Photostory Friday: Good goldarn thing she's so stinkin' cute

"Hi.  I'm Zoe.  I hang out with the Stewart's and love on the Snippets and eat me some food and loll around and take Proin so I don't pee on the floor.  Aren't I a doll of a chocolate labby girl?"

"I took up a new hobby lately....jumping up on the side of the house when I want to come in from outside.  I'm not a barker.  I'm a whiner and sometimes the Stewart's don't hear me when I wanna come in.  I learned I'm able to do something pretty neat if I drag my front paws down the side of the house!"

 

"If I drag my paws just right, I turn the knobber on this thinger and water starts to pour out.  Pretty neat, huh?"

"Although, apparently it's a problem when neither Mom nor Dad Stewart realize the water is pouring out... right next to the foundation of the house...for several hours....cuz they stayed up really late last night, saying bad words and using loud, sucky machines and....for some strange reason, pulling a part of the carpet up in the basement.  Now there are all these loud, windy things in the basement and it sorta smelled funny down there at first but it's starting to get better...."

"I think I mighta been in trouble...good thing I'm so cute!"

Photostory Friday is hosted by Cecily and Lolli. Head over to their sites to check out more Friday Photostories.  And thanks for stopping by!!

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

Next round of 365+1 Photos

Day 58 (2/27/12):

I bought a bulk quantity of quinoa from Costco, thinking the kids and I would be having it for breakfast every morning but since my breakfast quinoa cooking failed, Stu tried his hand at a savory side dish.  It was nummy!  And Stu's made two different kinds of breakfast quinoa cookies that have been delish.  I guess we know who's the real chef in the Stewart household.

Day 59 (2/28/12):

This is the "fossil" that Stu and Adam made together during Dino-Dad's night at preschool a short while ago.

Day 60 (2/29/12....the +1 day for the year):

Normally, this branch hangs way above our bedroom window but we had such wet, heavy snow that day, limbs were hanging low or even breaking off all over the neighborhood.

Day 61 (3/1/12 - Ryann's 6th Birthday!):

It is tradition in the Stewart household (borrowed from respected parents who've done this before and have turned out great kids) for the birthday boy or girl to dictate (within reason) what will be served for supper on their birthday evening.  Ryann carefully chose mashed potatoes, cauliflower, broccoli, and ham (in that order).  Then, the day of, she changed her mind from cauliflower and broccoli to cooked carrots with a little butter and brown sugar.  Mmm, mmm, good birthday meal!

Day 62 (3/2/12):

The only photo taken this day.  Ryann's colorful picture of Pablo Picasso that came home from school that day.

Day 63 (3/3/12):

For Ryann's birthday party this year, I purchased a Plum District deal and hired a facepainting princess for two hours.  It was the quitest, easiest party we've ever had!  The girls spent nearly two hours clustered around the facepainting table, watching their friends get the same exact "Princess Mask" that Ryann chose.  They had an entire 3-ring binder of designs to choose from but they all wanted to emulate the birthday girl.  Stu and I were talked into getting our faces done, too.

Day 64 (3/4/12):

Ok, this is a bit of a cheat.  Apparently, I forgot to take a photo this day.  But Stu grabbed the camera to capture Buzz's ingenuity when tasked with finding somewhere in the house he could use his new, round sled that he'd gotten from Grammie.  We were proud of his inventiveness, he always went down on his tummy, feet first, so we let the shenanigans continue...and Max and Ryann joined later.

Day 65 (3/5/12):

My sweet niece, Evelyn, is "too sweet".  Amidst her stage of stranger anxiety, she crawled into my lap and let me read books to her...even though we've not gotten to spend oodles of time together. 

Day 66 (3/6/12):

Ryann modeling one of her new birthday outfits along with her new birthday watch.  I love this shirt because Ryann likes "Fancy Nancy" and Nancy says "Ooh-la-la" lots.

