tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35484412713219745402012-02-16T03:22:35.732-08:00five girls the army and mediscovering grace and joy in the trenchesmary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.comBlogger2851100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-61321054130383628052012-02-12T18:22:00.000-08:002012-02-12T18:22:51.642-08:00Children of WarThere are countless studies of the effects of war on children.
Well, I've got five and while they are not perfect and while they miss their Daddy in many ways and while I see many ways that they need their Daddy that they are not even aware of ... they are still thriving.
In the last ten years that we've been an active part of war, we've added three children to our family; we've moved four mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-12919879873553636602012-02-08T13:47:00.000-08:002012-02-08T14:44:23.085-08:00We Battle Too
It is almost 4pm. I have about six minutes before nap-time is over. I should be elated that another day is quickly evading me. That's something to get excited about, right? That means just one more day closer to Richard coming home, right? Right. But you know the funny thing about deployment is that while I am so ready for it to be over with, I am not willing to just let life go in mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-26917149197355954072012-02-05T18:33:00.000-08:002012-02-05T18:33:14.652-08:00One Month Ago
One month ago the girls and I went to bed after a quiet evening of returning home from dropping their Daddy off at the airport so that he could return to Afghanistan. One month ago I climbed in bed thankful that R&R was behind us; thankful because now we could focus on finishing the school year, selling our house, moving to our new duty station and prepare to welcome Richard home for more mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-5726177012059380172012-01-28T18:34:00.000-08:002012-01-28T18:34:02.627-08:00Taking a Minute for a Repost
No. I have no time to be posting a blog. But I've battled all day with so much frustration. The day wasn't horrible at all ... circumstance wise ... but nothing went my way (it's okay if you laugh) and it just frustrated me that I tried and I failed. On days like today I battle between the "I have so much to be thankful for" and the "BUUUUUUTTTTTTT this is SO HARD." So after putting the mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-81509319071885757142012-01-27T20:29:00.000-08:002012-01-27T20:29:32.904-08:00Encouragement
Army Wife Ashley Eberle with her husband SGT Ben Eberle
The above image was posted on fb earlier this evening. It is of a soldier from my husband's unit. I've been following this story from the start and you can to here. I can't tell you how many times this sweet, young and inspiring couple encourages me. The girls and I pray for them and I hope that you will take a moment to pray for them mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-64794804360971206372012-01-25T16:36:00.000-08:002012-01-25T17:08:37.000-08:00Why I Love Camera Phones
If I didn't have a camera on my phone, I would forget the mannerisms of my Parker at age ten during a simple lunch date out.
And if Richard didn't have a camera phone, I'd never know what the first snow fall was like for him in Afghanistan this time around.
Maybe not the most important things in life, but maybe they are. After all, it is life and God created it. I'm glad I didn't miss mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-23001132034300756592012-01-19T18:21:00.000-08:002012-01-19T18:56:13.034-08:00Two Weeks
It's been two weeks since Richard returned to Afghanistan. Just two weeks and it seems not so much like an eternity, but just like those 15 days that he was home was a dream or something. In the past two weeks, we've shown our house, Alabama won the National Championship!!, we received a contract on our house, we started back school and activities and Richard left his FOB (forward operating mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-3883583874545635932012-01-16T18:48:00.000-08:002012-01-16T18:48:06.583-08:00Another Birthday & What You May Not Know
Today was our Parker's tenth birthday! What a sweet day. But I must admit, having two out of five in the double digits is ... well, different. All day long I just kept thinking about that. My world of a house full of little people is starting to change. There are four years between my older two, but not even two between my second and third ... just three between the third and fourth and mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-418194514996716582012-01-13T11:44:00.000-08:002012-01-13T11:46:47.078-08:00Making TimeIt's Friday. Friday's are easier days at The Davenport School. At least for me ... more tests, less instruction:).
Kate goes to school on Fridays and so between the others testing and her gone, I have a little opportunity to hang out with my Olivia. I don't always seize this opportunity, though. My list, as I'm sure is yours, is a never ending one of phone calls, errands and chores. But todaymary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-59059698056274464802012-01-12T12:33:00.000-08:002012-01-13T04:33:49.721-08:00Surprise Number TwoI love the train tracks the run through Alberta City ...
Richard's homecoming wasn't the only surprise of the season. On a whim we decided to head down to Alabama and surprise my parents. To quote my Daddy, "It was the best Christmas present ever."
We woke up the girls on the 23rd and told them that after breakfast we were going to Gran's house. Still reeling from the excitement of having mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-5765793070219239892012-01-10T18:13:00.000-08:002012-01-10T18:13:06.010-08:00What They See
Hanson Ellis gives me her phone at night. I remembered last night that she'd been taking photos a lot lately and so I decided to see what she sees.A smile instantly found it's way to my face when I came across several images like the above. Richard and I ... driving down the road. This is so who we are. Our kids are watching ... even when we forget that they are.
I am glad this is what they mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-9109521122636684432012-01-07T15:04:00.000-08:002012-01-07T15:04:46.476-08:00January
It is January. The past two days we've had temps in the mid 60's. Absolute Heaven!!
