on this day 28 years ago...

I was welcomed to this fabulous place we call earth. Time flies I tell ya. Just when I feel the urge to downshift, it kicks up a gear.
It's really been in the last year that I've felt much more of coming into my own, figuring out my place on this planet, and what makes me 'me', and what is just 'filler'. Being okay with my likes and dislikes, and being okay with how different we all are.
Being okay with being a work in progress- I hope I never stop growing, never stop getting better.
This life only happens once, so all I can do is make the most of it, and celebrate it every chance I get!
This life thus far has been a long winding road, with many turns and twists. It's only gotten better as time goes on, so all I can think is the best is yet to come!

Happy 13 month Birthday Megs!

Lucky month 13! Woot! This month has been that month that you decided since you're the big 'ONE' now, you can vocalize and protest much more than before.... especially with Big Bro. Whatever he has, you want. Of course, this is one of those things where I'm not sure what came first, because Cameron has wanted what you have from day 1, so maybe you just are finally catching on that you can do it too.
Right after our trip to Lake Travis, you started learning how to stand up without assistance- that butt up in the air to get balance move. Before that you were crawling to the nearest object to creep back up to standing.
You and Cameron got to spend a night with Gramma this month while I went to CKU- Daddy went over in the evening, but you guys stayed there Thursday night since he gets up so early for work. And then Friday night Daddy got to hold down the fort all to himself with the two of you until I got home Saturday evening. No visible damage was done, and none was admitted to while I was gone, so I'll just assume everything went perfect!
You've added "bath" to your vocabulary this month- if your next word is 'vacuum' or 'clean' I'll become a little concerned that you're taking after the AR factor that is so present in our family.
We celebrated Madison's first birthday this month, and Gramma's birthday (she's 18). We also celebrated Cameron getting his Orange belt- yay! He thanks you for letting him practice all thos moves on you.
You love to look at books all the time now- not always in the right direction, but you look at them so intently I almost believe you can read upside down sometimes. Your favs are the "baby's book of ABC's" and "baby's book of colors" but you show no preference when it comes to pulling them off the shelves into a large pile. You have no interest in any baby dolls, other than to pick them up and chunk them straight on the floor. Maybe with time....
You also absolutely love being outside right now- which thankfully it hasn't been miserable being outside lately, so I don't mind. You usually cry when we have to come in. You just love to wander all around, "running" in that drunken sailor fashion, just checking things out, stating that independence of yours. I love it! You're growing so much every day, just reaching out a little more on your own, though you still love to come back and snuggle now and then. What a great place to be!
I love you baby- Happy Birthday!
Mama

This rocks...

I can't wait to see it myself in person! Yay! Brandy made her rounds already and picked up her copy- so neat to see Dylan holding it! My little piece of art on the cover of something is pretty spiffy!

....fun with the family....

we went down to Ichibon yesterday for some yummy Hibachi with the family... had a great time- Hibachi is always fabulous- the cook was hilarious- he took turns throwing each of us a chunk of rice to catch in our mouths.... Wade and Nick were the only catchers on that one :). And there's the "rice cake" and the "beating heart"... funny stuff.
We headed over to Kemah afterwards to walk off the enormous amount of food we ate.... of course, we had a little intermission in between, because Nick & Serene ran out of gas.... I really had to document it, since it was the first time I've ever been with someone when they ran out of gas.... *note to self* do not park on slant when car is on "E". tee hee....

They took it in good stride...

Our little outbreak monkey is doing better too... I think the heat yesterday aggravated the rash a little more, but she was a good sport the whole day.... we rode a few of the rides over at the Boardwalk- I'm always up for a little thrill! :) Had a great day- here's the rest of the pictures!

....life with kids.

Megan has hand, foot and mouth disease. Why on earth they made such a horrible name
for such a simple virus is beyond me. It's a rash. The name makes you think they will have hands and feet falling off at any moment. I will say hers is a mild case. Still. Just call it "funky rash" or something.....

Cameron was coming out of the bathroom this morning, turned around, went back in, and turned on the fan and shut the door.
"Why did you turn the fan on Cameron?"
"mommm (rolling eyes) I went to the bathroom." Dude. This is what we've come to? He's four for crying out loud.

*Disclaimer* Brent and I are both pretty (okay, really) sarcastic people, and we have our share of sarcastic little sayings we throw back and forth at each other.... I can't remember where this one originated from, but it's been around for a while....

