five things

Just popping in to share a few random pictures.

1. Joseph on Mrs. Portia's lap:

Mrs. Portia is my sewing mentor. I was over at her house one morning with Joseph in tow. Mr. Theo entertained him mainly (which basically meant following him around preventing disasters), but at one point he got up on Mrs. Portia's lap. He had a ball up there. Big grins.

2. Hannah's mean face:

I am racking my brain trying to figure out what she was mad about. Probably had something to do with me not letting her watch one of her shows. To make her laugh I told her to make her mean face again so I could take a picture. My plan worked.

3. My favorite:

This was Monday of last week. I was getting ready for bed (after a full day of the stomach bug) when Hannah woke up from a bad dream and was crying. Thankfully, her Daddy heard her and went to snuggle. I checked the monitor several minutes later and saw the two of them. Heart. Melt.

4. The dentist {before}:

I took Hannah to the dentist yesterday for her second-ever teeth cleaning. We call it getting her princess sparkles. After the first time, I was afraid she might get scared. But she did great! It wasn't until the very end when she declared, "I want to get up now."

5. This morning:

I am ready for this freezing weather to end.

girls day

On Friday, Hannah and I drove over to Milledgeville to do some shopping. I had some errands to run, Joe was working at home, and Joseph needed a nap, so I took the opportunity for girls time. We don't get to spend a whole lot of time just us. I was excited to whisk her away for the afternoon.

While waiting at the seafood counter in the grocery store, Hannah and I talked about the different sea creatures and types of fish. She understood full and well that these were meant to be eaten. "Momma loves crab." and "Salmon is Momma and Daddy's favorite kind of fish to eat." Etc. Then she caught sight of the lobster tank.

H: Momma! What are those??
me: Those are lobsters.
H: I don't like lobsters.
me: Oh, I don't think you've ever had lobster. But you might like it. It is so yummy.
H: (After about a minute of serious contemplation...) Are they happy?
me: (Um.........) I'm sure they'd be happier if they were in the ocean.

She was very curious about those lobsters. She couldn't let the poor trapped crustaceans out of her sight, so when it was time to go I told her to go tell them goodbye. I took a picture with my cell phone.

On the way home she crashed, dreaming of free and happy swimming creatures I imagine.

we are ready!

Are you?

celebrating 60 years

A couple of weekends ago we celebrated one special lady, my mom. The birthday girl asked for her children to be all in one place for a weekend, so that's what we did. With a few special requests and a few surprises, it was a fun-filled weekend. Mom wanted oysters, so on Saturday evening a backyard oyster roast was what we had. Almost all of our family came to Sandersville to party. With 30 in attendance, and only missing a few, it was quite a crowd.

I took a few pictures:

And then our friend, Adrienne, came and did the rest.

Thanks to all who came. And thanks for the memories made!

pale blue and ivory lace

For the past almost-year, I've had the goal of getting professional pictures of Hannah and Joseph in their pale blue and ivory lace outfits...

Let me back up. A friend of mine here in Sandersville had her darling twin daughters in beautiful handmade dresses one Sunday not long after we moved here. Naturally, I wanted to find out her source! {In case we have not met, I love dressing children traditionally. From lace and embroidered dresses, john johns, Peter Pan collars, smocked outfits, all the way down to knee socks and white walkers with bells are how we like it here.} So, following my friend's lead, I met the lady who makes the most magnificent children's clothes last year at Scott's in Atlanta. My mom accompanied me and we found Joseph's outfit on a little rack, ready to be worn for the upcoming Easter Sunday. Then, combining details from different girls dresses, we had her make something similar for Hannah. The dress was shipped to us last summer. I love them. They are perfect, family heirlooms already, and we've enjoyed our time wearing them. Alas, children grow, and Joseph's days of wearing his outfit are about over. He is also almost two, and that is probably where I'll draw the line of lace on little boys. Thankfully, Hannah will be able to wear hers for another year, maybe more.

So, back to my goal of getting pictures. The first attempt with a photographer was on an October weekend while we were in Savannah for a cousin's wedding. {My blog cover photo is from this shoot.} The photographer is talented, but my kids were not cooperative. Actually, Hannah was ok. It was mainly Joseph. He was cutting his two-year molars and was plain miserable. On top of that, he is a boy and just wanted to run away. After a great deal of effort, we were unsuccessful. Not one decent picture of the two of them together. This is what we did get:

Fast forward a few months, and I have the energy to try again. The deadline of my mom's birthday is approaching and I know she really wants a picture of them in the clothes as well. I made plans to surprise her with a disc of images, so she can decide what she wants to reproduce in large format. I make an appointment with Adrienne, our friend and church member who does photography on the side. She took the 15-month pictures of Joseph last summer. We take the pictures at her home studio. The problem: Joe is not there to help and the studio is set up in the living room where there are lots of breakable things. Joseph was all about it - playing with things - and not getting his picture taken. He stopped moving for a few seconds, and we got a few of him. With Hannah, all we got were weird faces and fake smiles.

Early February. Hannah and Joseph, blue and ivory lace outfits, take two:

Not one picture of them together. Result: another unsuccessful attempt and a stressed out momma.

Two weeks later, our third and final try. We met Adrienne on the front steps of the church. It was cold so we had to be quick. I think this was the third picture taken:

And all we needed was one. They jumped up and played on the stairs. We called it quits when we realized there was no way we were going to be lucky enough to get another. However, in the process, Adrienne got these which I love:

 

 

We printed one each of Hannah and Joseph and one of them together to slip in Meme's birthday card, along with a disc of images.

In the words of Little Einsteins, "Mission completion!"

mobile uploads

It's quiet. Both little ones are napping which is an uncommon occurrence these days. And I have a few minutes and some mobile uploads dated throughout February. Since it is now March, how about a random post? I have to say, I like these mobile upload posts because, for the most part, it is what everyday life looks like in our family.

At the beginning of last month we traveled to Dublin (Georgia) with some friends to see Jerry Seinfeld. It was our second time seeing him live and, again, he was hilarious. My face hurt I laughed so much. 

My boy - at the playground...

...and peeking in the oven.

Driving home from dropping the kids off at school, I saw this beautiful rainbow and just wanted to take its picture.

Two things not to eat: a heart necklace Daddy made almost 40 years ago (eaten by Mollie dog) and crayons (frequently found in Joseph's mouth).

A rainy, rainy bachelorette weekend in Charleston for my future sis-in-law. Dark and blurry picture, but here she is:

A typical conversation between Monkey and me, as recorded in my journal of Hannah's words & sayings.

The cheese factor in a shirt that belonged to my brothers.

Racing down the driveway to wait for Daddy to come home. It doesn't happen every day, but this tradition started over two years ago with Hannah.  It's a big deal to drive on Daddy's lap.

And that's the end of February according to my phone! A fun, full, month with crazy weather - lots of rainy days and temperatures ranging from the 20s to the 70s. We are ready for spring!