Okay, at least it is for me, for this particular year. I think one thing I dreaded most about Richard being gone was being without him in January. Poor January! It always gets such a bad rap, doesn't it?! I usually don't mind, but being home all day in dreary weather is bad enough with the expectation of mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-71256592372910281352012-01-05T18:13:00.000-08:002012-01-05T18:19:43.077-08:00Hard But Beautiful
Life is beautiful ... even when it's hard.
I love these shoes of Patterson's. They are happy shoes. They are statement shoes. These shoes are the kind that make an outfit. Patterson can put on any old pair of jeans and just a plain with t-shirt and yet when she slips on these shoes, the outfit goes from everyday ordinary to cute ... in one simple step. I think we all need at least one mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-31327280796396619002012-01-04T04:26:00.000-08:002012-01-04T06:40:13.708-08:00Deep Breath
Richard is off taking the van in for a much needed repair. I am so thankful he is here to do this! Amazing how difficult something so simple can be when I'm without him.
Today is our last day of his R&R. I never like these days. They are always hard and never perfect and just draining. Maybe that's good. Maybe that is what helps us drop them off and put them on that plane one more time mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-23316392426646464232012-01-01T15:25:00.000-08:002012-01-01T16:19:16.784-08:00Bubble Gum
I am always so over cold weather once January rolls around.Being that today was the first day of January, I was oh so delighted to have such a mild sunny day.
My brother and his family came for a visit over the weekend. Before they left today we had the ritual zip line time. While I was standing around waiting for everyone to take their turn, I noticed Patterson blowing bubbles with her gum. mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-10268786330216313072011-12-29T15:45:00.000-08:002011-12-29T16:40:24.363-08:00Christmas at Camp Davenport Through a Lensmary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-67074247987876129582011-12-29T15:16:00.000-08:002011-12-29T15:16:09.176-08:00Just Because
I have so many posts to do, but as I scroll through the photos that will go along with them, I can't help but want to post this impromptu shot.
Us ... all seven of us.
My life is on this couch.
Oh how my cup over-floweth:).
mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-43127314097689206172011-12-29T06:33:00.000-08:002011-12-29T06:43:21.355-08:00Nothing for Granted
So my soldier's home for R&R. We have had the blessing of his presence for 9 days now, which is amazing and wonderful and yet heart-wrenching all at the same time. As much as we'd like to say we're not thinking about it, the big ol' elephant of 5 January is oh so present in every room and in every place we go. But that's okay. It's just a part of it and while it does make the tears well up mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-78765317293406387262011-12-19T15:45:00.000-08:002011-12-19T16:30:34.097-08:00Lucky
Okay, I really don't like that word and I certainly don't believe in luck. But it seems fitting. I could have said blessed, but to me that word seems almost more unreal than lucky ... it's just so overused in my book.
Yes, I am blessed. But if I say that would those reading this really get that I mean that? I don't know. I just feel like lucky jumps out and grabs attention more than mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-17512931862823920302011-12-11T05:33:00.000-08:002011-12-11T05:38:02.882-08:00Just Days Left and Daddy Dolls
This is me.
This is me Thanksgiving morning super thrilled that is the last holiday I'll spend without Richard this year.(see how happy I am?!)And this is why I do NOT participate in the "What I Wore Wednesday" posts in blogland.
Y'all know this photo is hilarious!!!!!!!!! So awful, so not who I am, but still so filled with joy that I wanted to post it. (I mean seriously, could my smile be mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-40155814190491967882011-11-27T18:24:00.000-08:002011-11-27T18:25:19.006-08:00A Good Weekend
It is Sunday night. Thanksgiving weekend is coming to a close. The girls and I had a great weekend at Richard's father's house in South Carolina, which we fondly refer to as Camp Davenport. I'm a city girl. I am. There's no doubt about it. I need Starbucks, Dean and Deluca, JCrew, Pottery Barn, Anthropologie, and lots of people and activity around me. But there is nothing quite like a mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-6235156043623989092011-11-23T15:44:00.000-08:002011-11-27T03:26:12.796-08:00Life
I love the image above. Almost perfect ...filled with anticipation ...just a moment ...life.
It is early morning in Afghanistan, but it's not just any morning. This morning is Thanksgiving morning for thousands of American troops, my husband included. Can you read that without tears welling in your eyes? I can barely type it without tears not only welling in my eyes, but streaming down my mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-67253371379793624552011-11-09T20:37:00.000-08:002011-11-09T20:37:11.718-08:00Five"You know why I like smiles? Because they are beautiful." Kate, age 4
Katharine Semmes Davenport will celebrate her fifth birthday tomorrow. Our fourth daughter, born on Veteran's Day (observed) 2006 ... the very first Veteran's Day Richard observed as a Veteran.
Kate. Oh my Kate. Whenever I even begin to feel down, she appears out of nowhere and gives me a hug. Whenever Richard hugs me, mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-7301413639890509922011-11-02T13:07:00.000-07:002011-11-02T13:07:03.253-07:00Proverbs 3:27"Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act."
