Latest Parents and Kids article :-)

This one is about volunteering with your kids!

A current project of mine.

Three guesses as to what this is:

The rehydration of the Pod People?   No.

Sticks that met an untimely demise?   No.

Another one of those crazy homeschool things?   No.  Weelllll.....  No.  Not really.  Maybe kinda.

I'm making homemade vanilla extract.  Yes, I am.  I've found this very addictive not-so-little blog called Heavenly Homemakers.  She's all about natural, whole-food eating, and I've been getting some good bread recipes from her.  (More on that later).  But this little 6 month project is very easy.  No experience required.  You just have to have the gumption to buy a lot of vodka at one time.  (Or, you have to have a sweet spouse who is willing to do it for you).  :-D  My only question about this whole thing is that most, if not all, of the high-quality, pure extracts that I know of do contain a little bit of water.  And this is all alcohol and vanilla beans.  But, I've got until June to figure all that out.  In the meantime, I try to remember to do a "Vanilla Shake" every once in a while.  And that cabinet is taking on quite a lovely aroma - so, bonus!

Just thought I'd share.  I'm not 100% sure just how much money this is saving.  It's definitely saving some, but I'm not sure just how much yet.  This is really more for the cool factor of it all.  Anyone can do it!

Proud of you, Phillip!

This is my cousin-in-love (Jmk's 1st cousin), Phillip Chapman.  Catcher for the Memphis Tigers.  Proud of you, big guy!

Diversity.

A couple of weeks ago, a Facebook connection made a comment about how she didn't feel very kindly towards homeschooling, linking to an article from FoxNews about how the face of homeschooling is changing.

I didn't comment on her innocent post, because it really wasn't necessary.  BUT, I was nosy enough to see what others were saying.  Most of the comments came from homeschooling friends of hers and they were, naturally, supporting their position and educational choices.  But one person, who I know to be a teacher, left a comment to the effect of "how are homeschooled kids supposed to learn about diversity?"

This particular question comes from the same place as does "how are homeschooled kids going to get socialized or how are they supposed to learn social skills?"  And, in all fairness, I was asking the very same questions about 4 years ago.  You know, back in the days of my life where there was NO WAY I was going to homeschool, and I really wish people would get off my back about it, thankyouverymuch.

I'll leave the "socialized" question alone for now, but I'd love to speak about how my children experienced True, Beautiful Diversity this week.  And, at the same time, I hope to memorialize a special man who was a friend to my family and to so very many others.

Terry Wray, Sr was so many things to our community.  He was first a Christian and a Catholic and a husband and a father.  But he was also a community leader.  A political motivator.  An encourager.  A friend.
He was a Republican and a conservative, married to an incredible woman with whom he helped to create a true family Enterprise that has fingers in all sorts of things, both civic and political.  He was the county's president of the Rotary Club.

Can you picture him?  If I hadn't begun my post with the title "Diversity", 10 bucks says that you would be picturing a white guy, right?  That's okay, I'll admit that I probably would have too, unfortunately.

Mr. Wray was also a member of 100 Black Men, a successful mentoring program.  He was a truly active member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, and involved in the local leadership.  .....  I'm about to start quoting his obituary, and I need to quit.  He was a role model for so many, there is no doubt.

My point is that he was a PERSON.  And SUCH a person he was.  (To borrow from Mrs. Katz and Tush).  His political beliefs, civic beliefs, personal beliefs, religious beliefs, family beliefs - none of them was defined by his skin color.  All of them were defined by his clearly stated visions of right and wrong and the future.  They were defined by his experiences and his expectations.  He did not require others to agree with him in order to simply fellowship with them.  And, as my children and I sat through his beautiful Homegoing Celebration on Tuesday, they were able to see a church house full of Diversity.  Equal numbers of black, white, young, old.  Grown men in their group's regalia.  Priests and nuns.  Political leaders of our county and state.  Friends galore.  So Many Friends.  And his family?  Oh, there were tears.  There was heartbreak.  He was so young and died so unexpectedly.  But, the life he lived was one of Christian charity and of joy.  He was never stingy with a smile.  He was honored by his family.  He was loved and appreciated.  And as the church ushers were trying to find places for people to sit because the church was so full for the funeral mass, it had to have been so obvious to everyone - This man lived his life defined not by his skin color.  But By His Character.  And you could almost feel those aspects of his life giving his family strength, though they cried, in this most difficult time.

