Star Soul

Floyd Festival

2010-08-15T11:58:00.006-04:00

Still not feeling so motivated to blog, but these pictures are too good to not share. A few weeks ago, Esther and I heading up to Floyd, VA with some dear friends for Floyd Festival. It was a 4-day music, dance, and art festival in the middle of the Blue Ridge Mountains. We camped, we danced, we hooped, we loved. Though it was a big-time bummer Ben couldn't join us, we really loved our time with my girl, Samarah, and the kiddos. I'll let the pics be a testimony to the fun had.

Samarah and I relaxing between sets
Climbing wall

What a view!

The girls with their ribbons in the dance tent
Ike and E looking for koi (there weren't any)

Lilli and E sharing a sweet moment

Rocking out int the kid's music tent

My friend Melanie, made Esther and Avery matching dresses. Precious!

The GA crew. Whoop!

Tiny dancer

2010-06-24T20:55:00.001-04:00

A little bit of cuteness to pass along. Esther has been attending dance camp this week and loving it. Her favorite is tap, but ballet will do. She has a performance tomorrow that the grandmamas will be attending and videotaping (I have to work -sniff, tear). Dance was such a huge part of my life that I love seeing Esther have interest. I won't push her to do it, but would be delighted for her to fall in love with the art of movement.

Blogging burdens...

2010-05-13T16:55:00.003-04:00

So, I really try to keep up with this blog. Really, I do. I've been really busy with work and we've been enjoying these last two weeks of having Ben home on break. I'm also a bit FB obsessed and upload most pics there and don't like uploading twice. So, I guess what I'm saying is. Does anyone still check this out? I know most of the family is now on FB. I'm sure I will get another whim of inspiration to blog, but it's just not here right now. I will be back to posting soon enough...
Here's some sweetness to hold you over :)

Sock-Hop at E's school

Wordless Wednesday

2010-04-21T18:06:00.002-04:00

The new pool on a hot day last week :)

Asheville Family Visit

2010-04-18T08:52:00.003-04:00

A week (or so) ago, Mom, E and I headed up to Asheville for my aunt's and grandmother's birthdays. It is exactly what this lady needed. A trip to those mountains that feel like home, even though I've never lived there. Nice visits with family and friends -much love shared by all!

Hike that was shortened by a totally irrational fear of bears and falling off the mountain - not sure where she got that from.

A snack break always helps :)
Cousin Leland and his gal, Ashley

My favorite Aunt Donna!

Mimi and her favorite granddaughter (her only)

Cousin Sarajane and hubby, Kyle

Papaw teaching E how to play Wii

Thanks to our lovely family for putting us up and feeding us so well. We love you. So Much!!!

Bluebirds and Bluegrass!

2010-04-04T13:30:00.005-04:00

Now isn't that a beautiful girl? Yes, indeed!
My Mom, E, and I headed south for a little bluegrass festival at Dauset Trails park - Bluebirds and Bluegrass. Two of my favorite Athens bands were playing there, plus an Easter egg hunt for E, lots of live animals, and FREE....how could we not go. Of course, Ben had school work and we missed him greatly. We are at the one month countdown until the end of the semester - Can.Not.Wait!!!

Waiting for egg-hunting "GO"

Glittery flower arm painting

E dancing to Packway Handle Band

Mom and E checking out some farm animals

Dancing with my gal

She tuckered out not 10 minutes into the trip home. She danced and played hard.

Hope your Easter weekend was filled with lots of joy, happiness, and smiles!

More of the chickies and Signs of Spring!

2010-04-03T22:16:00.003-04:00

The lovely weather of Spring has finally graced us. We have been taking advantage with seedlings, chicks, and as much outdoor time as possible. So, so glad Spring is here - you have know idea :)

Eleanor and Georgie enjoying some outside time

1st lettuce cotyledon

Playing w/ the newly fallen Beech leaves (they don't release until Spring)

CHICKS, man!

2010-03-28T09:16:00.003-04:00

After months of discussing and researching (and some begging by Esther), we got us a couple of chicks yesterday. We found a coop (below) on Craigslist and plan to build on a chicken tractor for roaming. They will be free range once they are big enough.

The interior layout

Esther just loves the little cuties.

The one on the left is Eleanor and Georgie is on the right.

We will keep you posted as the little ones grow, make their move outside, and eventually start laying eggs. Peep, peep!

Stone Mountain

2010-03-14T21:14:00.002-04:00

Esther has been begging for us to take her to Stone Mountain for a good year. I'm not sure what took us so long, but we finally got there last week (Ben's spring break). She made it to the top of the mountain with very little help from us. She had to climb and hop over every large boulder there was. And don't forget checking for fairies...

Ben was never two paces behind her - so nervous she was going to bust it.

Pretty windy up there!

Going to Stone Mtn brings back fond memories for us. Ben and I both spent much of our childhood around there. We also had the majority of our dates at the park once we met - lots of hikes through the surrounding woods, frisbee throwing, swimming in the lake, and laying under the trees on the lawn. As our 7 year anniversary is tomorrow, it seems a good time to reminisce :)

Wordless Wednesday

2010-03-10T10:04:00.002-05:00

Promise I'll start doing regular posts again ;)

Hakuna Matata

2010-03-02T10:16:00.003-05:00

I recently discovered I hadn't uploaded a bunch of movies from the last few months. Here is one of my favorites. I'm pretty sure this is when Ben had his appendectomy. Esther had him covered in her blanket and was reading to him - don't want him to get bored, you know. I think some of the words are made up or what she calls 'spanish', but otherwise, you can follow here storyline pretty well. So sweet, that girl!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-02-24T20:17:00.001-05:00

Angus wasn't so impressed with being dressed up :)

Little bit of cuteness!

2010-02-22T17:08:00.004-05:00

This sweet little skirt was whipped up last week on a sick day with Esther. She had a weird, really high fever, but no other symptoms. Then over the weekend, an odd rash...two things she never gets. Anwho, some research and a doctor visit later concluded in strep throat, leading into scarlet fever. The child never complained of a sore throat - really high pain threshold like her tough Mama, I guess!

Oh, but back to the skirt. Pillow case found at the thrift store (there's orange in there, if you didn't notice). Measure, cut, elastic, pocket, buttons...voila! She loves it and so do I!

Rockclimbing...kind of

2010-02-17T20:55:00.005-05:00

We headed up to Athens last weekend to go to Esther's friend, Finn's b-day party. It was at a climbing gym (I was totally stoked). Though it took asking and receiving a "no" reply about 30+ times, she finally said "Yes" and up we went. She looked so cute in her harness and itty-bitty climbing shoes. She made it almost to the top before realizing how high she was and calmly demanding to go back down. I was proud, none the less.

And, yes, our girl loves to dance!

Snow.....Again!

2010-02-13T23:02:00.007-05:00

Another beautiful snow in Decatur - this time a bit more and during the day. Esther has been lucky to experience so much snow in GA - really odd winter here. It was quite beautiful and really fun for the whole family.

Papa was able to come home early from school and enjoy some family snow-time

Catching snowflakes on her tongue

Snowman #1 - fell apart very quickly

What's that look? Loving my husband

Smooches from my sweetest pea!

Sledding on a cookie sheet

E in the laundry basket

Snowman #2 - he survived until the sun got him. Kind of cute, isn't he!

And a video of Esther's 'fun' sled run

Wordless Wednesday

2010-02-10T20:18:00.002-05:00

La Luna

2010-02-02T09:21:00.002-05:00

So, Esther is obsessed with the moon dress you see above (and, Wow, what a playtime that was). I got it at a thrift store - it's too big, totally faded...but aren't those the best! She begs to wear it most every day. So, rather than fight over a moon dress, I thought I'd make her another. Crafting with my gal = happy Mama. And isn't she stinkin' cute?

Wordless Wednesday

2010-01-20T15:21:00.001-05:00

Painting 'Pete the Cat', a book by James Dean.

Settling in...

