30/365

Because, again,  it's just sooo stinkin' cool...

29/365

iPhonography

IN.THE. WATER.

Seriously, does it get any cooler than this?!!??

28/365

I have a dear friend and each time one of her littles got hurt, she would scoop them up and say,

"I love you.  I love you, I love you.  I'm sorry you got hurt.  I love you."

  

At first this sounded a bit strange to me, especially when I compared it to my usual gut reaction,

"What happened!?  

"How did you manage that?  

"Are you okay?!" 

"Be careful next time, okay?" 

And even though I would hug and kiss all over them, I couldn't help but re-examine my words.  Not exactly comforting.  And then I thought of Our Lord....

What does he say when we are hurt?  

Does he say, "How did you manage that?!"  or

"I love you.  I love you, I love you.  I'm sorry you got hurt, I love you."

I am so thankful for these friends that cross our paths and show the love that Christ has for us.  It has helped make me a better person and momma to be sure.

I'm better about it now, and if you should see one of my babies get hurt, you will hear me say, "I love you, I love you.  I'm sorry you got hurt.  I love you."  

Unless it's one of my teenage boys doing something teenagerey.  Then all bets are off...

27/365

Methinks someone has been looking over my shoulder a bit much lately when I've been on the computer..

26/365

You are a new 'two'.   You love letters, numbers, dancing and singing the alphabet song.  But most of all you love coloring, scribbling, doodling and drawing on walls.  

Every. chance. you. get.

Sometimes I just wish you would stick with using the chalk board one...

{eta:  We really should buy stock in Magic Erasers.}

25/365

So, can I count this as my token 'First Day/Back to School' photo?

24/365

This 365 project has put the camera back in my hands.   

Sometimes the shots don't turn out the way I expect or invasion them to, but I still love them.  This is one of those. 

I call them perfectly imperfect.  

23/265

Peaceful ending to a great weekend...

22/365

21/365

You are a Freshman this year~
Second in the line of eight,
Worker bee of the family,
as well as the comedian.

You serve Our Lord with such beauty,
Love life and others more than yourself,
which is very humbling...
and a great lesson for this momma.

I am so very excited and proud of the young man you are growing up to be.
I love you.

20/365

"Out-dide!  Out-dide!  OUT-DIIIIIIDE!!!!"

"Pweeze?"

I let the child out.

"In-tide?"

19/365

18/365

Swinging and freelensing... that's what it was about today...

17/365

Thinking of you today, eldest son.  Miss you and your quick-witted goofiness that this shot so perfectly captures.  Hope you are enjoying your three weeks in the back country of WY and look forward to chatting with you soon.  Love you mah boy!

16/365

Her journey into the world of Optionals began today.  Choreographing the floor routine... can't wait to see it when it's finished.

15/365

He's having a bit of a difficult time adjusting to his best buddy, roommate and oldest brother being gone. He's been asking for a pet.  He knows dogs are off limits for now and just cats aren't an option.  (sorry Jen) So this last week he asked his dad if he could have a pet gopher snake.  His dad's response:

"The only thing your mother hates worse than snakes is a snake.  She can't kill them or run over them fast or often enough."

Guilty as charged.

So when my poor son came across a toad and named it Fred,  he was thrilled...

until his dad made him set it free.

But now he's over it and has his sights set on getting a BB gun.  Now, that, you can have, dear son.

Anything to aid my quest in the reduction of the snake population..

14/365

Lots of changes goin' on 'round these parts.  People moving out and new ones moving in--happening at every level.

This week it was at the leadership level and when leadership changes hands, the military likes to make it all official-like.

I must admit, I enjoy going to Changes of Command.  The flags, the planes, the band...

but those things pale in comparison to seeing my man...

in uniform.  

Yessir, that most certainly is my favorite part!

13/365

Summer haircuts-- with six boys, saves us about...(hang on... doing the math...) $60 per month for a total of $180 over the summer.  I've never totaled it out like that before.  Huh.  That's not chump change my friends!  Methinks summer haircuts just might become the new year round rage...

12/365

11/365

10/365

It's laundry day here today (okay, well really it is everyday) and the midget squad came to the rescue.

9/365

Sunday silence...

8/365

The Thinker

7/365

Good friendships can be hard to come by when you're a military kid that moves every 12-18 months.  That's why it's so special when you find a good one-- even more so if they live next door.

6/365

Today is YOUR birthday.  

You are five.

You love to go to Mass and pray.

You are bright, sweet and loving.

You give away smiles and hugs so very easily to all who know you.

And, you know no stranger.

You are funny, love to entertain everyone and play Go-Fish.

You still love fancy dresses, pink and purple and all things frilly, fluffy and princess-ey.

But you can handle all six of your brothers without batting an eye.

You are growing up faster than I or Daddy would have liked, but not fast enough for you.

You are beautiful... 

and we are blessed by you

every. single. day.

5/365

Little girls are sweet, right?  Well maybe not all the time...

 But after a little correction from tha momma....

 things can go more smoothly and jobs get done.

Then again,  I guess I could be wrong.

4/365

August is h-o-t! Slip n' Slide.... pffft! I don't think so!  This is way better-- a ginormous sheet of plastic, some baby shampoo and a sprinkler.  Take that, Wham-O.

 

3/365

"Don't you der come ANY clote-er!"

2/365

You are the peacemaker of the family.  Your siblings say that you will be the glue that keeps them all together.  And they are right.  When I peek in on you at night and see you like this, I often wonder what the future holds for you...

Priesthood?

Artist?

Chef?

Pilot?

Your wall hangings perfectly reflect your interests.  

You once told me that you wanted to be a priest that is a pilot that serves others by cooking for them.  And you know what, my young conciliator...I think that sounds like a great plan.

365 Project.... Take 2

In an effort to keep the dust off the camera and stretch myself creatively, I started a 365 project a few months back--the idea being that I would post once a day... something... anything.   Long story short, I made it a whopping 56 days.

New day, new rules people.  So here I sit again, giving it another go.  But THIS time, I'm not alone.  Nope, my lovely photographer friend is prodding joining me.  And since I'm slightly scared of her and what she might to me should I ditch our project, I plan on hangin' in for the long haul.

So here goes nuthin'.....
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1/365

Beautiful Wyoming-- where I left a piece of my heart and my eldest child this week to start his journey that, I pray, will help him grow ever closer to Our Precious Lord in mind and spirit.