Today I got Parker and Patterson started on their math and english early. After we dropped off Kate and Olivia at school we headed out to gather up goodies to make stockings for the single soldiers in our Brigade. If you're interested, here is the flyer with all of the information. Basically, the goal is to mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-15975241173393734522011-10-30T15:48:00.000-07:002011-10-30T16:06:31.132-07:00Running
I started running just after I started blogging. I'm not sure I do either very well, but I can say that I am starting to find my place in them both. I had my first big race last November. My dream race, the Army Ten Miler. It was amazing and I enjoyed every single step of it. Before I die I will do the NYC Marathon, but I've not set a date for that just yet (as I just might die when I mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-43285000461663743382011-10-28T19:32:00.000-07:002011-10-28T19:38:12.426-07:00Last Friday In October
It is pouring down rain right now. Makes me think of the last visit Richard was here when we were throwing the football and it just started to pour. We just kept throwing. Neither of us said anything or missed a beat. We just kept throwing the ball. I guess we both just wanted to hang on to that moment for as long as we could. I guess we both knew it would be a while until we would be mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-22766923803532852432011-10-19T19:26:00.000-07:002011-10-19T19:26:07.970-07:00Half a Year
Today marked the six month point since Richard left to train and then deploy. We are not quite at our half way point for the deployment, but being that today marks a half of a year that we've been separated is something to reflect upon. If there is one word I could use to describe the past six months, it would be the word, "busy."
Wednesdays are the only day of the week that both Kate and mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-876163633283564932011-10-15T18:23:00.000-07:002011-10-15T19:03:59.417-07:00Ode to Mother
We bought a refurbished macbook for the girls to use the night before we said our last goodbye to Richard. Hanson Ellis and Parker both have online classes this year and so it's just nice to have an extra computer as well as to not have everyone in our room all day long. The girls have had so much fun sending me emails from upstairs and making videos. One morning last week I woke up to amary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-48833343342662660202011-10-14T18:46:00.000-07:002011-10-14T18:46:57.566-07:00Classic
There's this great little roadside produce stand at the corner of a major intersection by a gas station. When I was looking for houses before moving here, I passed it and saw all of the pumpkins scattered about and knew I had to find a house near there, because it was the cutest pumpkin patch I'd ever seen. We've gone there the past two years that we've lived here. This year, however, I mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-76249184992977077182011-10-13T19:17:00.000-07:002011-10-13T19:17:57.295-07:00Thursday Nights
On Thursdays, Parker has dance for two hours, then Hanson Ellis has dance for an hour. The dance studio just so happens to be right across the street from the YMCA, so I drop her off and take the others with me. Hanson Ellis packs a dinner (soup, usually),and I do my thing. Then I get the girls and let them climb the climbing wall for thirty minutes before we have to pick up Parker and drop mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-19958713812005245882011-10-12T19:22:00.000-07:002011-10-12T19:40:47.523-07:00The Girls
We are almost at the one month point for boots on the ground. Even Richard has commented that he will be so glad for that milestone to pass. I've not posted a lot here because I've had the gift of very little communication with Richard. Yes, that's right, I said gift. Something beautiful happens when communications via email, phone or FaceTime are gone. When they are gone, letters are mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-72933260200640701882011-10-03T15:28:00.000-07:002011-10-03T15:28:22.639-07:00Stars
Week one down.
We are keeping in step over here at 57 and have had lots of giggles and joy.Richard is at his location and very motivated about his assignment. He met his counterpart and just thinks it's going to be a great next few months.
He is also enjoying seeing the stars again in the Middle East.He says they are spectacular.
I love my PSYOPER. Wish I was looking up at the stars with him .mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-80229270292146750462011-09-30T20:55:00.000-07:002011-09-30T20:55:07.649-07:00Psalm 63.7
So it is the end of day 5 for me, the beginning of day 6 for him.
The girls and I are plugging away at life and once we got through the first 24 hours, I don't think we've had time to even think of missing a beat. I've never been so busy before in my life! But busy isn't that bad in these types of situations and being busy with a purpose is probably even just a little better. We've had mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-23323553625441019352011-09-27T21:09:00.000-07:002011-09-27T21:09:53.642-07:00Love Letters
I have to tell you that being an Army Wife isn't all gloom and doom. Yes, our husbands are gone from time to time and sometimes in very dangerous places, but b/c of so much separation, little lost habits tend to reappear and get new life. One such thing ... love letters.
As I waited (very patiently, I might add) all night for a text from Richard, I decided after the millionth check of my mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-20791347127138107152011-09-26T12:08:00.000-07:002011-09-26T12:08:05.108-07:00Downhill
As I loaded the dishwasher this afternoon I watched through the window behind my sink a hummingbird feeding on a hanging basket that my neighbor has on his front porch. I felt my phone vibrate. I pulled it out of my pocket knowing exactly who was calling. It was the call I was waiting for and the call that I dreaded. As I heard, "Well, we're loading the plane, so this is it ... just wanted mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-51401080562025305162011-09-25T17:37:00.000-07:002011-09-25T17:37:36.980-07:00The Journey Begins
And so after more than five months of training, Richard finally makes his way to Afghanistan.