Day 67 (3/7/12):

Not sure why poor Adam's face is so blurry.  It must have been a slower shutter speed and knowing Buzz, he was wigglin' around.  Alas, all the photos can't be crisp and perfect, right?  The kids were showing off their temporary tattoos Ryann got for her birthday and willingly shared (such a nice sister!).  Don't ask why they're dressed like this in March....at least they had on more than just underwear.

Day 68 (3/8/12):

One of my very best friends whom I've known since I was two, gave birth to her fourth beautiful baby on March 7th.  I got to meet and snuggle handsome Declan the next day.  Now they have a blessedly perfect girl, boy, girl, boy family!  Isn't that cool?!

Day 69 (3/9/12):

It's hard to tell in this photo but poor Max was diagnosed with an infected lymph node today.  His ear looked terrible in the morning - swollen, red, peeling, and he came to us in the middle of the night asking for lotion to put on it and complaining of terrible pain.  After one day of antibiotics, it already looks much better and he says it feels much better.

Day 70 (3/10/12):

I took Zoe out for an early evening stroll after a GORGEOUS day for early March with high temperatures in the upper 60's.  The stars above our neighborhood were breathtaking.

Sticky Note Stitches (posing as Fridge Funnies)

It's high time for some Fridge Funnies!! Except this time, I jotted the little things I wanted to remember on sticky notes instead of on the fridge calendar so maybe I'll call them Sticky Note Stitches. 

First off - here was some playtime interaction between all three Snippets that made me smile (a. because it was just a cute interation and b. because once again, the kids are playing games I remember from my playground days!):

Max: "Hey Ryann, have you ever played the game "Oh bo skee wot in tottin"? Ryann: "No" Max: "I'll teach you. I taught Adam already. Ok, everyone get in a circle (I was in the kitchen so could only hear what was going on; I could not see). Ready, it's like this...Max starts singing "Oh bo skeeeeeeeee.....ok, Adam, apparently I need to teach you again, too."

Last weekend, we had a birthday party for Ryann. She invited seven friends and all were able to come. The boys got very excited when the guests started arriving and I don't remember who started this but pretty soon, each time a car pulled into the driveway, either Max, Adam, or both would call out, "Girl ahoy!!!"

Recently, Ryann reached for her toothbrush in our previously described disgusting toothbrush holder.  She spied the boys' nasty brushes and grumped, "Eeeeeewwww!  Max and Adam are so gross!!"  I couldn't help it; I laughed out loud and said, "Ry, that's probably not the last time you're going to say that in your life."

While folding laundry the other night, Stu asked Adam if he'd like to help.  Adam gamely agreed and was folding some washcloths.  Then, he moved on to a bath towel.  He struggled to fold it and started to get frustrated.  Stu gave him a few pointers and eventually he got it.  Then he sighed, "Whew.  That was a biggie."

Max was working on homework the other night and I was puttering around the living room, cleaning up and closing the shades for the night.  I began singing "Baby Beluga" while moving around but only got about one line in before Max yelled, "Mom, please stop!  Your singing infiltrates my concentration!!"

Today, Adam and I visited the library while Max and Ryann were at school.  One of the books Adam chose to borrow is called "Tiny the Snow Dog".  All three kids and I settled down on the couch this afternoon to read it.  We got to the second page:

and Max announced, "Oh, this is an imitation of Clifford."  Do first graders say that stuff?  I guess mine does :)

A Photos of the Day catchup coming soon....stay tuned.....

I ♥ Faces "Beautiful B&W"

For the loyal readers of Stewart Snippets, this photo is a recent repeat but I love it so much, I jumped at the chance to share it for the I ♥ Faces Photo Contest.

My grandma really wanted Adam to look at the camera and for both of them to be smiling nicely but Adam was more interested in showing great-grandma the neat airplane and I thought this candid shot captured their bespectacled faces beautifully.

Head over to the I ♥ Faces website to see more Beee-a-u-tiful black and white photography!!

