Willy Nilly

November 1994

My 22nd birthday...holding the best present! and loving my perm at the same time...

Will at almost 2...ducky slippers and baby keys. I see a re-enactment coming...wish I could find this snazzy one piece outfit though.

We still have this car...Will STILL tries to play in it. and when he does, this is the face I see.

This sweet little face is, in all honesty, the face I still see when I get a glimpse at my nearly 16 year old son in all his facial hair, long legged glory...(I'm going to cry for a minute. no. really, I am...) I blinked and he's nearly a man. dang that nostalgia....I am telling my 24 year old self to cherish these two little future men that I had at this time. gosh. I am going to go beat myself up.

The thing that's cool about Will? He's freaking out about 16 as much as I am. He spent the night with Ian Sat. night and he told me yesterday that he woke up in the middle of the night panicking. I thought it was because he was in someone else's house but he said it's because he is going to be 16 this coming Saturday. Such a sweet, young at heart guy.

You are such an amazing (UH-MAZING for emphasis) young man, Will Franklin. I love that you still hug, kiss, speak words of love to your dad and I. I love that you love Levi so very much. I love that you stayed home from our work at the Kaleo open house Friday night so you could keep Molly occupied and out of our hair. I love your quiet strength. I love that you already read "To Train Up a Child". I love to watch you play soccer and the moves where you scoot with your bum. I also love that when you and that black kid konked noggins on Saturday, you asked him if he was ok and when he responded "Of course I'm ok", you replied "Don't be a butt".

Gosh. Thanks for being such an encouragement to me (and to Dad)...thanks for letting us borrow money when our well seems to be running dry. You are one of the finest examples of just how good God is to us. man.

I am going to go have a good cry while I fold laundry. (you are actually working at Bandy's this morning with Dad and Vince before your Biology class...you go Boy). I love you so much.

Good Monday morning, folks. Thanks for letting me wax nostalgic up above. I am shaking because well, I'm hungry but mostly out of sheer gratitude for Will. If you know him, you love him. he's quiet but thoughtful. He's serious but hilarious. If you know him, you are as blessed as I am. he's an astute young man of God.

Firstborns break us in...we become different people because of them. We grow up with them. and sometimes, while they grew more mature than us, we stay immature (at least in my case). I will ask Will how I should respond in certain situations. He's always "spot on". that is mind boggling.

This week will be busy, filled with trying, busy and blessed times, but I wanted to take a minute to remember Will since we will be out of town on Saturday (the actual day of his birth) for soccer.

Hope this finds you and yours enjoying summer's last ditch effort to torture us a bit more. I'm so thankful for a morning at home. God bless you!

note: I just re-read this post and wow, sorry for the redundancy. I think I mentioned 15 times that this Saturday is W's birthday. garsh.

Holes

Yesterday, my three oldest kids and I had the immense pleasure of joining Tammy and her two oldest girls in downtown Indy at the Indiana Repertory Theatre's presentation of "Holes" (you may have seen it in movie theaters about 8-9 years ago)....it was SO cool. we were in the SECOND row and E was in front of us in the front. The players literally spit on us. ha ha.

Always checking out the floors...

There were costumes placed all around in their upper area...the girls really enjoyed posing next to them.

I've got to get me some of those star lights. love 'em.

creepy little bird..handsome young men.

We weren't allowed to take pix inside the theatre but these doors were open into the theatre...I wasn't technically in there...this is our cast practicing before their 10 a.m. show...

We went down to Mass Ave after for some Bazbeau's pizza for lunch....Here, we have our crew next to a creepy big head, sniffing Tammy's Fair Trade coffee...My boys...just love their expressions. E, I hope it was just because you were standing in the sunlight that we had this expression.

not much better here but what can i say...maybe the big head was freaking him out.

The adventures that aren't pictured here include:

Taking my big, grey van into the Circle Centre Mall's parking garage

-just barely short enough

-Tammy crouched down in the front seat out of fear that at any moment, we would shear the top of our van off on a pipe or cement structure. so much so that she pulled a muscle.

-Due to the mounting fear that we would get stuck, after finally finding a decent parking space, squeezing my van in, tapping the car in front of me, I left my window rolled down the entire time. Thankfully, nothing was touched. but sheesh.

-When we drove out to pay, the attendant at the money booth, in her cute little foreign accent said "You drive beeg bus"...

We had a really great time and it was so cool to be so close to the action on stage....I knew it made me wanna do some acting...Thanks, Tammy, for suggesting this to us, getting us out there and getting some culture. It was a blast.