What a beautiful life.  And I'm so very humbled that my children got to see what people are capable of being, if only they choose to be so.  This is Diversity, as experienced by 3 little homeschooled children.

I'm so excited!

Years and years ago, back when Mississippi Ballet Theatre still WAS, we'd take advantage of our break times during long Saturdays of rehearsals when we had to stay all day, and we'd go around the corner to Campbell's Bakery for a cookie.  (Yes, ballet dancers did that when they were pre-teen/early teenagers and had the metabolism that we all wish we could get back!)

Oh, it was sad to see and hear how it had declined over the recent years.

But, how exciting is to hear that it is about to be reborn, but not made utterly unrecognizable!  I'm looking forward to seeing it again!  (Thanks EatJxn for the head's up).

Photo by Dr. Mark Reed
Go see his other work at:  http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=100000589187567&aid=7198

We Did.

I've learned over the past nine years:
1)  Never take a good marriage for granted.  The blessing of such a thing is worth more than all the gold in the world.
2)  It is possible for someone to know all the icky parts of you and love you anyway.
3)  Marriage, to the right person, is the easiest thing in the world.  If you find comfort and peace and joy and laughter in your marriage, then God has blessed you mightily and you had better get about praising Him for it!

Thank you, Lord, for Jason.  Thank you for saving me from my dumb self all those years until I finally met him.  Thank you for giving me this awesome man to call my own!

Happy Anniversary my Lobster!!!

Wedding Photography? You betcha!

I feel like I have to make this disclaimer every time I share pictures or talk about pictures or my camera or discuss anything photography related:  I am not under the impression that I have any particularly outstanding skills for photography!  Most of my picture sharing revolves around pictures of the kids, and of course, THEY are the most outstanding subjects, so they must be shared.  ::ahem::  ;-)

My beautiful SIL Leah taking a break from the formal portraits just before her and David's actual wedding.

However, I have recently been asked to photograph a wedding for a sweet church member-friend who is getting married in August.  Now, let me tell you, most of the time I think about this assignment, I break out in cold sweats.  Mental cold sweats, but cold sweats nonetheless.  I, obviously, have never done this before, and I don't intend to begin doing this (wedding photography) regularly.  But, the bride-to-be's mother is precious and wonderful and a sister Mary Kay consultant (actually a Senior Director), and quite frankly, she asked.  And unless it involved jumping out of a cake in a swimsuit, I wasn't going to say no to Cathy!  (Nor am I charging anyone anything for this - the idea of that sends the nervousness off the charts).

They were up at the front of the church getting photographed with everyone.  But were very sweet to look over at me so I could grab one for myself.  Aren't they gorgeous?  They're gonna have some puh-retty babies.  And, no, that's not a hint about anything!  I'm just saying that ONE day....  

Plus.  ::ahem again::  I will have a reason to buy an external flash, at the very least.  (grin!)  MAYBE even another lens, but I suspect the one that I would "need" is gonna be upwards of one grand, and even I won't be able to justify that.  Oh, I'll try, but I'm pretty tight with the purse strings.

End of the evening.  All the official "stuff" was done.  They were Just Dancing.    I love how they are looking at each other.  She - utterly happy and content and in love.  He - so satisfied and completed and in love.  Sigh...

Christine wants a photojournalistic'y sort of style, which I like to do.  And I have months to continue to practice with the thing that matters most in photography - capturing the light properly.  So, I'm excited!  Utterly nervous, and very very out of my comfort zone, but excited.

And Lollypop is going to LOVE seeing this one day when she's older and she realizes just how much and for how long her Daddy has loved loved loved her.

