So Blessed

photo curtesy of Whitney Jones

Isn’t this just a wonderful sight. All theses ladies came to join me for my birthday lunch. I love them all.

Each and every place I have moved I could probably have taken a picture just like this. A group of women I love. Ladies I feel comfortable calling on if I need some baking supplies, a baby sitter, a listening ear, or a shoulder to cry on. Ladies who have taught me, served me, let me serve them, and just plain loved me for who I am. I don’t know what I would do without these women in my life.

I am so blessed and am excited to add to this long list of women I love with our next move to Nabraska.

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Moving on

 A few edits I did today from our trip to Vicksburg

 I had a few reminders today like the stack of packages that went to the post office today (thanks so much for getting your addresses to me so promptly. All packages went out today except two that will be hand delivered on that will ship out tomorrow.) and the remnants of crafting supplies that still need to be put away, but other than that my Birthday seems like the distant past. Not just YESTERDAY!!! Crazy. I guess I have simply moved on. I really enjoyed focusing on sewing and crafting last month but all the while I was desiring to work on my new hobby. Photography. I’ve got a class lined up starting next week and I am ready to learn. During the month I snuck into my crafting time and read a wonderful photography book called Photographing Your Children. It really got my gears turning on how I want to photograph my children and document their lives.

So, I’m not sure what is going to happen with this blog. I don’t have a plan at all. I really like visiting this space so we will have to see what happens.

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We’re Home

Well, we’ve made it home. It seems like every April we take at least one trip and I always worry about how it will cut into my Birthday Give Away crafting time for the month. This April, I’m glad we did our traveling at the beginning of the month. Dave’s schedule seems pretty full and so I suspect that I have the rest of the month to focus on getting some things made. I did slip in a bit of craft time on my way home, but I’ll show you that tomorrow. Right now I want to focus on remembering what a wonderful time we had. I love that we are all on the same page. The kids and I didn’t know what to expect but shortly after arriving we all knew that this was going to be a great little get away. While we all love the outdoors, we also can feel right at home in the city. Especially if it is chock full of history and charm.

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Having a great day in Vicksburg

Today has been wonderful. It’s amazing how a little family time with the whole family can make everything seem ok. Life just feels good today.

Here are a few panoramas from this afternoon.

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The Tree 2012

I guess it has become a tradition now. Here is 2011, 2010, 2009

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4 Months!!

 

Sorry, I know your going to get tired of seeing these lovely eyes, but I just cant help myself. I am totally in love. Daily, his siblings comment on how they “…just love him sooooo much!” They argue over who loves him more or who he loves the most. It must be great being the 4th child.

 

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3 months

 

I can’t believe it has been 3 months on one hand and then on the other I can’t believe we’ve only had him for 3 months. It’s so funny how that works. Love you, our little Monkey Monk

 

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Fluff

 

 

Good bye adorable fluffy  hair. What happened to you. You used to be so thick and wonderful. If only you would have stayed nice and fluffy. I would have loved to keep you but it just wasn’t meant to be. Don’t worry, if you promise to grow back in an orderly manner and stop falling out, I will let you grow again. I can’t wait to see you long and curly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Made the Cut

 

Well, I have officially decided to not cut this blog out of my life. Didn’t know I was thinking about it? Well, I was. Since I am tired of feeling guilty about not posting here I decided to set a goal and write here weekly. I’ve found a two hour bit of time in my life, once a week, that if I am prepared I can sit and upload pictured and actually think about writing a blog post.

 

The sad thing though is the fact that nothing has been going on. I started a project a few weeks ago… but haven’t touched it since. No new pictures had been taken. Nothing. Well, one thing has been going on. We decided to homeschool Bronwyn this year for first grade. It has been going smoothly and because of it I have this 2 hours where I sit at a table waiting for her while she enjoys an awesome art class and PE. Hollis is still young enough to sleep through most of it and so my blogging time has been discovered, but what to talk about??? Hmm.

 

 

Knowing that I didn’t have much prepared to post about today I snapped a quick picture of Bron as we were leaving. Nothing exciting happening at the time but I love the fact that she was so proud of her stripy outfit. She was beaming anytime anyone noticed it today. People can be so nice to notice and say something.  So, since I couldn’t get the Wi-Fi working during my 2 hours I spent the time reading my camera manual (again) and playing in photoshop and am just blogging about it all tonight.

 

 

 

Here is the original and my favorite manipulations of the picture I snapped of Bron today.

 

 

 

Plastic Wrap (kinda creepy; just looking at it make it hard for me to breathe)

 

 

 

 

Gradient Map (not sure what that means)

 

 

 

Sketch Photocopy (my favorite)

 

 

Find Edges (very close second)

Well, thats all I’ve got for today. See you next week.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Clearing

Well hello there blog. It sure has been a while. While I’m at it, hello camera and hello sewing machine, I almost forgot I own you, let alone once loved you.

