Lucky, Lucky,Lucky...Our Law Book Runneth Over!

This has been a week filled with luck!
I don't feel like I have much yet.
I'm waiting for it to kick in!

This is the deal...
It's sooo cool!!!!
On Saturday:
Jim found a four leaf clover  on our friend's front lawn.
He has been searching for close to 39 years for one.
He ran into the house with the look of an excited eight year old.
He even told me to take out my camera and take a picture of him with it!
This meant that it surely was a monumental moment in Jimbo history! ...He typically hides from me.

On Sunday:
Grace and Chloe were antiquing with Julia, Marnee and me.
Grace has a passion for books. She adores any kind...new, old, illustrated or chapter book.
We browsed and each found something worthy of our money.
Grace and Chloe were on a $2.00 budget. They were very serious shoppers.
Chloe found an angel sculpture.
She asked the lady much it was.
$.25
SOLD!
Gracie flipped through books at every booth. She found on called the Golden Key. She fell in love with its cover, key glowing, centered on the deep navy book jacket, golden text blazing above it in script.
"Sorry...too expensive."
She didn't find me on it...simply asked if we could look for another one some day.
I assured her that one day she would have her own copy, just not that day.
Grace flipped through the aged pages and found a dried, pressed four leaf clover.
It was on page 47.
Lucky, lucky girl!
The owner was very happy for her. He flipped through the pages to see if there were any waiting for him.
Then he gave Gracie a little brown, box, complete with hinges and snap to keep it safe from harm.
He felt badly, giving one sister something and not the other...
Chloe walked away with a lovely jade cross charm.

...more luck!

Jim couldn't get over this. "What is the likely hood?! Two in two days?!"

Tuesday:
Addi came home with a piece of paper folded up, envelope style. It read "MOM."
I said,"Oooh, thanks Addi. What is this? For me?"
Addi: No! That's mine. I just wrote your name on it so that I wouldn't forget to bring it home!
Me: What? Why did you do that? (laughing)
Addi: I write your name on all of the important things that I need...You know like papers, letters, stuff that I usually have to give you. Now I write it on everything so that I don't forget."
Me: Oh, I get it! (laughing harder...She's way too cute!)

Addison opened the paper. Wrapped inside was the four leaf clover that she had found on the playground during recess!

Me: No way! This is awesome! We have to tell Dad!
Addi: Quick take a picture of me with it and send it to him at work!

...and that's what we did.

His return text read:
Did you check it to make sure that she didn't split one of the leaves (the old trick)?


Then Grace showed me the most gorgeous butterfly that I have ever seen.
It was dead, but looked perfect.
My reaction: Guys, this is incredible! what is going on with our family lately? We're finding the coolest stuff.

Wednesday:

I pulled the Caravan into the driveway.
What were my daughters up to?!
All three were crouched down in various spots on our neighbors lawn.
It looked like something that you'd see in National Geographic.
I had visions of tribal women.
"Hi girls...What's going on?"

Addi came running...

Addi: Look! Look! I found two more!! Right on the lawn!

Me: NO WAY!!  Where's my camera?! dad isn't going to believe this!!

Addi: I must be the luckiest person ever!!!

Addison put her clovers into a blue cup and went back, determined to:
(a) Find more for herself.
(B) Teach her sisters the art of clover hunting.

There were "good spots" out there and she knew where they were!

10 Minutes later:

Addi found another.
That's it.
I needed on on this action.
I crouched down with the girls, sifting through our neighbor's grass.
I could hear him on his phone inside..
...I wondered why he didn't come out and ask what we were doing!
We must have been a strange sight!
Chloe shouted out: I got one!

...two seconds later...

"Me too!!"

Gracie stomped away...
"I must be cursed."

Chloe: No Grace, we'll find you one. It took daddy a really long time. You'll get one.

...She's such a sweetie pie, but it didn't help.
While Grace decompressed next to our neighbor's pond we ended our search for the day.
Our feet were wet.

