New Tricks

Davis has been working on some new tricks. He can pull himself up to stand, climb the stairs and fall down the stairs! I haven't caught him on the stairs with the camera, but here's a shot at the bathtub...he LOVES a good bath! For those who may not know...Davis has never been a stander. He would always just lift his feet up, bending at the waist, so as not to have to put weight on his legs and actually stand. So, pulling himself up to stand is a pretty big deal for him. Good job, Davis! Dr. Tatem will be so proud!

From the Lost Heywood Slide Archives

I LOVE photographs! They preserve memories in our minds and paint portraits of personalities. They convey love, friendship, family. They are our history. Imagine my joy when I found a box of old slides in my parents' garage! The fun thing about this box is that I vaguely remember it as mine. I got my first camera for Christmas when I was 8 or 9, I think. Back in those days, I used slide film because it was cheaper and I was paying for my own film and the developing. I have discovered that it isn't that cheap to have your slides scanned and put on a disc here in the present...$0.25 per slide at Costco. I might have been better off to have had prints made in the first place? No importa...it doesn't matter. I have this treasure box of memories, little bits of my family's history. It turns out that the box is, indeed, mine. I started with about 100 slides, only about 1/10 of the box. Here are a few of my favorites from this first batch.

Who IS that handsome boy with the high-water pants (second from the left)?!

Holly blowing out the candles on her 3rd birthday. If anyone can remember why she has two black eyes, please tell us!

My saxophone & me...proof positive that I DID, in fact, play the saxophone...Jeremiah has a hard time believing this, as I have never played for him.

The extra little boy in the top picture is one of our foster brothers...if someone could remind me of his name, I would appreciate it!

Tagged...again!

One-word Answers

1. Where is your cell phone?. . . . . Purse

2. Your significant other? . . . . . .Jeremiah

3. Your hair? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Needful

4. Your mother? . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Amazing

5. Your father? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dedicated

6. Your favorite thing? . . . . . . . . .Shopping

7. Your dream last night? . . . . . . . Frightening

8. Your favorite drink? . . . . . . . . . .Milk

9. Your dream/goal? . . . . . . . . . . . One?

10. The room you're in? . . . . . . . . . Loft

11. Your hobby? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Photography

12. Your fear? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Meanies

13. Be in six years? . . . . . . . . . . . . . ???

14. Where were you last night? . . . Home

15. What you're not? . . . . . . . . . . . .Energized

16. Muffins? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Poppyseed

17. One of your wish list items? . . . Camera

18. Where you grew up? . . . . . . . . . Fallon

19. The last thing you did? . . . . . . . Laundry

20. What are you wearing? . . . . . . .Clothes!

21. Your tv? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Off

22. Your pets? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .none

23. Your computer? . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dell

24. Your life? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Busy

25. Your mood? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Annoyed

26. Missing someone? . . . . . . . . . . . Yes

27. Your car? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Minivan

28. Something you're not wearing? . .Socks

29. Favorite store? . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ross

30. Your summer? . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hot

31. Like someone? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Friends

32. Your favorite color? . . . . . . . . . . Green

33. Last time you lauged?. . . . . . . . . Today

34. Last time you cried? . . . . . . . . . . Today

I tag anyone who always looks but never leaves a comment! You're it!

Young Entrepreneur

"Popsicles! Get your popsicles here!"

Jeron decided today that he wanted to sell something on the side of the road. After a short list of ideas, including lemonade (we have none) and gatorade (too expensive), I suggested the mini popsicles we had in the freezer. "Great idea, Mom!" He made a sign, waited for school to get out, and then set up shop.

He really did yell the phrase above to drum up business. He was so excited about giving change that he gave the first little girl her quarter back...she got her popsicle for free! Jadee kept wanting one for free...she couldn't find her money and claims she has none. Jeron said, "You just don't know how to do business!" He stayed out long enough to sell to the kids who were outside playing, then came in and declared that he needs to move to a new location. Maybe another day...Mom's done all of the entrepreneuring she can do for today!

