconds. The entire area around them was surrounded with people in tears...watching two little blonde haired beautiful girls meet their adorable new brother. I cried, their family cried, strangers cried...it was an experience I'll never forget. What a journey Angie and Joe have been on waiting for their son and traveling across the world to pick him up. I enjoyed taking pictures but was relieved that they had hired a professional to record the experience. I was too emotional to handle the job on my own. Here are a few pictures I was able to upload and edit. There are many more, but my kids are still awake and it's a school night. I'll save the rest for Angie. I am SO happy that you finally have your son and I can't wait to spend some time with you all!!! Congratulations and thank you for allowing me to be a part of such a special day!!
one happy mommy...

the happiest baby i have ever seen in my life....and the cutest!!!

he instantly fell in love with his sisters...(savannah not pictured)

a tearful family reunion after over a week apart.....such a beautiful sight.

A date with Sir Handsomeness

Jack's class gave all of the momma's a Mother's Day Tea. It was so nice to have a date with my handsome guy and precious when he asked me to "wear my pretty dress...you know, the one that goes all the way to your toes." He had an exact "look" he wanted me to acheive. Unfortunatley it was dirty so I had to wear something less beautiful, but it was the thought that counts. We had a lovely time scarfing down insanely fattening deserts and listening to the cute things the kiddos said about their moms. Jack said I was 16 years old and 12 ft. tall. and that my favorite thing to do is sit at the computer and print pictures. He knows me well! Cindy and Carsyn were there. Jack and Carsyn are in the same class this year and I am thrilled to say that they will not be in the same class next year. Carsyn seems to enjoy telling Jack to do things and watching him get in trouble. She's a little me to a T...which isn't good. I was a sneaky little girl and I made the rules for me, no one else was allowed to tell me what to do. My poor sister had to help my mom raise me because my mom didn't know what to do with me. Now she is doing it all over again! Oh well....only Cindy could handle me twice. Fun times.

Jack planted a plant for me and was SO proud of his good works. He makes sure I water it every day. I wonder if he'll have a green thumb like his dad, or if he'll kill every plant he touches like his mom? I micht have to hand over the care of the plant to Eric to make sure it survives the week.

Jack was cracking me up when they sang to us. He told me ahead of time that he was going to sing a song that would make me cry, but PLEASE not to cry. I didn't cry, just like he asked, but I think he kind of wanted me to. :) He was giddy with excitement at the whole evening. He loves stuff like that. I don't know why but that surprises me.

I love this shot. Carsyn looks exactly like my mom! Everyone says she looks like me, but I don't see it. I see Nana 100%.

Jack and his friend Harrison (the charmer)

(I still can't figure out how to change the width of my blog so I can put horizontal pictures on it and have the whole thing showing. I have to make horizontal pictures small unless the subjects are to the left. )

Flashback Friday

July 29, 2002

Kaitlin- 3 years old

I scanned in this old photo of Kaitlin because it is one of my favorites. She is only 3 years old here but I remember looking at the photo when I picked it up and thinking of how fast times flies and how old she looked! Geez....I had no idea how true that really is. I was taking this ohot, I believe, from a Canon Rebel, my first good camera. I love looking back to see the evolution of my photography skills! I think I could most definitly make a career out of this with 5 more years of training, research, and practice....and about $5000.00 worth of new equipment, but I won't go there for now.

I know I had planned to do this every Friday but this is actually the first chance I've had all weekend. We haven't stopped long enough to do much of anything all weekend.