He is one whole hand today. I have alot to say about that but right now it is 11 pm and I am STILL working so I guess it'll wait til tomorrow. That's price the you pay for partying hard with our little boy. But it's all good, it was so worth it.
We adore you big man!!!!!! All 32 pounds 42 inches of you!!!!!
I asked both boys a few weeks before Christmas if they wanted to visit with Santa. Nathan, at almost 11 instantly replied, "nah" and Caleb continuously told me emphatically, "No!". But in true Caleb style, a few days before Christmas, he decided he JUST had to see Santa Claus. Of course! He would change his mind during Santa's busiest time. It figures. A few years ago the same thing happened with Nathan and the day before Christmas we found ourselves (me, Nathan, Carah and a one year old Caleb) waiting in a line that was forever long and took an hour and a half. I figured I'd learned my lesson and I would be smart this time. I had it all worked out. Since the last time we went first thing when the mall opened and the line was crazy long and since it was also bound to be crazy at the end of the work day, we'd just go sometime after lunch when everyone else was working or home napping. Sound logic, right? So Zach, Nathan and I picked up Caleb early from school and headed to the mall. As we got near Santa's workshop, I thought, "Score!!! There's no one in line. This is AWESOME!". As we got closer, I realized there was no one in line because there was no Santa sitting in his chair. In his place was just a sign that said, "Be back in an hour.". Sighhhhhhh.....
Now what? We could walk away and come back in an hour only to find ourselves in an hour and a half line. Or we could stand in line for an hour and be one of the first to see Santa. We opted to stand in line (or at least Zach and I stood in line) and Nathan and Caleb had the best time playing in front of the crazy mirror and posing with the decorations. 
Santa came back and my two wild partying boys instantly became calm, reserved and even nervous to sit on Santa's lap. I am seriously surprised that Caleb didn't change his mind at the last minute and decide NOT to talk to Santa. Caleb asked for a telescope and Nathan asked for some Star Wars toys. And because they don't allow cameras near Santa, we have this one shot from their short sit. 
When I look at this picture, I love seeing the smiles on both of their faces but what really catches my eye is their hands. They both do that when they are nervous and afraid. Too cute that Santa has that affect on both of them. :)
All in all, Caleb walked away so happy that he got to see Santa and Zach and I were no worse for wear. AND as an added bonus, this is what I saw in my rear view mirror on the way home. One very exhausted but satisfied little boy and that made it all worthwhile. :)
now that all the fun holiday festivities are over, I FINALLY carved out a bit of time to get her graduation pictures edited.
She is lovely even when she makes faces, no? Actually, this shot is a must have. Every time, and I mean, every time I point the camera at her, she sticks out her tongue. I have years of shots of Carah and her tongue. It's fitting that we have a grad pic of her tongue too. :)
Christmas really is a pretty time of year to graduate. 
She decorated her cap with "see ya semo". In a sea of 700 grads, I was so grateful that she did. It made her so much easier for me to find. 
We are all so proud of her. Caleb was also crazy about her honor cords and her tassle. Nutty boy.
These two are peas in a pod and this is one of my favorite shots of the day. It captures both of them perfectly.
Congratulations Sweet Daughter. We are proud of you and know you have bright things ahead. :)
This gorgeous girl graduated from Southeast Missouri State this weekend. Cum Laude. She's amazing. It was a surreal experience for me. My baby girl. She told me I was being sappy most of the weekend but honestly, what mamma wouldn't be? I'm so proud of what's she accomplished. The six hour distance from home certainly didn't make it easy for her to lean on us. She has grown more independent and strong but her heart is big and open. She is beautiful inside and out. 
I have more pictures to edit but with work and the holidays, I just wanted to post these two.
Wednesday night, while Daddy was at a meeting, Nathan, Caleb and I put the ornaments on our Christmas tree (thankfully Carah and Scott put up the tree and put on the lights since that was out of the question for me this year - thanks guys).
This picture seriously captures how things went with our tree trimming.
First, notice the ornament? Rock 'em, sock 'em robots? That perfectly depicts how Nathan and Caleb got along during the event. From the word go, they were fighting over ornaments and where things could go on the tree and who touched each other's stuff or who was looking at the other....on and on and on it went. It got so bad that the Christmas music I had so sweetly playing in the background couldn't even drown out their noise.... Only, and I MEAN only, after I pulled out the scary mommy voice and threatened to tell Daddy (that ALWAYS works) did the bickering stop. :)
Then take a close look at Caleb's mouth. Notice he's talking, right? Well after the bickering stopped, both Caleb and Nathan decided that they hadn't gotten in their recommended daily allowance of words. Instantly, they both turned into chatty cathy dolls on an adrenaline high - talking simultaneously about their day, babbling about nothing, giving commentary on the ornaments...you name it...they talked about it. Me, who LOVES peace and quiet, right in the middle of the mix - smiling, nodding and trying to stay half tuned in with my "mommy hearing" Oh, my aching ears. :)
Silly story aside, this is what tree trimming IS REALLY LIKE at our house. It is not some idealic Christmas card picture but is just US being US. Bickering, talking, complaining and all. In the end, the tree is full of our special ornaments, it looks beautiful and we had lots of fun (and laughs and sighs....) in the process.. That's what Christmas memories are all about. :)
loving the cheesy smile and that's his FAVORITE new ornament - The Nightmare Before Christmas
That's what our month of November consisted of. Alot of laying low.
