Birthday's past...and the bad hair continues....

I am tight in nostalgia's grip today....

Dug out some old pix to reflect on the past thirty seven

wonderful years.

snazzy dress there, birthday girl. I love that my mom dressed me in Christmas clothing! How appropriate. :)

there is no method to the madness in the order of these pix....this was my 21st birthday and I had just gotten married 3 weeks before...my family came over to visit David and I for my b-day. We were living in his parent's basement apartment. how time flies.

This would have been my second Christmas...and Gma G has a grip on me, while Aunt Mimi shows me the stocking she made for me...I still have it though it's been empty for years!

look at me rippin' into that gift. I look a tad vicious. 1976

not sure of the age here but I would guess 7 or 8.

Fifth birthday. A fun birthday memory: Aunt Bee lived across the street from us. She was an AWESOME lady. Just awesome. mended clothes for us, always, without fail, thought of my sibs, parents and I on our birthdays and holidays. She actually saved my little newborn life. I was not breathing and she, being a nurse, rode to the hospital with my distraught mom, and cleared my airway. I loved that lady! maybe just a bit more than anyone else for that reason.

I even know what was in this box...hugging monkeys...their long arms wrapped around each other....love love loved them. I miss you, Auntie Bee. You were a GEM! everyone needs an Auntie Bee.

gosh. I'm getting choked up.

10 years and what sweet hair. and those overalls? stylin' fo sho!

My Sweet 16 and oh was it. My mom threw a surprise party for me at Orion House with female relatives and friends from church. This chick next to me is Sarah. I just found her on Facebook. She is one of those girls that was always the life of the party (we had to share the spotlight, ha ha), lots of fun and got even more beautiful with age...can you believe THAT? yeah. she did!

Awww. Mom, Beck and David threw me a surprise party for my 30th. It had been a rough year...I had just had Levi one month before this picture. (taken Dec. 1, 2002), he had had some complications from the get go...he wouldn't nurse, I was getting older and dealing with 3 older kids and such. What I remember most from this picture? that sweater was making me sooo hot. and I don't mean "Man, she's Hoooot!" I'm referring to my temperature. I can't believe it's been 7 years since this was taken.

Time? please slow down just a smidge, k?

thanks.

I love snooping thru your pix, Beck

Beck, these are some interesting pictures I found on your laptop...and as always, I'm a dork and you are a super model. not fair.

I love my sister

during Intermission of the musical, we decided it was high time for a self-portrait...this first pic was me talking to a guy that was offering to take our pic. I was explaining that we were quite good and rather capable of taking our own picture but thank you.

You really are lovely. Now come back to my blog. I promise I'll blog about you more!

this is what I think of your blogless visits. (man, can I make THE faces?)

This spooky statue inside the Murat Theatre was kinda creepin' me out. Or as Levi says "You're kinda creekin' me out".

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I do love my sissy. It'd be nice if she actually visited my blog again.

Since she left her job to come work for us, for David, she says she's only visited my blog twice.

Seriously? two times?

Granted the past two months have been rather iffy for my blog, yes, I know...but c'mon.

So here's my vow, Dad, Tory, Beck, whoever else out there drops by now and then....I will aim to blog at least every other day.

I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Girls Night Out, so to speak

this is what I think of your picture-taking hints, Beck...:) luv ya!

Mom, Beck, Mel, Pipes, Nora, Molly and I took a trip down to Edinburgh last night...in the hunt for Easter dresses! We had some great success, had a fun time, and ended our night at Cracker Barrel...Thanks, Grandma (and Gpa...in spirit...since he was working away at GM)...All the girls will look so cute on Easter...Mel even got some "young lady" dresses...my little girl is growing up right before my eyes.

This is Molly's idea of "doing the treadmill"...she's such a monkey...

Today is one of "those" days. A heavy day. but in a good way...that's all I can say. wish I could say more. I will rest in the fact that I am a child of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. God is in control, still on His throne, working in the lives of those that call on His name every moment of every day.

Chew on that for a bit.

Be back later...tonight is the big Yellow belt test...E. and Mel are slightly nervous, though their Shihan told them to rest assured.

