Insta-Wednesday: The One with the Stories

I took a walk this morning because I live in Florida and February in Florida is a little slice of heaven. Cool in the mornings. Hot in the afternoons. Each day begs to be enjoyed, to be taken in and relished.

So I relished.

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I’m preparing to launch my new website next week. That will mean the official end of this website, and no kidding, I get emotional just thinking about it. I started going over my final post in my head today and got all misty-eyed, which made me want to eat Nutella in an effort to self-soothe.

Nutella is more than liquid crack. It is medication for the soul. 

Amen.

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I’ve seen several ads on Facebook this last month for a website called My Social Book, which takes all your Facebook activity in the course of a year and compiles it into a book. I’ve ordered two of the books so far, and I have to say I LOVE them. It’s like having a yearbook for each year I spent on Facebook. All the funny status updates, comments, birthday wishes and photos shared are bound together, and it left me misty-eyed.

Pregnancy hormones are no joke, you guys.

The Social Book from my first year on Facebook really gave me a bit of nostalgia for my blogging days of yore. The days when I had a plethora of hysterical stories to share of life parenting surviving young children. I miss telling those funny stories. Thank goodness we’re having another baby because BLOG FODDER!

My voice won’t change in the new site, but I am looking forward to the inspiration that comes with a fresh slate. Perhaps I will write less frequently, and most of the funny stories I have on the kids will have to be kept to myself, but there will still be plenty of life to share, plenty of laughs to laugh, and a lot of inspiration to soak in.

I’m excited. And I’m sad. I’m conflicted.

I want Nutella.

Here are a few photos from my morning walk. I sincerely hope you appreciate the close up of the bumble bee, because I had to get right on top of him to get that shot, and I am terrified of bees. I imagine that any neighbor who saw me taking these pictures must have assumed me crazy because I jumped and leaped and yelped every time a bee left his perch and flew at me. I was like the bee paparazzi, and they seemed entirely put out by me.

Happy Wednesday, everyone! I’ll see you tomorrow and Friday, and next week we’ll roll out the red carpet in a new place.

Sad Panda

Happy Dance

I’M IN A GLASS CASE OF EMOTION!

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Insta-Wednesday: School’s In!

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Our last day of summer was idyllic. We went to the beach where we played, collected shells and swam in the ocean with the dolphins who were feeding not fifteen yards from where we stood. The water was clear and cool and sweet and it was just an awesome day.

Then reality set in. If you’ll notice in the “thumbs up” picture, Tia looks less than thrilled. She did not have a good first day, but I suppose that is to be expected. She’s not a huge fan of school in general. She tolerates it at best. It will take her a few weeks to settle into a groove. Hopefully.

Now I’m off to do a little work, and by work I mean get dressed and go to IKEA.

Happy Wednesday everyone! 

Insta-Wednesday: Summer’s End

This is our final week of summer break and I am a little sad. This summer went by way too fast. I knew it would and I’ve sort of mourned it all summer long. We are enjoying our final week of summer break. We’ve enjoyed lazy mornings, long swim sessions with friends, family movie nights and a visit to Busch Gardens to see the fireworks. We’re going to go to our first water park tomorrow and Friday will be spent at the beach.

I hate the idea of summer ending, and I can’t even think about the fact that all three kids will be starting school net week. Landon in kindergarten? It makes my stomach turn. He still likes to snuggle and give me kisses and hold my hand and nuzzle his nose into my neck. He can’t go to kindergarten because I fear it will steal the last vestiges of babyhood from him and I can’t even bear the thought.

Cry me a river, blah, blah, blah…

In honor of this week’s Insta-Wednesday, I am sharing my obsession with a new photo app called Rhonna Designs. And by obsession I mean I am mildly addicted. And by mildly addicted I mean I WAT TO ADD PITHY QUOTES TO EVERY PICTURE I TAKE!

I’m giving myself a week to binge on this new app, then I will SETTLE DOWN MARTHA and give it a rest.

Maybe.

Don’t hold me to that.

Peace out now.

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One of my favorite people to text is Jenni because our back and forth’s get weird and random almost immediately. Our text’s rarely make any sense and that is what makes them all shades of awesome.

