Picture of the week

How cute are they. This is this years Christmas card. I did nothing to enhance the picture. I just cropped it to get rid of the incidentals. They are all happy and laughing! It is what people should see when getting pictures of the kids. It's not always crazy. Although getting this picture wasn't that easy, The two big kids can stay put for as long as I need them to that wasn't a problem...making them smile like they are happy is. And Jackie, well she doesn't want to stay put or smile and I practically had to step on her to get her down and don't even ask me how we got the hats to stay on... but they all had fun after a while and the end result makes me feel warm and in love.
What a great start to the Christmas season!

Smack on the face

I smacked Jonathan today and I feel so guilty about it. I was trying to get them ready for school and he was really trying my patience and he swore. "Oh dang it". I know it is just dang, but he said it in the right context and in the right tone and after many many warnings not to use that phrase, I had had enough and I smacked him on the cheek. I felt instantly bad about it and apologized to him for doing it, but what was done was done. On top of that I couldn't send him to school with a red smack mark on his cheek, because in this day and age one could have DCFS on their doorstep for less than that. So I dawdled until the redness had mostly subsided and drove him to school about a minute late. I think I am upset, not because I smacked him, (I do swat my children occasionally)but because of my state of mind when I smacked him. I was REALLY mad and I have really tried to control the temper that was given to me through genetics(thanks Dad) and I felt a little out of control and it was an impulse that I work VERY hard at keeping in check. I know that tomorrow is another day and I was definitely not beating him by any means, but the guilt is still there and will remain probably for the rest of the day.

Thankful

On this Thanksgiving I want to take time to remember the things I am thankful for.

1. My husband, you are the love of my life.
2. My children, Jonathan you are our laughter in the day. Julia, you are the joy surrounding us all. Jaclyn, you are the light for all of us to see.
3. My family, how much we rely on your support and love.
4. My friends, through good times and bad we've always stuck together.
5. My house, as old as you are thanks for not falling apart.
and Finally,
6. God, you surround all that I am thankful for and protect us. It is because of you I have all of this in the first place....Thank you.

P.O.T.W.

What can I say... I love this picture of Julia. She is sweet and innocent with her head tilted and a perfect smile. I deepened the sepia tone and enhanced some of the shadows. but over all this is her. BEAUTIFUL!!!!!

picture of the week

This is a different mum on the same outing. I zoomed in on the center, isn't it cool. All of the little twists that form the center of the flower. I saturated the color just a little to really give it a little more wow factor. I love it. Next time I will do a picture of a person. I just neede some more time to tweak it a little.

God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit

I went on a retreat on Saturday. It is one of the ways I've decided to reconnect with my spiritual side. I really enjoyed it. It was all women and we listened and talked to each other, it was a spritual and enlightening experience. How do you explain something that was truly an act of God? I guess you don't, but I can say that I will forever be changed because of it. I will continue my journey down this path and try harder to see him in others and to listen to his voice. I will take the time to be still and take it all in, appreciating the great things that I have, the things he has done for me.
Yeah God!

Nerver mind...I take it back

Seriously, home for 2 hours and I'm already thinking he should leave again. Although I know in my heart the prior entry is the truth tonight I can't help but to think,never mind...I take it back.

Home at last!

My husband comes home this afternoon and I really can't wait! I missed him more than ever this week. My life seems to be getting more and more complicated and his help to me is priceless. We are a real team and when he is gone I feel like a part of me is gone too. I'm really lucky to have the best husband and friend ever. I don't think I know another man that does as much as he does. Yes, I like to complain about him, like all wives do, but I am here to say that he is the best and I wouldn't trade him for anything! As we go through life struggling about money and the kids, we always seem to attack it and conquer it together. I can not wait to see what the future holds for us, and I pray that God will keep our family healthy and happy forever.

Picture of the week

So I've decided to follow this other website where a women is publishing a picture of the day... and although I would love to do that I decided that all I could do was a picture of the week. So every Wednesday I am going to post a specific picture that I love and talk about it.
I've decided that the first picture will be one that I've been working on for a while. It is a picture of a mum that I saw while picking apples. I loved the yellow, it makes me feel happy when I look at it.

You will notice that I will have a mix of people(my family and friends) and flowers and such. But mostly my children, not only because I take the most pictures of them, but because they are what I am passionate about.

Halloween

We had a great Halloween this year. By the way it is my most favorite holiday there is. I love the dress-up, the laughter, the fun, the candy...everything! The children looked fantastic in their costumes! Jonathan was a Gladiator/knight, Julia was Cinderella princess, and Jaclyn was Pebbles Flintsone. They were SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO cute!Here they are at Grandma Joan's house the week before, ready to trick-o-treat in her 60+ community. We had a great time there as ususal. Grandma opened her house to her family. All of my Uncles, Aunts, and Cousins were there, as well as, one of my brothers and his children, and of course, my mother. I love being there, and making my grandparents so happy and proud. I know how good they feel when we all make an effort to be together. It makes me feel good too.

Here are some Halloween pics on the actual day! It was freeeeezing outside so the kids were dressed in costumes and coats(and lots of undergarments) My neighbors and niece and nephew all trick-or-treated around the neighborhood and then we congregated at my house for chili and cupcakes. It was one of the best Halloweens ever! I can't wait until next year.