Photos of the Week

This is my absolute favorite picture of the week, if not of all time. He was doing his "dive pose". This one of being enlarged and framed in my house.

My nephew Scott

My nephew Carson

Kaitlin loving her boogie board

Ashlyn pretending to drink coffee

Here are my favorite photos from our Hilton Head vacation. I took over 600 pictures so it was very hard to choose my favorites. I narrowed it down to one of each child. More photos will come later in the form of an online photo album, but for now, here are my personal favorites.

beautiful girl....

I just HAVE to share these beautiful pictures of Kaitlin. To cut back on cost, I set up a studio in my bedroom to get some updated professional-looking shots of the kids (even though I would much prefer candid over studio pics). Jack wanted nothing to do with it, so I'll have to catch him on a good day and try again. However, I love the pictures of Kaitlin so much that I am no longer mad at Jack for not participating. She looks so grown up...and so beautiful!! Love um...

By the way...by "set up a studio".... I mean a black sheet over a chair, natural sunlight through a window, and a Nikon D40X.

Jack Stark Day continued....

precious wittle man...

The Woodstock Train
He can't believe he's on a railroad track!

Don't you love this chair? Thanks Beth!!! We love it!

My day with Jack

Peek-a boo!
Sir Climbs-a-lot
Making me some dirt ice-cream
A sudden, loud, and very girly scream freaked him out

Jack and I had mommy-son day today. We spent a long time at a nearby park, went to a local train station and walked on the tracks, ate ice cream, and planted some new flowers. Jack LOVES to plant flowers. He has a major green thumb. Mine is brown, hense the dead flowers that have been laying by my mailbox since June.
I hate to sound like one of those people who seem to make their lives look like something out of a cheesy Hollywood movie, but today was a great day. I am wise enough to really appreciate a great day when I see one. Here are the pics from my oh-so-fabulous day with one really cute boy :). (a boy who needs a haircut)

happy times

5 reasons why i am happy today:

1. kaitlin was asked by our school's music teacher to sing a patriotic song in front of the whole school at our annual september 11th remembrance ceremony! for those of you who do not know, the girl can sing! i am so proud of my girl for her bravery.

2. i got my camera back!!!!!

3. i have one week of school left and my family is going to hilton head for a WHOLE WEEK vacation. it's our favorite week of the year. eric's parents take us every year and we have so much fun hanging our with the family, especially now that everyone has kids. we just PRAY that a hurricane doesn't ruin our fun.

4. fall is just around the corner and i am at my absolute happiest me during the fall months. what do i love about fall? the smell, the cool weather, the constant get togethers for football games, the changing of the leaves, breaking out the jeans and long sleeve shirts, being able to run OUTSIDE instead of on a treadmill on my house, halloween, thanksgiving, preparations for christmas, and many more.

5. i am enjoying my family more than ever. the kids are both now at an age where we can just hang out with each other and not deal with constant whining and temper tantrums. we can watch movies and BOTH the kids can enjoy them. we can sleep in until 8:30-9:00 on the weekends. we can have family conversations and everyone has an opinion. it's such a great time as parents. eric and i are both much happier now that we are past the stress of little ones always running the show!

aren't they cute?

I think I may have already posted these but I am doing it again anyway. They are from this summer. I am still working with photoshop. I can't figure out how to do what I see other people doing to their pictures. I guess I'll have to read the directions....bummer!

monday, monday

i am officially in need of therapy. i have been 4 weeks without my camera. i have missed so many hysterical and wonderful moments. gone forever. nothing i can do. i have the memory of a fish, and old, ancient, senile fish at that. if i can remember anything...its not for long. i have flashes of memories, but they are all of pictures of my past, not actual memories. this is why i am so bummed without my camera. it is why i behave like a crazed member of the paparazzi. and these SLOW PEOPLE in Atlanta are just taking their sweet time with my memories...do they even know? i'm also 10 lbs over my normal weight so that makes me mad too. so i'm basically a fat old fish with no camera. hmmmmmm...what else. that's it I think. everything else is good.

kaitlin started hip hop again. every time i watch her dance i SO just want to jump in that room and break it down. the other day we had a pep-rally at our school and the teachers all got up and did cheers to pep up the student body. i felt it would be a really appropriate time to break out my round off back handspring....so i did. my students have seen me "flip" for them many times, but the faculty was a little shocked. our principal had hired the georgia force cheerleaders to come help pep everyone up. after it was all over...they were trying to get me to sign a contract with them. i am still not sure if i should be flattered or embarrassed. they claim there are other 30 years old mothers on the squad. what? but i had such a moment....thinkin i still go it! so at least this fat old fish can still do a back handspring.

jack is loving school. he is really growing up and taking pride in his school work (praise God). after the beginning of the year last year we were almost positive he would be in pre-school juvi before long. (he pushed another child and called her a bad,bad word) its nice to know he is growing out of his abusive stage. he really is though. we are actually able to enjoy them both now. we can do a lot more as a family now. i really like the age of 5. its a nice age for kids.

not much new to report here. i am still LOVING my new class and grade. eric and i are going down to florida this weekend for labor day to see his family. in 3 weeks we are going to hilton head for a week, so that makes me smile. other than that its just the same old stuff around here....and that ain't bad. as soon as i get my camera back i will have many pictures to post. for now, you'll just have to hear me rant. :)

FREE MARTHA!