Happy Tuesday, last day of March, almost April to you!

haircuts and stuff

Good afternoon to you!

I was trying to take some pix of the new 'do...I always dislike my new hair the day after...

I got about 3 inches cut off, if not more...It felt quite good to lose that weight...my hair is thinning and the cut did it some good!

I am a horrible self-portrait girl, for a few reasons.

I don't know how to flatteringly hold my noggin/face/neck to look decent in pics. Plus, I have a hard time knowing how to hold the cam right to get it that way.

this is a total "nerd head" pose...and it was windy to boot.

My sister is good at all of this. She can "turn it on" with a moment's notice...we were playing around at soccer practice (making her husband peeved since we were jabbering and photo shooting, not watching our little ones at their FIRST practice)...She is good, she has "it" down.

poser

she can even "self-portrait" with 2 extra people...

Ok, well I have some pix from soccer practice with Levi and Pipes...but I will have to post them later...I'm out the door to the YMCA...and off to a busy, hectic weekend!

Hope this finds you all peachy keen and doing well!

Cute nieces, daughters and girls that try hard...

This is Beck's new charm necklace with her girls' names on the front and birthdates on the back...'tis so cool! Mine would weigh about 25 pounds....

Beck & Mom took the 3 youngers for me last weekend when we went to Illinois...and B got some great pix of the young'uns...this is a classic!

cutesy...

Pipes, you are one stylish girl...

this is Nora throwing out the PEACE sign...you're cute girl...you really are.

Troublemakin' girls...

check out the expressions on these little gals...Piper, you are pure cheesecake.



we can't just take a serious picture...it goes against our nature...


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Not a whole heckuva lot going on over here today...Kinda under the weather (remind me to never say "we've been unusually healthy this winter....) though I haven't gotten full blown sick...just blah sick. it all sucketh.

Cleaning

Shopping for clothes for the family

Shopping for some food for the family

Getting ready for the start of soccer tomorrow...is it that time already?

Cleaning the church the rest of the way...

Pretty exciting stuff, huh? I know...hold me back.

Life is good, why is it so hard to choose joy somedays? David's keeping very busy, and we praise God for that, not taking that fact lightly in these uncertain days, the kids are doing very well, finishing Math and English by month's end...good times, blessed times.

Forgive the blah. This too shall pass. Have a wonderful weekend!

On the second day of Becky Goodness...

My true love gave to me...



Two really tightly woven perms....



Ok, so this little song I'm doing in honor of Becky Birthday month (which, Mel informed me last night that it was Ethan birthday month too so I'll have to come up with something...I got "strong-armed" into this month long Beck History month thing...hee hee) will be over after today...Yes, Beck, I will still scrounge up old pix of you and remember u on this monthlong celebration...but my creative juices just "ain't" flowing.



In this picture above, Beck (right) and I are with Gma T. (aka Legs)...I am pretty sure I was too old to be holding a teddy bear in this picture but I am, nonetheless (remember Teddy B?) yeah. not one of my classier teenaged moments. ugh. Can I just say....I am so hot?



~I do have to say though that my pink sweater with layered tanks was ahead of the times. Mom got a good deal on a two for one perm for B and I here too. Beck was loving her Cabbage Patch kid, Zara Helma. nice.



~So there you have it...my Becky memory for Wednesday, February 4, 2009. only 23 more days till she turns THIRTY-ONE. (she's just old, look at all that loose skin....)



~up next....an Ethan memory, to keep the crowds happy.



~and because I have so much free time.



~really, I do.

A trip to Wally World

like your shorts...

my ear showed up. It's been said I have some unusually small ears. why couldn't other body parts have caught on??

I failed to put make-up this day...wow, I'm looking old...becky is freakin' me out with that tongue...

Holiday Razzle Dazzle

I'm a Target gal. that's ok...I always find some great bargains at Walmart...and a lot of their stuff is the same as Target's.