On a side note...I was the investor in this little business. The popsicles were a donation (they've been in the freezer for a few months). Then I gave him $1.50 in quarters so that he would have change to give. Turns out Davis was his biggest customer and he now only owes me $0.75 of that initial investment! Davis has "tasted" my popsicles before, but today he got his very own. Then, he wanted more...and more...and more! I finally had to put a stop to his popsicle eating after four! I'm wondering how long it will take for the orange to wash off his skin?

"Mmmm...popsicles are yummy!"

"I will share with you, Mom! Here, have some!"

"Hey, what happened to my popsicle?! I want more!"

Remember

I speed-walked to school with my six-year-old today. It seems we're always in a hurry, rushing to be on time, here, there, everywhere. We were alone today, just the two of us. A rare occasion. Usually accompanied by the three-year-old and the baby. I listened to the imaginings of a brilliant boy, tried to keep up with his racing thoughts, expressed ideas. As we walked, he reached up and put his growing-too-fast hand in mine and my heart smiled. "Remember!" I heard my own voice in my head. "Remember this moment, for the day may come when the unabashed hand-holding will end." So, I squeezed his hand. He squeezed back. My heart beamed. He continued to talk as fast as we were walking and I tried to remember slowly. The feel of his fingers, rounded on the ends for lack of fingernails. He naws them down religiously. Long, slender fingers. Soft, clean skin, he must have bathed today. We walked the rest of the way to school, swinging our clasped hands, squeezing every now and again. He talked. I remembered. It doesn't get better than that. Let's always hold hands, okay?

My 11-month-old woke up in the middle of the night last night and cried. I went to him quickly, always fearing the worst. I picked him up and he snuggled in to my chest. It seemed he just wanted to be held. He's too busy to want to be held much these days. This was a rare chance. "Remember!" I heard my own voice in my head. "Remember this moment, for babies grow up and the holding and rocking will end." I breathed in his smell and kissed his head. I held him extra long, grateful for the opportunity to memorize his feel, to kiss his neck and face, to remember. He slept. I remembered. It doesn't get better than that. Let's always rock in the night, okay?

My three-year-old came sleepily to my bed this morning. It's her new habit. "I want to lay by you, Mommy." I welcomed her in to my bed, glad that she likes to be near me. "Remember!" I heard my own voice in my head. "Remember this moment, for the day will come when she no longer wants to join you." So, I wrapped my arms around her, brushed her hair away from her face and snuggled her close. She fell asleep and I studied her, longing to remember. Her sweet little face, blanket shoved in her mouth, one corner under her nose. So peaceful. So loving. She slept. I remembered. It doesn't get better than that. Let's always snuggle in my bed in the early morning, okay?

The moments speed by. We're left only with memories. Memories fade. Remember...remember...remember... Take the time to remember.

Grandma's Flowers

Grandma LOVES flowers. Jeron and I had the privilege of planting a few for her this weekend. I think when they really take root and start to bloom, they will be lovely. We just hope that it doesn't freeze again... Jeron picked each pack of flowers, some new tools and gloves. He did a great job digging holes, putting in the flower food, and planting the littles blooms. He is a great worker.

Bubble Yum + Persistence = BUBBLES

Grandpa likes to spoil the grandkids...yesterday, Jeron went out to the base with Grandpa, they got haircuts and did the grocery shopping. Jeron came home with Bubble Yum. I don't care for gum...it gets in the laundry and can ruin whole loads, NO ONE looks good chewing it, it gets in hair when young children fall asleep with it in their mouths...I could go on, but that is not the point of the blog. Jeron learned to blow bubbles today! He has been working really hard on this skill and chewing a lot of gum to figure it out. You'll notice that there are only two packs left in the four pack package. He is now a bubble-blowing kid! Way to go, Jeron!