Those of you who are getting in to photography (KAT!), wanna come and be an assistant for the day?  You will be paid with my undying devotion and heartfelt friendship.  And chocolate.  Lots of chocolate.
Plus, the bridesmaids will be in red.  Can you just SEE the black and whites that can come out of red dresses up against the bridal white?  Yummy.

Top 3 favorite pictures from Robert and Kiri's wedding.  (The wedding was completely private, but then we all met them at their house for a wonderful, casual celebration of love!)  You can't see her dress, but she was a vision.  Just beautiful!  And I love Robert's heartfelt protective embrace of her.  May God bless my brothers and their wives!

Published! 'Cause my Jenn asked.

My sweet, dear friend Jenn has been writing for the local Parents and Kids magazine for years now, and I've always thought it was a very cool thing.  Well, SHE'S very cool, so it automatically goes that anything she writes will be cool.  It also helps that she's witty and talented.  :-)

Well!  A couple of months ago, she sent an email asking if I'd be interested in contributing to the magazine myself.

Heehee!  Little did she know, (and God bless her, she's also a copy editor), I *was* interested.  And here you go!  Mama got published.  Yay!

While there won't be any pulitzer prize winning poetry or novels being created on my trusty computer, I do hope I can continue to be a contributor to the magazine AND learn about some new things in the process.  Thanks BFF's Mama!  I owe you one.  This was really fun.

Baby Steps

I Did It.

I did it.  I did.  I gave myself permission to do something.  I allowed myself to release some of my OCD'ness and thusly release a teeny, tiny smidge of clutter from my house.


I am going to get rid of magazines that I haven't read yet.

Now, I know some of you are raising an eyebrow and thinking that maybe I've quite lost my marbles.  Because, really, it's not that big of a deal.  Toss the magazines.  Who cares?

But you see, I haven't read them.  There may be something interesting in there.  Something I didn't know and would like to know.  Something that would make my life easier or my hair look better or my clothes fit properly or my house be more organized.  And if I don't read every. single. magazine. and in the order in which they arrived in my mailbox, my life is going to be harder, uglier, ill-fitting, and badly organized.  Plus, I paid for these.  I had better get my money's worth.  And, besides.  I might MISS SOMETHING.

Mm-hmm.

Did you take a close look at that picture?  Do you see how far behind I am with this monthly reading?  Especially with the Good Housekeeping.  I like it the best, so I save it for last, but never actually get to it.  I don't even know how I ended up receiving In Style Magazine.  I swear to you, I have absolutely no recollection of subscribing to it.  I genuinely wonder if I am receiving it as a gift from someone.

ANYway, as I was cleaning out my eldest daughter's room for an upcoming project, I was equally astounded and mortified by all the Stuff everywhere.  And, later this morning, when I brought back two more magazines to add to the perilously unstable stack of periodicals piled on the top of the toilet tank in the master bathroom, I saw it.

Truly saw it.

I saw the unreasonableness of what I was doing.  I'm fervently holding on to these constant reminders that this is not the part of my life where I casually read magazines.  Creating this list of Things To Do by piling the magazines up and telling myself that I need to go through them before I can throw them out.  Adding something to my brain's checklist of "All The Things That Need Attention".  Endangering my very life as I risk sitting in front of this towering stack of information so delicately balanced on the porcelain behind me!
(okay.  That last part isn't exactly true).

But, really.  Come ON.  Stop the insanity!

Yes.  I'm going to miss out on something.  Yes, that "something" would have been cool to see/read/learn.  But my life isn't going to be any different because I missed it.  Not really.  Besides, I didn't toss my Guideposts, Imprimus, or Old Schoolhouse Magazines.  And now, my mental to-do list is smaller, as is the stack on the toilet.  It's liberating and relaxing at the same time.  And I did something way more important.

 I took a baby step into the land of "Can't Keep Everything Or Do Everything".