2010-01-14T17:04:00.005-05:00

So, it has taken me a bit to settle in to this new year. Normally, I am refreshed and excited for a new year to start. I feel it an opportunity for new things, rebirth...you know, a NEW year. Well, this year I have struggled a bit with that. But, good news - I'm coming out of it.
For one, this was the year anniversary of losing our dear friend, Russel Hays. I think of him daily, hear him laugh at times, smile (and cry) when I hear his music, and am amazed at the sheer beauty of how his wife and kids have turned this situation into something beautiful. Still, though, there was and will always be sadness at each new year's day.
Also, the idea of Ben starting back to school wasn't so great to me. We really missed him through the fall and I was really lonely. We loved having him home for 3 weeks (even through sickness) and I wasn't quite ready to give him back to Emory. I am happy that he is enjoying school, however, and know it is only for a time.
My goal for this year - spend more time with friends. I always complain of not having really strong, meaningful friendships, but am realizing it is my own darn fault. I pass up opportunities to go out or think "Oh, I don't want to bother them." when I feel like I need to unload some emotion. But, you know what? That's what friends are for. So, this year, no being lonely!
And then there's that sweet/sassy daughter of ours. Always going through something (driving us crazy at times), but bringing us such joy. I love watching her and Ben - she loves her Papa something serious. Working to spend more time with her. Not just time, but positive energy and enjoyment and love to make her think she is the most special little girl in the whole world.
So enough feeling 'blah' and time to spread some love.
These two, I love.
And if you are reading this, then I love you too - immensely.
Many blessings to you and yours in this new year. May it bring you lots of joy and a positive outlook on the many things we have to be grateful for.

Our many Christmas celebrations

2010-01-05T18:35:00.013-05:00

I apologize for the delay in posting Christmas pictures. We've had a bit of a crazy holiday. After returning from our wonderful snow visit, I had strep throat. While recovering, Ben diagnosed himself with appendicitis. Doctors confirmed and surgery was that night (the 23rd). We were happy to have him home and healthy on Christmas Eve. Thanks to both sets of grands for swooping in and helping get us through.

So we'll start this (very long) post of pictures with the Allegood Christmas, which took place the weekend before the holiday.

Spencer showing off the doll I made him

Patrick and I

Sara and Spencer

Esther loves her robe!

The kiddos with their new lap-tables and aquadoodles

Here starts Christmas week...

E taking care of Papa after we got him home from the hospital

Baking cookies for Santa

Happy to all be together!

Everything set for Santa's visit

Christmas Morning!!!!

Owl bank from Mama and Papa

Broom - her favorite present (and the wrench)

Christmas afternoon we headed to Grandma and Poppi's (Fleming's)

Me and my favorite niece, Payton

Poppi and his grandbabies - a happy man

Sweet Payton

We headed to Mississippi and Louisiana the Sunday after Christmas to visit Ben's extended family.

E teaching Uncle BooBoo how to sew

E and Maggie cracking up over nothing - so stinkin' cute!

Grandmother with her great-grand-girls

Sweet cousins - chillaxin'

Grandma reading to the girls

Modeling for Grandma and Grandmother - that's her blanket tied on with a scarf

Generations

And now it is a new year...and, oh how happy we are about this. 2009 wasn't the best of years for us. Reflecting on the year - loss of loved ones, sickness, stress, change...life, family, happiness, blessings. Much to be thankful for - here's to a wonderful 2010!

SNOW!!!

2009-12-22T12:18:00.004-05:00

We got word that there was 10+ inches of snow in NC, so snuck away for a chilly adventure this past weekend. We stayed with a friend of ours who still had power and made a visit to my grandparents on the way out. Esther had so much fun in the snow. She remembered our crazy snowstorm in Athens last March, but has been begging to see snow again. We thought...why not?

Sledding-Round 1

WHEEE!!

"Let's do that again!"

"FUN!"

Mama got a run on the sled, too

Snowball fight with Papa - he got her good!

She got him back good!

We are enjoying this time we have with Papa on break - getting spoiled a little bit. Soaking up every bit of this family time we can before he starts back in January. Hope you are warm and enjoying your loves as we enter into the holiday season!

Arrghhhh! Esther is 3!

2009-12-16T17:43:00.006-05:00

And, YES, she asked for a pirate party. Not too sure where the idea came from, but we took it and ran with it. We had so much fun preparing and partying it up, pirate-style. The party was complete with eye patches, pirate coloring sheets, a treasure hunt for loot, and cupcakes. Esther is still talking about it and doing everything as a pirate. She got a beta fish from her Aunt Sara (she calls her "My Sara") and named him 'Pirate Froggy Fleming'. I think pirates are here to stay!

Decorating - snacks included goldfish, cannonballs (grapes), and pirate ship cupcakes.

Ben making the treasure maps (E telling Grandma all about it)

Please, can I eat my cake already!

Delicious 'Death By Chocolate Vegan' cupcakes - Oh My!

One Fabulous Pirate!

Ready for the Treasure Hunt

Nothing in the pirate cave...

getting closer...

TREASURE!!! Thanks to my Mom for supplying the 'jewels' and 'gold' coins in pouches.

Kid-present pileup!

Thank you, everybody!!!

I know she's only 3 years old, but I don't think this is a birthday she will soon forget. We are so blessed to have Esther in our lives and all the joy that she brings us. Though we battle with the ever-growing sassiness, we are proud that she is developing into an independent, strong individual. Love that girl!!!

Quote of the day

2009-12-11T17:07:00.003-05:00

"Papa, my tongue is cold. I think I need some hot chocolate with cream. And a BIG special treat!"

Of course, off they went on a Papa-Esther date to get a warm treat. Sweet gal!

And since I've been slacking on my Wordless Wednesday posts. Here's E helping me put in the raised bed for next spring. And, yes, she is wearing a fairy skirt and rainboots. Stinkin' cute!
And I have to brag on my love. Ben just completed his first semester of PA school! Really proud of all his hard work, sleepless nights, pounds of coffee, and study breaks to spend time with his family. Love that guy!!!

Oh, Christmas Tree....

2009-12-03T20:18:00.005-05:00

We got our Christmas tree the weekend after Thanksgiving, as has been tradition since Esther was born. It was kind of sad not to go back to our regular family from NC that we went to in Athens, but we got our tree and it's pretty cute. Not quite Charley Brown, but not the biggest guy you've seen. Perfect for our little living room corner! Esther loved being able to help decorate more this year. She especially loved the music and books that we pulled out for the holidays. She's also been carrying around this musical snow globe like it was her baby (I'm talking everywhere - even to the bathroom).

Holding the door for Papa to bring the tree in

She wanted to hug the tree - makes her Mama proud

Lights going on. E patiently awaiting putting on the 1st ornament.

Little Stinker

So excited about her Christmas books!

Just plain cute!

"Is it Christmas yet? Where's Santa?"

Thanksgiving - Gobble, Gobble!

2009-11-30T20:02:00.009-05:00

We headed back up to North Carolina for Thanksgiving. All of my Mom's family, minus one brother, lives up there. It was a nice little gathering for us. Ben decided to come with us last minute, which was quite the treat. He will be suffering with all-nighters for the next 2 weeks through finals, but we were all happy he spent time with the family on the holiday.
So here are some picture recaps of the trip, including a little photo shoot of our cute Esther in preparation for Christmas cards.

Watching sticks float down the week creek
(and watching for trolls under the bridge)
Love this guy!
Papaw
His love, Granny JaneEsther checking out Uncle Mark's machine

Papaw and cousin Leland - coffee after the delicious meal!
Cousin Alvin - I like the beard'Fishing' with Uncle Max

Cousin, Sarajane and (newly acquired) husband, Kyle

Esther falls deeply in love with those who will read unending to her

Lots of love and joy...and the peace that the mountains always bring to me. Hope your holiday was full of blessings and thankfulness!

I love playdates!

2009-11-27T20:57:00.004-05:00

Esther's school was out the full Thanksgiving week. Ben and his fellow students however, had school Monday and Tuesday. One of Ben's classmate's daughter goes to school w/ E and is a sweet friend of hers. Because the parents had work, I kept Lily and the girls had two fun-filled days together. The first day was full of imaginary play, lots of dress-up, and rest...
The second day, we went to the park. The girls had so much fun playing on the playground and running through the leaves.

Peaking at hide and seek

Lily's mom was so appreciative, however I was thankful too. Those were the easiest two days I've had with Esther at home in a while. The girls played so well together. Hoping your days are full of play and happiness...

Mountain Getaway

2009-11-23T13:23:00.004-05:00

Ben and I took a (much needed) mountain getaway this weekend. We got a cute little cabin in Black Mountain, NC. It was beautiful weather up until the drive home on Sunday, which was fine. The view from our lovely back porch was amazing (above). Esther had a wonderful time at Mimi and Pops' house (many, many thanks) and will enjoy having two happy, totally in love parents (not that we aren't normally).
Not too many photos taken, but here are a few.

Another view from our back porch

Enjoying coffee on said back porch...can you tell we liked the porch?

Happiness!