Now I must go....we have a busy day filled with Soccer at CCG (12:30 and 2:30), Bandy work, house cleaning, and a "Come Wreck Our House" Party at the K's tonight.

"You're my best friend, that's it...."

My best non-biological friend....we are both going in 150 different directions, kids here, there and everywhere, but it's so nice to know that we can pick right back up where we left off...and we have such a blast. She came into my life rather unexpectedly (I'm sure I've blogged about this) and at a time when I didn't think I needed another friend. Boy, was I wrong. God knew I needed THIS friend. She was a shoulder for me when all the friends I'd had were ditching me. And now that I look back on it, as much as it "hurt", she definitely made those times a lot less painful than they could've been. She is the most tender-hearted chick around, helpful, open to different opinions and looks at things clearly. Tambo, you are such a dear to me.

This pic of TK greeted me when I got onto Facebook today...and it's kept me smiling all day long. Love you, girl :D you are one of the finest! Lost without you, I would likely be. Thanks for holding me accountable in my relationship with Christ...I've learned so many GOOD things from you.

This gal knows me like nobody's business....I always felt bad for girls that had sister's, when I was younger and took her for granted. I knew the pain that was little sister. Now I feel sorry for girls if they don't have sisters or if they have them but aren't "tight".

in all reality, I always rather liked my kid sis. I loved to threaten her that I was going to run away if she didn't do what I told her to. I loved to try to get her in trouble by convincing her to swear when the tape recorder was on (thinking she couldn't hear the grinding sound of those cheap-o recorders)....I also enjoyed the fact that, like my Levi today, she was ALWAYS running around in just a shirt and undies. I love the fact that if I say something funny, she runs with it, getting all the credit for being funny! :D I love that she brought me a bag of Eclipse chocolates at Dr. Quill's last week...and we dug around for the Edward candies, only to discover that there weren't ANY, they were all Jacob. Wha??? she thinks of me in such fun, caring ways. I love her love language of GIFTS.

I know this past few weeks has been kinda rough on you, Beckyboo...I love you, pray for you and hope that things start looking up. I am so lucky to have such an incredible sister and BF. I'd be lost without you, too!

Hope your Wednesday has been most delightful. I don't know about your weather, but ours was simply gorgeous today. Get out there and enjoy it!!

P.S. this day last year is the day we left on our 3 week Great Adventure. hard to believe a year has come and gone. and what a year. whew.

Gibberish, I tell ya..

This reddish green tree and I go way back. Ever since I started walking out on Waverly Rd. consistently (back in the fall of 2006), I've loved watching it each season..

I don't feel very good tonight. it makes me feel cranky nostalgic. not necessarily a good thing, ya know?

Tired of waiting on people to get their crap together and get over themselves. done making efforts. dropping the ball and letting it sit. discouraged and not sure how to proceed and make things right. I guess I will just take it to my Heavenly Father ... He's so much better at sorting thru all the gunk and mess that we make.

Not sure what that has to do with this tree other than the sheer fact that seasons change and so do we.

I'm going to stop on this now. beyond frustrated so I should go to bed.

End on a positive note:

~Hubby's business opportunities just keep getting better (Thank YOU, Lord...it's ONLY because of You)....upcoming work that will keep him and his crew of hopping into the next year...probably even have to find some newbies. changes are a-coming....

~Outstanding kids, even if I was aggravated with one or the other thru out the day. sorry guys. don't mind the spilled milk on our wedding album. E, I should just be thankful that you got a glass of milk for Molly to enjoy with her Double Stuf Oreos. Each kid (and I "no lie") knocked my proverbial socks off at some point today. in good ways.

~Coolest chicks to call my friends: Becky, Tammy, Jennifer...I got to see all THREE of 'em last night...God knows I need accountability and He provides it in the most incredible ways. All 3 of these girls holds a tight spot in my heart. also, my momma...it's understood that you rock but hope you know I still think you do, even if I am busier than the Red Hen. I will praise the Lord for the rich friendships He has so kindly given to me. I pray I'm a better woman because of these ladies' and their influences.

WATCH OUT: RANDOMNESS ALERT:::::::Can I just say Mr. Bean is stupid and I don't know WHY my kids like him so? Is it all the gibberish? the physical comedy? I dunno...I'm listening to them watch Mr. Bean's Holiday and I want to throw something heavy at the TV.

Ok, time for bed...so crabby. so many fun things I want to blog about but maybe I should do this in the morning when I'm "fresh". ha ha. night.

SuperRyan

Just wanted to share this with my friends...

Is this not the cutest little super hero around? Eat your heart out, Superman...

