Photo Friday

It's cold. And dreary. And lonely.

Did I mention that it's cold?

Brrrrrrr. I'm ready for spring.

So to honor the memory of warmth and sunshine I give you my version of spring blossoms.

May your day be filled with vibrant color and innocent laughter.

Amazing Grace(n)

Don't you just love to watch people experience joy?

Isn't it the best when those people are cherished family?

There's a new little bundle of joy in our extended family.

Baby Gracen. And she's captured my heart completely. Totally. I am befuddled with love.

Who wouldn't be? She is perfect.

It's just so nice to watch those you love create little bundles of joy. And to watch those you love become parents. It changes everything. And nothing. It makes me feel old. And young.

But mostly, it makes me love my family even more.

breakthrough

We had a breakthrough this summer. My mother's dear sister and I talked my mother into getting her ears pierced!

You don't understand. My mother inadvertently instilled an obsessive behavior in me.

For over 30 years I have been unable to pass a rotating earring rack without twirling it to see if there are any clip earrings residing there. Not for me. No, I have my ears pierced.

It's for my mother. And it's bad. She has the largest collection of clip earrings east of the Mississippi. She must, as I've only ever found 1 or 2 pair in a single mall at any given time.

I've begged. And cajoled. And made vast promises and a nuisance of myself. All in vain.

Enter: Aunt Sandy.

Seems mother couldn't take it from the both of us. After all, Aunt Sandy has her ears pierced and Aunt Sandy's sweet mother-in-law got hers pierced long after SHE was a grandmother.

So when my mom wanted to take Snickle to get her ears pierced for her birthday, the stars aligned.

Snickle didn't disappoint. Ear 1 went without a hitch.

Ear 2 almost didn't happen.

But we're glad it did. At least we were for the first couple of months. We turned the earrings and applied special ointment and took a trip to Claire's and on and on.

However, it seems The Changing of the Earrings caused consternation and we were left earringless for a day or so. Somehow in that 30-hour timeframe Ear 2 decided to close.

Unfortunately, there was no going back without causing excruciating pain. I knew it wouldn't happen. Snickle had developed a well-honed earlobe protection instinct.

We're back to square 1 with Snickle. Naked ears. But mom has found a new lease on jewelry possibilities (Although she won't let me get rid of all the clips. Maybe next time Aunt Sandy is in town . . .)

At least I don't have to twirl earring racks anymore.

Photo Phriday

In honor of today's Phamily Portrait with ____________, I'll institute Photo Phriday by posting a Phavorite Photo.

This is the only outlet in my life where I get to choose what I do. Can you tell?

Here's the Phirst Photo. (I promise I'll stop doing that next Phriday).

Why must they grow up?

Annual Christmas Photo Shoot

Last Tuesday brought about the perfect circumstances for a Christmas photo shoot. At least that's what I thought. 

That's what the circumstances said. And the coordinated outfits. They spoke to me and told me to photograph them. After all, when again would hair be curled and shirts tucked and sweater vests be on and clean all at the same time?


Turns our my perfect circumstances were actually the perfect storm.


I forgot one crucial thing. . . . . . . . . they were tired. All of them. All equally tired and unable to cooperate.


They all hit the proverbial wall within seconds of each other.

Right about here. And they silently conspired against me to prevent me from holiday cheer. It was only when I heard my voice reach an unfamiliar pitch that reason took over and I was able to solve the problem.


I sent them to bed. Where they quickly fell fast asleep.


So, if you receive a Christmas card from us this year the children will not be wearing Christmas outfits. Their hair won't be combed or curled. And there may or may not be a child missing a smile.

But the cards done got sent. Merry, merry Christmas!

decisions. decisions.

There are too many decisions to make when beginning a blog. To show one's profile or to hide it? To change background colors or stick with blue? To decide what country one is from.


Whew. Too many choices.


Am I from Bangladesh or Saint Pierre or Miquelon?


Pitcairn, anyone? or New Caledonia?


I almost moved so that I could check "United States minor outlying island," but as I don't own a seaworthy vessel it seemed a stretch.


I had to look up "Saint Pierre or Miquelon." I'm still a little confused.


Turns out these two small islands reside a mere 10 kilometers from a Newfoundland island and only 60 kilometers from Newfoundland proper.


They speak French there and use the Euro.


That decided it. I'm staying in Michigan. I'm still less than 60 kilometers from Canada and I won't have to buy a boat.

To Be or Not To Be

Thirteen months ago I started a journal. On ipages. Just for me. It had a few pictures scattered about and was an attempt at documenting interesting tidbits about our life. In those thirteen months I've written ten entries.


So obviously, I feel ready to start a blog.


10. That's pathetic. See, I'm switching from text to numerals. Ten. 10. X. Is that allowed?


My journal didn't have any problems with me switching things around at leisure. My journal let me be a hokey-pokey dabbler of entries and language mishaps.


Do you allow that, Blog? 

I'm nervous.


I rarely update my facebook status.


This may very well be the only entry on my blog. Ever.


Once started, can these things be deleted?


My goal is 2 followers and I'm giving myself 13 months to collect them.