Pictures with Heather

Once a year (or more) the kids get pictures with a professional photographer.  I did it more often when they were little - and Sam will have his own session with her next month - but I get her to take pictures for our Christmas card every year.  And I love having really good pictures of the kids at each stage in life.  Heather Swanner stated taking pictures of Ward when he was 17 months old and I was about to bust out Ann Park.  I remember specifically not following doctor-ordered bed rest that day and meeting Heather at the Botanical Gardens for some special shots of Ward before his sister was born.  They are still some of my favorites. 

Well, on Thursday we went to Morris Avenue in Birmingham which is an old, cobblestoned street with a lot of charm (and colors) to get our shots for this year's card.  As usual, they are amazing and I know I will have a hard time sorting through them all to decide what images I want.  And I know that I will spend more money than I had planned, but pictures save those faces in time - faces that change so much.  And it is so sad to say, that I have a hard time remembering Ward at 17 months with just my memory alone. 

So here is a taste of what she captured.  Ann Park was a total ham and LOVED the camera.  I picked out their outfits but let them pick out their shoes and Ann Park picked out her headband.  Her little outfit perfectly captures her personality. 

Grey Rocks Oct 1-3

The famly went to Grey Rocks without Cher Cher and Papa the first weekend in October.  The weather was absolutely perfect and the kids had the best time, as usual.  Sam kept pointing at Cher Cher and Papa's and said "Care-Care"?  which was really cute.  They know so much more than we give them credit for!

climbing on the fence

the sweetest girl

getting so big!

climbing on the dogs

Such a daredevil

king of the world!

best ride in town

my boys

Checking out the deer feeder

howdy partner

Dove Hunt - Sept 2010

The kids had a great time at the annual Grey Rocks dove hunt.  Although it was extremely hot, Ward went out with Ted and stayed the whole time!  I think that he spent some of the time in the car with Papa, but he had a good time with just the boys.  He even picked up dead birds for daddy - a rite of passage that every boy must go through before they are able to hunt in our family!

Ann Park leared how to play the Wii hunting game and even gave Ward a run for his money?

Lovin on daddy!

I mean, could Ward be any skinnier?

Love me some Sam!

Ward at the dove hunt (ear muffs to protect his ears and snake boots just in case!)

Dead bird!

Long time No Post

I haven't posted in a while and I have a lot of catching-up to do on here - especially through pictures, which I promise to get to.  But Ryan sent some video of the kids riding their horse Lucy while we were in TN and I wanted to see if I could get the link to work.  They had the best time and gained so much confidence.  I could not believe that they rode without the lead rope and could even get her to follow their commands.  Of course, that speaks very highly of Lucy and Ryan as well!

The first two are Ward riding Lucy (with some nice commentary by me):

http://sharing.theflip.com/session/69d6819e91bf4ba3612adb338973fdba/video/20147261

http://sharing.theflip.com/session/c79b9780b75e07cd538179eb49a6982b/video/20148721

And here is one of Ann Park riding:

http://sharing.theflip.com/session/ccf8cb5b4de793135f426eeefdff6636/video/20149501

More to come so stay tuned!

This weekend

I have lots of pictures to post from the past couple of weekends, but I haven't downloaded them on my computer yet.  Ted has been out of town which means I am ready to veg out by the time I get the kids down and that has not included computer time in a while.  But I will get to them.

However, this weekend I am taking Ward and Ann Park to visit my sister Kit.  I have been looking forward to this for a long time (we booked it this summer!) and I can't wait to get up there.  The kids have Monday off school so we will head up late on Friday but get to spend all day Saturday and Sunday.  Kit has planned many a fun thing to do, including Dollywood on Saturday and the Dixie Stampede, which is like a rodeo dinner show.  I think that I am more excited than the kids.  I will get pictures, but hope that Uncle Ryan will get some too!!!  It would be perfect if Bean could be there, but we will all be together Thanksgiving weekend which is not too far away!

Does this look like a cool band?