After 3 surgeries for me and a 4 day hospital stay, laying low was about all I was capable of. And my poor 3 boys all found themselves sick...sick...sick.
When dealt cards like these, laying low is just what's needed.
Hopefully, we'll be seeing more daylight in the month of December. :)
Last Saturday, since Carah was home, we visited the Kuiper pumpkin patch again. (It's becoming a Sissy/boys tradition.) 
Unlike our first visit this Fall season, that was full of sunshine and warmth, we were greeted with cold temps and a sky that looked like this....
It reminds me of something Dorothy would've encountered right before the storm that took her to Oz...
Unfortunately, the dismal weather did not bring out the best in my companions. Faces like this
and this
were what I had to work with.
Luckily, the skies brightened a bit and so did a few attitudes 
and we were able to find a big giant pumpkin
and a few little guys 
to bring home with us
But sincerely, the best part of all, was visiting the bakery and bringing home a dozen warm apple cider donuts. 
Now that made EVERYONE happy! :)
she did this
I took lots of pics from the ground. :)
She is my dare devil, thrill seeker.
It was incredible to get to experience this "first" with her (and I'm sure she'll do it again!) What an adrenaline rush! She was the first out of the plane at 14,000 feet. They free fell for a minute at over 100 miles an hour and she was smiling from ear to ear when her feet touched the ground. I love her sense of adventure!
More pics and a video to come!
Every morning, you make your way out to the front porch, often a good 20 minutes before your bus if supposed to come and you set yourself down on the front stoop. Just sitting and thinking. Watching the morning go by. Sometimes you yell out to your friends from Old Post as they pass on their way to school. Sometimes you just sit. Rain or shine. Warm or cold. I can always find you here.
I watch you as you sit. Wanting to be respectful of your space - your silence, but also wanting to make sure I'm available if you need to talk or let your thoughts out. You are an introvert. My thinker. My feeler. Sometimes you are just being peaceful and enjoying the quiet. Other times, I feel your sadness - yearning for old friends - your old school. And other times still, you just seem to be contemplating some big important world problem or a conversation we had that morning.
Sweetheart, I just want you to know that I get your need for space. Room to think and breathe and feel and be. I also want you to know that we are here. You are on the cusp of a whirlwind of growth - emotional and physical. We are here to listen, to guide you and no matter what, to love you.
So for now, be quiet, be still, but always know, you are never alone and you are always adored. But for goodness sakes, button up and put your hat on... :)
A great life is the sum total of all the worthwhile things you've been doing one by one. —RICHARD BACH
There is so much to do. So much to get done. My head is usually spinning in a million directions. But, a while ago, I promised myself I would try to focus on making sure that in small ways, each of my importants always knows how I feel about them.
So, every few days, I've been slipping a little note in his lunchbox. Today when he came home from school, he told me he had a GREAT day. When I asked why, he said, it was because I left him a surprise note that told him he was special and I loved him and I wished he could fathom how much. He said that note went right into his treasure box.
It does matter. It does. :)
with a Chance of Meatballs.
Hence the umbrella. :)
What a great kid's movie. A really good story that was a perfect blend of imagination, silliness, adventure, relationships and the 3D was awesome.
It costs $10 to get into the play area of the pumpkin patch
and an extra $2 to jump on the huge orange 'pumpkin pillow'
but if you just take one look at their faces
and see the joy that is written all over it
you would know, it was worth EVERY PENNY!
I am constantly amazed at how I continue to learn how little I really see or how my expectation or life experiences have shaped what I see and how I judge accordingly.
Aside from foggy mornings or evenings, I can honestly say, I have never SEEN light like this. And the old me would have thought photos shot in light like this were a failure. After all, isn't a great photo one in which everyone is in focus, wearing happy faces with rich, vibrant colors? What about the lens flare and the haze in these shots? Isn't it a mistake?
Well, if it is, then it is a happy, beautiful accident. This is exquisite light. The kind of light that has surrounded me all along but I have not seen, really seen, for all of my life. The softness, the haze. The way it captures my 10 year old, who I was just whining about growing up too fast, and instantly transforms his features in such a sweet softness that I can readily see the remnants of my sweet baby. The creamy skin. The pensive look. The gentle eyes. Those lips. 
It's magical to me that at my age, I can continue to see things in a fresh, surprising way. I love the fact that God continues to open my eyes to new things to see and new ways to see them. This world and each one of us in it - masterpieces. His masterpieces.
Caleb absolutely adores window gels. ADORES them. So does Carah. Or maybe she just adores them because everytime Caleb is picking out a few for himself, he makes sure to buy some for her too. (It is one of those rare times that he thinks of someone other than himself - so it says alot!)
Good cheap fun these window gels. He spends hours putting them on and taking them off and moving to the next window to begin the process again. It is only when he has ripped them to shreds and it is impossible to figure out any longer what those window gels were meant to be, that he loses interest.
When I was editing this photo, I noticed the LIMBS on this guy too. He looks like he is all arms and legs just like Nathan. Must be something in the water! Sigh!
I just adore the near reflection that you can see of Caleb in these shots and the light, well, it's just magical.
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