It was time to send pics to Dad and press our clovers.
Black's Law: pages 551; 1065; 762 and 467.
Gracie's clover disintegrated and got stuck in the couch cushions. She needs some new luck.

Jim's texted response:
"WHAT???????"

Thursday:
I wonder how many more will show up for the taking?
We'll be crouched in the neighbors yard again...
Wish us luck!

...Guess what!?
Addi found another four leaf clover on her way home from the bus stop! That makes five this week!
She really is the luckiest kid ever!

What do you think? Should I let her pick my numbers and play lotto?
For a small fee I'll let her pick some numbers for you too!

Funky, Rainy Days and "Art" Feet!

Have you ever been in a "funk?"
Stuck in a rut?
Had an artistic block?
Has anyone ever "cramped your style?"
OR
Put "a kink in the works?"

Today was that kind of a day.
With my Gracie home dealing with a bad case of strep throat,

Security giving my parking spot away, by accident (how do you do that...come on)
Heavy rain making my feet squishy, smelly and wet...
...thanks to the parking lot at work flooding over!
...and me, forgetting my rainboots.

I'm now turning my day around.
Here's the spin!

Gray skies? Rain? Fender benders...bring 'em on!
Students are peeeling out and crashing cars all over the place. Young drivers be careful and older drivers beware!
Did I ever mention that this weather gives exceptional lighting for taking photos?
Positivity is creeping in... Sit tight!
Addison, Chloe and I...with Lightning of course, headed into the yard for a rainy day romp.
We stayed close because of sick, sister Gracie. She was crashed out on the couch.
PLOP...PLOP...FIZZ>>>FIZZ...Oh what a relief it is! ...JUST KIDDING!!
It was more like DIBBLE...dibble...DOP...DIBBLE...Dibble...dop.
I love the rain! It was spectacular jumping in the huge puddle of a parking lot (with my rainboots on) as I headed to my car at the end of the work day.
People that didn't know me, like the many unfamiliar students and parents in the lot, must've thought me odd. That's okay...I am!
I was in the art department lot. Things like teachers acting loopy are acceptable here. It feels good to belong. I am one of the many "whackies" that adore this side of the building and its freedoms.
We are who we are...accept us...or not.

Childhood antics keep you young at heart.


Although Gracie is sick, she is happy. She's had the chance to watch movies! It's raining. She's bored and has already created more drawings and crafts than our little green house can store.
Jim and I each have our own "Gracie made" 3D, Easter inspired fantasy lands!
Pastely and squishy, like the bunny threw up all over the place...

...But our baby is proud, there fore so are we.
I could go into the skills that she is attaining and perefecting while making something like this...
but that is art speak, not always Mama speak. I just want to keep it simple for now! I've been "art speaking" all day. My brain hurts. I need more puddles to jump in...maybe a hole to fall into...hide for awhile and rest there like a bunny. Be like Alice and journey down the rabbit hole.
This is not a drug reference!
A great visual escape,
an adventure,
the outdoors,
the beach,
the sunshine
my yard and it's half grown gardens are beconning.

BIllie...Billie..Where are you?
Billie...Billie...We miss you.
Billie...Billie...you are insane...Stop typing to yourself!

AHHHHhhh...That felt good! I'M BACK. Slightly saner than a moment ago.

My students have the priviledge of having the Gracie Art on view in my computer lab. Lucky teenagers!

I promised that mine would be displayed in my art classroom for all of "my big kids" to see.
Addi is working on her version of "Easterland" as I type.
Chloe is checking her out. Asking her the "how to's."
That means only one thing...
...more are coming.

Thank you to Target for having cheep-o craft foam and stickers galore!
Thank you to my trusty blue dust pan. It helped me clean up all of the peel away scraps left behind. There were hundreds! Everywhere!!!!
I wonder what tomorrow's crafts will include?!
RAIN...RAIN...RAIN...means art, books and ice cream! (rainy ice cream, with a good book is a family tradition)

Artist Mama with three kids following in her footsteps = endless possibitities.

LIFE IS SOOO GOOD!
I think it's time that I put on my art sneakers.
They give me sunshine on dark days...Today HAS NOT been dreary...Simply darker than most.