Family Weekend

2009-11-15T22:56:00.003-05:00

Since Ben started school, we don't get too much time together (Have I mentioned this before? Oh, I have? Sorry for the monotony). Well, this coming week is the first week of the semester that Ben has not had a (or 3) tests. Sooo, we were able to not only have a our once a week family day, but a whole family weekend (well, mostly). Ben did not even crack a book until a few hours ago tonight. It was awesome!
Not much excitement on Friday, but nice time spent together as a family. Saturday was interrupted a bit by me having to work a few hours, but otherwise was a great day! The grands (thanks) kept Esther for the night and we adults had a date night. I made a fabulous dinner, if I do say so myself. On the menu: Garlic and Peppercorn marinated pork tenderloin (yes, I made meat), Smoked gouda mashed potatoes, rosemary roasted rainbow carrots, spinach artichoke dip w/ sourdough, and a bottle of vino. It was delicious and Ben was quite appreciative. We took a long walk around the neighborhood and ended the night with a movie. Felt like our early years - and was quite lovely. (sorry, no dinner pics. Ben always makes fun of me when I take pictures of food)
Today, I was able to spend some time with an old friend, Hope, and her '58 Desoto. Rockin' car and great gal!

The family weekend concluded with a early evening fire in the backyard. Esther loves the fire and we feel it is good to teach her about safety around it early on. She was great at gathering little sticks around the yard and adding leaves here and there.

Good job on the fire, Papa!

And a post would not be complete w/out another picture of Ben passed out asleep on the floor, before dinner, and E trying to wake him up :)

Wordless Wednesday

2009-11-11T13:33:00.003-05:00

Matching Batman t-shirts = ridiculously cute Papa and lil lady

Not really good at going completely wordless...sorry!

More of Patrick James

2009-11-07T09:21:00.004-05:00

Esther and I went for a visit last night for Patrick's first night home. Esther and Spencer played so well together and allowed Kris, Sara, and Patrick to settle in a bit. Patrick got lots of kisses and cuddles from Esther. She loves babies so much, it is ridiculous. I kept having to remind her not to squeeze him too tight.

Of course, I had to get my baby-fix in

Proud Mama, Sara, with her two boys

For Mimi - her grandbabies!

Wordless Wednesday

2009-11-04T09:05:00.003-05:00

Well, almost...one of my friends does 'Wordless Wednesday' and I think it is great. I will try to keep up with it each week :)

Introducing Patrick James Allegood!

2009-11-03T19:06:00.003-05:00

Patrick James Allegood (our new nephew) was welcomed to this world on Halloween. He had a bit of trouble with fluid on his lungs and eating at first, but is doing great now. He will be home with his Mama, Dadda, and brother, Spencer, by the end of the week.
Esther loves her some babies and wanted so bad to get into the NICU to 'hold' him. She enjoyed her time with Spencer and the grands and looks forward to some Patrick-time in the near future.
Spencer is sure to be a great big brother and will happy to have the whole family back home.

Yay for cousins!!!

Halloween '09

2009-11-03T18:52:00.003-05:00

Halloween was somewhat a bust on my desire for creative planning, but we all had a blast anyway. I came up with a few homemade ideas for Esther, but she wanted nothing to do with any of them. A princess...she wanted to be was a princess! And not a fancy handmade princess, a cheap store bought costume. I seceded and was very happy to find a thrifted gown that she was just thrilled with.
Last minute, I found the idea of Octomom and went with it. I gathered all of Esther's babies, my old sling, and called a friend for a black wig. We had no big plans, so the costume sufficed. Ben was my OB, who obviously made a lot of money from those 8 babies :)
After trick or treating with friends, we went back to their house for an after-party. The kids were able to play out their sugar-highs and the adults were able to relax and enjoy some festivities. It ended up being a late night of kids cuddled on the couch watching movies. I just missed the photo opp of E and Andrew playing footsie - so cute!
Hope your Halloween was full of happy treats!

AquariUUUUM!!! (to be sung loudly like the song 'Aquarius')

2009-10-25T18:06:00.006-04:00

We had a fun-filled day at the GA Aquarium, joined by Mimi (my Mom). I think this was the perfect age for Esther's first visit. She was so excited by everything - it was great!
So, here we go on a photo journey. Beware...lots of pictures.

Sweetest thing in the world!

Beautiful urchins and starfish

Watching the seahorses

Great picture - Courtesy of Ben

Peek-a-boo

Watching the otter 'cuddle'

Oh No, a shark!

E wasn't too sure about the fish character

My two favorite ladies!!!

Mimi-love

Touch-tank still a bit deep for E's short arms

Alligators! Oh, my!

And ended in a whale's mouth...

Visit from other Fleming clan

2009-10-18T17:12:00.004-04:00

Ben's brother and family came up for a visit this weekend. We all had a wonderful time together, cuddling with nieces and nephews, watching cousins play, and family bonding. Ben and Brad are so close, I always love watching how they crack each other up (as above).

Aunt Heather and Baby Payton

Payton getting a ride on Poppi's back

Beautiful Payton - those eyes!

Courtney reading to the girls

Esther and Colt played so well together

E giving Uncle BooBoo his Birthday card she made him

Thankful for loving family!

Candler Park Fall Festival

2009-10-12T09:19:00.004-04:00

After a busy weekend of me working and Ben studying, we spent a family day at the Candler Park Fall Festival. There was music, crafts, hula hooping, and good friends to enjoy. Esther and I are having a disagreement with our sinuses, but both enjoyed the beautiful day and relaxation of being at the park.

Love the kid's craft tent

Check out her awesome paper doll-making skills (we helped a bit)

Dancing with Papa

Hooping with Mama

Being just plain cute!

Enjoying Autumn

2009-10-04T17:18:00.005-04:00

We welcomed Autumn last week with a not-so-little potluck/house-warming. The rain put a damper on enjoying our friends in the backyard, but we were nice and cozy inside. We felt very loved with so many people coming to join us and bless our home. Esther loved having so many friends over (thanks to Mimi and Pops for picking her up so a meltdown did not incur at bedtime). I didn't get many pictures as I was busy playing host, but the one above is one of Ben and I once the crowd died down (note the cute dress and boots I found at the thrift store - very proud of this find).
We've been enjoying the cooler weather and spending lots of time in the backyard...

...reading on blankets and calling to Zouga

...pretending chalk bits, rocks, and leaves were vegetables recently purchased at the market. The writing denotes: 1 Asparagus, 15 Carrots, 15 Potatoes, 1 Broccoli, etc.

...a little Mama- hooping

...and Esther-hooping

...building villages out of blocks, computer packing, and other random bits.
...and pulling out the fall wardrobe. Ben made a big to-do about Esther's cool-weather clothing 'Fashion Show', hence the picture.

New Job!

2009-10-04T17:12:00.002-04:00

I've been meaning to share that I finally found another job. Though it wasn't a full-time with benefits that I hoped for, I am happy to have two part-times and flexibility that comes along with that. Along with working for the Botanical Gardens (from home), I'm also now working for the Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center. I am mainly leading school groups through various science exploratory field trips and naturalist hikes. I will also be doing some program planning and possible grant writing in the future. The Center has environmental architecture and is maintained with low-impact energy sources (LEED Gold Certified). Here is the website to check out more about it. Under 'Discover Us' there is a nice video of the center and what we do. I am liking it so far and looking forward to seeing how my position may grow in the future.

Dancing, cleaning, and crafting

2009-09-20T16:39:00.003-04:00

E and I spent the weekend at my parents', while Ben prepares for his 3 upcoming exams this week (please send some good wishes). I am so thankful that my Mom saved my old dance costumes and shoes. I'm happy that Esther will have these as she grows up for play...or (hopefully) when she starts dancing herself!
As mentioned in a previous post, E is enjoying cleaning with me lately. I gave her a towel and asked her to dust all the shelves. After hearing some tumbling, I came to her room to find....well, at least she was thorough!
And, last...some crafting. I made this earring display/holder this week. A thrifted frame, fabric covered cardboard, and sewn on o-rings = functional and artsy display. Love it!

Baby Teagan Laya!

2009-09-14T20:30:00.006-04:00

Today we got to meet a sweet, new addition to this world - Teagan Laya. Marley, the new big sis, is 5 days older than Esther. Tisa (Mama) and I were pregnant together with the girls and shared in a lot during these first years. She's ahead of me now, but our second will come in time.
Esther had so much joy loving on Teagan and playing with Marley. As I've mentioned before, she LOVES babies. She often walks around with dolls under her shirts (even sleeping with them 'in her belly'). She always talks about how sweet babies are. E has also told us that she will have a baby sister, named Esther, and a brother, named Frosty. Not kidding here - hilarious!
So here are some pics of the precious Teagan Laya and our first meeting with her.

Introducing Teagan Laya
E couldn't wait to hold her

Helping give Teagan a bathMaking sure she was covered and warm

The Girls!

I love my sweet girl and her baby-love!