It's just not as neat there, and the people that seem to show up there are er, um, challenging. Forget about the woman I heard threatening her THREE YEAR OLD daughter a few years ago, that she was going to kill her. nice. ya just don't hear that kinda thing at Target.

as often.

you will usually hear more of the spoiled brats crying because their parents only got them one toy as opposed to the 11 they wanted...brats.

so I will remain a Target girl but will visit Wally World now and then...Beck and I went to WW to find a Leapster for 39 dollars...they were wiped out of 'em...so we had some fun trying weird things on and taking pictures of our ears and such...And isn't Holiday Barbie Spectacular? Beck has a tradition of getting one for Piper each year...though last year's was African-American...and that's cool...she was actually much prettier than Caucasian Barbie...

Thanks for putting up with this pointless, froo froo post...I had to get these pix outta my system....sorry for neglecting you, dear blog...I've found some long lost friends on Facebook (though I joined up there a while back) and have even gotten David started on it...if you haven't joined up yet, why don't you? and add me as your friend...

coffee talk

Beck and I outside Barnes & Noble...Beck, i be lovin' yo' new green coat! rock on!
yes, that is a double chin on moi...not the most flattering pic (what's new) but we got it, that's what is important...a mom's nite away...as Steph said, we have to have some little glimmers of hope to cling to. not that mothering is horrible. it's not! but it's challenging, and these little outings make us better moms. or so they say. :)

this is a fun little book we happened upon...a Hiptionary...i so need this...I am so unhip, though hippy and hippie...how does THAT work? but 'twas kinda funny because it opened right up to this page...right hand side...blog. ha. whaddya think of that?

caught ya...though this time, it is hot chocolate. I thought you were my new drinking buddy. (coffee)

ok, a nice straight on one. this was fun because she's in a green chair. with a green shirt. a green coat. green eyes....she loves her some green.

and last but most definitely NOT LEAST...three of the the most comforting luxuries for this girl (ME)...chocolate, coffee, and my sissy. love you girl! you spin me right round!

Before I head off to the Yyyyyyyy, MMMMMMMM, CCCC, AAA (I'm singing here)...thought I'd better post these coffee excursion photos...we enjoyed sitting and chatting about life, kids, what made us laff or cry this week...and then mosied around to some books and ended up at cards...always a good time was had...love our last Thursday of the month coffee talk, Beck.

If you don't have one, get one! Our next one is on Turkey day!! yah!!

off I go!

Tall hair, weird expressions you've seen on my kids, and li'l memories

Couldn't you just squeeze this little face?
I can't believe this boy will be 14 in less than one month. It's always hardest to cope with growing kids when your first one goes through all of his/her changes...pave the way, Will.


Can you believe how teeny tiny E is here?
I knew he had grown some but c'mon....this makes me feel really old.

These next few pix have no point...just a little walk down memory lane for me...

I was talking to someone the other night about big hair...and I had it. All of the pix that I'm thinking of, I can't find them tonight...but in digging, I found this one of me at my cousin Dawn's open house, making a total Levi face. nice collar, Laura.

Our church youth group went on some pretty cool trips...this one was to, well, duh, Niagra Falls. Here I am with Emma...she looks like she wanted to shove me into the falls, huh? she was jealous of my hair.

Sweet 16 and who would want to kiss this? I was quite excited here because my mummy and pappy surprised me with a little three diamond ring...apparently, I needed to get out more. or spanked more. My Grandma (to the left) was probably saying (out loud, because she always said EXACTLY what she was thinking) "Ohhh, Jim's daughter is an idiot. What's with her hair, Lane? Comb your hair, Laura!"

I think I won awards for the tallest, stiffest hair. At another point in my life, I was notorious for bright fuschia lips...nothing reserved about this gal. This smirk below? Total Will, dontcha think?

I'm supposed to be watching a movie with Mel...what, with the boys over at Tom's, Molly sleeping, and David at work...she has me all to herself. She's so lucky.

We are watching a movie called "Fairy Tale: A True Story" upon the recommendations of friend and fellow blogger, Stickers. So far, so good.

Ok, four posts in one day. A record I do believe.

Hey, if you notice the followers linky thingy on the right hand side of my blog, would you click on the part that says "follow" and join up? I want to make it look like I have lots of friends and followers. I know my dad won't sign up but I will sign my mom up...c'mon, do it.

Good night, faithful friends and followers of the ex-big haired, bright pink lipped wonder!!