One night while we were talking on Facetime, he showed me his room. He'd been packing all day and had gear and luggage everywhere. It was a very sad, lonely sight to me. I have a feeling there's a story in this deployment, so I told him to take a photo of his room. The above is of his desk. I mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-53506358878740687782011-09-24T19:07:00.000-07:002011-10-12T19:39:50.920-07:00Some Things
totally makes me smile ...Richard, I'm tellin' ya ... she's gonna be an agent:)
mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-26320436717912674272011-09-23T18:38:00.000-07:002011-09-23T20:02:47.988-07:00The Dentist
Today we had a dentist appointment for the younger four. Someone asked last night at Chick-fil-a if we were having a birthday party. Well I guess today you could say we took the party to the dentist! It was a special trip, though, as it was Olivia's first. We love our dentist here. It is almost like a field trip for the girls! They get little treat bags with the usual new toothbrush, mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-72121158515323742622011-09-16T19:09:00.000-07:002011-09-16T19:43:46.677-07:00Road Trip Recap
Richard's last visit home was completely unexpected. He found some extra time and decided to take advantage of it. And in going with his "you only live once" frame of mind, I decided it was a super idea to pick him up late Thursday night from the airport, drive an hour home, try to put hyped up, but overly exhausted girls to bed only to wake up early and get all of us ready to leave the mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-85798270542364702122011-09-09T17:35:00.000-07:002011-09-12T18:02:58.652-07:00The Creekjuly 2011
We have a creek in our backyard. Well, sort of in our backyard. You have to go through our backyard to get to it ... does that count? :)
The girls LOVE going here. We decided to take their cousins this past weekend on our little mini hike. It was just before the rain came, so it was pretty much dried up, but everyone had a great time all the same. (you'll even notice Ellie the cat mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-39843201927416412602011-09-05T10:56:00.000-07:002011-09-09T17:37:52.825-07:00Bounce Back Weekend(this is the photo before everyone thought I was taking the photo. love the truthfulness of this!!)
Several years ago a chain of hotels used to advertise "Bounce Back Weekends." Do any of you remember these? I don't remember all of the details but the basic idea was to take a mini break just for the weekend by staying at a local or semi local hotel. I believe it was around $99 for a two nightmary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-71790180861820239752011-09-02T17:11:00.000-07:002011-09-02T17:11:52.739-07:00Stopping In
Daddy's home and that makes the girls jump for joy!
Love these moments:).
mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-44661259993377796522011-08-31T16:17:00.000-07:002011-08-31T17:30:29.889-07:00A New Season Just Around the Corner
The girls have been dying for there to be enough leaves to rake up and jump in. Almost everyday since the first leaf fell they have checked around the house to see if there were "enough." Today after school, Patterson stood up and announced it was time:). She and Kate grabbed their shoes and headed out as fast as they could. The pile was pathetic, but they didn't seem to notice.
I love mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-28275764431010550462011-08-29T17:07:00.000-07:002011-08-30T14:35:28.776-07:00How Was Your Day?
I have a new friend ... a new Army Wife whose husband is stationed with mine. She sends me little texts many mornings and asks me how my mornings are going. I wonder if she knows what a little "happy" that is for me.So tonight I wonder if anyone asked any of you how your day was. Ours here at 57 wasn't really filled with anything noteworthy, but it was our day and it was special. Funny how wemary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-77001388359659580922011-08-27T15:29:00.000-07:002011-08-27T15:44:31.167-07:00In the Front Door(Momma's house summer 09)
Walking in the door today from a morning of errands, I instantly thought, "I am so glad to be home." Basic, simple, everyday statement, I know. But for me, it was huge. There were many years that I never enjoyed walking in my door. Well, that's not totally true. I did enjoy being at home, but I never liked my home. I'm not in love with where we live right now ... I mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-49538280179643081172011-08-27T04:42:00.000-07:002011-08-27T04:42:05.883-07:00Confession(the above image has nothing to do with this post ... it is just there for the cute factor)
We have a t.v. in our house and we have Direct TV. But that's not the confession. My confession is that I'm not ashamed of it. We homeschool and my husband's frequently gone and it is oh so nice to have a show dvr'd for the little ones when I need a few minutes to unload the dishwasher without any help mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-47443967656230368832011-08-25T17:02:00.000-07:002011-08-25T17:02:23.587-07:00Ups and Downs
Deployments are filled with so many ups and downs for me.Maybe I've just done this one too many times. Maybe it's that we have five very active and busy females under my command this time. Maybe I'm just being lazy and selfish ... just sayin' ... maybe it's just that Richard has been gone for over four months and he's still in the USA. I don't know. If I were honest, I'd say it was a little mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-15394697791045505102011-08-21T15:34:00.000-07:002011-08-21T15:42:15.425-07:00Three
I took the image above today while at a stoplight on our way to church.
Our youngest, Olivia, will be three tomorrow.
Olivia is such a funny little kid and we love her so!!
Richard was in Egypt when she turned one. He was home last year.He is in Texas this year. He'll be in Afghanistan next year.
You might say that at this age it doesn't matter that much if he misses three out of the mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-82608658693275589482011-08-20T20:14:00.000-07:002011-08-20T20:14:44.828-07:00Last Saturday
My head hurt so much today. I just had the worst headache, nonstop headache, for hours this afternoon. I tried to take a 30 minute nap, but of course that didn't really work well with Olivia's plan to get out of her bed during nap nap-time and put eyeshadow all on her forehead and then panic because it got all in her bed. So I thought maybe a good home cooked meal of comfort foods, such as mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-87060587597797708582011-08-19T20:16:00.000-07:002011-08-19T20:16:33.838-07:00Beach Trip
For the first time ever, we had a summer beach trip. The trip, in my mind, was anything but relaxing. Where we stayed was just short of earning a full star (and yes, that would be ONE star), but looking at the photos, I realize there were memories made ... and even the nightmarish ones make me chuckle now. I wish I could have overlooked the smell in our room and the ants in our room and the mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-18965638462483390472011-08-17T15:40:00.000-07:002011-08-18T20:12:59.108-07:00Pre-Game, George Washington and Braces
So we've started school ... sort of. :) We are trying something new this year and I'm trying my best to give it a shot, but I think I just exchanged one headache for another. I'll post more when we get settled and when the real school season begins for us. This time of year is always a bit stressful for me, but I do love it! I enjoy the sun starting to shine differently in the kitchen in mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-41828890994386536212011-08-14T18:31:00.000-07:002011-08-14T18:31:06.617-07:00Hebrews 12:1-2
"Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith."
mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-43878132610784828912011-07-28T07:12:00.000-07:002011-07-28T07:12:18.156-07:00Wise Words
I know that many of you who read this blog are young mothers. (and wow! how odd to write those words realizing I am not longer in that category ... sigh ...) and may not be as familiar with Ginger Plowman as us seasoned mothers:). So when I opened my cabinet door this morning to refer to the above chart, I thought I might pass it's information along. It is a great tool that I honestly don't mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-63098697632527929232011-07-27T18:55:00.000-07:002011-07-27T18:55:46.765-07:00The Real Reason
Sometimes it all just sort of hits ya. I know I posted a couple days back about how I just sort of felt numb to Richard coming home. Well, that is, for me, a defense mechanism. Now that we are so close, my heart is ready to take in the thought of him back for a while. I don't wake up and say, "Okay, today is the day I'm going to start getting motivated about his return." No, it just sort mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-49886353717293737532011-07-27T11:52:00.000-07:002011-07-27T14:15:19.132-07:00The Before
Today Hanson Ellis had her expander put in. It is the first step in her orthodontic journey. She'll be getting braces on in possibly three weeks. She has dreaded this moment. Maybe I was weird, but I was thrilled to get my braces! Okay, don't comment on that:). Hanson Ellis has not been looking forward to this day and so I have not been looking forward to this day. I guess my emotions aremary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-73322029266668331662011-07-24T19:43:00.000-07:002011-07-24T19:43:17.430-07:00Moments
As I sit here waiting to make sure little ones settle down in their beds, I'm enjoying having a moment to think about the upcoming week. In five days I will go to bed prepared to wake up to a day ... to a period of time that I once thought was so far away. As I sit here, I think about all the many, many events we've had here at 57 leading up to this. I think about how a short period of time mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-23828886679609400632011-07-23T19:25:00.000-07:002011-07-24T06:44:43.817-07:00Fulfilled, Tired, Excited and Numb
It's been just one month short of a year since Momma and Peggy (her oldest sister ... my aunt) drove over to our house. Momma's been busy and sick and then, we can't forget, half her house was destroyed when the tornado ripped through Tuscaloosa (another post I've got in the line up). But this weekend they finally made the trip for a much over due girl's weekend at 57. They arrived Friday mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-65606365595793304282011-07-22T05:09:00.000-07:002011-07-22T05:10:34.876-07:00Ephesians 6:10I love this image! It was taken at Camp Davenport and is so symbolic of many things:). One thing it is symbolic of is how we appear to be strong in an of ourselves, but we are strong because we know God is providing us the strength and support we need and is ready to catch us if (and when) we fall.
As I woke up this morning I started thinking about something I saw where the parent was mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-44010392765756270312011-07-21T19:55:00.000-07:002011-07-21T19:55:08.826-07:00Uh-Oh
(Hanson Ellis engrossed in decorating a box that would be mailed out to a soldier during one of her Daddy's deployments.)
I might need to clear up something from last night.
So in regards to my "AA" reference ...
I think it was good for them to be around other military kids again, but unlike AA meetings, they weren't given any real solutions and that was my point. I hope I did not come mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-91430203347525297192011-07-20T16:51:00.000-07:002011-07-20T19:50:42.462-07:00Remembering Who You Are"For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their prayer ..."1 Peter 3:12a
"But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved." Hebrews 10:39
Operation Purple Camp
My older three daughters were chosen to attend an Operation Purple Camp this year. This is a camp that is for children whose parents are deployed or mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-27838544326763519892011-07-15T17:28:00.000-07:002011-07-18T05:10:37.386-07:00It's a Girl's World
Kate and Olivia participated in an Angelina Ballerina Camp this week. I almost changed my mind about it. None of the other girls did anything like this at such an early age. It's funny, the more kids I have the less money we have for the extras like this, yet the more need for extras like this there seems to be. The only reason I signed them up initially was because their Daddy was gone andmary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-42582201098104470422011-07-15T13:05:00.000-07:002011-07-15T18:42:52.823-07:00Just Like That, I Woke Up And It's Tuesday
Hope you all had a great Fourth of July weekend! Richard came into town on Saturday and we had to drive the older three to AL for camp on Sunday, so we sort of hung back with the younger two Monday and took it easy. We took the two still at home to our pool, where there was free food, several vendors, way too many people and a DJ blaring songs of which 99% were completely inappropriate. For mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-73002414529535135952011-07-15T06:36:00.000-07:002011-07-18T05:15:25.775-07:00WHEW!Summer's been pretty much non-stop. I've got a couple of posts on my "to-do" list, but for now, in honor of the last day of Kate and Olivia's Angelina Ballerina dance camp, here's a little video of Olivia at her best. ( BTW, I have no idea who Kelly is, but apparently it is her birthday.)Enjoy!