There is a finite amount of space in our house and a finite amount of time in a day.  And as I come to terms with this very real fact, I hope I will begin to release some guilt, some worry, some stress, and some stuff.  I thought I had already begun this very important journey a few years ago.  But something tells me that I'm actually just now beginning.  With baby, baby steps.

Now, I wasn't in danger of becoming the next episode of Hoarders or anything like that.  But, it's going to be a real challenge for me to learn to not keep everything that enters my house.  And I'm not about to do a Fly Lady type toss-out of my entire house.  But I hope I'm going to learn to be kinder to myself about what I can and can't do and keep right now.  Next year, my time restraints will change.  There will still be restraints, but they will be different.  And maybe I won't have to throw out so many magazines.

In the meantime, I'm feeling good about this Big Thing that I did.

And, those copies of Imprimus have been given only a month's reprieve.  Watch out!

Be Still My Financial Heart

We had a crazy day yesterday.  Or, in homeschool-speak, our day was fairly on par.  (That's my oh-so-clever way to reiterate that there is no "normal" day in home education.  Did you catch that?)  We lesson'd in the morning and during Lollypop's morning nap.  After she woke up, we headed to the new Children's Museum in town to fix a membership card issue that I didn't trust to get fixed via a phone call.

After sort of fixing said issue, we headed to a late lunch at CiCi's.    The kids ate, and while I was sitting with the wee'est one at the table, the older two went into the little video game room. They pretended to play the games and just generally amused themselves. Poodle came out asking for a dollar that she could change into quarters so that she and her brother could actually play some games. 

Tooter spent his two quarters on two games of the candy grabbing thingy. (he later wished he had used them on the rifle game, but experience is the most effective teacher).  Eh. He's only five.

Poodle used her first quarter on a pinball game where she won a gumball. Score. Then, my eldest child, who is apparently totally brilliant and is the next Warren Buffet, ;-), decided to save her 2nd quarter and bring it home to deposit into her piggy bank.

Can I get an amen from the GaGa and the Aunt Jennifer who I know are grinning right now?  Woo and inDEED hoo!!

Testify, girl. Tell it like it is!

I'm not entirely sure if she's letting us have her opinion of our eclectic mix of storage containers or if she has merely had it Up To Here with the way we have given up trying to keep the cabinet organized while she's still getting in to it.

Whatever the case may be, Lollypop has a VERY strong opinion on the matter. And she would very much like to share it with you.

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Goodbye, Hello, I hope to see you more!

As we all say goodbye to 2010, I hope that this year has been good to you.  I know that it has been a challenge for some, a struggle for others.  There have been good things and difficult things, and I suppose that we can say that about all years!

The Zookeepers have been so blessed this year as we've watched our babies grow.  MamaKeeper has been oh-so-busy with learning to navigate the waters of homeschooling.  I know I haven't been around the Blog much, and I hope to rectify that in the months to come.  Because I really do like talking with you all out there!  As I'm learning, homeschooling is a constantly changing, ever evolving endeavor.  When I think I've got a handle on what to do to make the day pleasant and productive, the baby learns a new trick or changes her sleep patterns, and we're back to square one.  BUT, as all homeschooling parents learn, flexibility is not just the key to a good home education, but also crucial to a successful one.

Flexibility, though, requires freedom.  I need limited outside personal commitments.  There are things that I can't do anymore (for now) that take my concentration/focus/time away from my primary job.  I'll get back to all those things one of these days, but just for now, I'm learning to streamline.  Not to say "never", but just to say "not right now".  And it's a wonderful problem to have, because I dearly love teaching my children.  Yes, even on the days where I'm pretty sure that my sanity is of no value any more because it has clearly taken leave of me.  It takes leave often.  Apparently, my sanity and I have "issues" with each other.  WhatEVAH.

But seriously, I wanted to leave 2010 with a post to say that I missed being more present this year, and I don't immediately expect to jump back in with lots of writing in the months to come.  But, it will come.  So, for now, from our house and zoo to yours - HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!  And may 2011 be chock-full of healthy and happy and closeness to God.  Because if that is the case, then I know that your year will be so awesome!  May God bless you!

