"That Guy"

Yes to all the sistas who were there for the story.

Let it be known that "this is the picture that Maddy took".

Spewing.

Here are a few things I'm spewing tonight because (quite honestly) I simply don't have time to organize a real post. There is packing to do gosh darnit.

1. I have no idea who took that picture (above) but it must be a cousin. See post from 7/25/11 for reference.

2. I like that picture. Dear Cousin, you can borrow my camera any time.

3. Dec, in the midst of picking out "American" t-shirts today at Target to bring to all his relations he doesn't know in County Wicklow and County Cork and Tipperary - asked

"Does Auntie Una have any babies?" No. I replied. "Why?" Dec asked. She and her husband decided not to have babies. I replied. "But how do you make a baby mom?" Dec asked.

4. I was not prepared to answer him in the discount t-shirt aisle of Target so I wheeled (quickly) in the direction of the new CARS II toys and avoided the questioning all together. Was that bad parenting? I'm beginning to think yes.

5. Dec paddled his new (birthday present) kayak in the lake for the first time today and within about 67 seconds had an older (7-year-old) girl asking to hitch a ride on the back. He obliged. Of Course, he did. Because he is the best kid ever born (and Nonie too). But, should I be concerned that his new yellow (banana boat) kayak is a chick magnet.

A chick magnet?!

I was not prepared for this.


Please, discuss amongst yourselves and advise ASAP.


Over and out.

... beneath my feet began to crumble.

Earlier today, just after Nonie was dropped at school, Dec and I made our way through my early morning "To Dos".

One of the items on the list was find our darn video camera cord so that I can be certain to capture my sweet 2.5 & 5.5 year-olds on film.

Their voices are so high, their words are so cute. And, for the life of me, I can't find the cord to charge our camera. It has been driving me bonkers. I must record their cuteness.

Dec and I removed two big drawers from the living room chest and rifled through a tangle of cords - none of them belonged to an electronic device I recall owning. He couldn't take his hands off them. This only made my work harder. But boy, do I love him.

Suddenly two words caught my eye and I quickly dropped everything that was in my hands.

A VHS tape that read "Rehearsal Dinner" had made its way to the top of our pile.

Rehearsal Dinner Wha? Who's? Ours?

My mind raced to our rehearsal dinner. I didn't recall anyone taping it at the time.

I simply had to pop the video in to see.

(And yes, as Emah constantly reminds me, I'm the only one left in the world who still owns a VHS player. See how handy it comes in Emah?)

Two images flash before my eyes immediately:

Me as a 3 year old. Then, seconds later, the Hubs as a five year old.

We're both in photos taken at the beach.

The next shot is me on a big wheel at the age of 6. Then, the Hubs on his dirt bike flying high through the air. Age 10.

The video plays on, the photos alternate between the soon to be bride, and soon to be groom.

Dec is shouting behind me, "Who IS that?" "Who is THAT?" "Really Mom, WHO is that?"

Then his questions morphed into "Is THAT Daddy?" "Is that GRANNY????" "Is that LILY?Look at Lily, she was such a cute little NUGGET!!!" (I kid you not, he said that Lils - and, you were about ten in the picture, wearing the pink Laura Ashley dress).

We watched it twice. I cried both times.

The photos were set to this tune (which I can't get out of my head, eleven hours later)...

We were so young.

The pictures of us when we were dating simply took my breath away.

We were so young.

Did I mention that I cried for the duration of both viewings?

But, I managed to pull myself together to answer Dec's pressing questions:

A picture of the Hubs circa 1995 (college years, before I entered the picture)...

"Why was daddy wearing a dress?"

I don't know sweety, you'll have to ask him when he gets home.

And, of the picture of the Hubs as a 10-year old rockin' this insane jump on his dirtbike...

"Why didn't daddy jump higher than that?"

I don't know sweety, you'll have to ask him when he gets home.

Thank goodness the image of me as the Montessori Christmas Elf next to the Hubs as the Montessori SANTA CLAUS, only elicited a shriek of "SANTA, MOM, LOOK SANTA!".

Phew.

While the tears flowed, beneath my feet began to crumble....just like in that song.

And I let myself enjoy the reminder of where and when that music and the magic began.

*** Due to the emotionally exhausting jaunt down memory lane, No, I did not find the darn video camera cord..... maybe tomorrow.***

Wednesday Smiles

Here are two pictures that should bring a smile to your face.


I've always wondered what "shape face" I have when you see those magazine articles about what kind of sunglasses to wear if you're oval or round or whatever it might be. I've wondered but I haven't really done much research. Well, my questions was answered today when one of my boys gave me this portrait of yours truly.


In other news.
Drake gears up for the winter cold.

when i get old tired and grey....

When I get old tired and grey I hope that someone takes a picture of me.

And I hope I look as good as that truck does up there.

Through all my rust, dented chrome, and warn-out tires....

I hope I sparkle and gleam and leave people wishing they knew more.

*I didn't take this picture but was emailed it by a friend who knew my boys wold love it. She was right.

Yes I did, thanks for asking

Yes I did find the perfect place to begin my tacky beach house accessory collection.




Yes I did pack a brownie and a book to keep myself entertained at the River while Eric fished.




Yes I did watch him give the fish a root canal and then heard it bark (or burp, hard to tell as I'd never heard a fish make noise before).




Yes I did ride the merry-go-round in a dress. Not even side saddle. Some lady!




Yes I did meet the dog I want to bring home.



Thanks for asking.

A new me, and me, and me.

Here is what I learned today.

The first thing you should do when you get a new computer with a camera is learn to take a great picture of yourself.

I am still working on it, but I wanted you to know.

This is a rough draft. If you call me later to video-chat and what not you might find that I have moved in front of a different background. As you can tell I have not seen the sun since I was a small child and hencetoforth and so I blend in with the wall.

However, ask and you shall receive (Kara) (and Annie) (and probably secretly Erin) moi face.

EEK!

Also, is that a lazy eye?

A picture buffet and proving me wrong.

I hope you pronounced buffet as boofay. It's more fun that way.

There was life before THE bug, I am sure. I just forgot what with all that whoopsin'. Here is some evidence.

I spy an Emah sandwich.


The Whelans steal a quiet moment.


I call this "The Chairlift".


This way Xave!


"Xavey I am TRYING to watch BABE".


"Ok. I forgive you."


Cousins give Bri a massage.




Post Note which is really a pre-note... but later.
Did you see all that embracing, canoodle, snuggling? Might we be huggers?