Here's a craft idea for all of you out there:
RECYCLE an OLD PAIR of SHOES.
My kids have attacked their flip flops with markers and paints...completly beautifying what was once almost trash!
I did the same with my favorite old chekered Vans.
I smile when my feet are in them now.
I smile even more when my kids wear their recycled shoes.
QIUCK TIP...When you're done spray them with crystal clear acrylic coating(sold in art supply and craft stores)
VOILA!
Ta DA!
You have one of a kind fashion statements for your feet...and happy kids on rainy days!

Urgent Medical Care, Strong Will and Aunt Marnee!

My Mom tells me that my girls are doing" exactly what we used to do when we were little, well what Marnee tried to do."

I laughed a little when Marn's name was tossed into the remark.

What was this kid thing that kids do?

According to Mom, whenever any of us were home from school, sick, the others faked illness.
Totally normal.
Don't we want our kids to mimic the Three Musketeers?...
"One for all and all for one!"
Apparently, my youngest sister had the game down pat.

Mom said that "Mondays were popular with Marnee." That it got to a point where she was out at least once a week.

I thought to myself...That's a lot more than playing sick because Em or I were home! We weren't home that much! Sorry Mom, Marn was really pulling a fast one.


Luckily none of my girls have gotten this bad. I wouldn't be able to afford it if they did!

Gracie is home today with Strep Throat.
Not fun at all.
I know for a fact that my middle darling would rather be at school.

Something very funny...that will hit this point home:

While at the Urgent Medical Center on  Sunday, (because normal doctor's office's are shut down) the doctor on staff tried to prove a point to my unruly child.

She wasn't being cooperative at all...
...fighting the throat swab test with every ounce of her six year old body.

Two nurses, five calm conversations and a howling scream that echoed through the medicenter later...
...the doctor came back.
He was determined to get the job done, not knowing that he was messing with an equally determined kid.

The doctor, who was very patient...started like this:

"Now Grace, I hope that you are paying attention to what your Mom has said to you. It's important. We only want to help. Do you understand that sometimes, in order to get better...instead of worse that you need to listen. It's very important to listen to the nurses and doctors."

Grace nodded a yes and glared a squinty, skunk eyed stare his way.

He kept going.

"Sometimes a little bit of pain keeps a lot of sickness from coming".

MASS CONFUSION...Gracie looked at me. Huh????

He went on...

"You don't get that."

Gracie: No

Doctor: How about this... A shot only hurts for a second but it's a good thing because it can keep you from becoming very sick for a long time.

Grace looked at me...Her expression read, I'm not buying this crap.

Me: That's right. Listen to the doctor honey. No one wants you to be sick babe.

Grace: Am I getting a shot?! I want to go home!

Doctor: No..no,no shots. Only this small swab test.

Grace: But that really hurts. I don't want want to. It hurts a lot!

Me: But only for a little while and then it's better, just like when you fall or stub your toe.

Grace: That hurts too!

Doctor: Let me put it this way (losing patience but trying to play it cool) Do you listen to your teacher?

Grace nodded YES.

Doctor: There are times when your teacher expects you to take tests. There will be days when she says that you have to take a math test. You might not want to do it...but you do...because the teacher needs to see how bright you are and give you a mark.

I'm thinking...bad example. Wrong kid.

Grace: I don't care about tests. I like love math and I like tests! I'm good at them. I love school. I don't love this. (looking at me pitifully) It hurts a lot. I won't let them. Mom, I want to go home.

Me: We will baby, we just need this test done and then we can go home.

Doctor: It looks like that was a bad choice. Wrong kid for this one. (shaking his head in disbelief.)

HE HAD FAILED>

I apologized for my rather clever, strong willed child.
The doctor had given up and wrote a prescription for the strep throat that he was assuming she suffered from.
NO TEST
GOT THE MEDS
Grace was feverish and needed to go home.