Never quite understood the whole baby fog term until now. It seems that a large portion of my life just faded away into the back ground. I know it is there but I just can’t see, feel, or remember why I once occupied my life with it. Well, I’m just starting to see it again. It’s still foggy but things are definitely clearing.

Don’t get me wrong, life is wonderful and uncomplicated right now.  It seems, without any forethought, I emptied my life of all the extras and have been enjoying the peace that this sort of purge brings. I am a little sad that I have not captured my growing baby’s littleness as I wanted. Sadly my camera has only come out a few times.

Here are a few milestones and favorites.

I’m also sad that I didn’t get his blessing outfit made in time (luckily Magnus’ still fit him. Barely) or that our summer is now over and it doesn’t even seem like it happened at all. I was shocked to realize that it is September.

But like I said, things are clearing. I feel the extras which I once enjoyed freely starting to enter my life again. Slowly.

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Leaving the Couch

 

 

 

 

About a week postpartum I genuinely feared that I would be stuck on that couch for months. Silly me not to trust this old body of mine. True I put a lot of strain on it over the past nine months and true it didn’t bounce back right away like it had after my first two deliveries but really it only took an extra week or so and now I can see that silver lining just fine.

 

 

 

 

Today I feel I have hit a milestone in recovery. A big one. I guess all that sitting and waiting payed off.

 

Today I felt like taking a walk.

 

This is something I’ve been wanting to do for a while but knew that I wasn’t ready yet. I’ve been walking, just not for leisure. There have been plenty of doctor appointments and weigh ins for our little Hollis over his first 3 weeks but the walking was only to and from the car to where I was going. Nothing much more than that. But not today, todays walk was heaven. Just a slow walk with the family around the neighborhood. A stop here and there to visit with friends or for one of the kids to climb a tree or to snap a picture of the lovely evening or just to stop and look at the little arms and legs of my not so tiny newborn.

Heaven.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Happy Fourth!

While I am so very grateful for this country we live in and all those who have sacrificed to make it possible… we are celebrating a little different this year.

Today we welcomed home our Fourth child

John “Hollis” Cromwell

Born July 2nd  at 6:35pm. 8 lb 12 oz

(Our little Hollis getting he first sun bath.)

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A Wonderful Surprise

Warning – This is not a crafty post but one I would feel ungrateful if I did not write, as I have been touched so much.

Yesterday Bron and I hopped on our bikes for a little ride just as the sun was getting low on the horizon. I had just finished my second gift for the month and wanted to get a photo of it down by the docks in my little neighborhood and also wanted to enjoy a bit the beauty that is found there.

As we approached my desired dock I ran into Whitney, a sweet lady in our neighborhood and church congregation with a contagious enthusiasm for life and also a talent and passion for photography. Before this particular meeting I had dreaded ever meeting her in a situation like this. And I have to admit that as I realized that our crossing paths were inevitable this particular moment, I cringed as I saw her pull out her camera.

I have admired her photography since the moment she passed her card to me and had a minute to check out her website.  Each photographer has his/her own style and I just loved hers. But it was my silly struggles with body image that kept me always trying to increase the distance between myself and her camera. This desire only increased as my body became more and more swollen as the months have progressed in my pregnancy.

So, it was only with love for her and her sweet enthusiasm that I agreed to “just stand there” and let her dance around me. After a few minutes, I relaxed a bit and after an agreement that she wouldn’t show me any photos of myself that didn’t look great, I let her do her thing. I found it all very silly.

Until I saw these

This first picture almost made me cry.

I have always wanted (secretly) a beautiful pregnancy photo. But have always settled for a quick snapshot just for documentation of what I looked like for the sake of the unborn child.

Not only does this photo give me a beautiful pregnancy photo, it captures so much about me.I have stood in this same area many times gazing at the beauty of the area in which we live with thoughts of deity, my life, and how blessed I am swirling in my head. I am looking toward the water just like my mother is always doing. This makes me realize the many ways she has influenced my life and how proud I am to be “just like her.”  Seeing me hold my unborn baby represents so much for me. The fears, trials, uncertainty, gratefulness, love and trust that this experience as an expectant mother brings.

This photo makes me want to be a better mother. The way she is gazing up at me brings to memory the many talks we have heard in General Conference this past weekend that focused on my responsibility as a parent and gave direction on how to be the parent that my Heavenly Father and Savior want me to be. This photo clearly shows my daughters love for me and makes me realize that I am her mother and who else should lead her to God but me.

