a vacation poem

it's been a long time, we've been a waitin'

the tingles are at the beach...don't be hatin'

the sky is so blue and sun so shiny

and loads of sand all up in our hineys

yep, it's beach vacation 2008

if i burn to a crisp it will be still be great!

holla, the tingles

birthday party. round 2.

addison and cayley are best buddies and kindred spirits...they share the same birthday. and today we celebrated the two pumkins at daycare. it was too cute. miss beth and miss stephanie were so sweet to shower these girls with love. and i have to say that little miss redeemed herself with this cake...she endulged in it from head to toe...literally.

big picture

what is happening with these crazy big pictures?!?!?! well, it is a long story but i will give you the short version.

addison was born.
dad took a new job.
mom found a new daycare close to dad's new job.
mom and dad commute like crazy.
house goes up for sale.
football season comes and goes.
addison has an ear infection.
deadlines wrap up for one major project.
wrestling season about does mom in.
another ear infection.
still commuting.
spring...a little rest. just a little.
launch label business big time.
brooke and josh decide to move to tulsa. crap.
spring football begins.
back to commuting.
another ear infection...again.
brooke gets pregnant. yeah. but still moving. crap.
start making invitations. what am i thinking?
house not sold.
ear infection. can we say tubes?
daddy daycare begins.
mom overcome with jealousy (i want to be at home with addison).
mom overcome with sadness (my sister is moving).
mom overcome with stress, stress and stress (work is not fun right now).
birthday party. check.
tubes. check.
1-year checkup. check.
assist brooke with wedding. check.
natalie's pics. check.
deadline for project i hate. ch...wait. no check.

this is the news i get this morning as i walk into work expecting to pull a long day and a long night. stop working. project is on hold. what? hold? after pulling my hair out for three weeks doing architectural drawings (when i am not even an architect) now they tell me it is on hold? so basically here i am spending the morning playing on the computer. and it is fabulous. i have been trying to figure out how to make big pictures on my blog...but don't have time (see above list). i have been trying to post about addison's tubes and how fabulous they are...but i don't have time (see above list). i have been trying to get out of this funk i am in...but can't seem to find the answer (see above list...especially the part where brooke is moving...to tulsa). i have been trying to just be thankful and content with where God has us...but can't seem to stop and just smell the roses (again see the list). but today, this morning, i have had four hours to play. to gaze at pictures of family, babies, weddings, smiles...pictures that show me, teach me that this funk, this place, it will end. and even if it doesn't, even if we don't sell our house, even if i never get over the ache of missing my sister, even then... it will all be ok. one day i will see the big picture.

back to the pictures...so yeah, i figured out how to do it. i probably won't go to that trouble every time but today it was needed. today is a big picture day.

the five muses

not only did i get to take natalie's pictures on sunday, i took some of the five muses. five generations of incredible women. five women who will all walk a different walk, live a different life, experience different joys and pains. but also five women who share the same name - muse. each one passed on the name "muse" to allow for the next to create their own meaning, their own self...their own muse.

big ma "muse" sat there at 99 years old, in the 99 degree weather all the while radiating beauty with a smile that pierces your heart. grandma "muse" looked around admiring her family while keeping stock that everyone was cared for. at one point she handed me the best glass of ice water that quenched my thirst for so many things...she took care of me. the newest grandmother of the bunch is gam "muse" and she radiated love and joy over her new role in life. her purpose in life has once again been made anew in being a grandmother - making nat laugh, giggle and smile...and oh she does. then kel "muse" - the new mom. kel encompasses "muse" to a level that in unearthly. she has big ma's smile that shines through you, she takes care of us when we are around just like grandma, and she laughs and giggles and makes you feel so special just like gam does....she is all three in one and so much more. she sings like an angel, cries with you from the tips of her toes, listens forever with complete understanding. she so much of a muse to us all. lastly we have baby "muse". little natalie who is only beginning on this journey of finding her self. but she will. and she will do it grace and charm. just like a muse.

sweetness

my precious kel graced me with the honor of taking little natalie's pictures today. maybe i should rephrase that - she was brave enough to let me take natalie's pictures. in the downtime i was able to snap a few of our two girls together. it was a miracle that addison didn't try to crawl over her, instead she laid there and drank natalie in. it was precious and so sweet. kel fell into my heart ten years ago and today natalie fell into addison's. it was priceless. i will forever cherish these few pictures and what it will mean in the years to come. it will mean providence, trust, solitude, secrets, giggles, peace, and i pray home. a home in a friendship that only god can ordain.

hair makeover

...and much needed if i say so myself....

birthday party

it came and it went. and it was a great fun. addison's big party was sunday and it was indeed big. the theme was polkadots and lollipops. we began with an invitation (sent out a little late of course but that didn't seem to stop anyone from coming)...

then some little touches of fun...

(invitation deleted after genius mom realized she had just posted her address to the entire world...oh man...)

of course there was cake...

and some little party favors aunt carrie and uncle marc helped me make. i love music and wanted something playing in the background so marc helped make my wish happen. we made a cd of some of our favorites, some oldies, some songs from the year, some that remind us of addison, and then just some just because...

and finally, the birthday girl...

she was silly with her cake...but oh-so-cute!

and man were there presents...thank you everyone for your sweet gifts. we felt truly blessed to be given so much. addison is already loving all of them!

and as usual, little miss needed a break. whew. being the birthday girl is hard work.

all i can say is it was fabulous...absolutely fabulous. thank you to everyone for being apart of such an amazing day with us. it will forever be remembered because of the precious people we were able to spend it with. from the bottom of the tingles hearts, we thank you.