DMS - school photos

2009-09-14T10:10:00.004-04:00

Esther is enjoying school much more, to the point that we play school almost everyday at home. Here are a couple of pictures her teacher sent last week. Montesorri focuses on 'life-skills', so you will often see the children cleaning, reading, caring for a babydoll, or other real life activities. Her new loves are washing dishes and folding towels. I'm telling you, I love it! She's also doing really well with phonics and reminding us what letter EVERY word starts with.

Flower arranging
Doing dishes at home

Changes....and play at the Land Trust

2009-09-05T08:49:00.007-04:00

Sorry for the delay in posting, it has been a rough couple of weeks adjusting to all the changes. Esther and Benjamin both started school and the schedules are quite different. Though Esther had a rough first week, she is now liking Decatur Montessori and has made some sweet friends. Ben also is liking school, though it is already proving itself to be an intense program - as we knew it would be. We also got good news that I have been offered another part-time position. Starting Tuesday, I will be working with the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center. I will be leading school groups and doing programs. This is coming along right in time, as things always do! Esther is getting settled into school, Ben is busy with his program, and God knows we need the extra income. We are thankful!
As part of our new routine, E and I have been doing yoga in the mornings. Ben and I were at a loss for how to handle her rough transition (she's always loved school), so we thought this time together in the mornings would help. I bought her a children's yoga video and she seems to enjoy it. The instructors are a bit annoying to me, but they capture E's attention, so I endure it :)

Meditating - so sweet

Esther gets out of school at 3:00, so we have been doing little outings before Papa gets home. We met some friends at the local Land Trust this week and had lots of fun and exploration. They have a nice sandpit/play area, lots of community gardens, chickens, an emu, goats, and more.

And, a few things from me...
1. My new haircut - 10inches+ donated 2. A cute bobby pin I made to go with the new do

Esther's new school!

2009-08-24T17:25:00.004-04:00

After visiting many schools in Decatur/Atlanta and listening to E beg to go to school for over a month, we decided on Decatur Montessori. It is very similar to Morningstar, her Athens school, but is larger and goes up to 6 years old. Esther is in the 3-6 classroom and has already met a few friends. Today was her first day, but she had already met a little girl in her class through all the Emory shin-digs last week. One of Ben's classmate's daughter, Lily, and Esther hit it off immediately. I'm so glad she has found a new place to grow and learn. They have multiple gardens, classroom pets (fish, lizards, turtles), and lots of outdoor areas to explore - even in the middle of the city. I did not get a picture of her first day at the new school, but will try to get some at the school potluck this Friday. Here is the link to the school for those interested. Decatur Montessori School. And follow this link for a little video they school has put together to introduce DMS.

Around the house

2009-08-19T20:16:00.002-04:00

Painting in the backyard....paper had lost its luster, so we moved on to the rock slab

Zouga admiring Esther's work

Little bit of sewing that didn't turn out so great

The new painting that I absolutely LOVE for Esther's room. Got it for $2 at the Bot. Garden flea market. Love it!!!

E's ORANGE nails. While I was in Athens working M-T, Ben and E had some little adventures. One included going to the beauty supply store to buy some kid-friendly finger nail polish....orange, of course!

Decatur Bluegrass, Blues, and BBQ festival

2009-08-16T19:58:00.003-04:00

For our last weekend before Ben starts school, we filled our time with fun and relaxation. Saturday, we went to the Decatur Bluegrass festival. It was a great time of music and sunshine. We had a couple hours of dancing before the rain rolled in. We made it home just before the downpour. Happy for the rain and lovely time with the family!

First things first - had to ride the train

...then get arm painted. An ORANGE butterfly, of course.

Lots of dancing with the favorite partners.

A little bit of me...

...and a little bit of him.

and some sweet dancy, cuddle, Eskimo kisses!

Love the look she's giving me, like "Mama, what in the world are you doing?" That's PBJ rice cake all over her face, by the way.

We finished off the weekend with a relaxing Sunday. None of us got out of our jammies today and don't feel one bit of guilt! Pancakes for breakfast, white chicken chili for dinner - delicious! Lots of playing, a little bit of dancing, just enough reading, and the perfect amount of hugs (though you can never have enough)!
I'm off to Athens to work the first half of the week, then Ben starts school on Thursday. Excited, and a bit nervous, about this new chapter of our lives. I'm so proud of Ben already, knowing he will do great as a student and future PA. We will appreciate prayers and words of encouragement as we make our way through this phase. Much love!

Sarajane and Kyle's wedding

2009-08-10T09:17:00.004-04:00

My beautiful, sweet cousin got married this weekend in NC. Though I'm not that much older than her, I still see her as a little girl, running around after her brothers or quietly watching us older cousins play. Well, she has definitely grown into her own and has now gotten herself a wonderful husband! They got married on the property of Kyle's family, on a hill surrounded by trees and mountains and sunlight streaming through the clouds. Though it was HOT, the locations was just perfect for their union.

Ben, E and Pops riding on the hayride up to the ceremony

Mom and Dad

Sarajane riding in to the ceremony - gorgeous!

Aunt Donna and cousin Alvin
Mr. and Mrs. Case...

The Reception
Uncle Mark, cousin Rachel, and Mom

Cousin Leland and girlfriend, Ashley

Ben and E dancing, as usual

Also, as usual, I was behind the camera, so no pics of me. If someone else got some, I'll add them in (b/c I thought I looked pretty awesome :)

Around the house...

2009-07-31T09:15:00.004-04:00

What have we been doing around the house?

A bit of reading with Papa

And a bit of reading with Mama (in the backyard)

Lots of smooching

and dressing up all fancy-like

Beading

Making muffins from Joy the Baker (link to recipe). Only thing I changed was added a bit of rice syrup and reduced the sugar; then soy milk instead of buttermilk. Esther said they are the best muffins she's ever had. They are pretty good.

And a new favorite picture of E from the reunion. Ben's cousin(in-law), Mary, took this.

Mississippi Family Reunion

2009-07-28T19:19:00.017-04:00

We just returned from a fun-filled week of family reunion in Mississippi. It was a reunion of family members on Ben's (maternal) grandmother's side. It was wonderful seeing all the babies that have been born and family members that we have not seen in a while. We started out with immediate family fish fry, then the larger reunion the next day. We have a ton of pictures, but I have filtered through...enjoy!

Silly Sisters

Tractor with great-Uncle Steven

Climbing the magnolia and playing in the water hose

Grandmother and Angela and all the girl grandbabies

Ben and E playing pool

The big surprise...we celebrated Ben's grandmother and Aunt Linda's (twins) birthday early since all the kids, grandkids, and great grandkids were all together

Group Shots

Kids playing sweet at the house in between festivities

Uncle Boo Boo (Ben's brother) and Peyton; Courtney (sister-in-law) and Colt

At the reunion - E and Maggie in the dirt (her dress was ruined by the end of the night)

Esther entertaining the crowd with 'Kum Bah Yah'. We have many more videos of her singing various songs. Pardon my cackling in the background :)

After the reunion festivities, we headed to Gulfport to visit Ben's other (paternal) grandparents. Esther enjoyed reading with PawPaw and playing with her cousins some more.

We also visited the beach for a bit before we got rained out. Esther and Colt both loved the water

Quote

2009-07-16T15:10:00.004-04:00

In my frustration of trying to work during naptime, with a wee one who has decided she no longer wants to take a nap, I was visiting the beloved Soule Mama blog (http://www.soulemama.com)
Soule Papa posts every so often and his words are just beautiful. Here is a quote from his post that struck me. A sweet little reminder to count your blessings and live life to the fullest...

"Since last we met, the trail has been mud and we've all taken turns falling down. But it sure feels better than sitting at home waiting for sun to dry ground. "
- Soule Papa

Settling in

2009-07-14T13:27:00.007-04:00

We are settling in to our new life in Decatur. We took a visit to Fernbank last week with a friend. A lot of it was too old for E, but she really enjoyed the discovery rooms. I think she had the most fun playing in the entrance of the museum - staring at the BIG dinosaurs, running along stepping stones, and just being stinkin' cute!

Planting veggies in the discovery room

We are also enjoying the new house. It is still small, but a good bit bigger than the Athens place. Esther loves being able to make laps in the house and hang out in the backyard. She's gotten a few fingerpainting sessions in so far. What a mess - but what fun!
And then to naptime in her new big-girl bed. I can't believe how quickly she is growing up. Man, I love this girl!

As part of the move, I am still on the job hunt. Please pray for direction along my path and the perfect position to open up for me. Thank you!

Last weekend in Athens - sniff, sniff

2009-07-09T23:05:00.009-04:00

We have officially moved and are now Decatur-folks (but still hold true to our Athenian roots). We are settling in to the new house and community. We had a world-wind, but wonderful last week in Athens. We packed a lot, threw a little going away/Birthday gathering, and went to Athfest (free music and fun). Not a shabby way to end up our time in Athens.
Intro pic is from the party - not too many more from that night. Enjoy Athfest pics and a few of the moving transition. Thanks for all the friends and family that helped us move - we couldn't have done it alone. Sorry for those Athenians we weren't able to say goodbye to - we miss you already!