She shouldn't have won this battle.
There was only one lesson learned here:
When in doubt scream, yell and talk back. You'll get your way.
I was disappointed with the fact that the doctor had given up.
I know that he didn't want to spend all day arguing with a feverish first grader though.
SHE WOULD HAVE ONE EVERY TIME.
I think he knew that.

I know it's kind of wrong, but...
I am proud of the strength that she possesses.
Gracie is articulate and passionate.
Again, I say it...Jim and are in trouble!

Our little girl has been home for two days and not liking it.
Addison, on the other hand has been pulling every trick in the book to stay home too!
Tummy ache.
Head ache.
Achy legs.
...even achy arms!

I sent her to school.
I'm hoping that she takes after her Aunt Marnee.
Wink...Wink.

Laptops, Debris, Unsupervised Kids and the Craziest Mama Ever.

I need to kiss the inventors of the laptop.
- Because of he-she-them here I am.
-Sitting on my front porch, swaying on my double swing, while the moon is high and the birds are chirping.
This my friends... is SPRINGTIME BLISS.

I can't decide what to write about.
Like a kid in a candy store---

THERE ARE SO MANY CHOICES!
sweet.

The fact that my 7pm coffee just kicked in isn't helping.
I am the epitome of the freak on a leash. 
Does everybody know that one or am I making myself sound more coffee crazed by the second?


After two hours of cleaning debris from my yard...
...YES...That word was DEBRIS.
A catastrophic event did not target our yard.
It was my husband playing construction worker.

Jim had demolished our dilapidated garage the day before. Then, miracle of all miracles, he rebuilt the walls in a few short hours.
TRULY WONDROUS.
Unfortunately, our yard was trashed.
I was on clean up duty.
I WASN'T GOING DOWN ALONE.
I dragged Julia into the yard with me.
Welcome to the family.
Time to get dirty!
She's such a good sport.
Julia at one point told me that it was just like home...her Dad made her do this stuff all of the time.
We each put on a pair of Jim's nastier than nasty work gloves and dug in!
Julia and I filled NINE construction bags and dragged each into the driveway. There we tossed them on top of our old, beaten down, "L" sectional. It too, was waiting to be hauled away.
We were covered in a thin layer of grime.
I could barely breathe thanks to my allergies.
I LONGED FOR A SHOWER.
Was I exhausted?
NO WAY!
I AM WOMAN>>>HEAR ME ROAR...
I was no where near tired.
I felt great after a hot shower and a cup o'joe.

Did I mention that my three girls were home this entire time?!
I didn't even bother to check on them!
I kind of forgot that a quiet house could mean trouble as I dug and tossed shingles.
This is very, very, very unlike me...
I repeat very, very, very...unlike me.
The kids were on there own.

WHAT WERE THEY UP TO?

Addison found me in the front yard repositioning a rose trellis that I had just unearthed.
She approached our Lilac Tree...or is it Lavendar?
I forget which is the tree and which the little, aromatic plant.
...Both are in my yard.

Addi had spent the past hour making a sticky, tile art fairy with her little sisters.

THANK GOD!
CPS has no reason to knock on my door.

The artwork was proudly nestled in the tree's branches.
Addi went running to get her sisters.

Five minutes later my little ladies emerged, roller skates and all.
They admired their work.
-Took it down...
...and negotiated a new spot.
The fairy now sits in our bay window with the plants.
PERFECT.

I tossed a chicken into the oven and showered.
---Good as new!
The girls didn't think they'd like our new "old lady" living room furniture.
Apparently "Old Lady" is code for dark brown leather.
It doesn't matter...they love the new floor plan.
The "L" is gone and has re opened a blocked entry way.
Our open ranch has its large circular hallway again.
Thanks to a head on collision between Grace and Chloe... which resulted in an ER visit, followed by a pediatric oral surgeon and Grace's front tooth being extracted... due to it dangling...
...We blocked the circle.
This should be interesting.

EXTREME ROLLER DERBY IS THE NAME OF THE GAME.

The gloves are off.
The girls have fallen.
Crashed into kitchen chairs and tumbled over the dog. (he wasn't harmed...promise)
They are bruised and laughing about it!