This last photo may only be meaningful to me but I love it.

I shows me, as always, as a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl, holding my family dear to me along with trying to balance my desire to create and share this love of mine with others. The fact that I am laying on the ground in such beautiful location was just the perfect touch as it  represents my love of nature and desire to be near it. While I am on my back I am looking up which reminds me of my need to consistently desire to know how I might become better and the knowledge that I have  of my need to remember that this answer will not come from the world but only if I become in-tune enough to hear and follow the promptings that will only come from above.

Thank you Whitney for such a wonderful and surprising gift. I will treasure these always.

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Sorting Skittles

10 large bags of them to be precise. Surprisingly it only took about a half an hour.

This fun machine has been filled with M&Ms since Santa brought it for me a couple of Christmas’ ago so I thought it was time for a change. I had been wanting one since I was a young girl. This isn’t the first time I’ve sorted colors like this but having them with rainbow colors is pretty fun. I love how surprised the kids are at what color they get. The candy for this selection of candy will dispense red at first but it won’t take too many turns before we are getting mostly purple than mostly blue etc. with a few other colors sprinkled it, than finally finishing the rest of the red.

If you are wondering, the machine if from here and I asked Santa that it used only nickels. Defiantly not a money maker. It costs about 40$ to fill it and I only receive about 10$ or so worth of nickels to empty it. However, it turns out that this little machine is a great motivator and an easy transition for ending play dates for Bron. I simple say lets clean up so we can have a nickel for the candy machine on your way out. LOL.

Really though this machine is for me, and I am the only one who has free access to the nickels. I do share though.

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Um…

I think my belly is sticking out.

Not that this is a bad thing, it just seems to have come on pretty sudden.

Now, I have noticed my swelling tummy for a while now but just about everybody is confident enough that I’m not just chubby and have been commenting on said belly.  I think it’s cute to see old and men and women notice me. Then get all smily and usually have some wonderfully cute thing to say. Unlike the busy check out lady who is shocked that I’m not even half way done yet. Its funny what people say, what I’m sure I have said, to pregnant ladies.

I’m not sure that I love all this added attention but I’m sure excited to see that things are moving along.  Summer just can’t get here soon enough.

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Christmas Break

Hiller Park

(Zoo photos by Thisbe)

Rapunzel’s Birthday Party

Its been a few day since the kids have been back at school. I’m feeling caught up with things and so I am here today! I do love this place.

So… Christmas Break,

I love, love, love it when the kids have breaks from school. It takes no time at all for the cleansing from structured school to begin. Usually it starts with a healthy dose of electronics. During the school weeks these are basically off limits and so they usually spend a day or so if it is a long break or a few hours if it is just a short one plugged in and entertained without very little thinking on their part. This is not my favorite part of the break by any stretch of the imagination but these devices are part of our family life and so I do allow it. I have found that if I let them have a good dose of it right off the bat and then a little here and there, the asking for it and addiction that these devices have is at a minimum and we always make sure to mix in an extra helping of imaginary supportive play afterwards. Usually inspired by said electronics.

This break I made an extra effort to schedule in a couple of play dates away from the house with a couple of other families. (this can be tricky) Both times we ended up at Hiller Park. I love this park. I do wish it was a bit bigger but as it is I feel comfortable letting most of my kids wander off with friends unsupervised. Free to explore, imagine, and bond. It also lets me have some wonderful time with only the  littles left behind so mamas can catch up as well.

Other than the actual holidays themselves, Dave only had one and a half days off this year. A little sad, but we did enjoy the time we had with him. For the one day that was not holiday related we headed to New Orleans to go to the Zoo. Over the years we have been to many zoos each its one or two attractions that set it apart from the rest. This zoo offers a fun dinosaur exhibit and the Swamp, featuring local animal life. The kids enjoyed them both.

Finally on our very last day, Bronwyn celebrated yet another birthday for her beloved Rapunzel.

*****

Now I spend my days alone in a quiet house. It is a little sad but also pretty nice as well. Today I’m feeling good, like really really good. Maybe sticking to my diet and actually exercising is helping things. We will see.

 

 

 

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The Tree

The tree was up before December this year but it isn’t until just yesterday that I corralled the kids around it for a picture.

After I snapped a few shots I couldn’t help but laugh. If all goes well, next year,  we’ll have a little one in the pic as well. (And maybe, finally, a new tree)

2009 – 2010

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Thanks

Like all of you, I have so much to be thankful for.

Thanksgiving for me was spent mostly in bed. You know, cook a little, lay down a little, cook a little more, lay down a little more. By the time it came time to eat I was only interested in a few bites and then it was off to hang out with mr toilet for a couple hours. You know, visit my new friend, lay down a little, etc… Once I got sufficiently desperate it was off to visit the ER to make a new friend IV. Boy I love her. Then it was back to bed for a good 29 hours.