(Photo by DaddyKeeper.  Canton, MS Courthouse)

::red faced::

So, a bit back, I wrote a little entry extolling the talents of my brother and SIL's wedding photographer.  Buuut, it was brought to my attention that it's possible that parts of that post COULD be taken as though I was being judgmental towards those of us who carry our own cameras to a wedding and who take our own pictures so that we can see them right away.

And share them right away.

And I really, really, sincerely, mean-it-from-my-heart didn't mean to come off as being all preachy and how-dare-you about any of it.  I genuinely only wanted to brag on those people who photograph for weddings; who have to deal with in-camera metering without knowing exactly what their lighting levels are actually going to be at the moment the picture is taken.

That's all.  Forgive me and my inadequacy with descriptives?  Please, oh please?

Wordless Wednesday - on a Friday

Number Five Is Alive!

Couldn't help the title.  I'm a girl of the 80's.  :-)

Oh, happy Birthday to our dearest son!!!  Yes, I'm a few'ish days late posting this.  You've settled quite nicely, already, into your fiveness with all the finesse that a big boy can have.  Oh, you're such a person.  SUCH a person!  (Mrs. Katz and Tush reference.  Sister Karen will get that one.)  You're the little man with the biggest hugs.  Legendary hugs!  I hope no one takes for granted these big, enormous, breath-squeezing hugs that you give.  Because the day that you get too big to give them will be such a sad day!

Oh, how you love your sisters - the both of 'em.  You're such a sweetheart to the baby, and Poodle is your dearest friend.  At this moment in time, you are into all things dinosaur, Toy Story, viking, and dragon.  And pirates aren't too shabby either.  You want to be a football player and a Viking (the nordic type, not the Minnesota type) when you grown up.  You've started Kindergarten and you are coming along just as you should.  :-)  Your handwriting is super duper, you're over half-way through your Primer book in math, and you have gotten to where you can *almost* sit still through your FIAR books.  ;-)  Almost.

Your reading skills are out of this world!  And reading comprehension is improving daily.  You don't see things or process things at ALL like Poodle does.  It's equal parts challenging and wonderful, for me as your teacher, to figure out ways to direct your education.

OH, what a busy man you are.  Zero or Sixty.  There are only two speeds in your arsenal.  Once you have decided you can do something, you're fearless and oh-so-coordinated.  And, truly, you've gotten a lot more courageous about trying new things!

Except for food.  Good golly, you are not a fan of food.  Not keen on trying things a'tall.  But, when we think of the things you will eat, we're grateful!  You don't insist on marshmallows at supper or anything odd like that.  You will eat raw carrots and broccoli and green peppers.  You may not like chicken, but you'll eat pepperoni.  Pasta and rice are staples around here.  And popcorn.  And pizza.  You eat gobs of yogurt and drink your milk...  there's really not much to complain about.  Daddy has to remind me that we are going to have to get a second job to keep you in food when you're a teenager and to quit worrying about it right now.  He's right!  (As usual).  ;-)

Son, I can not express well enough how deeply in our hearts you live.  Your blue eyes are full of laughter and full of seriousness at the same moment.  You are full to the brim with passion.  Whether it's loving someone, being hurt, getting mad - there is nothing about you that is fake or forced.  You are who you are.  No games, no nonsense - you mean what you say and you say what you mean, as best you can!

Yes, I still think your communication skills are not 100% up to speed, but it's no big deal.  You'll get "there" - that magical, elusive skill level that makes you blend in with the crowd.  You just have issues with finding the right word sometimes.  And when people speak to you, sometimes the language takes a different path inside your brain as it's getting processed.  It's hard to explain to some people, and they might think that you're just not listening or just not caring about what they say.  But, usually, you're working on the words!