I am too. They crack me up! I want new roller skates now.
Can Mommy join in?

...not yet, but I can dance!

The TV was on...tuned into the Disney Jr. Channel.
Choo Choo Soul was singin' her heart out.
WOW--- Floods of memories came back.

For five years our girls had rocked out with this preschool diva and her DJ buddy.

I started to sing and dance, remembering all of the words to Vegetables Make You Strong.
My girls froze.
They stared.

Grace commented: You must be the craziest Mom ever.
????
Addi: What is this?
????
Grace: Mom, how do you know this song? Who is that?
???????????????
ME: YOU DON'T REMEMBER GENEVIEVE?!
Chloe: That's a nice name. Is that the girl? She's singing about vegetables!?
ME: Yes Chlo... (as I was shakin' it) Don't you remember her girls? This used to be one of your favorites? We played it all the time.
Addi: Really? Who is the guy? What does he do...just dance??

No one remembered.
How could this be?!
CHOO CHOO SOUL was ingrained in my brain.

FIVE YEARS< EVERY MORNING> 7AM!!!!!!!!!

I danced my way into the kitchen and set the table...How could this be?

This was it.

MY MAMA CHALLENGE.

Me: Hey girls...Who remembers this one? "Hot dog!!!! DU DU DU dududuudu HOT DOG!!!

THEY LAUGHED AT ME.

Was it my singing or my wacky dance skills?

If you have spent as many mornings as I have with the Disney Channel than you know the dance that goes with the song and that was what I was doing...

...at the dinner table.

Gracie: (shaking her head and laughing) Yup...You are the craziest Mom ever!

Addi: Mom. That's really weird! Do other Mom's do this? (followed by laughter)

Chloe: (grinned and stared at me the whole time) Mom you're really silly!

Me: Come on. You have to remember this one?!

DO MY CHILDHOOD...I MEAN THEIR CHILDHOOD MEMORIES MEAN NOTHING?

This is proof. Our memories are very different from our children's.
YAYYYYY!!!!
Parents of the Universe...
There is hope for us after all!!!

It's happening...
We have grown up,"Old Lady" furniture and my kids are forgetting toddler hood.
Poor me...I'm stuck with the toddler tunes.

Thanks to The Voice I now have the song 99 Problems But The B*@#H Ain't One stuck in my head.
This is a far cry from Choo Choo Soul.



*Photos of Steve Jobs and the imac were courtesy of Photobucket.

Thunder & Lightning...the Real Deal!

 This was a dew drop on a flower after the storm.

5:20 AM...

Bammm! BAM! CRACK!!!CRACK! CRACK!!! BAM!


There was a light show in the hallway...
A heavy metal band played...
The mosh pit grew fierce...


WAIT.
WHY WAS THERE A MOSH PIT IN MY LIVING ROOM?!


GET OFF OF MY COUCH!!
..Hey, No standing on the furniture!!


CRASH!CRASH!BUBUBUBAMMM!! CRACK!


I had flashes of pop culture run through my mind in a milisecond...
Old episodes of Batman...AUDIO BUBBLES everywhere!


BAMM! WHACK!! THUD!! KA-POW!!!


They cleared quickly.
They weren't the right sounds for the moment.
The cracking came back fiercer than before.


My body jerked upward.
I was in a sleepy haze...


Something was wrong.


My "Spidey Senses" were tingling.

Wimpering from the hall. 

Crying.

Two voices searching for their parents...

"Mommm.... Daaaaad? Where am I? Where are you?"

"I'm scared."

I stumbled out of bed, a bit confused. 

What time was it? What's going on?

Quick...head count!

Addi...standing in hall = 1

Chloe....with Jim= 2

Gracie...

Where is Gracie?
I put my arm around Addi as I continued down the hall..."Baby, go sleep in my room. I'll be right there."

Addi: Not a sound, drugged from a half sleep state...She walked back to bed.

I checked the hall again..Nope.

Jim scooped Chloe up in the hallway. She was terrified...holding her "nigh-night" with a death grip.