This afternoon we were at lunch, and while I can't remember what I asked Brent, but his answer was, "Bend over, I'll show ya" (usually used in the context of asking where something is) Cameron promptly asked, "Daddy, why did you ask Mommy to bend over to show her? Show her what Daddy?"
Busted.
Brent just put his head down and continued eating as if he had never heard him ask. A the while choking a little on his food. Serves him right. He should never talk to a lady such as myself in such a way. Hmpf.

And here, folks, is what we call the Pout. With a capital "P":
And this is what we call the "threat smile"- you know, "You better look at me and smile or you're not going to {fill in the blank}" in this case, it was riding his bike:

And this is what it looks like 2 minutes later, when he's over it:

toot!

I have a layout that Scrapbook Trends wants for its January issue! Yay!

lovely summer days...

are so few and far between around here... happy to say we finally had one today (it's so sad really- Rita called me starting off the conversation with how excited she was to have the sunroof open, right at the same time I was thinking that about mine! :P) Spent most of the day outside and messed around with some pictures I took this afternoon outside.... Candice Stringham said in her classes how everyone has tendencies they lean towards when taking pictures... I 'm absolutely positive that I tend to take right side orientation pictures! Something about that off-center look I love. That, and a tilt is always great, too. :) Also messed around in PS, trying different stuff on all the pictures. Anyways, who doesn't need another excuse to show off children???

Home again home again, jiggity jig

Good to be home.... had a fabulous time at CKU, but it was good to be home, too! Missed the fam. We had "Madison's" Birthday party today (you know, "Sabrina's" daughter), so it's definitely been a flurry the last four days. I haven't had so much fun (or drank so much) in a long time. Whew! The CKU classes were good.... I definitely think the CKU-A was much better. I probably won't hit up a regular CKU again, but it was fun to go. The classes I thought were going to be great were so-so, and the classes I was just filling space with ended up being my favs. Loved the Junkitz classes, and the Photography classes were great as well.
Definitely the best part of the weekend was just us spending time together. I laughed so much this weekend. Girls weekends definitely need to happen more often. It's also really great when the people I'm close to get to know each other better and have a great time together too. I think we could have stayed in the hotel room all weekend and still had a good time! If the hotel had had room service that is. :)
In case anyone was wondering, my children and husband were all intact and in great shape when I got back too! :P

p.s. watching a one year old walk around with her newly discovered ability to make fish faces is the most hilarious thing ever.

12 on the 12th

Trying to get this posted before I head off to CKU! Woot!

The collage is a little messy.... sorry....

anyways....

1. Our vitamins... we're trying to start a new thing to get a little healthier....we'll see how long it lasts.

2. Cam's off to school

3. My newest habit- preschool days = Starbucks days..... :)

4. Megan & I head to the grocery store.

5. Some play time with Megs- always gotta find something cool for her mouth and each of her hands. :) Then nap time.

6. Head over to the Loft and Children's Place for some quick shopping!

7. Pick up Cam from school.

8. After lunch we head outside for some bike & trike riding- Megan almost immediately finds the one tiny mud puddle on our street. Nice.

9. Work on some DT assignments while the kiddos are nappin'.

10. Time for a haircut for Cam.

11. Miss Megs has had her bath, and is ready for bed.

12. Cameron and Daddy play a game before Cam's bedtime.

That's it! Left out the housekeeping, email checking, online browsing..... and the laundry....

Yesterday Cam got his orange belt!! Woot! SO proud of him!! The pics are terrible (Stephanie wasn't there to tell me the right settings ;P)

And we're off!! Yay!! CKU here I come!

tiny toot!

Paper Trends wants my birthday card I made for Hannah! Yay!

In Rememberance

Brent went to New York on business at the end of January 2002 for a job at the WTC, about 4 1/2 months after the attacks. This was what they did every time they found someone in the rubble. It rips my heart out to look at this picture, but I do. I think about the families of that person they pulled out, 4 1/2 months later, finally knowing for sure that they had lost their loved one. I think about the men finding those people, and the horror they experienced again and again for almost a year after the attacks. I think about how it changed the face of our country forever.

I don't ever want to forget.

More than anything, though, in the grief afterwards, I remember how united we all became in an instant, and came together with a love for the strangers that surround us every day. Empathy for the fellow American. Appreciation for what wasn't lost. I remember how saddened I was that it took such an enormous loss for it to bring us all together. I am amazed it's been five years- I still remember that morning like it was yesterday, and I can only imagine how time has stood still for those who lost someone they loved that day. My heart goes out to the families and friends of the almost 3,000 people that were lost that day, and for the pain they endure. For those children who lost the fathers they will never know.

I do believe we are just as vunerable today as we were then. If nothing else, it's yet another indicator of how precious life is, to not take for granted the days we have with those we love. We cannot stop what we do not know, but we can hope for a peace for all of us to become a little more tangible for the world, because it seems so far and distant right now.