You have taught me so much - about patience and perseverance, yes.  But also about love.  About boys. About letting people be different.  About savoring the moment.  Your medical issues with eczema and with a tricky immune system never slow you up.  You don't whine about feeling bad, when you run low-grade temps for weeks because of your skin.  You don't let a lingering cough from a simple cold stop you from flipping 17 somersaults in a row on the trampoline.  You are tough and strong - and yet, you're still just a five year old boy.  Who is still sensitive and still learning social skills and, yes, has a stubborn streak to rival any ole ornery donkey.  ;-)

You're my widdle man, and I will call you that for just as long as I can get away with it.  I will soak up every single cuddle session in the bed and on the couch.  I will let your hugs seep into my bones.  I will look at you and pray that God will help me help you become the man that He wants you to be.  I will pray for your future wife, if that is in the Lord's plan for you.  I love you so very much, and I'm beginning just now - in this past year of your life - to understand the special relationship that a mother has with her son.  And I'm so, so grateful that God gave us YOU.

Happy birthday to the most wonderful little five year old boy - we love you inside and out and to the moon and back again!

REAL photographers

You know - professional photographers.  Not those folks like me who like to play with their camera and who have saved some money for a decent body and some decent glass.  No, I'm talking about those folks who make "money" with this art form.  (I use the quotes because, let's face it, it's a tough way to make a living!)

We just returned from a super, fantastic, beautiful, FUN wedding that just happened to star my youngest brother and my precious new SIL.  They hired a wonderful, wonderful photog for the event.  Here is his website.  Go read his bio, if you get a chance!  As nice as it makes him sound, he's WAY nicer in person.  And the assistant he happened to have with him that day was super awesome too.  She is the mother of 4, and pregnant with her 5th and was on her feet ALL day.  (Also a homeschooling mom!)  But she was as sweet and as kind as the "head dude" was.

ANYway, I have a point.  Truly.  These days, EVERYone has a camera at the wedding, at the reception, at the EVERYthing.  (I did too - no stones flying out of my hands).  These professional photogs have a lot to deal with.  They have to deal with people buzzing all around them snapping snapping snapping.  They have to deal with the likelihood that some of their good photos won't get purchased because someone else had something "close enough" that their cousin's neighbor's hairdresser took on the fly.  Even harder, though, is figuring out a way to take a decent picture when there are so many flashes going off it looks like the space shuttle was taking off a mere 50 feet away.  For example:

Yeah.....  none of that light came from my camera!  And I *know* Emanuel was trying to take his photos while the eleventy other flashes were going off.

Am I criticizing all of us who were also taking pictures?  NO!  No no no no.  Not at all.  It is what it is.  I just wanted to share how NICE and kind and supportive and giving Leah and David's photographers were that day.  They were so nice to everyone, even though we were futzing with their good photos!  And I bet that he still got a good shot, even with all the lumens.
:-)
I'd hire this team in a New York minute.  Just another superb choice that was made with the wedding and the reception/party afterwards.  Great, great weekend!


P.S.  I'll share more of my non-professional photos ;-) of the weekend as I can.  Probably in spurts.  Cause I have a hard time deciding which ones to share.  So I want to share lots.  Just another clue that I don't do this picture-taking thing for a living!

Quiet Baby

We, like most parents of younguns, know that quiet children are often children in greatest need of parental involvement. Usually because their quietness means a lot of extra work for said parents later.

Case in point: Today, I had eaten half my lunch without anyone wanting anything from me. Once I finally realized this, I started voicing the "Quiet Baby Quiet Baby Quiet Baby" mantra in my head. Further investigation revealed the source of my pleasant lunch break. :-). To be honest, the sweeping was worth my peaceful moments at the table.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Ahhhhh - Relief

First - hi there!  It's me.  The erstwhile blogger who starts a new blog in my mind most every day.  Truly I do.  But, time constraints being what they are, mostly none of these brilliant musings are able to see the light of day.  Or, the light of the computer.  You know.

Said time constraints are a whole other post in themselves, and truly I would like to talk about what a day is like around here.  BUT, that's not what I wanted to get down today.

Today, I wanted to talk about RELIEF.