I have already posted this picture, but I just wanted to post it again. Since I've been back from Hawaii, I always go back to the thought of this picture when I need a happy place. This picture was taken by accident. I was trying to capture the size of the waves and did not know about the little supergirl until that night as I was looking at the days pictures.

I often get overwhelmed with life, as we all do, and there are several things I do to stay sane (not all at the same time) 1. I pray in my closet. 2. I drink a glass of wine 3. I go for a run 4. I go for a drive, sing, and think happy thoughts. (I think I've mentioned this before)

This will forever be one of my happy places. I was standing on this beautiful beach in Hawaii..not a care in the world...no schedule, no one needing me, nothing to worry about. Just me and my peace, and I took this beautiful picture. It was such a great time in my life, and it turned out to be a profound moment.

The vision of this little girl pretending to be superwoman frequently pops in my head. It is really a representation of all women. We spend our whole lives catering to everyones needs, taking on the world's burdens, worrying about and helping everyone but ourselves, putting everyones needs and wants before our own, and wearing a pretend cape at all times...trying to do it all, and with a smile on our faces. It's the way God made us I guess, but it is this secret struggle of every woman I think.

It's a hard thing to realize you are not superwoman and that you are only human, and you can't please everyone. But it doesn't stop us from trying. No matter how many times we fall, we get back up, put on our cape, and do it all over again....with the occasional (or frequent) closet prayer and glass of wine. I love this picture. It has so much meaning to me, and just the thought of it makes me feel strong, even in times of weakness.

But today..... I feel like burning my cape, getting on a Harley in a black leather jacket with a cigarette in my mouth, and flying down 575 with a sign on my back that says FREE MARTHA!

Seriously....

So I have obviously gone back to work considering I haven't "blogged" in a while. Since Wednesday, July 23rd, I have been working everyday, many 12 hour days so I forgot about this thing. I am back to work and the kids are back to school. I moved up to 3rd grade this year and brought my class with me so I already know them and their parents. It's really a great deal. I am only teaching Writing, Grammar, and Reading so my job is 1/2 of what is was last year. That is why I wanted to move up. I like only having to plan 3 subjects vs. 6. I can put a ot more energy and time into my 3 little subjects now. I can just tell it's going to be a GREAT year. K.K. loves her teachers and Jack is happy with his as well. As a mom, having good teachers for your kids and happy school go'ers is HUGE. As a teacher, having a good class vs. a bad one is the difference between loving your job and 'Hi, my name is Suzy and I am an alcoholic'. This year I won't have to hang out with Kendal Jackson so much.

My camera was not working up to par and the flash broke so it is at the doctor. That is why I have not posted any pictures recently. I have no new ones! So many photo moments lost....it makes me sick to go run for my camera and realize it's at the doctor. I will get it back this week. That's excites me to no end.

Other than that things have been falling apart at the seams so I will save the vent session for my girlfriends (thanks for listening Angie) instead of debbie downin' it. If I continue to talk anymore I might sound like a whiner.

the difference between boys and girls

this morning kaitlin came into my room to wake me up and in usual fashion she quietly whispered that she was awake and would be in her room eating cereal (that she made herself). I happily let her go be a big girl so i could sleep in. ahhhhhhhh.....girls.

an hour later jack comes in and wakes me up by violently slamming a stuffed whale over my head and saying "I'm hungry, wake up!". After the my heart stopped beating out of my chest, jack was sent to his room for almost killing me and the day began. ahhhhhhhh!!!!.....boys.

guilty pleasures

Everyone has guilty pleasures. My guilty pleasure is Us magazine. When I get it in the mail, I have a rule. Everyone has to leave me alone while I indulge in mindless entertainment. The kids will come up and try to ask me to do something for them and I will give me the "turn around and walk away" signal. They now know not to even bother when I am reading my Us, atleast Kaitlin does. For some reason, despite the fact that I rarely watch T.V or movies, I do love my Us magazine. It's my guilty pleasure.

We went to Atlanta for a family sleep over at our friends Jessica and Craig's Friday. Jess and I took the kids to blockbuster for a movie. Kaitlin saw her favorite singers on the cover of Bop magazine and asked if she could by it. She begged actually. The kind of begging I rarely see from her....begging is Jack's specialty. I said yes and we left with a movie and a copy of Bop. As we piled in the car, I turned around to ask Kaitlin a question and she gave me the "don't talk to me" signal. She then went on to say "don't talk to me while I'm reading my magazine". Jessica and I bust out laughing. (Jessica and Craig will come over to our house and Jess and I will each have a copy of Us or In Touch and we will sit on opposites ends of the couch and not speak for over an hour. So Jessica understands where Kaitlin is coming from.)

