Black and White Wednesday: My Babies and Me

These photos were taken 3 weeks ago.

Clearly, they are far from the best in terms of photo quality

(did I mention the blur I was plaqued with with my new lens on our vacation?);

however, they are two of my favorite photos taken to date?





Why?
Because I'm in it with my kids (a complete anomaly)

and all three of us were captured displaying our true personalities.
(Good goin', JR!)

WonderBoy is the intoxicatingly handsome, born charmer workin' it

for whatever he's being promised on the other side of the camera.

(Whatever came after "hold still for just one more picture" )

Sweetie is both curious and careful at the same time;

curious as to what's going on all around her but careful enough to stay close by

in case she needs to avail herself of the big guns.

And me? Well, I'm rarely in front of the camera so these are, indeed, special.

My kids will know that I actually did go on family vacations with them.

More, though, these photos capture the way I feel about these two amazing children...

they're my whole world and there's nothing more important

to me than sharing life together with these two very special little people.

It's Black and White Wednesday
To see some fabulous images, click on over to

The Long Road to China

Croquet Anyone?

Hmmm, this looks interesting.

The box says:
Croquet is an easy game to play.
At the same time it provides a genteel and competitive pastime.

Lemme get this straight.
I take this heavy wooden mallet and

try to hit this equally heavy mini bowling ball.

Okay, I'll give it the ol' preschool try.

Batter up!

(only you're not supposed to miss...you didn't see that, did you?)


I have been informed that the goal is to gracefully move the ball along.
I ask you...if you want to gracefully move the ball along
why not just pick it up (while wearing a strand of pearls)
and move the ball along!


Sheeessshhh!
Problem solved!

What'll they think of next...doing it while riding a horse?

All Right, Mr. DeMille...

I'm ready for my close-up.


Life on the Back Lot

It's Black and White Wednesday
To see some fabulous images, click on over to

The Long Road to China

Happy Father's Day

There are moments that will be etched in my mind forever
as I witness the magic of you with our children.







Thank you for being you.

Happy Father's Day, JR

Paradise Found

We're still here (thank goodness!) in Paradise celebrating our 4th anniversary.

I've had my share of internet connectivity problems down here but, in truth, JR and the kids are happy to see that Mama took a computer break this week while we are all enjoying our favorite spot.

The weather has been spectacular, the food, drinks, service and sights...stellar... and we can hardly believe how fast the time is going.

I have lots of pictures to share but they'll have to wait until we're home and this beautiful place is safely tucked into our memories...as we plan our next visit.

For now, I'll leave you with some images of our little gang soaking up the sun and sea.

(to all your photog buffs...no Ps or Lr down here, so these are SOTC...it pained me to do it but I did!)

Curiosity

A good scientist is a person in whom the childhood quality of perennial curiosity lingers on.
Once he gets an answer, he has other questions.
-Frederick Seitz



Curiosity is lying in wait for every secret.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

I think, at a child's birth, if a mother could ask a fairy godmother

to endow it with the most useful gift, that gift should be curiosity.
Eleanor Roosevelt

We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things,

because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.
Walt Disney

Flowering TigerLily

My only niece, TigerLily, is going to her senior prom in 2 days

and graduating high school in 2 short weeks.

Where has the time gone, my Little TigerLily?

I will never forget when you fit in the palms of my hands.

Some days it feels like only yesterday when I first learned of you and waited

9 long (LONG) months (less 6 weeks!) for your arrival.

As you stand here ready to achieve yet another wonderful milestone in your

young, beautiful life...I'd like to share something with you

that always makes me reflect on the person I am and the one I strive to be.




Directions For Life
(Author Unknown)

•Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

•Memorize your favorite poem.

•Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.

•When you say, "I love you", mean it.

•When you say, "I'm sorry", look the person in the eye.

•Believe in love at first sight.

•Never laugh at anyone's dreams.

•Love deeply and passionately.

You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.

•In disagreements, fight fairly.

•Don't judge people by their relatives.

•Talk slow but think quick.

•When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer,

smile and ask,"Why do you want to know?"

•Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

•Call your mom. (and your aunt!)

•Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.

•Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

•When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

•Marry someone you love to talk to.

As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.

•Spend some time alone.

•Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.

•Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

•Read more books and watch less TV.

•Live a good, honorable life.

Then when you get older and think back, you'll get to enjoy it a second time.

•A loving atmosphere in your home is so important.

Do all you can to create a tranquil harmonious home.

•In disagreements with loved ones, deal with the current situation. Don't bring up the past.

•Read between the lines.

•Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality.

•Be gentle with the earth...and yourself.

•Pray. There's immeasurable power in it.

•Never interrupt when you are being flattered.

•Mind your own business.

•Don't trust someone who doesn't close their eyes when you kiss them.

•Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.

•If you make a lot of money, put it to use helping others while you are living.

That is wealth's greatest satisfaction.

•Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a stroke of luck.

•Learn the rules, then break some.

•Remember that the best relationship is one where your love for each other

is greater than your need for each other.

•Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

•Remember that your character is your destiny.

•Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

Congratulations on your completion of your high school career, with honors,

and your acceptance to your college of choice.

I am so proud of you.

I never doubted you for a moment...never have and never will.

I look forward to sharing this next chapter with you, and all the chapters to come.

I love you, my Darling...with all my heart.

Ever yours,

B2

*******

It's Black and White Wednesday
To see some gorgeous images that never disappoint....click on over to

The Long Road to China