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A poor night's sleep made it difficult for me to get out of bed. I had to pep talk my way to the kitchen and a strong cup of fespresso.

A poor night’s sleep made it difficult for me to get out of bed. I had to pep talk my way to the kitchen and a strong cup of fespresso.

 

They're cute. That is all.

They’re cute. That is all.

 

We enjoyed Busch Gardens Summer Nights excitement last night.

We enjoyed Busch Gardens Summer Nights excitement last night.

 

I think we effectively wore the littles out.

I think we effectively wore the littles out.

Love this quote.

"If he counted them up as he ought to, he would see that every lot has enough happiness provided for it."

“If he counted them up as he ought to, he would see that every lot has enough happiness provided for it.”

 

Insta-Wednesday: Arkansas Edition

I miss my bed. I love traveling and I love being with family, but there comes a time when you’re ready to be in your own home with your own routine and your own bed. I think we are reaching that point. It will be sad to leave – it always is. But home is a good, good thing.

But enough about that. It’s time for some Insta-Wednesday, a series of posts to fuel my ever growing addiction to iPhone photography and photo apps. Say it with me: GOOOOOOOOOOOO iPHONE PHOTOGRAPHY! YEAH!

I didn’t hear you…

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Saying goodbye to our beloved St. Louis.

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We got sweet time with friends when we picked up our boys from K-Kountry. 17 years ago this month, I met Melissa and Rachel. I’m so thankful for our continued relationships!

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Air soft wars with friends. Classic.

Air soft wars with friends. Classic.

 

We have enjoyed ample amounts of snuggle time with our new nephew. That is, when we can wrestle him away from Papa.

We have enjoyed ample amounts of snuggle time with our new nephew. That is, when we can wrestle him away from Papa.

 

Swim time with cousins

Swim time with cousins

These two are two peas in a pod. Love them.

These two are two peas in a pod. Love them.

 

Tia is building up quite a cache of handstand pictures. I think I'm going to make her a mural for her wall.

Tia is building up quite a cache of handstand pictures. I think I’m going to make her a mural for her wall.

Insta-Wednesday

Barn Swinging at Kanakuk

Barn Swinging at Kanakuk

The K-Kountry bridge

The K-Kountry bridge

 

Happiest place on earth? I believe it!

Happiest place on earth? I believe it!

Nostalgic this week as we enjoy the city and people we love.

Nostalgic this week as we enjoy the city and people we love.

 

A wonderful, uncharacteristically cool, evening with friends.

A wonderful, uncharacteristically cool, evening with friends.

 

A beautiful afternoon spent at the St. Louis Zoo.

A beautiful afternoon spent at the St. Louis Zoo.

The enjoyment of watching siblings love one another well.

The enjoyment of watching siblings love one another well.

 

Swinging in hammocks with friends. Doesn't get much sweeter.

Swinging in hammocks with friends. Doesn’t get much sweeter.

 

A morning with three of my best friends and all 11 of our kids. It wasn't relaxing, but it was refreshing. This photo was taken by a 7 year old, can you tell?

A morning with three of my best friends and all 11 of our kids. It wasn’t relaxing, but it was refreshing. This photo was taken by a 7 year old, can you tell?

 

Puppies? Good. Babies? Great. Puppies and babies looking outside together? If that doesn't make your heart skip you might be a robot...

Puppies? Good. Babies? Great. Puppies and babies looking outside together? If that doesn’t make your heart skip you might be a robot…

Insta-Wednesday

In an effort to take some of the pressure off myself feeling like I have to post something every day, I’m going to start sharing some of my favorite iPhone photos every Wednesday. So, without further adieu, I give you…

Insta-Wednesday

 

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The best part of waking up is green tea in my cup.

The best part of waking up is green tea in my cup.

 

My book when printed out. Oy.

My book when printed out. Oy.

 

Rainy day fun.

Rainy day fun.

Little girl hair = fun

Little girl hair = fun

 

Summer school work under the umbrella.

Summer school work under the umbrella.

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My little gymnast

My little gymnast

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I am continuing to revel in inspiration this week, as well as being blessed by friends who love me so much, they even work hard behind the scenes to surprise me. Jenni came to town for our trip – my dear friend who I’ve missed so much sacrificed time with her family, rented a car and drove here to meet us and did it as a surprise.

