The park is farther than you think...

Kaitlin has been experiencing some serious spring fever for several weeks now...just itching to get outside and play, asking to go to the park and such. Well, yesterday, with our beautiful, finally-like-spring weather, I decided we'd walk to the park after I got home from work. I had assumed we'd bring out the stroller and Kaitlin would 'enjoy the ride'. But, no, she decided that she was going to ride her little red Radio Flyer tricycle to the park.

"Are you sure, honey? I think the park is farther than you think." Tripp park is about a 1/2 mile from our house.

"Yup...I want to ride my bike," she insisted.

Well, she made it...slowly...I definitely wasn't going to break a sweat keeping up with her. I might have broke a sweat trying to keep her toward the side of the road, though, as there are not sidewalks to use along all the streets on the way to the park. She played for about 20 minutes and then we headed back home and she rode all the way again...but she was pretty tired by the end of it and it took a little coaxing to keep her on the bike the last block or so.

"I think next time we'll take the stroller."

She said, "I think that's a VERY good idea, Mom."

I just savor the moments when she agrees with me!

A birthday celebration and Easter #2

Steve, Kristi and the boys came down for a 'second Easter' on Saturday and also to celebrate Alex's fourth birthday with us. It is so hard to believe that he could be four years old already! He is talking so much more and better...and is such a 'lovey' little boy. Just a sweetheart!

He definitely gets the 'funny' award for the day. When Kaitlin and I first arrived, he came running up to me and asked, "Are you my cousin?"

"No, I'm your Aunt," I said.

"Cool. Is she your cousin?" He was gesturing towards my sister, Lynn.

"No, she's my sister."

"Cool. Is she my cousin?" This time he pointed at Kaitlin.

Finally, he got one right! "Yes, she's your cousin."

All he said was "Cool." and off he ran. I think "Cool." must be his favorite word right now!!

It was a great day. The weather was absolutely wonderful and the kids got to enjoy a huge outdoor Easter egg hunt. We put out A LOT of eggs and I think they were actually pretty tired by the time they found them all. Here are some pictures. Just click on the pic to advance to the next picture.

Dad brought out the four wheeler after the hunt and Jamison, Alex and Kaitlin all got several turns. They had a lot of fun together that day!

As you can see, I also had some fun playing with a few of these photos in my editing software. I think they look pretty cool in sepia tone. I really like to shots of Kaitlin with my Dad's 'Frontier Mills' hat on! How cute!

On Sunday, Kaitlin & I went to church and out to lunch with Mom & Dad and then went home and we all did some cleaning up during the afternoon. The house was a pit. At about 5 p.m., we'd all had enough, so Justin & I sat down to watch some movies.

We watched "The Departed" first and although it was a good movie, I'm glad Kaitlin decided she wanted to play in her room for a good while because the language was awful. If it wouldn't have been for that, I would have said it was a great movie.

After that we watched "Goal" - a movie about a young illegal immigrant living in Los Angeles that travels to England to pursue his dream of playing competitive soccer (or 'football' as they call it there). That was actually a VERY good movie. I liked it a lot...

And then came Monday and it was back to work...

Sunday Spur for Scrapbookers #12 - A Call to Give

This week's Sunday Spur is definitely something a little different...it is a challenge to extend your support and compassion to a fellow scrapper in need.

I recently found out about a fellow scrapper whose 12-year old son has been diagnosed with cancer...terminal cancer. Evidently, the doctors believe that they have done all that they can do. This is just so inexplicably sad.

Read Jen's announcement on Two Peas here.

If you are a return reader, you know that I recently had a cousin pass away from cancer. She was young...only 46 years old...with two grown daughters, but also a young daughter still at home (about 10 years old). And as devastating as it was for her and all of her family, she had a VERY strong faith, even up to the very end, and did live a fulfilling and happy life.

As a mother, I cannot even fathom facing this grim reality for my child...ANY CHILD. How do explain such a thing to a child? Not to mention the fact that no parent should ever have to outlive their child!

Another scrapper (who doesn't even 'know' Jen) has started a blog to organize a benefit for Jen and her family. You can visit the link here.

If you are able, give. Give a $1...for sure, it will add up! Jen has responded to the outpouring of support on her blog in the April 12th entry with awe and gratitude. You can also she a picture of her son, Joey, there. If you are unable to give monetarily...leave her a promise of prayer and a wish of hope by leaving her a comment to her post or in the Two Peas message board. Or even better, do both!

And, if you're a parent, hug your children a little tighter every time you have the chance.

She's a Dancing Queen

I recently started fiddling around with the video function on my digital camera recently and have something to share with you that I hope you will enjoy!



It is my sister, Lynn, that told her to "shake it." Several things run through my mind as I watch this clip:

• She's certainly fit right during the trip to Hawaii that she keeps asking for (I don't really know where this interest in Hawaii came from...her other destination of choice is Canada...hmmmm...Canada or Hawaii).
• Evidently saying "Hula, hula, hula" enhances this native dance.
• Either we have been watching entirely too much "Dancing with the Stars"...or not enough!
• And last, but not least...boy, I wish my butt was that cute when I 'shook it'!!

WHOOOOHOOOOO!!

I am soooo excited! I got a publication request from Simple Scrapbooks today!! It is for a layout called "Under Surveillance" about Kaitlin's first day of preschool last fall and how I stalked her school bus to and from school (black and white photos and all!)...it is a fun layout and am so honored that they have requested it. It will be in featured in a special issue called "Scrapbook Play!" and is scheduled to come out in September.

It had been nearly six months since my last request (which was from Memory Makers) and although I always try to remind myself just how competitive this market is and how many thousands of great submissions the mags must get for every call, I was still starting to get a little discouraged.

So, I guess this is my positive confidence JOLT, I guess! It makes me want to go do some more scrappin'...like right now!!

New Scrapblog...St. Patty's Day Kaitlin

Here's a new Scrapblog I made for some pics I took of Kaitlin on St. Patty's Day...

A quote to ponder...

Came across this African proverb the other day in a piece that I had to read for work about the Catholic Tradition...

"I am because you are."

This really struck a cord with me. I am not sure exactly what the literal African meaning is, so might have to do some research on that.

I am interested on how others might interpret this quote, especially mothers (or fathers). Let me know what you think...