Olivia at her Best
mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-43629406614039764502011-07-01T09:35:00.000-07:002011-07-01T09:35:04.262-07:00Happy Fourth! Let's Have Cake!!
In an amazing course of events ... actually as a result of a very brief moment with an amazingly generous stranger ... my soldier's coming home for the 4th!
Hanson Ellis has been wanting me to teach her how to make a pound cake. I thought there was no better occasion than this! I used to make this cake all the time when Richard and I were first married. My Grandma used to make it almost mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-49629148335657293752011-06-25T17:15:00.000-07:002011-06-25T17:15:48.314-07:00Saturdays
Saturdays are best spent just hanging out at home. And that is just what we did today. I enjoyed an early morning run and the girls enjoyed playing with some neighbors they haven't seen in a while. We made chalk (and will return to purchasing ready made in the future!), played on the slip n slide and listened to the Beach Boys, Aretha Franklin and this Elvis song ... a current favorite of mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-70375934826273762342011-06-10T16:56:00.000-07:002011-06-10T18:38:58.213-07:00New Experiences & The Return of Mousie and Bunny
My three older girls are going to camp this summer. Hanson Ellis is the only one who has actually ever been, and she's only been once, so this is very exciting for them. To make it more exciting, they were chosen to go. The military has special camps for children of deployed parents. The YMCA camp that Hanson Ellis attended several years ago is going to be the site of one and it just so mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-11735749490130520422011-06-09T20:46:00.000-07:002011-06-09T20:46:48.751-07:00Morale BoosterI never would have thought my iphone would be such a morale booster. But throughout the day, it is so easy to save an image and send it instantly across the country. Lately I've kept Richard in the know about our day with images like these ...
Patterson after dinner working on a project.
Kate being Kate.
Olivia getting braver in the water.
Shoes for Kate ... just before we purchased mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-87529111372639669682011-06-08T04:29:00.000-07:002011-06-08T11:09:37.435-07:00Egg SandwichesIt was almost midnight when I crawled into bed last night. Not unusual, unfortunately, but last night it struck me in a way other than just being late. I thought about how in minutes it would be Richard's and my anniversary. As I started to think about that I remembered how hungry I was just before the ceremony and how someone had brought me a couple of egg sandwiches. You know, I had mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-28961603745415769432011-06-07T20:22:00.000-07:002011-06-08T05:12:51.168-07:00Cousin Time!Richard's sister Adrienne lives on the East side of Atlanta. We live on the West. With just about a 45 minute drive separating us, you'd think we'd link up all the time. You would think, but you'd be wrong. Funny how complicated schedules of eight kids can be! Not to mention her husband travels. My husband travels. Oh, and she and her husband participate in these little competitions known mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-50237577109414530522011-06-07T19:01:00.000-07:002011-06-08T13:13:38.595-07:00I Heart Faces
My I Heart Faces challenge for this week on "from a distance."I get updates from the I Heart Faces blog for these little challenges. I never think to enter. At least not now. I need to hone in on my skill a bit:). However, when I was editing the images I took today while visiting the Fernbank Museum of Natural History (we went with Richard's sister shown above and her three children), I knewmary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-33831233837471567862011-06-04T20:32:00.000-07:002011-06-04T20:32:37.372-07:00That's It!
So I actually sat down tonight and flipped through the channels on the t.v. I caught a bit of a hour long special on Annie Leibovitz. I really like her eye. If I could pick a style of photography that is my favorite, the journalistic kind would be it.
Annie is not conservative by any means, so to quote her is a bit of a stretch, but I really liked what she said about her images, "A lot canmary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-76854956917481200132011-06-03T20:05:00.000-07:002011-06-03T20:05:38.679-07:00A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes"So whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men." Colossians 3:23
Tonight was our final night of recitals. As much as I had looked forward to tonight, I was sad to walk away knowing that that was it! What a delight it was to watch our older four girls dance this week. I could not have been more proud to sit in that audience! They all worked so hard mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-19010830101918590482011-06-01T19:44:00.000-07:002011-06-01T19:44:16.916-07:00WhistleSo I'm in high gear mode tonight getting hair and makeup done for my older three girls (the first of three recitals was tonight) when I hear something. I look over to the corner of the bathroom and Kate is standing there whistling. Right then amidst all the chaos, Kate is in her happy little world realizing she knows how to whistle. What a sweet moment at the craziest of times!
God knows my mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-33770121201838520142011-05-31T16:51:00.000-07:002011-05-31T16:51:33.999-07:00And Life Goes On
So I woke up this morning and it was a new day. Now that may not be all that newsworthy, but my point is this ... life goes on and what a blessing that is.
Four of my girls are in dance and this is recital week. Therefore we had rehearsals for 6 dances today!! Yes, not much time to dwell on yesterday, right?! We have a show tomorrow and then rehearsals again Thursday and a show Thursdaymary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-27440641591477778812011-05-30T16:09:00.000-07:002011-05-30T16:09:33.970-07:00Six Again
The photo above was the trunk of my van about three and a half hours ago. I remember when Richard emailed me years ago from S.Korea and informed me of this new bag he had purchased and gotten all "suped up" to his liking. Oh this bag!! What I would do to still have it in my trunk right now. What I would do to be able to sit on the couch tonight and watch one of the many old war movies mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-51480201487653061082011-05-29T13:40:00.000-07:002011-05-29T13:40:03.296-07:00Girls of Summer
A new slip n slide, an old baby pool, water guns and five sweet girls ... yes, the girls of summer are back ... at least at 57. What a fun day just being a family!Enjoy the photos ... I've got to go finish getting ready for a very rare hot date at Top Spice with my soldier:).
mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-299018740993335802011-05-28T10:20:00.000-07:002011-05-28T10:20:15.970-07:00He's Back!