I am more than inspired – I am honored.

 

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This quiche from the quaint little downtown area was lick the plate good.

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Me. Honored and inspired and wearing my sassy hat.

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It’s a horse with a fascinator!

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Four women teeming with creativity, bravery and wicked humor.

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Hope brimming

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Ambition, Inspiration and the Glorious iPhone 5

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I talked with my friend, Wendy yesterday. Everyone should have a Wendy that they can call…especially if it’s this particular Wendy.

I love conversations with Wendy because every time I hang up the phone I think, “Huh. I never thought of it like that.” Yesterday was no different. Somehow, some way (mostly because Wendy and I share the same brain) we ended up on the topic of ambition and motherhood.

“Women like you and I need inspiration,” Wendy said. “Yes, we are ambitious, but for us to feel successful we need more than ambition, we need to be inspired.”

That may not sound super profound to you, but it was highly enlightening to me. Because it’s absolutely true.

I was created with a brain that longs to be inspired. It’s why I love the arts so very, very much. I need music and nature and poetry and prose and photography and sculptures and landscape and history and travel and an overactive imagination. I need to see these things to feel creative.

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I need to create to feel imaginative.

 

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I need to be inspired to be a better mother.

 

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But I had never thought of ambition and inspiration in the way that Wendy described them. If I had to rate my ambition level, I’d put myself in the moderate range. I am ambitious only to the point that I feel capable of success. This last year has been a big eye opener for me in regards to my ability to chase my dreams.

I’ve realized my limits this year and I’ve embraced them, freeing myself up to be inspired – not to be ambitious.

And in so doing, I’ve accomplished more in the last year than ever before.

 

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Sometimes I look at the successful women around me and I find myself wildly frustrated at my own lack of ability to make things happen. There are some women who are so wonderfully geared and suited for ambitious careers and lofty goals, and they can still manage their homes without becoming completely unglued.

I am not one of those women. I get very easily overwhelmed and when I’m overwhelmed, the world around me shuts down. It gets foggy and dark and I find myself on the couch eating Nutella off a spoon while watching reruns of What Not to Wear.

 

It’s not pretty.

 

But when I feel inspired, I am able to do so much more and I feel a sense of confidence in those goals and dreams looming before me. I need inspiration to function, not ambition. That is how I’ve been wired and I’m learning to be okay with that.

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So what does that have to do with the iPhone 5? 

I’m so glad you asked!

I bought one last week. It was an early birthday present to myself and can I just tell you? I’m having wicked fun with this little device. The photography potential of the iPhone is one of the big reasons I wanted one. I love photography. I’m not very good at it, but I love it.

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What I especially love about the iPhone is the ability it gives us to looks at the world a little differently. Instead of dashing past a gorgeous spring bloom, we can get up close and inhale the scent. We can snap a picture and manipulate and play with it until that beautiful flower becomes a work of art.

 

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We can create and creating gives way to inspiration

 

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which bolsters confidence

 

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and before you know it the world is an artist’s canvas just waiting to be discovered.

 

See? I told you everyone needed Wendy they could call.

So tell me – what inspires you?

Easter Present and Past

Because you can always use one more dose of cute. And because it’s my blog and I’m feeling sentimental and my babies are growing up and oh dear…

I’m crying again.

I do that a lot these days. It’s like my life has turned into one giant Hallmark commercial. You died those Easter eggs on your own? sob! You can read this whole book by yourself? sob! You want a little sister? sob! You don’t need my help getting dressed?

Well…that’s kind of nice, I have to admit.

Oy vey. I’m a wreck. Ignore me while you look at these photos.

Easter 2009

Easter 2010 - Landon...I just can't stand it.

Easter 2011 - Again with all the Landon....

 

Easter 2012

Easter 2013

I'm sorry, but when did this kid grow up?!?!

And then there's this one. Handsome little devil...

 

How was your Easter, friends? Do you have the same problem I do – the problem of children who seem to be growing way too fast?

It’s a problem without a solution, unfortunately.

*sigh*

Spring Break Photo(s) of the Day: Epcot


The flower festival started this week and it is really spectacular here!

Because we apparently cannot take a photo without bunny ears.