The Name of the Game

I'm not into PDA of any kind, and I am really into sarcasm, usually at the expense of my friends. So, a lot of people are surprised that my blog is so mushy-mushy. I'm like the drunk girl at a party who tells everyone she loves them. Only I'm not drunk. I swear. And, this is a blog, not a party. And---I really do love my friends. It's not beer goggles. Really. At times, I *may* teeter on the brink of sounding pathetic: like mentioning my lovely photographer one too many times....

However, I know my fans, and I know you love it when I embarrass myself. So, I thought it would make you happy if I practiced my manual focus on my photographer's daughter. No prob.

 

Unlike Erin, I learned these techniques from the Nikon DVD that came with my camera...Mr. Bob Krist:

 

Okay, I know. You can tell. The girls did have fun at Dance Party USA, but that's about all we can say about that...The lighting did come out on a couple. I'm just not sure why or if I can make it happen again.

I told them to look serious. I think it's safe to say the professional photographer's daughter is easy to distinguish. Look at those soulful eyes! And, the last one is so adorable...just not in focus! :)

Oh, well. It's all in the name of the game!

Playdates

The weather has finally broken around these parts, and we have thoroughly enjoyed the 70s and 80s with sun...playdates have filled the air, visiting with many good friends, new and old.

These two just celebrated 5 years of playdates. I will never forget their first...while they slept snugly in their strollers, Wendy and I sat on a park bench and had a major baby data dump. We compared notes on sleep schedules, advice from friends, hormones, nursing, help from husbands, baby weight, if we ever woke them up on purpose, how our moms did things...and anything else we could fit into their naptime.The jury is still out on how these two have turned out...but I for one am grateful for our playdates!!

  

We've both had new additions----

But, it really hasn't changed much. Wendy and I still chat the whole playdate, and the kids do what kids do. Have fun!

...or something like that! :)

Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity

to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference. 

Living one day at a time;
 

Enjoying one moment at a time; 

Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; 

Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it; 

Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;

That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.

Amen.

--Reinhold Niebuhr

Ten Best Michael Memories on Tuesday

1. Our first date at Atomic Cafe in Lexington, KY.
2. Michael picked me up from the airport in Virginia Beach, then drove straight to the beach, passing Jackie's Dump Truck on the way, and ate a picnic lunch he had made.
3. Adopting Haley-girl together.

4. Seeing Michael waiting for me after arriving safely at the Boston airport the week after September 11, then the sweet ladies at the Harley House taking care of us since our movers were MIA with all of things!
5. Cooking our first Thanksgiving meal in Lunenburg, MA.

6. Dancing at our wedding reception.

7. Helicopter tour in Kauai on our honeymoon!

8. Making it to the first village of Cinque Terra alive, and it *was* beautiful!

9. Buying our house in Huntsville!

10. Creating two miracles.

No pain.

So, I really don't like the motto "no pain no gain." Like, all of the benefits gained from enjoying a nice glass of wine, and it's just not painful at all! And, telling old Hillside stories: lots and lots of good feelings gained. No pain at all. Snuggling up next to my hubby next to a nice, warm fire. Baby gained, yet no...okay maybe there *was* a lot of pain!! But, I *prefer* the motto, "No pain."

It's just that in certain circumstances (like having a baby), we all have to go through pain to get the *particular* gain we may desire. My current painful gains: I'm growing my hair out *and* trying to get in shape. These particular goals are both very painful, but I gave myself a little shove. So far these are the results:

 

Seriously. This is sooo against my motto. Pain to the body *and* the ego. Not to mention the randomers pulling on them!

Yet, I'm posting pictures...I just know "my fans" love to seeing embarrassing pictures of me---and I love to make you happy---consider these your early (or belated) birthday presents!

Rudydudy

My poor little snugglebuggle Rudydudy got hit by a car last night. He is the world's worst darter, he has *no* streetsmarts, and we knew it was a matter of time...but we are thankful he is alive. He ran right into California Ave, which is very busy, and right at 5 o'clock. Luckily, he just got clipped by someone's bumper and was knocked out.

During the time I didn't know if he was alive, I kept thinking: 1. What will Elise do? and 2. I should have taken more pictures of him. 

So, as far as #2 goes, here's some pictures! And, for #1, I really don't know. Poor Elise said, "I didn't know something so bad could happen." :( Then, she had a hard time going to sleep because Rudy usually sleeps under her bed. Poor Elise. Poor Rudydudy. Actually, lucky Rudydudy!

September 11

Ten years ago, I awoke to a phonecall from my now-husband, "Where are you? Turn on the TV." I could tell something terrible was wrong by the sound of his voice. I turned on the TV just in time to watch the second plane hit the World Trade Center. It was chilling. I got in the car and drove the few miles from my sister's house to my mom's house. On the way, both of the towers fell. The car radio was silent for minutes after the second tower came down. In that silence, I started to grasp the capacity of blind hatred.

This boy, Andrew Ielpi, suffered what I can only imagine is the ultimate loss: his parent. Yet, his story is merely one chapter in our country's book of devastation on September 11, 2001. The people who planned these attacks know nothing about these stories. The only story they know is their hatred.

As human beings, we are limited in our power: we cannot give him back his father, we cannot take away the impact of the four jetliners used as weapons that day, we cannot eliminate every crazy person who hates us. However, the power that the citizens of the United States showed on that day and the many days afterward is extraordinary. We set aside our differences and embraced one another's humanity. Jonathan Ielpi, the boy's father, was a firefighter who gave his life to help his fellow citizens. His heroism is also one story of many heros that day.

So, today I mourn our country's loss, I celebrate our heroes, and I remind myself that life is amazing.

Cousins

Last week we counted down the days until Cousin Ella arrived, and boy did those cousins enjoy themselves over the long weekend!!

 

These two were in their own little world, playing for hours on end without needing any refereeing. :)  The younger cousins enjoyed themselves too, they just needed some assistance at times. 

 

If you notice the green in the water, it's not algae. Little Cal has on a waterproof cast! Pretty cool, huh? Well, not the broken leg, but being allowed in the water. He was not going to let a silly broken leg ruin his time!

  

And, for a special princess, a Birthday celebration was in order! 

 

 

 Yes, Aunt Margie celebrated her 29th Birthday (for the 5th time) last weekend!

 

She may be 33, but she'll always be a little princess in my mind! ;) Ha! And, just so those grandmas don't come after me, here is another photo of Little Miss Evie!

Women of the World

I recently read about The Feminine Mystique, which dared housewives in the 60s to think for themselves. It is truly amazing to me what women can do when we work together. Tomorrow is the 30^th anniversary of enacting the International Women’s Bill of Rights, and I for one know that we can change the world if we work together. To prove it, I wrote this little diddy:

Women of the World, Stand Up.

The Diligence You Give to Your Life, Give to Yourself.

Invade your Space with your Presence, 

             Wake the World with your Compassion.

Hold your Childhood in your Embrace, 

             Fill your Limbs with your Soul.

Pay Homage to your Mother's Mother, 

             Be a Hero for Your Child's Daughter.

The Cruelty in this World will Not Destroy Us when 

              We Embrace One Another.

Stand Up.

Stand Up for Your Dreams.

Stand Up for Your Babies.

Stand Up for Her Babies.

Stand Up.