Richard was able to get an extra day off for the weekend.
The girls were clueless and are enjoying every minute!
It's funny how when it is just the six of us we seem so incomplete.
Super nice to be the seven of us again.
Being that it is Memorial Day weekend, I can't help but count the blessing of his presence all the more.
Remembering all of those who've made the ultimate sacrifice, as mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-78678780023452807132011-05-21T19:24:00.000-07:002011-05-21T19:43:49.064-07:00God is Good
"Praise to the Lord who o'er all things so wondrously reigneth ...Shelters thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!"
It is easy to sing God's praises when the days are good and filled with joy. But how often do we forget and even struggle to praise Him when the days are long and end in frustration? I almost forgot tonight, but my soul wouldn't let me.
I have felt almost constantly mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-13253486001475968872011-05-18T19:04:00.000-07:002011-05-18T20:53:27.648-07:00Deployment and Dancing
One month is behind us ... roughly 17 more to go.How do I survive these days, you ask? If I said by the grace of God would you think I was being trite? I hope not. It truly is by God's grace alone that I get out of bed each morning, wash my hair, brush my teeth and keep putting one foot in front of the other. It's not always easy. In fact this time around, it's not been easy at all. Forgetmary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-16186983591503759762011-05-16T18:57:00.000-07:002011-05-18T20:53:53.566-07:00Lately Via Instagrammary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-5427674080940752242011-04-29T16:00:00.000-07:002011-04-29T16:00:52.855-07:0014 DaysTomorrow it will have been just fourteen days since I was in Tuscaloosa at Momma and Daddy's taking this sweet photo of my nephew.
Tomorrow I will head back down to Tuscaloosa. The room that I took this photo in, now looks like this.
Please continue to pray. It's going to be a long time until we forget these scenes.mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-55105500777000616092011-04-28T20:57:00.000-07:002011-04-28T20:57:04.784-07:00Tuscaloosa
Another day I'm thankful for my camera.Everyone of the trees you see in these photos are gone. Everyone.
This neighborhood no longer exists.
This is my parents house in Alberta City, Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Or I guess it should say it was.
My brother went down today and I'll post pictures when I get them, although he said the old saying that pictures don't do it justice completely rings true.
I am mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-13057018050112296832011-04-21T18:31:00.000-07:002011-05-21T19:59:31.394-07:00Easter in Kansas
We moved to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas when I was newly pregnant with Olivia. She was born when we were about midway through our time there. The eleven months we were there were quick, but memories and friendships were definitely made. We lived in Infantry Barracks. Basically these huge three and four bedroom quarters (apartments) that used to be old Barracks. They were built in 1900 and in mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-42446745555293898522011-04-20T17:29:00.000-07:002011-04-20T17:29:45.165-07:00Being Prepared
Do any of your children get this geared up to play in the sprinklers? My girls have always been more than prepared when it comes to just about anything. I recall Hanson Ellis wearing her bike helmet once when flying kites with her Gran. Momma told her she probably didn't need that helmet. She argued that the kite might fall down and hit her on the head, but submitted to her Gran and took itmary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-23710415633763658412011-04-19T18:40:00.000-07:002011-04-19T19:29:45.788-07:00Life
I was so blessed to have an extra cup of coffee with Richard today before he left. We sat at the kitchen table with our cups full of O'Henry's Southern Pecan Blend. I don't really remember all that we were talking about. I'm not sure there was really a theme there ...I just remember looking at him and the thought of "I fell in love with a soldier" crossing my mind. I suppose I could have mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-16087571590390848162011-04-18T18:51:00.000-07:002011-04-18T18:51:00.631-07:00One More Time
I know I've mentioned the zip-line we have in our backyard before, but I don't know if I've mentioned Kate on the zip-line before. I've updated my FB status many times with notes of my hearing her squeal and giggle while her Daddy throws her around on that thing, but I don't know if I've ever mentioned that here. Tonight as I was making an early dinner so Hanson Ellis could eat with us before mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-44633891703039198702011-04-17T18:50:00.000-07:002011-04-17T18:50:43.209-07:00Sunshine After the Rain
We went to Birmingham and Tuscaloosa this weekend for a very quick trip home. The weather was stormy Friday, but wonderful yesterday and today. Cool, crisp and low humidity. Not characteristic of Alabama, but welcomed by all. The cool weather along with the sunshine was sort of an extra blessing after the storms that came Friday night. It gives me a lot to ponder upon.
We took the girls mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-85907285239743382011-04-13T19:01:00.000-07:002011-04-13T19:01:44.862-07:00Not Just Grey
Okay, so not to depress you all too much after my last post ... the point was even in the grey there is light ... and it is beautiful.
