What Would the World Be Without Them?

I simply cannot imagine my life without it being full of kids. My first neice was born when I was 12 years old. It was like having a real, live baby doll for me! Since then, the fold has definitely grown. I have 2 boys of my own, a step-daughter, 3 nephews, 1 great nephew, 10 neices and one more great nephew on the way. Obviously, if you don't care to be around kids, you might not want to follow me!

Quite honestly, kids are a challenge but they reward every ounce of effort that you put forth with enough love to last a lifetime. These photos are of some of the sweet kids that I have the priviledge of working with at KFC. They were doing an activity to prepare them for a musical we'll be learning based on the story of Jonah. Their challenge was to create a "biblical headdress" like Jonah might have worn. This is what they came up with!

Razorback Basketball Cake

The "Dots and Daisies" cake was just the beginning. I can't say that working with fondant is easy, but it wasn't the monster I expected it to be, so I've begun braving bigger and more complicated cakes. So far, I've been pretty pleased with the results and have learned a lot.

This is a birthday cake that I made last week. The birthday boy was having a basketball party and is an AR Razorback fan. These 3 pictures are the finished cake. The bottom layer is a 12" round yellow cake covered with white fondant and decorated with "referee stripes." The top is 2-9" round yellow cakes stacked, covered with white fondant and decorated with basketballs. The front of the cake features a backboard, hoop and rim complete with a spherical basketball. The top of the cake "calls the Hogs" with the phrase "Woo Pig Sooie Razorbacks" hand-painted in icing color. An elipse featuring the birthday boy's name, age and a candle complete the top of the cake. The elipse, the junction of the layers, and the base of the cake are trimmed with tiny spheres of red, black and white fondant.

What Little Boys are Made of

Snakes and snails and puppy dog tails - that's what little boys are made of. It is evidently an innate part of little boys to like "boy" things. Mine are no different at all when it comes to this. This little one, in fact loves to hold 'pish.' On Labor Day, his daddy and pappaw had a live well full, so he was glad to pose with this one!

Where Does the Time Go?

I suppose it's a mommy rite of passage. Our children grow up and we're left to marvel at how quickly it has happened. Yesterday, my youngest started 3yo preschool. He was enthusiastic and couldn't wait to go to "cool." I was looking forward to it as well, keeping my fingers crossed that the moment of separation wouldn't be a difficult one. We attended orientation a week ago, so he had seen the classroom and its plethora of toys. He knew a few of his 11 classmates. As is always the case, we arrived at 8:30 - not a moment too soon with his bag and cute little snack sack in tow. I helped him find his seat. He was quiet and smiling sheepishly, taking everything in. The teacher acknowledged his arrival cheerfully and plastered his "Prince Charming" tee-shirt with a cute little name tag. Waiting at his seat was a basket of colorful wooden beads ready to be strung together. To my dismay, the child who was to sit next to Cohen was in full melt-down mode, crying and clinging to his mom. I acted as if I saw nothing in order to avoid a duplication of the scene on our side of the table. Cohen happily went to work stringing beads and I told him I was going to go, that I would be back to get him in a short time. For a moment, I saw it --- the "No!!" came into his eyes and he turned to grab me, but I continued. "You're gonna stay and play and eat your snack." To my relief he agreed and went back to playing. Before he could change his mind, I quickly snuck away but as mommies tend to do, I looked back at him. He was watching me as I walked away with this sweet uncertainty. He looked so big and yet so small. I picked up the pace so that I could make it out of the building before the tears fell. Our children grow and make us so proud, but we mourn for the babies we once held. It was a mommy moment I'll never forget.

Here he is with his first preschool project.

Just Another Thing I Like to Do

Ha Ha! No, sorry, not cook, I'm afraid. I enjoy it sometimes, but it's not one of those things I'm passionate about. I do, however, LOVE to find a bargain. LOVE it! I know I'm not alone. Am I, girls? It's like a treasure hunt, an adventure..... On my latest adventure, I found these super cute bowls for $1.75ea. No kidding!

Back to School -- Just the Pictures

One More Back-to-School Project

Couldn't keep my hands off his folders either!!

Another Back-to-School Project

Here's another one of Lane's school items that I decorated for him. I love that there's no doubt that his stuff is his. It's totally one-of-a-kind!

MMMmmm.... Day Two

Day Two -- New York Strips. Yes, I'm a big fan of eating. I'm not one of those "Oh, just a salad" kind of girls. I take everything I do quite seriously and my meals are no exception. These were our main course from Back-to-School have a meal at the table challenge Day Two and boy were they good!