Tired-grumpy, no nap face

She brightened up once the music started

...but tuckered out quickly on the way home - even fairy princesses need a nap

Packin' up and movin' out

Ben was playing with the camera settings - I like how this one turned out

Must rehydrate

Hey, Hey!

Moving day - Esther and Amara were excited to help, but the picture caption I've come up with: "You better give me more than water and blueberries if you expect us to move all this stuff!"
Ben taking a rest on the steps of the new house

Then NEW crib in Decatur! Love it already!!!

The back - there's a large, fenced backyard. Ridiculous, invasive english ivy problem that leads to horrible mosquito problem, but will be remedied soon enough.

Lake Burton

2009-06-27T16:47:00.008-04:00

Our friends' parents have a beautiful lakehouse on Lake Burton. We've been meaning to go up for awhile, so stopped by for couple of days on our way back from Asheville. Esther loved playing on the dock, 'fishing', and riding on the boat.

what a great face - you know she's having funAndrew let E 'drive' the boat - Ashley, Andrew's wife, is in the background

Hiding out under Papa's hat - it was bright
Looking for fish under the dock

'Fishing' - no hook on the line, but she loved it
Ben celebrated his 30th birthday and proved he wasn't old by jumping off the boat house...twice!
Seado - right before the boat started smoking and we had to be towed back to dock

After 5 days of fun on the road, Esther finally tuckered out...

Dobbins/Pomraning Family Reunion

2009-06-24T22:10:00.013-04:00

We headed up to Asheville last week for a family reunion of my Mom's family. My one uncle and his family live in Seattle, so it has been a while since all of the family has been together at one time. I'm sure it was especially meaningful for my grandparents to have all the kids together with them. I met cousins that I have never met (both in their 20s) and saw another who I haven't seen since I was a child. It was wonderful!
Esther enjoyed meeting her extended family, dancing (below) to entertain, and taking her new great-uncle on a walk (Jimmie was so enchanted by her). We ate amazing food, told funny stories, and enjoyed the fellowship that only family can bring.

E showing Uncle Jimmie the hummingbird

Jimmie, Mom, Granny Jane, cousin Cory

Cousin Shawna, Aunt Chris, Uncle Mark

Cousin Rachel - lives in Kansas and bought Esther the sweetest antique 'Wizard of Oz' book
Me listening to old stories of my mother's childhood - priceless!

While in Asheville, we stayed at a local KOA campground. We had a really nice spot right on the creek (intro picture). We've always loved the Asheville area and the peace that the mountains bring.

Esther enjoyed swimming with Ben on Father's Day - she looks so proud of her abilities. Ben said he looks like a one-eyed gorilla - I love my hairy ape and the amazing Papa he is to E!

Going on a pretend 'horsey ride' with Grammi - "what do you see?"

Ben and Dad solving the world's problems

E and I forgetting the world's problems, relaxing in the hammock - creekside

Smores!

Sparkler with Papa. I think she is still too young to enjoy them...and almost gave Ben a heart attack waving it around in her face :)

We all really enjoyed our trip! I feel very blessed that our family was able to get together and our relationships have grown and been renewed. I leave you with a video that captures the fun Esther had and how much she 'loves camping'!

Almost-summer play

2009-06-11T12:15:00.003-04:00

I really don't feel like we had much of a Spring, other than all the rain. It went from cold to hot pretty quickly. Summer will be here very soon and I don't mind one bit. I love hot weather, so really am not bothered by it too much. I do struggle to find activities for Esther and I to do that want involve sunburn or overly flushed cheeks (that E seems to get w/in 5 minutes of being outside). Today was a lazy day, so we worked in some of our plants and did water play. Ben keeps fussing that I should stop planting more seeds (in pots) because he doesn't want to have to move them. I keep reminding him that we will still want plants after the move and they are easier to move in pots than in the ground. Today, we planted a few milkweed seeds (monarch caterpillar host plants) and some wildflower mix. I also worked on staking our tomatoes. I am so excited for these heirlooms that I picked up at the Garden. We've got 4 different varieties and they are looking great.

Our first tomato is coming along nicely!

And the water play - one of Esther's favorite things to do. I like that it is warm, so she can do it outside. She never fails to make a huge mess. She brings out the majority of her cooking paraphernalia and lots of water and goes to 'work'. Occupies a good 30 minutes or so. I love watching her play and her imagination.

where have we been?

2009-06-04T18:58:00.006-04:00

...Well, not really sure why I haven't posted in a while. Not that we've been overly busy, just enjoying the day-by-day. We've been packing a box here and there, though still no luck on finding a house in Decatur. I've had a few interviews - should know something by next week! Esther is finishing up her last couple weeks of school (sniff, sniff - we love where she's at and know no place will compare). Lots of rain has kept us indoors, but there is still fun to be had. Here is a little video of Esther playing Ben's drum and singing/yelling some nursery rhymes. She's been really good about playing by herself and coming up with fun things to do on her own. It is really nice! A bit sad as we see our little girl growing up and wondering where the time is going. We're holding on tight for this wild ride that is ahead of us and enjoying every minute!

Going house shopping this weekend. Wish us look!

Baby Payton

2009-05-20T18:39:00.004-04:00

Baby Payton, our new niece, was welcomed to this world on May 1st. She was a few weeks early, but healthy and able to go home with her Mama Courtney. We went down to Valdosta last weekend to visit with Ben's brother and his growing family. Esther has been baby-obsessed lately (not sure why), so it was nice for her to see a wee one. She was very sweet with Payton and brother Colt, who will turn one next week.

Uncle BenColt like Ben's beard
E loved Colt's John Deere

Sweet!

Splashing in the puddles with Uncle Boo Boo
Tuckered out
So, so Sweet!

Backyard Harvest - farm visit

2009-05-12T19:10:00.004-04:00

We had another lovely day today, visiting our friend's farm-Backyard Harvest. We brought along our friends, Andy and Amara (unfortunately, the spouses had to work). The girls had fun tromping around the farm, picking strawberries and carrots, and admiring Buddy and Rose - llama and alpaca. Us adults enjoyed the fellowship of friends, the warm sun and cool breeze, and the yummy lettuce we were sent home with (thanks, Becky and Boo!).
We also got a special treat of going out in the little pond on the farm. This is one of the only times I can remember E being out on a boat (except when we went out once on my brother's big boat). I was a bit nervous, but she did great! She swore she saw a turtle swimming, but no one else saw it.
And lastly, a sweet pic from Mother's Day. After a busy few weeks (months), I decided I didn't want to do anything on my day. We planted our tomatoes, made strawberry shortcake, and just relaxed all day. Can't ask for much more than that.

Strawberry Pickin'

2009-05-11T20:44:00.004-04:00

We had a lovely weekend of going to the first Farmer's Market of the season and picking strawberries. You may remember pictures from last year's strawberry harvest. The dress still fits, but is more of a shirt now. Esther still loves it! We made strawberry shortcake (from scratch) yesterday and it was quite yummy.
Hope your spring is sweet and bountiful!

E's 1st Camping trip = Totally Awesome!

2009-05-05T18:02:00.006-04:00

We did our first camping trip with Esther this past weekend. We had camped in the backyard during the week to get her prepared for sleeping in a tent all night. She did great, so the camping trip was on. We went with some good friends who have a 4yo daughter that Esther loves. Sandy Creek Park is a small park in Athens with a nice semi-primitive campground. You have to wheel barrel your gear in, but there is still a bathroom if you need such fancies.
We got a beautiful site right next to the lake. The girls were able to run around and play with all the nature-lovin' splendor a child can imagine.

The Group Shot
Love Esther's look here

My handsome hubby!

Swimming in the lake before the storm came - it was cold!

Beautiful sunset shot - courtesy of Andy

Esther's first experience with marshmallows. She wasn't too keen on the sticky finger part

'Smart Mom Award' went to me for the idea of bringing a play tent. The girls were able to play in the tent throughout the day and it provided refuge from the rain for us adults after the kiddos went to bed.

Helping Papa gather firewood

We ended the trip off with a hula hooping party. Esther isn't quite coordinated enough to do it yet, but she's getting the idea. Amara and Jen were pros!

One final family shot before hiking out

Thankful for the rain this week - may your gardens and lives be full of beauty!

BIG Zoo!

