The Daddy Files - Just Like You

The Guy-I-Dig needs to have a small out-patient surgery in mid-August. Nothing super serious, but keep us in your prayers because there is recovery time needed and he runs his own business.
Harrison often complains about aching in his right leg, one pediatrician said it was "growing pains - which mainly happen at night" but this is often during the day and even more often in the car. Another pediatrician said he doesn't believe in "growing pains" and thought it might be a type of "restless leg syndrome"; apparently Harrison will most likely grow out of this. [back to the growing pain theory...] The pediatrician even did blood tests that didn't show anything Abby Normal.


So as the GID was putting Harrison to bed the other night the subject came up again...

"Daddy, you need an oferation...
I need a oferation!
You go to your doctor for a oferation.
I go to my doctor... I have a BAD leg."

What is up with this leg thing?

Best Shot Monday - More Celebrations!

A very busy weekend has left us exhausted and partied out! I volunteered to help with VBS last week - Oh. My. Gosh. That was beyond exhausting! Then on Saturday we had a first birthday party to go to, a carnival to celebrate the finish of VBS and then I attended church that evening.

On Sunday, I volunteered in Harrison's classroom for childcare at church and afterward we came home and BOTH took well-needed naps!

So my best shot is of the birthday girl - she turned one year old. Isn't she a cutie?

She sure is enjoying her chocolate cupcakes!

Her mommy made ALL these wonderful (and yummy) cupcakes for the party.

When the Happy Birthday singing was finished and he was given the go-ahead, Harrison happily charged right into a chocolate cupcake with Oreo cookies on top.

But once he was past the frosting and the Oreos, he started eying the pretty sunflower cupcakes.

And before I could stop him, he leaned over and bit a pretty little yellow pedal right off a cupcake! [I really wasn't wanting to eat a cupcake - especially if it wasn't chocolate - which the sunflower ones were not.]

I was left to do the "mop-up" work... it's a tough job but somebody has to eat them!

They sure were tasty!!


See more of this week's best shots over at Tracey's, she's back from vacation!

Theme Thursday - A July 4th Celebration

Last Friday was the 4th of July and although we were invited to a couple celebrations, we opted to stay home. In fact, I did laundry. I had to - it needed to be done. Maybe I should have gotten the bicycle out and taken a ride along the Strand (with the 1000 other people with the same idea.) but I didn't.

Rather, we had a nice impromptu gathering at my house around 4PM. Burgers, hot dogs, watermelon - what else do you need? How about a total of 5 three-year-olds thrown in the mix to keep it all lively!

After food and fun, we walked down to the pier and plopped on the green for the fireworks. It was wonderful and relaxing. We were close enough to really enjoy them and far enough that the kids didn't get startled from the noise.
I admit, I've become quite a home-body when it comes to celebrations like the 4th of July and New Year's Eve. I don't mind not having to drive after an all-day (or night) celebration. Although I pray for safety of all my friends that do drive home.

But before my friends leave, we watch the parade of people walking and driving up the street from the pier. It has been a blessing to live so close the last couple of years. After fireworks, you've got to finish an evening with a birthday cake for America!

Don't forget to head over to Land of K.A., if you haven't already, for more Theme Thursday shots.

Wordless Wednesday - Sweet Dreams

It really was a busy weekend. I brought him, set him down [awake], ran back out to the car to grab something and viola! - he was asleep. Look at that little angel face, do you see the tell-tale signs?



How about here? That face says it all! A long, busy day indeed!



But if you thought the face looked dirty...check out the hands!

This is what happens with unplanned naps at 5pm. [Bath at 9:30pm - no joke!]

See more [really] Wordless Wednesday pictures here and here.

BSM - "Master Mommy"

If he's not calling me "Mom", [which is far too grown up sounding to me] he's calling me "Master Mommy".

"Hey. Master Mommy. Master Mommy?"

" Master Mommy, let's fight the Battle Droids!"

"Master Mommy, I need my Star Wars breakfast..."

"Come Master Mommy, let's play outside"...

He has discovered the joy of belt loops on shorts.
He is poised and ready to go; light saber at hand to ward off any bad guys and battle droids.

He favorite music right now? Star Wars Episode I soundtrack. By request, I turn it on and all else temporarily ceases to exist.
Then comes the Light Saber Happy Dance. He tells me, "I'm exercising mommy!"

He looks like a pro. Watch out Darth Vader, here comes Jedi Master Harrison!


Do you think he likes Star Wars?

Head over to Slurping Life this week for more Best Shot Monday Pictures!

Photos of the Day

So I got a new camera but I lost my photo-editing software to the big mean Vista operating system. New software is in route, but I am lost without it. I can't crop, I can't make collages easily, I can't pop color or add borders without guessing at the end result with sometimes disastrous results.

But that new camera is sweet and although I missed Best Shot Monday and Theme Thursday AGAIN this week, I look forward to jumping back in with [cross my fingers] great shots.

In the mean time, here a couple favorite from the new camera. SOOC.

Yesterday after camp Harrison was too wound up to nap, he couldn't wait to get home because he know that company was coming - his Aunt and Uncle. As we walked to the car, Harrison did the Happy Dance, jumped in my arms and asked, "Are we going to Texas mom?"

Um. No.

Well, he is 3 and his point of reference is that all the extended family live in Texas. Seems logical enough.

Having a snack with waiting for Aunt and Uncle to arrive. He should have been napping but he was too excited to see Aunt C, Uncle R and Cousin M. and her friend.

He grabbed my garlic press (that I use all the time!) out of a kitchen drawer and asked if he could use it. Then he proceeded to make me spaghetti. When he caught his third wind shortly after this, he grabbed his light saber and "danced" around the sofa to the sound track of Star Wars. And he REALLY dances!

He was "exercising" as he calls it. He has developed some fancy moves with that saber!

Today I got my 50mm lens and started testing it out right away; here's his daddy up close and handsome!

O'k, a little blurry too. Give me some time with this...

A Visit from Family...

Yesterday we had the opportunity to spend time with my Sister-in-law and her family. They came out earlier in the week to see an exhibit [that closed yesterday] and then came down to us for a visit. It's always wonderful to have a visit from our family - any of them - they all live so far away.

Here are some shots (with the new camera set on auto as I need to learn how to use it ) from our evening at the pier for dinner.

Harrison, Cousin M. & her good friend S., big Brother & Uncle R.

Aunt C. & Harrison

Playing Pod-racing game with Big Brother.

Watching the sunset.

Of course the evening ended far too quickly for all of us, but especially for Harrison who loved having the girls as a captive audience. They were sweet enough to play and talk with him so I could catch up with my sister-in-law -- if only for a few minutes!

Thanks again for coming down! We had a wonderful time! Come back soon! We love you!


(On another note, sorry I haven't had a chance to post lately. It's not for lack of pictures! It seems everything is happening at once; and next week is no exception. I'll be helping in VBS all next week and then working on my monthly deadlines and putting a new calendar system in place where I work, so I may be even more absent then I was last week. And when all that isn't happening Harrison is just plain needing me - his words. Can you blame him? Don't forget me when I'm gone!)