My Back-to-School Goal

If you've been reading my blog or if you know me very well, you know that I do not try to and/or claim to be a "domestic diva" (as I call it). Quite honestly, I am not one of those mommies who "has it all together." My house is usually a mess, there are piles of laundry to do, I look a fright and there is no doubt that I will be late anywhere I ever go! I would love to be that woman that's always put together, always gets everything done, has an immaculate house and is always on time. Thus far, it's not happened. I have good intentions. I really do, but it always seems that one of those opportunities I can't pass up presents itself. You can guess the ones I'm talking about --- an opportunity to create a little something, to take pictures of my kiddos, or just to do something else that's a whole lot more fun than cleaning toilets! What good is it going to do me to have sparkling toilets and miss my little boys growing up?

My back-to-school goal is to have dinner at the table every week night until we start having soccer practice. So far, so good. This was night one's supper. Not exactly Top Chef cuisine, but it tasted quite alright. Hamburger steak, fresh buttered squash and purple hull peas. It appears I am a southern girl after all!

One more thing I MUST add -- No! This is not the normal portion size at our home!! These are all the extras after dinner. I piled them all on one plate to take to my mom (broken arm, remember?) and dad.

Back to School Project

I was completely surprised when Lane picked out a totally plain black notebook when we went school supply shopping. I was sure we'd have to buy some Transformers or Spiderman or some other highly decorated version but instead a plain black spiral was cool with him.

I love plain. I see plain as a blank canvas, an inviting opportunity an outlet for my creativity. Of course, with little boys there are limitations. Can't be too over-the-top with little boys. Lucky for me, Lane loves his school and loves being a "Hornet." His plain black notebook was just asking for this cute little hornet to be painted on it!

Sweet Dreams

I'm sure that I have 400 pictures of my boys while they are sleeping. There is something just gorgeous about a sleeping child to me. The only thing that could make that better is to capture a sleeping child times two. My sweet boys love to sleep side-by-side. Lane even tolerates little brother sleeping on his arm. Aren't they sweet?

Fun Family Float

Yesterday was the last Saturday before school starts back for the fall. Our family simply couldn't let it pass without doing something. One past time that we've discovered this summer is floating the Caddo River, so we invited another family to join us for the adventure. We knew it would be a blast for the kids and hoped we weren't in for a harrowing experience. Funny thing is, we have 2 children, they have 4 and I was much more concerned about our children's behavior, but I suppose that's my job as a mom, huh?

Even after several hours of floating, this gang still had plenty of energy -- Photo 1 is of the whole gang after the float!

At around the half-way point of the trip, there is a deep portion of the river with a rope swing. Several of our gang were game to give it a try -- Photo 2 is of Rick as Tarzan!

Of course, I was a bit concerned about how the little ones would do. Kenny, Cohen, Lane and I had floated before, but Cohen has a bit of a stubborn streak so when we approached the first little area of rapids, he refused to get in his tube. The result? He was left screaming in the little area of rapids while Laney and I floated ahead. Don't worry folks, we're talking Class I rapids --- at best. I ran our tube aground and called to him to walk down (yes, it was that shallow) to us. Of course, he was in full meltdown mode at this point and required the kindness of a stranger who held his hand as he walked to us. After a bit, the little ones decided that the best ride on the river was with me. Aren't they cute? A bit heavy after a while, but cute --- Photo 3 is of Cohen, Laney and I loaded up on the tube.

I don't know about your family, but in my family, I am the designated photographer. I love the assignment of capturing our family's memories and snobbishly think I'm far superior at the job. The downside of this is that very, very few photos ever exist to document that I was present at said activities. Occasionally, this fact comes to mind and I'll hand the camera over and ask someone else to take a photo with me in it. Oddly, making this request makes me feel quite self-centered but I'm generally glad that I've done so in the end. From the friends that I've spoken to, it seems this is the mommy's fate in many families so I couldn't let the day pass without capturing one of those rare photos -- Photo 4 actually captures two of the rarely seen mommy of the species.

Photo 5 captures the often photographed daddies!

Photo 6 is the whole brood of children at the beginning of the trip. From what I can tell, we ended the trip with the same kids we started with so I guess we can call it a successful trip.

Hobby Number 906

This one, I inherited directly from my mother. She is a total pro at floral arrangements. I can pull off a thing or two... nothing compared to her skills. My parents have been married 46 years. Obviously, last year was their 45 wedding anniversary. I don't know about you, but I find that to be something to celebrate!! My dad is the really quiet type and doesn't care much for parties, so I tried to come up with something special that I could do without making him uncomfortable.