Not the R-o-l-a-i-d-s kind of relief.  But the kind of relief that gives me and the Mister the feeling of sinking into a bath full of bubbly extra-hot bath water, with a couple of pieces of dark chocolate and maybe even a small glass of red wine at the ready to the side of the tub.  (Okay, the following gives ME that feeling.  He's not really a relax in the bathtub kind of fella.  He'll have to come up with his own analogy.  And honestly, he's going to be so surprised that I actually posted something on the blog that I doubt he's going to have the wherewithal to post himself).

Wow.  How's THAT for an overblown introduction to what I wanted to share?  What I'm feeling so good about today is Tooter's skin.  Ahhhhh.....  it is looking so good.  So clear (for him), so not-red.  It gives me a palpable sense of relief from just looking at it.  I can only imagine how good he must be feeling.

No, no...  dear readers, he hasn't outgrown that nasty eczema that daily plagues him.  Not yet.  We still have hope for that to happen!  No, this has come about because he had been struggling with sores on his feet for awhile now.  He had gone through the typical cycle of 1) breakout  2) scratch  3) break skin  4) create sores; but this time, we couldn't get all those sores to heal on his feet.  We tried everything short of duct-taping his hands together at night.  And it was a valiant struggle infused with a lot of neosporin and steroid cream and gauze and socks.  Almost 2 months of attempting to "fix" the problems.

Finally, the Mister and I said "no more".  Wee Master is going to the doctor.  So, last Friday late afternoon, we got a last minute appointment, took off the socks, and the doctor could barely get a good look at the poor man's feet before she said "oral steroids and antibiotics - now".  The antibiotic was something I was expecting, because of the redness and swollen areas around all the open sores that just couldn't get caught up enough to heal.  The oral steroids were a secondary thought, but I am always so uncomfortable with just the idea of them.

BUT, my goodness.  What a difference.  We're on our last day of the steroids, and halfway through with the antibiotics.  His feet look so, so, so much better.  There's probably a really good adjective to use there, but I can't think of it.  His overall skin looks and feels so calm and so..., like I said before, not-red.  Even his knees that I thought were permanently scarred with bumps and roughness have calmed and evened out a bit.  It's like a breath of fresh air to look at his face and not see the sandpaper roughness around his lips.  Oh, what a difference!

I'm just so grateful that God gave some researcher the ability to create these drugs that we now use.  And that we have access to them and the ability to pay for them.  I'm so grateful that Toot is so cooperative about taking medicine and that he has responded so well to the meds.

We'll continue to wage battle against the eczema for who-knows-how-long.  (Trust me - this is a battle for us.  It's as constantly invasive to him as sin is to all of us).  But having this new weapon in our arsenal makes me feel more confident.  Makes me remember the importance of "crying uncle" in a timely manner and seeing the doctor.

And it's another reminder of HOW GRATEFUL we, the Mister and I, are that Toot "only" has this problem to deal with.  That we are able to go to a pharmacy and get the fix that he needs.  We are incredibly blessed to have healthy children.  And I give God the glory for it.  It's only by His mercy that we have the blessings that we have!  Praise HIM!!


p.s.  I'm a little giddy that I finished a post.  Maybe I'll get around to sharing some pics that have been piling up soon!

Seven is Heaven!

Our dear sweet Poodle -

Happy 7th Birthday precious one!  You are still the sweet, vivacious, people-loving, drama-princess daughter of the King that you have always been.  While it's weird to say "Seven" when talking about your age, it's fitting.

It's fitting because this past year has brought with it a lot of growing up and changes.  We see you becoming more aware of yourself.  The childlike freedom from self-consciousness is beginning to wane.  We get glimpses of the Tween girl that you but a year or two from becoming.

But, I'm so glad to say that you still love to act out your narrations during school.  That you still want to play with your dolls and your brother and your sister.  That you still think going to Build-A-Bear with MooMoo is the greatest thing since someone pre-cut all that sandwich bread.  That you still want to snuggle in our laps.  That you still want someone to read to you at night and put "good dreams dust" on your pillow.