The next morning as we were gathering our stuff to leave, I walked into the guestroom of Jessica's house to see my 9 year old daughter soaking up her own version of mindless entertainment...her new Bop magazine. I had to get a picture. I already know she is watching me, but it hits me harder when stuff like this happens. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh! She better not get use to this!

Our visit with the Carleys

We got to visit with the Carley's (Angie, Savannah, and Addie) this week and had a great time watching the kids interact. It's been almost a year since we all got together so we had a good time catching up (love you ang!). Here are the pics....I just got photshop but have not perfected it so bare with me!

more

more, more, more....

My Jack

My mother in law came over today. We were all standing around talking and Jack kept bugging her to go outside so he could look at her car. She explained to him that she did not have her car today, she drove Grandpa Nick's car. Still, he kept asking to go outside and see her "clean car". So we all walked outside to pacify Jack and see Nick's "clean car" as we are all still holding a conversation about something totally different. (i know at the time we were all confused as to why he wanted to do this) When Beth opened the door to Grandpa Nick's car, Jack layed his head very casually down on the back seat and started gently "petting" the leather seats and says...."ahhhhh.....it's so nice and clean".

I think its safe to say its time to clean out my car. The poor kid rides around in a garbage can on wheels (the Tahoe is always a mess). I had no idea how much it effected him (he's my little neat freak who regularly tells me I need to clean the house) but after laughing at his comment, I felt I owed it to the poor kid. He's never come out and told me he hates our messy trash can on wheels, but after requesting a visit to embrase the seats of a clean car, I took the hint.

not so bad...

Today was Jack's 1st dentist appointment. I brought along my camera as evidence for what I thought was going to be a horrific experience. To my surprise, Jack did wonderful, and there were no cavities to report for the Stark children. No, I will not blog every dentist appointment, doctors appointment, bathroom visit, ect. I just had to show off these shots of Jack and the joy he somehow found in the dentist chair. I guess he's growing up! I just love the placement of his hands during the cleaning...he is so unsure of what is going on and his body language cracks me up! I also had to add the shot of his little flip flopped feet. I love the sight of a little boy in baggie shorts and flip flops.

Lily Jo Fano

Today, a dear friend of mine, Brandi, brought over her 1 year old daughter, Lily Jo Fano. My family fell in love with her. Lily is as adorable as they come, and a spitting image of her father. The kids and I enjoyed Brandi and Lily's company so much and had to share these adorable pictures.

the dreaded haircut

So Jack hates haircuts.....to the point where he will actuallly negotiate giving up his toys or favorite events to avoid getting one. I am the family hair stylist so you think he would trust me, but he doesn't. The reason we let his hair get so long is because it is such a fight to get him to cooperate. I am talking tears, tantrums, whatever. Regardless, we have to endure it. Yesterday was the day. I had to share the before and after....it's worth the fight to see how handsome he is with a cute haircut!

just a thought

do you ever feel like life is going so fast that it is hard to really enjoy it while it is happening? i feel that way all the time. i was recently putting some pictures that i found back in old albums and i started looking back on my life. i went through all 29 years of my life in a few hours time. what was cool is that i got to re-live my joys all over again. i couldn't help but wonder though.... was i really enjoying all of those times while they were happening, or was i too busy worrying about the future? did i really know how lucky i was (am), or was I in a place where i was always focusing on what i wanted, rather than what i had?

i knew the answer to my own question as i was asking myself, and i broke my heart.

it was in that little 3 hour experience that i realized i am not really living my life. i'm rushing through it, looking foward at what is to come, what i want to happen, what i can't wait to buy, or a place i can't wait to go. i am always thinking about the furture, planning things in my head as if i am the one in control. i've decide to change that. i refuse to be 40, sitting in my living room, looking back on photo albums of the last 10 years of my life thinking...where did it go? or, did i enjoy it while it was happening? i want to know that the answer to that question is yes, i enjoyed every stinkin minute...even the crummy ones.

the last few days have been awesome. i have been living every day as it comes. i'm taking in all in, slowing down, and living in the moment. i'm not worrying about the future or getting irritated with people because they are not doing what i want them to do, i'm just living. it feels so good, and i can't believe how much it changes life when you are truly living it WHILE IT IS HAPPENING instead of always waiting for something to happen, and missing the good stuff. it makes me wish i had always lived this way, but i won't go there. i'm just going to be glad i figured out this little treasure now, and not 20 years from now.

we went bowling today, and i thouroughly enjoyed my family. kaitlin was mad (pouting actually)because she wasn't winning (it's genetic, she truly can't help it), jack was literally on the floor screaming because he was out of money and wanted to play more video games. eric was taking his score way too seriously (again, genetics). but there i was, really enjoying them. i know the kids will be grown before i know it, and i just want to treasure every moment with them before they move out and eric and i are alone in disbelief that our children are grown and we didn't enjoy it like we should have.

i'm feeling really blessed of late and i just wanted to share what's been on my mind. i wonder...how many of us humans are really living our lives in the moment? how many people are just like me...always thinking and planning and stressing and not really taking it all in and enjoying what is happening in our lives because we are busy making other plans. it's so true...life is what happens while we are making other plans.

just a thought.