Since my parents came from modest backgrounds, they didn't have an actual "wedding" but were married in the home of their pastor. This meant, of course that they didn't have two of the things we most likely think of when we think of weddings -- a bridal bouquet and a cake. There was my idea! In celebration of their 45 years, I wanted them to finally have these things.

My mother has a deep love for flowers, so I knew it would mean even more if she knew I made her bouquet myself. Deep breath..... I could do this. I hit up our local grocery store, purchased a couple dozen roses and some filler. By God's grace, all went well and this was the end result.

It just happened that their anniversary fell on a Sunday and I was singing at church that morning (hobby number 907). I invited mom and dad to come hear me sing in early service so that they could avoid missing worship at their church. Generally, I'm a bit nervous before I sing, but this morning, I was terribly excited because I was going to give my mom her bouquet before church. She was so surprised and proud. I think she told everyone she saw that day about her bouquet.

It's amazing how much in life we take for granted. We all have so much and waste so much. Our society seems to subscribe to the philosophy that bigger and more expensive is always better. If we only stopped to realize how untrue this is. Platinum ceremonies and designer gowns do not a good marriage make. What makes a good marriage can't be found on any runway or in any boutique, but can be exchanged between two people without cost. I am thankful to have been witness to such a marriage and the recipient of such love. It was truly my privilege to reinvest this love into a gesture that made my mom light up and my dad don his famous sheepish grin. It may have been their anniversary, but I feel that I am the one who received the gift.

Update on My Mom

Thanks to all of you who are praying and have shared your concern for my mom. She seems to be doing well this morning. For those who may not know, she fell yesterday and fractured her upper arm. She is having some pain but is doing well with the pain medicine she was prescribed in the ER. Our hopes are that she will be able to see her orthopedist Monday morning to assure that no other treatment is needed. Please continue to pray!

Hobby Number 936 -- Pageant Coaching

As I look through my photos, I'm beginning to overwhelm myself with all my pasttimes, but I couldn't leave this one out! Of course, old beauty queens never die, they just go on to coach the next generation. My niece, Bre wanted to enter the Miss Deaf Arkansas pageant hosted by her school, the Arkansas School for the Deaf. She's a beautiful girl and sooooo full of personality. I knew she'd do well. In fact, she won! She was very proud of herself. I was elated too and almost got a little choked up when she signed to me "thanks for making me win." Priceless!

(Pardon the picture quality, after packing all my hair and makeup equipment, I left my camera behind and had to take this one with my phone)

More of My Creations

This is one of my original bag designs. Each of my bags are hand-painted and completely different from any other. Quite a few hours of work go into these, but I really enjoy making them. A friend ordered this one for a baby gift. I think the orange/turquoise/brown combination is cute and atypical. Hope Ashur has enjoyed it!

More of My Face Painting

Fourth of July, of course! This one didn't last long. He started to say it itched shortly after everyone got a chance to see him. Truth be known, I think he was ready to get into the swimming pool!

My Day as a Chef

If you've been reading my blog, you've learned that I'm passionate about quite a few things. Of course, my boys are near the top of the list but I must admit that I love, love, love the beach. I'm not really particular about which beach, just a beautiful sandy beach with that awesome sunshine and ocean breeze --- this MUST be what heaven is like. In my last blog I also mentioned my love of food, especially seafood. Honestly, when it comes to my favorite list, seafood and Mexican food are in close competition.

In December, to celebrate our 8th anniversary, my husband and I took a cruise. One of our favorite experiences was taking a cooking class while in Cozumel. Imagine! Some of my favorite things all wrapped into one. I'm pretty sure I would be the next Rachel Ray if I could prepare meals in an open-air kitchen two steps from the beach overlooking the gorgeous waters of the Gulf of Mexico. I'd at least love the opportunity to test my theory!

Picture 1 is of all the food we prepared during our class --- fresh guacamole, frijoles, mexican rice and stuffed poblano peppers. Yum!

After we prepared this feast, we were somehow supposed to be able to eat it all. Oh, how I wish I'd had a doggy bag!

I'm sure you're really admiring the beautiful hat I'm wearing. Class requirement --- if you wanna cook, you gotta wear the hat. By this time, I'd forgotten I was wearing it. I was ready to EAT!

All that gorgeous food and fun with the locals and this just steps away. Aaaaaaaahhhhhhh!