Blu and her "kool"

Most everyday she asks me to take a picture of her "kool" (school that is)
she works right along side in whatever we do
sometimes quietly
sometimes not so much
she builds
creates
does puzzles
but lately she has been drawing
a lot
people often ask how can I do school with the others
with such a little one around
so much of it is her easy going personality
because let me tell ya
when the dolly was this age
she was not easy going
or quiet
or patient
so,
I am thankful that Blu is so very happy to work
along side her siblings
but I am sure that our routine
helps a bit in how she goes about her day
a bit, but not much
personality is huge!
the other kids do take time
playing with her
reading to her and the like
while I work with the others
but the majority of time she is just so happy to
play on her own

here is her architectural creation for the morning
i will miss this loft when we move
our school room is up here right now
and I enjoy all we do up here everyday:) sigh...
also love those white painted hard wood floors:)

This link was sent to me the other day and I enjoyed watching what this youth has put together. Very thought provoking and challenging. The pressures that our society puts on one another..no one is immune to it, really. But I do think that SO much of the pressures come from media we chose to watch, magazines we chose to buy, people we surround ourselves with and technology we engage in. I think this plays into our psyche much more than we think it does.

There are a handful of questions I am always asking myself, questions that help me do personal checks as to where my heart is in the choices I make.

1. Garbage in (my head) - garbage out -just like the food I feed my physical body...junk food vs. healthy food, I also want to feed my head, info. coming into to it via my eyes, ears, nose, in other words, what I listen to, what I watch, what I read, comes in and affects my heart, my soul my spiritual health

2. What is the motivation of my heart behind why I am choosing to what I am choosing...this helps me stay accountable. So I have an answer as to why I am doing what i am doing, where my heart is in my decision making (especially as I need to explain my self to my kids and hubby, but it also helps me to live purposely and intentionally .

3. Am I honoring God and others with the decisions I make? This is really my starting point as I begin thinking through the above mentioned thoughts. With all I have to do in my days, are my choices relationally centered and wise time management choices?

I know this seems all vague but this is what helps me in my day to day living, weekly and monthly planning for my family and for all we do. What is so great for me is that I can apply this to every aspect of my life, not matter what is going on.

So, regarding this link here, I feel so sad for the kids (and adults) who feel this pressure displayed in this video -where does it come from? for each person I am sure they would have their own answer or course, but to take the time and assess our choices we make in all areas of life
but really,
at the end of the day I teach my kids to not fear anything, to not fear man because God is on their side and He has this great plan for them.
They each have gifts (we all do) and they do not need to compete with the world because they don't live for it..they are in it but not of it and
the freedom that comes with that knowledge is life changing, is hopeful, is freeing, is directional and purposeful.

www.racetonowhere.com

Things that humble me....

I am so often very humbled by people in my life
and here is one reason

the girls have been at two birthday parties over the past month
and at each one
the mom's catered to lady may's diet restrictions..
and they have strict diet restrictions!

from the cake to the main course
each dish was made so they could join in eat
whatever the others were having
it just makes me want to cry when I think about it

their daughters own birthday's
where their day is celebrated.....
and they are cooking for my kids needs

sniffle...
normally when I go anywhere
especially birthdays
I just make whatever is on the menu at the event
and bring that galactosemia friendly dish to match...no problem

both of these women have 5 kids too
and I love their mentality
"you just do it, you find a way to make it work"
no matter what that is

I cannot express how humbling it is
to have people go out of their way
and serve us this way

so humbling

One of many series to come.....

I am working on a few series that make me happy
I want to document those ideas
what I love about my days
here with the kids
what makes my smile and sigh

here is one thing that makes me smile

the dolly's braids
shot infront of our kitchen fridge

one series I need to get going on
is
photographing this house
we move in less than 2 months
and I want to remember this home

sigh....

a preview from his first book.....

He is putting together his first photo essay
with pictures he took of his art

he loves art

here he is under 2 pieces he completed 2 years ago when he was 6
I should find out the titles
and the theme they were working with
they are made with a type of modeling clay

I should find a closeup of them too
(another example of my disorganization!)
anyway, they are really quite beautiful

his photo is taken in his room
he loves it there:)

I heart Kisses....

"the kiss"

this image will always be a favorite of mine
my 3 dollies loving their new sister
it hangs 20x24 in their bedroom they all share
stop by i heart faces for a look at the other entries

The Apron Link and a Goal

the blu practicing her gymnastics with the fridge

www.bcojiboo.com

here is the link to these cute aprons...

but

more importantly
the Buddy scored his very first goal yesterday
plus
his first assist!
he has been tickled pick about this experience
so proud of how far he's come (the guy just learned how to stop
last week!)
thankfully we gals were all there to share with him

the Blu made her first debut on skates during this thrilling afternoon
she has been practicing walking adorned in her skates all over the basement
for quite some time now
and finally she got a taste of the real thing
the wind whipping her hair into a mad mess (it was chilly)
she scooted around that track 2 times
plus!
another first this week
was teaching lady may and mj how to ski
another dream come true..let me tell you
my heart just soared seeing those girls get on skiis for the first time and taking off
without a problem
I was shocked!
by the end of the day we are up on the chair lift tasting the
thrill of victory
it was blissful
we only lost the buddy once and thankfully it wasn't to the trees
bu the did end up on a black run
and
decided that if he started down there was not turning back
ugh!
thankfully
he was wiser (some critical thinking pounding into his brain)
paying off
and he is still alive!

ok, one more first
the bubs accepted his first official babysitting
job this week...

what a week of firsts

My Birthday Apron

Love Love Love this apron
will have to post the link to it for these cute little aprons I adore
where it everyday, don't leave home without it!

they have 3 pockets where I keep my note pad for writing the bits of life I need to remember everyday
where I collect loose change I find lying around the house everyday
and it amazes me how much I find..like where is this money coming from?

hair clips and nail clippers
gum for the coffee breath and the trusty blackberry
all at my fingertips
all in hopes of keeping my as organized as possible
and as cute to boot

Good-Bye Old Blog.....

www.ladymayandmj.typepad.com

been there for 5 years..wow!
we had just moved
we had just welcomed babe #4
and since I didn't have enough to do
I started a blog
it was really just s spot I would post photographs for families I had just photographed
then it became personal
and has pretty much stayed that way

but now I am here(long boring story)
and as I struggle with why I blog, what is the purpose
who cares but me?
I want to share with other families who have children with
galactosemia
the receipes I use to feed our stinkers;)

and so the journey begins
new season
new chapter
new blog
and boy does it need work!

The Blu

Has turned 3.......sigh
where is all the time going? it is going too fast
so thankful for all she is and all she does
she is practicing gymnastics with her sisters, she is so stretchy and bendy
I still find her undressed and back into her pj's everyday after I've gotten her dressed for the day
she is always telling me she love me and pa
she sits and does her "cool" (that's school) with the big kids
she keeps telling me."mama, have another baby for me"
sigh......

Little Liam

Who we love:)
Starting off with something silly.....my mj...still silly, still pushing the boundaries, still, aggressive with her affection yet still, a soft and tender heart....one that I have to be very careful with. It is hard to forget how tender she is with a such a tough exterior. One that is brave and bold and fearless. I pray those wonderful qualities endure as she grows, but also hoping she stops breaking everything! Not a day goes by that she doesn't break at least one thing in our home. How she does it is beyond me:)