She grabbed onto her Daddy with the same amount of force. 

Jim: What happened Chlo Chlo? Are you scared of the storm?

Chloe: (head resting on his shoulder, nods a yes) I wanna come with you.

They held eachother tightly.
---Such a tender moment.
The dim, amber glow of the bathroom light combined with the flashes of lightning bursting through the blinds enhanced the pure, beauty of the moment.

I thought of my camera for a split second.
Crazy woman!
My mind raced back to Grace.
Was she scared and hiding?

I peeked into their bedroom.
No sign of her.

WAIT.

I climbed up two ladder rungs.
Little Grace was buried under her blankets...
...fast asleep.

How did she sleep through this?
Amazing!

I hopped off the bunk ladder, not feeling the need to be quiet.
She had already slept through part of "the Storm of the Year."- No way was this going to wake her!

Jim stood in the hall, holding tight to our still frightened Chloe.
He soothed her with kisses on the head and soft words.

REALITY CHECK---

Jim had been on route to the shower.
I heard the water running.

I thought I'd help him out. I reached for Chloe.
Her arms willingly stretched toward mine.

"Come here baby. Let's go sleep in Mommy and Daddy's room."
Jim: Hey, I was enjoying my Chloe time.
Me: Sorry. I thought you needed to shower.

I think he said "OK" but I'm honestly not sure.
I walked down the hall again, back to our room.
Addi was snuggled next to Jim!

WAIT.
How did this happen?!
Was the running water just rain?

I really was tired.
It was all jumbled up in my memory.
But there they were. Fast asleep. Chloe and I climbed in next to them.

A few more good, cracks thundered.
I heard noise down the hall.

Back and forth I go!
One more time.

Gracie was sitting upright in her bed.

Grace:What's going on?

Me: Nothing babe. Just a Spring storm...a big one. Are you okay?

Grace: Yeah. I thought I heard something in my dream so I got up. Can I go back to bed or is it school now?

Me: (thinking that she was the cutest kid ever) No honey...not yet. Go back to sleep.

There was no need to even say it. Grace was already covered, eyes shut tightly.

By 6:oo am I was on my way back to sleep, surprised by the reactions of my children.
Was it that bad of a storm?
They typically love thunder and lightning.
It must have been that bad indeed.
My mind is playing tricks on me...Those who are wrestled out of sleep find themselves searching for reality. That was me.
Jim got up a few minutes later. I drifted out of sleep as he tried to carry on a conversation. He asked me if his tie "worked" with his shirt. I said "YES."
Now that I try and focus in on the fuzzy details, I think that I should have said,"NO."
I am curious to see what he wore today when he walks in the door tonight.
I'll keep you posted!

Field Trips, Bus Purgatory and My Camera Thief.

I lingered in my pajamas longer this morning.
It felt ...
ODD but GOOD.

The kids were at the bus stop.
I looked at Julia.
She knew what she was doing.
What was I doing?
I had forty five minutes to kill before I needed to leave.

I looked toward Julia," This is weird...weird being here right now."
She laughed and walked away.
Julia had a schedule and I wasn't keeping her from it!

I looked at the kitchen floor.
It grossed me out.
Never, ever will I own a house with off white kitchen tile again. Who's brilliant idea was this anyway?
Obviously not a somebody with three crazy kids and a big, goofy yellow lab...or a husband that refuses to take his shoes off at the door.
These things prevent our floor from EVER appearing clean... even when it is.

So...
With the first of my forty five I swept.
Feeling much better I made a bed...
Then loaded the dishwasher.

I know...
This is what I did with FREE...yes,... FREE TIME.

What can I say?
I am brainwashed.

But...man! My floors look good!
Wishful thinking...
...They still look horrible.
...But horribly clean!

I slowly, (key word being slowly) drank a cup of coffee, poured another for the road and was on my merry way.

It was field trip time!
My Addi love suffers from anxiety and has had her fair share of panic attacks.
Therefore I was the designated "BUS MOM."
Other Moms commented:
"Lucky you!"
"Glad I lost that lottery."
"Fun...fun..."
"Been there."