2009-04-28T08:23:00.006-04:00

We read a lot around here and many books happen to be about a zoo. We have a small game-ranch style zoo in Athens, but no big animals. Last weekend was the Planet Party at the Atlanta Zoo in honor of last week's Earth Day. We, the Botanical Garden, had a table there with a bird hat craft and information about migratory birds. Since I was there, what a perfect time for Esther to FINALLY visit the 'BIG Zoo', as she calls it.

E and Poppi looking at snakes - Esther's favorite!

Rock Outcrop and Sweetwater Festival

2009-04-19T20:00:00.005-04:00

We had a wonderful week of springtime activities. During the week, Esther and I had a playdate with some good friends. Her friend, Amara, is four and they play really well together. After going to the playground, we visited a local rock outcrop that has an abundance of threatened and endangered plants. Esther and Amara had fun hiking around and tromping through the little streambeds.
This weekend, we headed into Atlanta for the Sweetwater Festival in Candler Park. Saturday Ben and I went and met some friends, leaving E to play with the Grands. She came with us on Sunday and we had such a blast. She loved playing with her hula hoop and dancing to the music. She's already asking to go to another festival ("festibal"). So glad she's following in our footsteps of good music and good times!

Old friend, Em, and I with LED hula hoops - So cool!

Family fun!

Esther's having some boogie-time. Also check out her new skirt. I bought this great pillowcase and turned it into this adorable skirt. She's worn it the last 4 days...I think she likes it!

About 5 minutes after leaving the festival

Easter Weekend

2009-04-13T19:06:00.004-04:00

We had a really nice Easter weekend! Saturday, we went to Memorial Park for a fun family Easter egg hunt, including a visit from the Easter Bunny. It was really well organized and lots of fun for little E!

YAY!

Smooches!

We spent Sunday with the Allegood family. We went to my childhood church, which brought back a lot of wonderful memories. I went there from birth until around 16 years old, then we changed churches for various reasons. The music and ceremony were really nice. It was amazing to see many of the people still there and the kids I used to teach in Sunday school with my Mom were all grown up. After church, we all went to Brunch then back to Grammi and Pops' for an Easter egg hunt.

Could she be any cuter?!

E and cousin, Spencer.
Can you read his shirt? "Big Brother" We're going to be Aunt and Uncle again!

Hope you had a beautiful weekend!

Revived and Refreshed!

2009-04-06T16:34:00.005-04:00

It's amazing how life can get so busy and full that you forget to slow down and enjoy it. Even with the reminder of all my blessings, we haven't really soaked it all in for quite some time. This past weekend we headed west to some of our dear friends in Bowden. Both friends we visited have a good bit of land, so we were able to soak up the sun and blue skies and endless green grass. Esther enjoyed playing with the chickens, riding the tractor, and running around with the other kiddos at Rob and Christy's.

*****

Tom, Vickie, and Kaya

We then spent the rest of day at Tom and Vickie's. We trolloped down to the creek and skipped rocks. Ben and I were able to have a wonderful prayer with our good friends that we consider close family. We always feel refreshed and rejuvinated after our visits. We are taken back to center and reminded what is really important - each other and life lived to fullest. No matter the hardships or stress, we are reminded of how blessed we are and that we have no reason to complain or fret about where life is taking us. God has always taken care of us and will continue to do so as we walk our path in life.

Yes, there will be bridges to cross.

And rain will fall...

But a brighter day is always ahead

and, oh the joy that life brings!

My Little Blessings #10

2009-04-02T18:40:00.004-04:00

A sense of wonder! My final 'blessing' in this series is a sense of wonder that I am reminded of every day with my sweet girl. This is something we tend to lose as we grow older. Whether we feel like we know it all or just get jaded, we somehow stifle our imagination and desire to learn. I love this quote from famous ecologist and author, Rachel Carson.
If I had influence with the good fairy who is supposed to preside over the christening of all children, I should ask that her gift to each child in the world be a sense of wonder so indestructible that it would last throughout life.
There are so many blessings that I cannot possibly list them all. Another one being my amazing family. My Mom and Dad who have taught me so much in life and given me amazing love and acceptance. (I have to give a shout-out to Dad...Happy 60th Birthday!) My brother, Ben's family, all our wonderful friends...so much to be thankful for.

And I leave you with a sweet song that Esther made up for Ben (completely on her own). As the day passes, I hear more and more "when will Papa be home?" Well, I walked in on E singing this sweet song and had to capture it. I even admit to tearing up a bit. For those of you who don't understand two year old, here are the lyrics to the tune of Thumpkin.
"Where is Papa, where is Papa. He's at work, he's at work. Wish that he would come home, wish that he would come home now."
Can you get any sweeter?

Oh, and the interview. Went well - they said I'm overqualified and would love to have me, but...may be losing funding - story of my job search. Everyone who receives my resume says I look great, but all their funding is cut and they have no open positions. Praying for direction and doors to open and close as is right for me and my family. Love and blessings!

Little Blessings #9

2009-03-31T08:35:00.006-04:00

My Job! That's right - I love my job and feel it is such an amazing blessing. I love the ladies I work with, of course the atmosphere, and what I do. I've worked at the State Botanical Garden for about 4 years at varying capacities. From field trips and summer camps, to registration guru, to my present (and favorite) role of curricula writer.
I mainly work in developing and training teachers on our Garden Earth Naturalist curriculum that is geared for 3-5 grade students. We have been approved to be published Nationally through 4-H, which is so very exciting! It is really neat to think that this wonderful environmental education tool will be available to children all over the country. I digress, because I could talk about this wonderful program for hours...
As a not so on-the-way sidetrack to the Environmental Education Alliance conference a few weeks ago, we went to the Okefenokee Swamp. We took a motor boat out on the swamp for a few hours. Below are some of the pictures. Oh, and the first picture above is from our Exotic birds and reptiles of the forest program. That was a BABY anaconda!

Cutie

Golden Club

Bladderwort

Creepin' alligator...
we stopped counting at 27 gators about a 3rd of the way in.

My boss and I walking through the pine/palmetto forest - a very important ecosystem that is quite endangered due to fire suppression and development.

A bit more about my job - as part of of the University, we are an outreach facility. Well, I have to give my boss the "Above and Beyond" award for all she does. Beyond what she does to help educate teachers and children about protecting our natural world, she is an amazing woman and friend. She has been so flexible with me throughout school, pregnancy, and babe. I am so sad to leave Athens and this amazing experience I have had at the Garden. She is a blessing that is hard to express. I always thought that a 'mentor' was kind of silly, but she is definitely that. Someone to strive to be like and to leave a legacy. Again, I digress. I just really love my job and am sad to leave...
Speaking of leaving, I have an interview on Thursday. Please pray for me to find something that will fit into our new life in Decatur and still be able to provide for the family in every way (time, hugs, and financially).
Love and blessings!

Little Blessings #8

2009-03-22T20:07:00.004-04:00

~MUSIC~
It is such a part of our life - music. Ben and I spent many a date-night and traveling the southeast to concerts, and still do when we have an adult weekend. Esther has a love for music and singing that warms our hearts. She'll ask for music and loves to have dance parties. I'm happy that music will be a large part of her life too. Maybe she'll be a drummer...

Esther's makeshift drumset started with sitting on our 3-tiered plant stand and placing her drum and tambourine on the other tiers. In the middle of her music show, she realized that someone else would be living in our house (we had been discussing moving earlier). As you can hear, she doesn't want anyone else to move in, because she wants to still be able to play in it.

May music and dancing bless your week! Hope your weekend was full of sunshine and fun!

My Little Blessings #3-7

2009-03-17T18:27:00.008-04:00

Since I've been slacking on posting (out of town at a conference), I'm quintupling up on the little blessings today.

#3 - that my little lady loves digging in the dirt....and dresses!

#4 - Imagination! She's made a 'bridge' out of her books to get across the 'pond'.

#5 - Sunshine! I love the warmth and sunshine...and the simplicity of hanging clothes on the line.

#6 - Sidewalk Chalk (or any other creative toy that occupies a child's mind for a good 30 minutes). Wonderful!

#7 - More and more glimpses of spring. Camillas and buds on my jasmine.

The 'little blessings' keep on coming....