I am learning that more and more each day. Remember in You've Got Mail where she's typing and describing her feelings and she stops and says "blank" while pretending to draw a line in the air?? That's a great image of me right now. Just blank. I decided mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-29364858015914026952011-04-13T05:08:00.000-07:002011-04-13T09:13:14.643-07:00Grey
Have you heard about the new initiative for Military Families? You can read about it here. Let me know what you think. I'd love to hear from both those of you who are military and those who are not. I'm going to be honest with you, I'm not a fan of any more government initiatives. Period. Yes, it sounds great! But still, more government? Hmmmmmm ... Don't you just think it's sad that mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-11481639891332414412011-04-07T05:54:00.000-07:002011-04-07T07:22:24.443-07:00Horse Girl Meets Groupon
So how's that for a title?
The above is not our horse girl, btw, I just really like it.
Okay, if you remember, I have a girl who is a dog lover. You might remember this post as well as this one. Well, this dog lover is also a horse girl. And to give you a little background, here are some old images I dug up this morning.
first horse ride (she's on front)
Second birthday
first timemary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-59800041998718190222011-04-04T18:26:00.000-07:002011-04-04T18:26:57.287-07:00SimpleNot only did I take a little break from blogging, but I also took a break from my camera. I'm serious about this "focusing on family time" being priority number one. I really have just wanted to do nothing but enjoy and accomplish the last couple of weeks. I'm sure in time I'll feel like I did both of those things, but of course right now when I'm knee deep in it I feel like I've never been mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-27961583054414522472011-04-01T12:37:00.000-07:002011-04-01T12:37:30.303-07:00Milestones
It is April. And, as promised, I'm back. I'm going to ease my way back in, as I've got a lot of catching up to do with so many of you, and I still have a couple of weeks left before the next big shift in our life takes place. Enjoying these last few weeks is still top on my list.
So where to jump back in? How about with a little birthday celebration! Yesterday our oldest daughter turned mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-88659161351412138692011-03-19T12:43:00.000-07:002011-03-19T12:43:21.438-07:00March (a peek)
Okay, so I said I'd be back in April and that is true. We've been super busy tackling all of our things to do before Richard makes his exit. It's been stressful on every possible level. It's even been stressful trying not to be stressed. :):):) But life is so good and days like today when I look around and there are shoes and clothes everywhere from little girls frantically stripping down mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-66948023143659541882011-03-04T12:06:00.000-08:002011-03-04T12:06:02.357-08:00Off the Radar
Well, not completely, but mostly. Focusing on family-time the next few weeks. I'll stop by every now and then, but for the most part I'll return in April. mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-73138727602010504612011-02-27T13:18:00.000-08:002011-02-27T13:18:31.109-08:00Howdy
Have I mentioned that I have a cowgirl?
Did I also mention that an iphone has entered our life? Oh, yes, my last post. Okay, here's the thing, many of you have asked "what camera do you use?" and some have even wondered it a camera is stuck to my forehead. (ha ha ha ha!) Let me just say, the iphone just might be my worst addiction ever! It is suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuper easy and oh so much mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-44159089356373075772011-02-26T13:38:00.000-08:002011-02-26T13:38:20.817-08:00I Might Be The Last
Richard just got an iphone and I'll be a proud owner of one very soon, too! I just might be the last person alive to have a smart phone. That's okay. I think we were the last people to get a microwave and a color t.v. growing up.
Maybe I'm just continuing the trend:).
Hope you all are having a wonderful weekend. The weather is amazing here. High of 75 expected tomorrow. What???!!! mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-11202873457542758212011-02-24T17:31:00.000-08:002011-02-24T17:33:47.151-08:00Spring Preview
(doors open)
There was a high of 70 today and there was an amazing breeze to go along with it. After lunch, the girls and I headed outside.
Olivia rode her bike for the first time by herself. Super sweet!! But even sweeter was when she realized what she was doing. "I ride my bike!" Absolutely does.not.get.better.than.this.
A friend asked me on FB if I had a camera attached to my foreheadmary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-29339527279890911662011-02-24T09:14:00.000-08:002011-02-24T09:14:20.934-08:00Why Preschool Is a Good Thing
It is Winter Break here in Georgia. We've taken a little break the first part of this week in order to catch up on some projects around the house. Today was our first attempt at a full school day this week. It is not that easy to manage the little ones while teaching the older ones. At least not for me. I feel like I'm constanly repeating myself. I'm either repeating what I've asked one mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-49983899149085400382011-02-23T18:46:00.000-08:002011-02-23T18:46:47.239-08:00New GlassesI have just one photo on my desk. This is it.
It is Parker on the ottoman in our living room in Monterey, California. Parker was a good baby. She slept all the time. We, on the other hand, never slept for fear that she was going to wake up. Oh, the irony!
Parker has always been our daughter to be off by herself doing her own thing. Sometimes I wonder what she's up to. Today I walked mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548441271321974540.post-83033530005803452852011-02-22T11:55:00.000-08:002011-02-22T11:55:44.968-08:00Richard's Influence
Olivia was taking a nap. Parker and Patterson were finishing up their President's Day presentation that they are going to, well, present to their Daddy tonight. (I know we're a day late ... but it was a surprise and he was off yesterday, so we waited) Hanson Ellis and Kate were out back. I walked onto the patio to tell them to come in. Hanson Ellis was going to make some cookies for mary katharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08041897102869588707noreply@blogger.com2