Today I am feeling so very thankful.

Thankful for my patient husband and loving children.

Thankful for modern medicine.

Thankful for being able to see a healthy fetus with a strong heartbeat on the monitors early Friday morning.

Thankful for a quiet house (again, awesome husband) to reflect on my many blessings.

Hoping you all are realizing the great bounty of blessings in your life as well.

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Halloween

This year we had Pink Link, Harry Potter with his pet Buddy the Dragon, and Legolas.

It was a good Halloween:

First prize for best costume – Nice job Buddy

Enough candy to last the year

Pumpkin carved (with a proud owner no less)

Cant get much better. Well we could have done without the vomit but I suppose that comes with the holiday.

 

 

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Biloxi Adventures: Beach at Sunset

It started out as an attempt to fly my new kites. After I  got over the disappointment that not even the blades of tall grass were moving, I set to work enjoying the beautiful sunset. As a Mama, on this occasion, it translated into watching my younger two discover the magic in the air that often occurs as the sun hangs low in the sky, just before it disappears behind the horizon. 

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Taking A Break

 

 

 

Taking advantage of our fall break from school we headed out to the beach for a much needed vacation. It is amazing what a little time away from the craziness of normal life can do for my soul.  It was even more amazing to watch all the stresses of life and school melt away from my kids as they left all their cares behind and got busy “playing.” I miss this part of life. When you homeschool you can find time to fit this “playing” in more often. But as things are I am glad that we all in our own way took full advantage and escaped. Even if it was only for a few days. Boy, those were a wonderful few days.

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We have a teenager in the house

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Tropical Storm Lee – The Good

That shirt makes me laugh. I couldn’t find a pic but she used to where it when she was this size.

 

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Saved from someone’s garbage

This is what I found when I go home from walking the dog with a sick Bron in the stroller.

Brothers can be so sweet.

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Forcing myself to use my camera – Keesler Birthday Party

I defiantly find myself labeling my camera as a tool for art rather than as a tool to document. This sadly leads to many many missed documenting opportunities. Ones that happened but will probably not be remembered very long. I think I have this problem because I don’t have a tangible way to keep photos. I really need to start printing photos, making photo books or something. It’s just not doing it for me to have files on my computer.

What do you do with your photos?

Anyway, here are some pics from the Keesler Birthday Party. I find these photos to be a little boring. They all seem to pretty much the same. I’m just happy I actually documented an event. And it helps that my kids look pretty cute as well.

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Today’s the Day

All three headed off to school today. (Thisbe snuck off without a pictures. sneaky sneaky) As a mom I think I held it together pretty well but my heart is still worrying a bit. Also, the house just feels more empty. hmmm

Anyway,

After finishing up my duties for the morning I put my self to work on my next quilt. Nothing like the hum of my machine to help the time pass by.

 

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A sad thing is happening

Our days of summer vacation are getting fewer and fewer as our stack of school supplies is getting larger and larger.

I can’t believe school is here already. I knew that summer would fly by and it sure did.

I guess things aren’t all sad. I will be entering a new stage in life. All three of my kids will be heading off to school this year. This gives me a large chunk of time every day (well, every school day) all to my self. Whatever will I do?

See you next week, I’ve got a few projects to show you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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{this moment}

Joining in with Soule Mama today.

{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

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Adventure on the Bayou

Since our moving plans have been canceled and we’ll be spending another year here in Mississippi, we thought we’d check out some of the southern attractions.

Airboats on the bayou!!

It was a scorching 100 decrees but since we were on the water and moving at such high speeds the heat was pretty doable.

If you were wondering that is not my husband kissing an alligator. I was pretty surprised when our tour guide planted one on it. These beauties were so calm and peaceful swimming around us. I was tempted myself  touch them.

We did all get to hold one. It wasn’t one that is currently living in the bayou but our guide’s pet. He found him a couple of years ago and will be releasing him back to the bayou in another year.

This was a blast and I highly recommend it if you in the New Orleans area.

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A change in scenery

It is with mixed feelings that I prepared for this trip. However, regardless of the so many reasons not to go, I knew in my mind that it was the right choice. So, with my husband and children left behind and some good friends ready to help as needed, I boarded a plane for a vacation from my regular life.

I’m at peace now with my decision and really enjoying the change in scenery and bonding again with my family that we have lived away from so very many years.

So for the next week or so, things around this place will look a bit different. I’m a little disappointed about my missing sewing time but I did bring a little project to work on if I let my self slow down enough.

We will see.

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