My Little Blessings #2

2009-03-15T09:26:00.006-04:00

One of the biggest blessings in my life - my husband, Benjamin. Today is our 6-year anniversary. I woke up this morning, remembering that beautiful day. My Mom called my hotel room around 7:00 and said, "Are you ready to get married?" Even though I was exhausted from staying out late with all our friends and family that had come in town, I jumped out of bed. "Yes!" I was ready to get married - never a doubt in my mind. Ben and I dated for almost 5 years before getting married, living apart for a year while I was in AmeriCorps. Not that I had had a lot of experience, but I knew that Ben was something special. He actually made me feel good about myself and loved me unconditionally. He made me laugh, held me when I cried, didn't mind my extreme moodiness, thought my goofiness was adorable, and respected and shared my views on life. Over 10 years after meeting him, things have only gotten better! I love this man more today than ever. He is an amazing husband and father. I love watching his relationship with Esther and knowing that they will always be close.
We always joke that we 'complete' each other, but it is true. I know most people feel this way about the spouses, but also see a lot of people who constantly complain about their loved ones or just don't seem to get it. Well, we've got and don't plan on letting it go. Marriage takes work, and I feel some people give up way to easy. Not saying that some marriages should be ended for various reasons, but I think many people just stop trying. Communication, openness and understanding, and prayer are the keys. I feel very lucky to have met my match and married young. I look forward to growing old with my love, having more baby(ies), and being grands together one day. Okay, enough mushiness...
Benjamin, I love you with all my heart. More today than 6 years ago on our wedding day. It did not bother me that all you could say was "I love you" during our vows, because those words say it all! Thank you for loving me, for loving my family, and loving our family. I feel like the luckiest gal in the world! Oh yeah, and did I mention that I think you're incredibly handsome! Happy Anniversary!
I'm letting him sleep in, otherwise I wouldn't be wasting my time on the computer. After wake-up, brunch and watching our wedding video snuggled under a blanket with our littlest love.

Everyday Treasures and

2009-03-11T10:21:00.008-04:00

My two favorite blogs reminded me today of slowing down and appreciating the little things around me that make my life so full. Lil' Songbird is a beautiful friend, Ansley, who lives right outside of Athens. She makes homemade soap (that is amazing), knits, take great photographs, and has a wonderful family - among other things. Her, Feeding the Soul theme is a great idea that I'm stealing. I'm not as good at posting everyday, but will do my best for a couple times a week. Soule Mama's Everyday Treasures was another happy reminder to count your blessings and to be thankful. So, here is the start to -

My Little Blessings.

Of course, my sweet Esther is an amazing blessing. I love this picture from my birthday last year. I think it epitomizes motherhood and the friendship of me and my wee one. A happy walk, hand in hand.

After an adult weekend (E stayed w/ Grandma and Poppi) and two full days of work, I was really missing my girl (and I'm leaving for a conference for 3 days tomorrow). I got home last night and snuggled and kissed my heart out - even with her pushing me away and saying "no kisses, Mama!" We later took a walk after dinner and I stared at her in awe. Everyone says they grow up so fast, and it has hit me how true that is. She is not a baby anymore. Her imagination and cleverness amazes me. Man, I love this girl!
A funny quote from our walk home last night. "I like crickets - they taste good. Papa, do you want to eat some?" For the record, she has never eaten crickets to my knowledge. She was listening to the night sounds and recognized the crickets. Not sure how that progressed to eating them, but it was really funny.
So there's the start of 'My little blessings'. I'm at the Environmental Education Alliance conference the rest of the week, so will be back next week. Enjoy your 'Everyday Treasures', things that 'Feed Your Soul' and the many 'Little Blessings' in your life!

2009-03-09T21:00:00.003-04:00

Esther and I had a lovely visit to our good friends' farm, Backyard Harvest, last week. Becky and I used to work together at the Botanical Garden before she decided to be a full-time organic farmer with her husband, Boo. We had a wonderful time digging carrots and walking around the farm. They also have a lot of critters on the farm, my favorites being Buddy and Rose, the llama and alpaca, though the many dogs and kitties are sweet as can be.

I think Esther cleaned them out on carrots. She even broke her very annoying no-vegetable rule and ate a few bits. These are sweetest carrots I've ever tasted. Delicious!

The weird cold-hot weather we've been having (and the crazy snow) have knocked out most of the crops, but they still had some lettuces and cilantro in the greenhouses. Esther wasn't so sure about the lettuce.

Boo and E had some basketball fun, too. Taking a rest in between sets :)

As I am not a cold-weather girl, I am loving the sunshine and warm temperatures of late. Wishing you and yours a sunny week!

Snow Day

2009-03-05T08:45:00.004-05:00

We had so much fun in are snow this past weekend. We got about 7 inches in Athens, which is quite the big deal for us. Esther had read about snow and see it on movies, but this was her first 'real deal'. She loved it! We had a hard time explaining why she couldn't stay out there for hours. The main reason being, we had no power for a good 26+ hours. With no way to warm up, we only let her play for a few hours. She had a blast building a snowman, sledding, and throwing snowballs. We still have a good bit of snow in the yard, but it is mushy and has lost its luster.

Esther relaxing on the make-shift sled

The scarf E asked for and I made in cold hours of the morning. As usual, she hates posing.

Cuddling to stay warm

Playing blocks by candle and flashlight. Entertaining w/out lights for the few hours before bedtime was the hardest part.

I love her laugh - pure joy!

Gardening

2009-02-26T16:10:00.005-05:00

Though the weather has been on-again-off-again warm/cold, we've been spending a lot more time outside. They have started their spring garden at school, which has led to Esther's main subject of play lately - gardening. She will tell me the process of digging the hole, planting the seed, covering it up, watering, and then it grows (and then you eat it - YUM). Marci, E's teacher, says they haven't gone into that much detail, so I guess Esther just picked up from the few times we've discussed it. I hope that our next place has room and ability to put some plants in the ground. Container gardens are nice, but we look forward to a real garden. Here's a few pics of her enjoying the sun and the dirt!
Here, she's working on building a 'bridge'. She then lets the rocks 'walk' on it.

"Oh, Zouga!" Our tailless tortoise-shell cat wanted to join in the photo shoot this day. She slipped into most every picture.

Finn's Birthday!

2009-02-22T11:44:00.005-05:00

Esther's BFF, Finn, turned 3 this week and had his party yesterday. Esther had so much fun with him at his zoo party. They got a tour the zoo and watch some of the animals be fed. The reptile house was the highlight of the tour. They got one of the snakes out, but E didn't want to touch it. She's held a snake before, but I think the lack of a nap had caught up with her by that point. Pictures to recap the celebrations!

The Birthday Boy

Ring Around the Roses

Looking at the Bobcat tail

Looking at the bear, DJGobble, Gobble

Grasshopper Cake from The Grit...Delicious. A very special treat for E. We paid for a dearly with a huge meltdown over playing with Finn's new piano. It's not a party without tears, right?Finn's present: a felt art notebook

Happy Birthday, Finn!

Happy Valentine's Day

2009-02-14T10:50:00.003-05:00

Though we don't really celebrate V-day to the commercialized max, it is always fun to do a heart-shaped craft and eat special treats. Esther and I made Valentines for her classmates this week. I recycled old construction paper into hearts, Esther glued tissue paper bits, and I wrote a sweet message on the back. E took them to school yesterday in her little purse and could hardly wait to pass them out. She was especially thrilled with the piece of organic chocolate a classmate gave her. She shared with Papa and I.
This morning, Esther and I made a delicious apple streusal coffee cake. There was nothing healthy about it other than the apples, but it was totally worth it. Esther was bouncing up and down to have 'cake' for breakfast.

A good book on the coziest seat in the house! Sharing the family-love!

Wishing you and yours a happy love-day!

Esther's tree

2009-02-11T17:23:00.004-05:00

After two years of life, we finally planted Esther's tree last weekend. We first went back and forth on what kind of tree we wanted. We finally decided on a corkscrew willow. We then had the decision of where to plant it. We rent, so knew it would need a long-term home somewhere else. My parents have a large yard with plenty of tree-planting room (my Dad favors lawn over trees), so this was Esther's tree's destination. Then came timing. February is the best time of the year to plant trees, hence Arbor Day on the 21st. For whatever reason (brand new baby, grad school) we did not get the tree planted in the last 2 years.
Finally, this was the time. One motivation was the very large container holding Esther's placenta in our freezer. That's right - a placenta in our freezer. Planting a tree with your child's placenta is a somewhat common ritual, though not as common in this country. Here is an article that describes a few rituals that evolve around using the placenta after birth. For our family, we wanted to plant a tree that would grow with Esther. A symbol of her life and growth through the years. The placenta nourished Esther while she was inside me and its nutrients will now help nourish her tree. I could go way deeper into it, but won't for those who will think I'm a whackadoo or would just be bored by the details. So, here we go with pictures...

Digging in the dirt. Notice E's orange shovel.

Covering the placenta with soil (deep enough to not attract coyotes) and placing the willow.

Esther checking our work to make sure we're doing it right (:

See the placenta container. Think of how much more food will fit in our freezer now! One of my friends said her husband opened their son's container once, thinking it was soup (Yuck!). Another friend said she still had both her son's placentas (age 4 and 2) and two others in her freezer (she is a doula and was keeping them for friends). I didn't feel so bad for our 2-year delay after those stories.