I'm always tickled to see what cute, funny, clever, creative things Natalie will do with Ryan...and this one did not disappoint.

blogging funk but wanted to give you something to chew on if you happened by.

On another note, the Lord has been answering big prayer requests left and right (quite literally) and though I'd love to mention them all here, I won't for lack of time and such. I stand in awe of His power and faithfulness, that even if the answers had been NO or wait, it is still so cool how quickly He is answering them, which in turn answers other prayer requests.

We serve an incredible Savior.

Happy Sunday...

Credit to Natalie for the above picture!

good idea, Tory...

My beloved cousin, Tory, thought it would be a good idea to see the actual art that the kids did with their colored pencils in their mouths. (see the post from two days ago)

so without making you wait a moment longer....here they are. :D

It's that time of year....

School picture time....

Will Franklin, who will be 16 in 15 days.

Umm, when did this kid grow from that little round faced cherub to this mini-man? seriously.

Ethan James, 14...and the above comment applies to this young dude too.

Melanie Kate, 12

Beautiful, inside and out, mos def

Levi Taylor, who will be 8 in 30 days. hard to believe he's not that little pursed-lip scaredy baby anymore....I blinked and he's 8.

Molly Christine, 3 years.

Our source of constant delight and entertainment...

poooooo-ser.

back in 2005, I took pix of their profiles. I need to dig them out but until then, here are their updated profiles.

or mugshots if ya wanna get technical.

I'm kidding.

she doesn't look thrilled.

he's up to something.

hee hee.

Mel picked one of my geraniums {gasp!} and stuck it in her hair....

sweet kids.

Hi.

How are ya today?

We were able to enjoy a {most of the} day at home kinda day. Mel reminded me that we hadn't taken our school pics yet. Naturally, I obey my daughter...and these are the results.

Hope this finds you gearing up for a fun-filled weekend...I think we get to be around home again and for that we say YIPEE!!

God & the History of Art

Joni Eareckson Tada

Today's lesson dealt with frustration in learning art...and the ultimate example of overcoming this was Joni Eareckson Tada. dare I say it - AMAZING!

The woman, paralyzed from the neck down for the past 20+ years, creates beautiful art by holding her pencil, brush, whatever, in her MOUTH. (I think it was back in the 70's that she went swimming, dove into shallow water and broke her neck)

We are just starting this 4 year curriculum on Art History and I'm excited. yeah, it's only the first day but it's so much more interesting than Math or Science. :)

Today has been a good day. I actually got up before dawn and walked with my adorable neighbor and now we are waiting on big news on the biz front.

God bless you this Wednesday. We are off to Algebra tutoring now...

amazing

I'm amazed at how often I use the word or forms of the word AMAZE.

I need a thesaurus.

sooo many pictures....so little time.

Will and Ethan inside the Wright's Bicycle shop, in the area where they built their world famous flyer. If you will recall, these two played Wilbur and Orville in their homeschool co-op's play in 2007. We have a connection. :)

Here we find the five Young'n's outside of the Wright's actual home.

Thomas Edison's laboratory was, to say the very least, amazingly cool.

Outside of Edison's office

Tom captured this pic with his amazing Nikon bad boy...just so happened to catch both of Molly's feet OFF the ground.

Hanging with Tom Edison

beautiful (Tom's cam)

outside ye olde McGuffey School house (Tom)

I don't have as much time to blog as I'd like today, so this will be brief and will continue over the course of a few days, since there are so many pics to sift thru and to steal from my brother.

it is time for algebra tutoring with my friend, Jennifer...and other schooling needs to continue to take place here at our home...amazing how side tracked we can get. so, until next time, peace.

let the fun begin...

Or something like it....

on our way to Greenfield Village, we traveled down Eight Mile Road, made famous by a certain angry rapper, to which I won't mention here....but lemme tell ya...it's a crazy, creepy roadway.

I'll just go ahead and apologize for this tomfoolery now...gotta love the horse drawn carriages all throughout the Village...and MELANIE thought it'd be funny to stand over a fresh pile of doo and take a pic. We told her it'd be even MORE tasteless if she was the human in the picture. This way, with E in the pic, it's only mildly tasteless.

Ya just have to love having creative teenagers.

This is a cute pic because Molly is just so sure of herself.

we have our hands full with that one.

In Mrs. Cohen's Millinery, we all got to try on [lice-infested] hats....not really...but it was brought to my attention on Facebook that I should've considered this. ewww.

I love my gaggle o' kids. each so unique and fun in their own ways.

I have quite a few pix from the Village and didn't know how to start without starting haphazardly...it'll be an overwhelming task and I'm just not up for it yet. :)

Until that day, chow.