You know how it goes...

Addi was happy. That is all that mattered.

I was happy too.
Most of the time my eldest doesn't even let me kiss her.
Today I was sitting next to her on the bus.

--HER IDEA!!

Self Portrait. By Addison.

Today's school buses are a far cry from the ones that my generation rode on.
Ooooh...I'm sounding "mommish."

Back in my day!!!...

Buses didn't have interior cameras monitoring movement.
The bus driver certainly didn't have a kickn' loud speaker.
---In the old days an effective driver had a booming voice!
---That was the only way to get the rowdies to calm down...YELL!

A portrait of Addi's buddy on the bus. Taken by Addison. 

Today, our driver helped the teacher a great deal. I'd say he was part teacher.
The man commanded those kids and they listened.
He did it all in the nicest voice ever. He just turned up the volume of the speaker when needed.

"Boys and girls your teacher needs your attention."
"Boys and girls please buckle up."
"Kids in the back you may have left school but you are still in school."

Modern technology!
Saving Vocal Chords and Sanity Every Day!

The fourth grade trip was to The Old Bethpage Restoration Village.
It rained all morning.
The teachers were responsible for putting the finances in order upon arrival.

the reality of that was: BUS PURGATORY.


FOURTH GRADERS>>> STUCK ON THE BUS FOR 15 MINUTES...
WAITING>
WAITING>
Staring out the windows.
Banging on the bus walls.
Making really weird animal noises.
...Being told to stay in their seats and not turn around!! (HA... HA... HA!!!)
Pounding on seats while shouting,"I gotta get outta here!!" 
...15 minutes...an eternity.

When the animals were released they ran wild.
...Not too wild though.

They all listened to their teachers and the parents chaperoning beautifully.
Village actors commented that we had,"the best group of the day."

---That must have made the teachers very happy to hear.

We were wet.
Hair was curling and frizzing.
Kids stepped in mud and puddles.
We wandered in and out of freshly painted historic homes and shops.
The kids snacked on root beer and hard pretzels in the pub(a favorite part).
We were given tours of places like the Hatter's Shop...where hats were crafted.
The School House...where the stern school ma'rm scared the crap out of half of the kids and the teachers. (talk about being "into" your role)
The General Store...a kind older man in long coat and hat handed out candy sticks. (he was well liked)

The Barnyard...where roosters and geese roamed amongst the kids and the two, biggest pigs ever, slept in the mud.

It was a full day of leisurely, wandering...including a history lesson.
It was an afternoon of photography and conversations.
I was holding my Addi's hand and laughing.

...another afternoon to tuck into the creases of my mind.
...more memories to take out on rainy days.

Addi and I are very similar creatures.
I had forgotten her camera.
BIG MISTAKE.
...because of this faux pas...
...mine rarely left her hand.

"Addi, it's my turn again."
"Addi, can I please see my camera for a sec.?"
"Honey...Don't drop it...use the wrist strap when you climb the fence."
"Add...Add...Can I use my camera? I like taking photos too."
"I'll let you have it again...
...PROMISE."

This was how the camera tug of war went.
I wouldn't have had it any other way.
We were pretty good at sharing.
My Mom taught me well.
Her Mom had taught her well too!

Have I mentioned that my daughter amazes me?

She does.

I browsed the days photos on the bus ride back to school.
The Dad sitting next to me commented...

"How did you do that? I have an SLR and I can't figure it out. It's things like this that I'd like to know how to do."

I looked at my camera's LCD screen.

Me: "I didn't take this one. Addison did...but I can tell you how she did it."

The image on the screen was a shallow depth of field, vibrant, close up. A perfectly focused flower was centered for us to behold. ---Brilliant greens and white.

I smiled, he didn't believe me.
I could tell.

I strategically, turned.

"Addi...This one is beautiful! Great job babe. We should print it."

Addi turned and smiled when she saw the camera in my hand...

"Oh! Mom! That one...I love that one. Give me the camera please I really want to show my friends. That's one of my favorite one's today! Did you see the leaves yet?"