But, on the other side of that coin, you are DIE-ing to get your ears pierced.  You want to wear "heel shoes".  You still love-love girly-girl clothes and skirts and dresses, but the clothes you are drawn to are more often than not outside of the Little Girl section.  And I've noticed sometimes when you roll your eyes, you're doing it because you are self-conscious about what you've just said.  You're not sure if you've been funny or not.  It's sweet and sad, all in the same moment.

So, here's "who you are" at 7:
You can make pancake batter, from scratch, with zero help.  You get everything out, mix it all up, break all the eggs, clean it all up.  I barely know you've done it until you say "can I have pancakes for breakfast?"
You are in second grade in school.
You are taking ballet, but still only once a week.  And it's still a combo ballet/jazz class.
You still have some problems with "bumpy speech", a.k.a. stuttering.  Mostly because you talk ninety-to-nothing with abandon.  And your mother isn't exactly a Slow Talker herself.  ;-)
You are such a huge help with your baby sister.  You love her and you dote on her.
You and Tooter are still best playmates at home.  And y'all can also argue like no one's business as well!
Your BFF is still Spencer!  Still love her to pieces.
You are very much a girly-girl in all you do.  But you can still line drive your Daddy's pitches in the backyard.  I won't pitch to you.  It scares me.  Seriously.
You really found your groove in the pool this summer.
You still walk on tiptoe most of the time at the house.
You love-love-love to draw and paint and color and do "arts and crafts".
You love to sing, but you and the "proper tune" aren't always the best of friends.  (but i love you!)
You love your family so much.
You aren't big on putting your clothes away without being told to do so.  ;-)

You have a tender heart, but it's strong.  You are incredibly forgiving, which is a good thing for your mother's sake!  You are thoughtful and caring.  You are mostly fearless in social situations, which is so neat to me.  You try so hard to please people.  You want so much for people to be happy with you and around you.  Your sense of humor is so-so-so awesome!  Your real laugh makes the sun shine brighter.  You're a smart, dear, wonderful girl!

There are times that your Daddy and I feel like we "missed" your baby years.  We felt as though we were so not-very-good with the parenting thing.  And we (I) were so caught up in trying to do things that were not very important.  Praise GOD that He gave us YOU as our first child.  That He gave us someone so forgiving and loving to be the child who had to trudge through most of the mistakes that new parents make.

Oh, my dear Poodle, I praise God for you and for your life.  I praise Him for your heart and your loving spirit.  I pray that you will seek Him as you grow and that you will remain close to your family.  I pray that the Holy Spirit will come into your heart and reside there always.  You like to say that when you get older, you are going to get married and move into the house next door to us so that you and I can always live near each other.  :-)  Babygirl, the idea of that is just plain awesome.

We love you so much honey - Happy Birthday dearest!

Twelve Month Portraits

This is the dress that her sister wore during her 12 month photo shoot as well.  It's a squidge too big for her, but not by much.

And, her "Cloud Baby" dress!  Poodle named that dress.  Thank you to Mom for lending the chair!

I don't wanna do this any more!  It's time for my nap!  Boooooo pictures!

Nap - check.  TuTu - check.  Ready to play - check!

Poodle *really* wanted to take some pictures.  I *really* wanted some of those Mom-and-Dad-hold-the-baby's-hands pictures.  Success!

My sweet father made Lollypop a jewelry box for her birthday.  Just as he did for Poodle years ago.  It's truly a work of art - made from cherry trees (and a bit of oak) taken from my parents' property.  It has her monogram on the top, which is designed after her "Go To Church" silver passie clip.

She also got a beautiful pearl bracelet for her birthday!  Can't wear it yet but give her a few years...

Love, love......

Boogie free nose!  Just look!

Can't wear the bracelet, so I'll eat it.  Mmmmm.....  jewelry.

Playing peek-a-boo with the wonderful Daddy who was the perfect helper to me to get all the pictures done in one day, before lunch!

Parents hold their children's hands for a short time...  but their hearts forever.

Our babies.  Growing up faster than we imagined they would.