A friend of mine posted this on their facebook page and now I can't stop listening and trying to find more.  Here's a peek:

Oldie but goodie

While I was putting Ann Park to bed tonight, I heard some familiar music coming from the playroom.   I couldn't quite place it because the sound was muffled, but when I walked in Ted and Ward were playing "kitchen" this was playing through Ted's computer:



Classic.

Karate

Ward started taking karate about three weeks ago.  I was a little bit worried because it is two days a week for an houra and fifteen minutes at a time, right after school.  He can be a bit of a pill when he gets home from school - mainly because he is tired and hungry - but he really wanted to do it so I signed him up.  I was also worried because I had heard that the teacher (they call him "She-Han") was serious and made the kids sit on their knees, do "six inches" (where the kids lay on their backs and lift their feet up six inches) and the like.  He is big on discipline and they have to be able to be still.  I warned Ward about all of it but he still wanted to do it.

And I am so glad he did because HE LOVE IT.  And I am not talking about a little enthusiasm.  It is huge.  He looks forward to it each Tuesday and Thursday like he hasn't looked forward to any other after school activity.  And the things is, he is good at it to.  He can sit still longer than I have ever seen him.  She-han says that he will be able to test the first go-around (which is in a couple of months) and that he rarely lets kindergarten kids test the first time.  I am so proud of him.  Plus he looks really cute in his uniform, especially since the extra small is too big on him! 

I usually go and watch the last 15 minutes or so and I tried to get some pictures on my phone last week.  I didn't capture any great ones (when they are yelling) but I will post what I have.  She-han had called a couple of them up to the front row, Ward included, so they are somewhat unobstructed.  You can at least see how serious he is.  But when he punches, it is hysterical.  His arms literally shake because he punches the air so hard.  Maybe I should try for video today.

This is the starting position.  The next pictures are various punches (all down).  I hate that I didn't get more, but you get the idea. 

Makin momma so proud.  Bullies beware.  Ward will kick your butt!

Just Say No.

My life is going by too fast.  I really want things to just slow down.  I want to enjoy the small stuff, smell the roses, that sort of thing.  Instead, I feel like the days are just passing me by and I am just going through the motions.  You see, I have this problem of not being able to say no.  I am a working (albeit part-time but I still have to get my butt up and into work) mother of three.  And I am President of a very large volunteer organization this year, which in and of itself has taken up more time this summer than my paying job.  Next thing I know I am also in charge of the decorations for the Beaker Bash, the single-largest fundraiser the McWane Science Center hosts in February.  Plus I am in a book club, garden club, bible study, and a myriad of other small things.  Not to mention that I am Ward and Ann Park's personal driver.  And the family's personal shopper (food, clothes, anything from CVS, Walmart, Costco, and the like).  At least I have a cleaning service, but I do feel like I am alway picking up after someone.  Ummm, I am sure that there are other things that I am forgetting.  Oh yeah, maybe a wife?  That needs to go in there too.

So I already know what my new year's resolution is going to be - JUST SAY NO!  Problem is that I have to complete all the things that I said I would.  And when I say complete, I don't do anything half-ass.  If I say I am going to do something I do it and give it my all.  And I will.  But I also am making a promise to myself right now to slow down and be present with my family.  I will enjoy those nightly walks with Sam while watching Ann Park and Ward ride their scooters, instead of triple tasking during them.  I will play dolls with Ann Park instead of answering those e-mails which I can do after she is in bed.  And I'll even play whatever type of army/ninja/Indiana Jones game Ward has dreamt up.  You know why?  Becuase life is too short and these moments will be gone sooner than I know it.  And they are the memories I will cherish.  Not what organization I was President of or how much work I got done.  So maybe the title of the post should be "Just say yes" - to family.

Yesterday

So yesterday was our anniversary.  8 years.  Goes by faster than lightening.  Still can't believe all that we have done together in those eight years.  The funny thing is that the best memories are the small ones (except the birth of our 3 amazing kids of course!).  What I mean by that is my favorite thoughts about Ted and me are not on some amazing trip or during some important night, etc., it is the quiet moments, the late night laughter, the walks to the park where he grabs my hand and I still feel a spark.  Those make me feel special.  Those make me feel loved.  Those make me know I am the luckiest woman on the planet.  I love you babe.