The pictures are up!

If you click on the "Keller" link the password is "Heather".... let me know your favorites- I'm having a hard time deciding!

Cameron & Megan's pictures

My husband is hot.

(I can't help but say that in a Paris Hilton tone. SaaaAAaaad.)
I love him. Laugh at him. Sure, he has moments I want to yank his arm off and beat him with it, but for the most part, I love him. Last night we had a date (insanely enough, for the second weekend in a row- we go from "can't remember the last time we had a night just the two of us" to TWO!) and he took me to the Melting Pot for dinner. Now, anyone who knows me knows that I adore the Melting Pot. A few of us girlfriends have September birthdays, and we've made it a tradition to go out to dinner together, usually to the Melting Pot, but scheduling conflicts are putting it into October this year, so hubs decided to take me last night. There is really nothing closer to heaven than dipping foods. I'm a dipper. So give me a big bowl of cheese...... and chocolate..... heaven! I think I could eat just about anything if it was dipped in some cheese or chocolate first.
Dirt.
Worms.
Whatever.
Just dip it.


My friend Stephanie did some portraits of the kiddos the other day.
(if you click on her logo on the web page, you can see more pics)
I haven't seen any of them yet, so I can't wait! I'm sure she got some great ones..... I think taking portraits of a one year old that never stops moving and a 4 year old that never stops talking and/or doing super hero stances is definitely a commendable job.



I broke down and bought a Crop-A-Dile yesterday. I've never wanted to punch holes as much as I am now. Reasoned it was needed for CKU, which, did I mention, is now only FOUR days away?? Woohoo! Brandy, Rita, "Sabrina" and I are going together- SO excited!!

School Days

We've had unusually great weather in the mornings this week. Cam's new favorite thing is to hang out the sun roof while we're waiting in the car pool line. Such a ham- makes him cool.... even though, as Carmen pointed out, he's already cool. :)

feeling random.

these 4 & 3 day weekends have thrown me for a loop- last week came and went before I could blink, and now Tuesday is already over...

• the inside of our house is finally painted. Yay! the painters came and did all the outer areas- living, foyer, hallways, game room. Brent and I finished off the kitchen last night. The kitchen is Burlap, and all the other areas are Whole Wheat. They're both from Sherwin Williams. LOVE the look! Here's some pictures of the house- I know I have waited waaay too long- *sorry* I'm posting pics of the family room, with some of my family actually in it :) doing what they do best.... and the guest bath (brevity brown) and the kiddos bath (turquoise gem), the foyer with our new piece for the art niche, the gallery pics ( I know, I showed a pic before) the view into the kitchen from the family room , the breakfast room, the master bath (blonde) and the master bedroom which I (sometimes we) did not paint. I want to thank Rita for all her help with the paint colors, for they would not be what they are if I had not directly 'lifted most, if not all (okay all) of her colors. I am not showing the office or the formal dining because they have no furniture other than scrap crap and boxes, and toys, in that order, in them.
• went out to this REALLY neat place called Laurie's on Friday with the Anitameister.... LOVE that place. MIL surprised us with a ton of new very cool stuff for the house as an early anniversary present, and found some very neat pics to go in their future house, along with a bday present for SIL. Good time, good day.
• went to the Movie Tavern with Brent Sat night for a date WOOHOO! Saw Invincible (very good!) and had a great time. We don't do that nearly enough. Some times it's good to just remember what it's like to have fun together.
• Went and saw my brother and his girlfriend/fiancee Monday. I really like her more and more the more I'm around her. She's so good for Nick, and that is really great. It's still strange sometimes now talking with Nick as an adult, thinking about him being a father... crazy! But so exciting too! Exciting for babies (who doesn't love babies??) and exciting to have more family that's a part of our lives. LOVE it.
• My little trashy girl- all those cute clothes in the closet, and here she is, stripped down, probably because I had already changed her clothes 3 times that day. Doing her usual move. All these months of seeing her do it, it still cracks me up. That thumb does not go in her mouth without that hand going behind her head. Every time.
• 3 Scrappy Boys is having a Scrap off for the month of September- come check it out- challenges all month long, with great prizes!
  

Camnisms

Me: (getting ready for bed) Cameron, do you know how much I love you?

Cam: How much?

M: To the moon

C: Well, I love you to the moon and back

M: Wellll I love you to the stars and back

C: Welllll I love you to the stars and back too!

M: Well, I love you to the sun and back times two!

C: Well, I love you all the way to Gramma's (10 minutes away)

M: That's A LOT of love Cameron!