---I nodded, No. I hadn't seen them.

"Mom, I'll show you and my teachers the leaves next. That one's really good!"

Am I bad or what?

Proud Mama moment.
Her art makes her shine brighter than the stars.
She's walking in my footsteps in so many ways.

We uploaded our collection of photos as soon as we arrived home.
We had time.
It was just me and my big/little kid.
Grace and Chloe are on a double play date.
(Thank you Kathy, my love!! --You are Wonder Woman!)

To think, I was going to bring the kids to the library...
This was the perfect rainy day activity.

I taught Addi some photo editing basics.
She played around on the laptop a little.
At the rate she picked it up the program will be mastered by next week!

***Take another look. Scroll back through the adventure. Do you see how many of theses photos Addi took? She has even created her own digital watermark! My kid is brilliant... She is ADDI.WESTE.
Just look...my baby has a watermark.
This is a big deal!
Really!

LIVE
LEARN
LAUGH
LOVE

Babies, Daisy's and Tea for Mom...

I had a few minutes to kill today.
What did I do you ask?
I read some blogs that I follow.
I looked at some of my older blogs and relived the past.
I went on Pintrest and gathered some crafty ideas for future use.
I googled old movies.
I texted with my husband.

Rainy afternoons are all about these little things.

The result of my idle pleasures:

I feel relaxed.
I am motivated...
...ready to face the rest of the day!

We are standing on top of the mid week "hump."

My weekend burst of energy has run dry.
Three cups of coffee haven't helped...
...but wandering online, phone in hand did!

Thoughts that occurred to me:

1) After perusing endless images I remembered how wondrous it is to stare at my children.
Creepy..No.
Odd...No way.
Magical.
I mentally rewound back to their infant days. Those long afternoons filled with baby naps. Jim and I spent what felt like hours (probably because they were) staring into cribs and bassinets. Our babies are glorious! We visually ate them up. There was nothing better on Earth than  "oogling" over our little ones.

I know that still holds true. I just did it. It wasn't in person. Recent photos have sufficed. They move too fast now. Still moments are fleeting.

That's part of the beauty of who they have become.
I smile as I sit here. There is a goofy image of my littles ladies crowded around Santa. Grace has exceptionally untamed hair, quite unlike her! She is beaming. She thought that it was fancy and like a movie star's hair. Addison is smiling beautifully. Her smile makes mine brighten. I haven't seen enough of her pretty, smile lately. Almost ten can be tough. Chloe on the other hand is at her cheeky best...frilly skirt and cowgirl boots. This was the daily uniform then. She has now evolved into a sportier style, donning leggings and Uggs (knock offs) like her older sisters.

This is one of my treasures.

2) Carrot cake sounds yummy. Thank you pintrest friends! Now the kids and I have a baking agenda for this weekend.

3) It's raining again. My kids use this as an excuse for a movie night. I'm headed in the direction of an oldie but goody. Gene Kelley will be dancing through my house tonight. One of my all time favorites is Singin' In The Rain! I think it's time to share it with my girls.

4) I love my husband. I can't say it enough. His sarcastic humor is contagious! He is one of my favorite texting buddies.

5) Most importantly...I remembered that I have been invited to a Daisy Tea Party celebrating MOMs.
It's today. Grace and Chloe are in the same troop. Addison donates time as a Girl Scout helper each week, assisting their troop leader. I've heard that on most days Addi would rather be a Daisy too!

...The week is turning around!

Up Up Up and Away we go...
Over the HUMP and onto the downward slope that is the weekend.

Addi confiscated my camera when she saw it in my hand. Here are the photos that my talented and slightly focus challenged 9 1/2 yr. old shot. Enjoy them. They are the newest additions to my treasure box . They'll be displayed  proudly with the crafty, frame that Grace and Chloe made with me today!

Photos: Tonight's imagery was brought to you by the letter "A."
"A" is for apple. They are delicious.
"A" is for artist. I have three.
"A" is for Addison. She is amazing.