Naptime was quickly approaching, so I didn't get any posed pictures in front of the firmly planted tree. I will keep updates as both the tree and Esther grow.

And now, random cuties of our cutie!

Check out that outfit! She has started picking her clothes and I love it!

Exited about reading!

I mean really excited. So much, she had to pull almost all the books off her bookcase. I made her clean them up when she was finished.

Lastly, a reminder/request for prayer for our dear friend Samarah, who lost her husband, Russell, on January 1st. She is an amazing woman and inspires me every day to live a better life. Her strength and joy comes from her faith and spills out on everyone she touches. Please continue to pray for her and her children - continued healing, truth in all things, and happiness in the knowledge that her beloved is in peace.
Thanks and much love to you and yours!

Wild Child

2009-02-07T13:03:00.002-05:00

This is my new favorite children's book. I picked up 'Wild Child' and 'Winter Waits' by Lynn Plourde at the library this week. The artwork, by Greg Couch, is amazing! 'Wild Child' is the story of Mother Earth putting Autumn to sleep and preparing for Winter (who wakes up at the end of the story). 'Winter Waits' is the story of Father Time and Winter and their fun together. I have not read the Summer and Spring ones, but they are definitely on our library list for next week. I actually would love to buy the whole series. Sorry for no pictures of E, but I just had to share these beautiful books!

Dancing Queen

2009-02-05T12:10:00.008-05:00

Anyone who knows me, knows I love to dance. I am thrilled to pass on this love to Esther. We often have dance parties, as you've seen in previous posts. Here are a couple of videos of her dancing. The 'shimmy' is pretty awesome. She scrunches up her shoulders and shakes her whole body, very awkwardly - Hilarious! She is a bit shy about dancing in front of the camera. As soon as I get it out, she shuts down the dance-machine. With a little encouragement, I managed to get a bit of it on tape.

A break from the cold

2009-02-03T09:39:00.002-05:00

This past weekend was unseasonably warm and we took advantage of it. We had another weekend of nothingness and enjoyed every minute of it. We spent the weekend cleaning and organizing (pre-preparation for the move), playing, cooking, and enjoying the sunshine. Esther played dress-up a lot, especially sporting her boots and other rain gear and mix-matching outfit.
I've recently taken up hula-hooping. There is a whole dance-fitness movement right now. Ben bought me a hoop for my birthday last year and I have been playing around with it, but no real tricks. I took a class a few weeks ago and have another one this coming weekend. It is really fun! Here are a few pics of me hooping in the yard while Ben read and E played.
The rest of the pics are just cuties of Esther playing - her Elmo slippers, Cheese-face, and wearing baby in my/her sling. She was in that sling many a waking and sleeping moments for the first year or so. I miss it...

Tea Party

2009-01-29T18:34:00.005-05:00

Esther's imagination is so fun. It's like she just hit the creative step in her development and is letting it run wild. We love it! We've been having a lot of tea parties, with accompaniment of cookies and lots of 'friends'. Esther tells them all where to sit, how to eat, and to make sure the tea cools down before drinking.
The life-like doll is from Ben's Granny and PawPaw. It talks, moves it's mouth to eat, drinks a bottle, and other things we won't allow it to do (pee/poop). Esther loves her. We don't turn her on very often, but E plays with her just the same. She even wears Esther's cloth diapers from when she was a newborn. I loved pulling them out and reminiscing. Not that I miss diapers, but the tiny baby that E once was.
Some of the kids at E's school still nurse and she remembers that time of her life fondly, as do I. She still asks to nurse sometimes. I tell her that the milk is long gone, but we can still cuddle. I'm so glad that I was able to nourish her and nurture the bond with my sweet girl through nursing. Esther also 'nurses' her baby when she's 'hungry' or 'crying'. I think that it is so sweet!
And we cannot forget the beloved fairy wings. Of course, I still love fairies, so am totally loving (and maybe pushing) her love for fairies and all things whimsical.
And this a gratuitous cute outfit picture. Ben went on a shopping spree a couple of weeks ago. They were having an incredible sale (75% off). These fleece lined jeans and hoodie are so fabo! She loves wearing hoodies like Papa (which is pretty much all Ben wears during the winter). We also go these rockin' orange crocs. One of E's classmates has some orange shoes and she's been begging for some of her own. It isn't that easy to find orange shoes for little girls, but I got quite a deal on ebay. Esther loves them! Ben keeps saying her orange phase is going to end soon, but so far, it is going strong. (Oh, and please ignore the looks of a tornado having gone through our house. It's just a toddler and exhausted parents...)

Wishing you and yours a good weekend!

Family weekend

2009-01-18T18:09:00.005-05:00

Oh, it was so good to be home this weekend with Esther and Ben, with absolutely nothing to do. We enjoyed a visit with a sweet friend on Saturday, but otherwise did not leave the house or get out of our jammies.

Esther played with our old coffee maker (we got a new one for Christmas). Our little barista!
Reading on an extra mattress we have that has served for many places in E's imagination. One day it is the beach, another a pool, sometimes the park, and often just a bed.

I made Esther some new orange pants today. She asked for some for Christmas, but orange pants are hard to find, especially for little girls. I used some of the leftover fabric from her birthday outfit and some old orange batik I had laying around. It has been quite a while since I made pants, so I had to rip them out way too many times, but they finally turned out.

She hates posing.

A declaration of love for the color orange!

Ben has had a wonderful day of cooking (have I mentioned how much I LOVE his new interest in the culinary arts). He started off the day with a large batch of red beans and rice. Yum! and just finished off some pralines. Thanks, Mom, for the recipe books for Christmas. I am surely reaping the benefits.

She picked out the airplane, boat, car, and train apron over the flower or swirly one.

Winter days

2009-01-15T09:13:00.006-05:00

We are settling back in to being home and enjoying time together as a family. Here are a few random pictures from the new year.

Zerbert

Lounging on the couch

Playing with blocks (Christmas present from Aunt Courtney and Uncle Boo Boo) - she was making a playground

Her new Cinderella castle and carriage (passed on from Ben's friend at work). It has lots of tiny figurines. Esther loves singing, "Cinderelli" and playing like a princess.

Winter walk

Tricycle - she's almost got the hang of it

Sunshine peaking through

2009-01-11T11:08:00.004-05:00

The sunshine has peaked through the clouds the last few days. We lost another loved one, but this time were more prepared. My 'uncle' passed away after a long battle with cancer. We were lucky to have known him and spent so many happy times together. His wife and children were able to spend time with him in his last days and he passed without pain at home.
With all of this loss in the new year, I've gone through a range of emotions: utter sadness, disbelief, heartache, peace that passes understanding, comfort, anger, and gratefulness for my many blessings. I am blessed with my amazing family and friends that have prayed, listened and comforted me over these last couple of weeks. I know my sadness does not compare to those who were closer to those who passed, and my prayers continue for them, knowing that is the best thing we can do.
This year holds a lot of change as we will be moving, Ben starting school, Esther beginning a new school/daycare, and me looking for a new job. I am focusing on the many things I have to be thankful for. Some words that remind me of my blessings...

In the midst of winter, I discovered within me an invincible summer. ~Camus

Barn's burnt down - now I can see the moon. ~Masahide

Pray not for a lighter load, but for stronger shoulders. ~St. Augustine

What is to give light, must endure burning. ~Victor Frankl

The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials. ~Confucius

I cried because I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet. ~Persian saying

Star soul will soon be back to pictures and stories of how our lovely daughter is filling our lives with joy and laughter.

Russell, you will be missed!

2009-01-02T17:28:00.005-05:00

In an attempt to stop the heartache for our dear friends, I'm asking for prayer and kind thoughts. We lost a good friend, Russell Hays, January 1st in a car accident. He was an amazing father, kind husband, wonderful musician, and sincere friend. He leaves behind a wife, 7 year old son, and 4 year old daughter. Please raise prayers and send healing thoughts to his family and friends. He will surely be missed beyond the numbness of this moment, the reoccurring tears, and the smiles of fond memories.

I'm not sure how many locals read this, but Russell's band, the Buzzards, will be doing a memorial show for him in February (information below). We are hoping that it will be a fundraiser for his family. A memorial fund has also been set up at Regions Bank under the Hays family. If you are able and inclined, his family will need help and support.

There will be a memorial show by some of his band members (The Buzzards) on February 6th at the Fieldhouse in Dacula. Please tell all your friends and come show support for Russell's family and our dear friend who left this earth way to soon.

Buzzards bulletin: COME SEE SLIM AND MATT ALONG WITH OTHER FRIENDS DO AN ACOUSTIC SHOW AT THE FIELDHOUSE ON FEB 6 IN MEMORY OF OUR FALLEN BUZZARD, RUSSEL HAYS.