A Snippet Adventure

On a could-have-been-boring-Sunday-afternoon, Daddy suddenly called out, "Kids!  C'mere!  Who wants to go on an adventure?  Get your stuff on for an outdoor adventure!"

I wasn't going to go.  I was going to stay home and edit photos.  I didn't want to walk in the cold.  Then, Adam peered up at me with his glasses-magnified eyes and asked, "Mommy, awe you coming on dee a-ven-sure wis us?"  I was persuaded.  And man, am I glad I went.  Check out our "avensure":

Sometimes our youngest marches to the beat of his own drum....or sits to his own beat as it were...

Lying down to the beat of his own drum...

Dad yelled, "Look!  Look at this rare, yellow tree!"  And Max and Ryann laughed out loud at Adam's tree-hugging behavior.

What?  Your three year olds don't randomly wrap themselves around fire hydrants?

Atsa big tree, huh?  You would think these three could try to pretend to be happy to pose for mom.

So...it's an imprint of a deer hoof and I'm assuming that's braille for, "If you are on an "avensure" and you are blind and you are crawling on your hands and knees and feel an imprint like the above in the mud, and then you feel some round, pea-sized pellets in the vicinity, don't put them in your mouth."  I'm just guessing.  I can't read braille.

365+1 Project catchup

Day 48 (2/17/2012):

Yep, bad mommy sometimes allows the kids to do headstands on the couch.

Day 49 (2/18/2012):

Photo of a photog   :)

Day 50 (2/19/2012):

This is usually what I find after Adam has allegedly "taken a nap"

Day 51 (2/20/2012):

Sob, sob, tears, tears.....no photo today :(  I only made it 50 days into my 365+1 challenge.  Oh well; it's good practice in not being a big "P" as I've been called lately (i.e., Perfectionist).

Day 52 (2/21/2012):

Remember "punching balloons"?  Those suckers are awesome.  And I get dizzy blowing them up.

 Day 53 (2/22/2012):

I love how little girls can sometimes sit themselves down and play a quiet little game that does not involve death, dismemberment, disgusting noises, or other disquieting aspects...

 Day 54 (2/23/2012):

Max's Pinkeye didn't look too pink the day he had to stay home from school but we were good parents and waited 24 hours before sending him back into the fray.  By the way - can anyone tell me what color my son's eyes are?  Is this hazel?  Some sort of green?  Greenish brown?  And how did they get that way?  Because he had bright blue eyes until he was about two.

Day 55 (2/24/2012):

The cafeteria at my company makes the BEST breakfast quinoa.  I tried to replicate it the other day and failed miserably.  I think the milk got too hot but how do you boil something in milk for 20 minutes without the milk getting too hot?!  I should audition for America's Worst Chef.

Day 56 (2/25/2012):

It's a little hard to discern but that morning, it was snowing in the sun and the teensy, little snowflakes looked like tiny party sparkles floating in the air.

Day 57 (2/26/2012):

I need a longer arm to take pictures of Stu and I together with the 50 mm lens on.  But you get the idea - it takes a good lookin' couple to make such guldarn cute Snippets, right?  By the by, an older lady stopped me as we entered Culver's this day, smiled indulgently, and asked, "Did you choose that hat for yourself or get it as a gift?"  WTH?  You don't like my muppet fur hat?!

Dinner Delights and some Deep Thoughts

I've blogged before about funny "car conversations" I've had with the kids. Well tonight we had some frivolity during our dinner conversation. This Thursday is Dino-Dad night at Adam's preschool. Adam is beyond excited and also has quite the imagination. He posed the question - What if I got left at preschool all by myself? I responded, "Yeah? Where would you sleep?" Right away he answered On the roof! Then changed his mind and said No, in the sensory table! (He loves the sensory table at school and his adorable pronunciation of "sensowy tabue" slays me). Then, because everything in our house lately simply must circle back to bathroom talk, he decided he'd most likely sleep in the toilet.

Max got in on the action and asked if we remembered the sensory table from his preschool. We talked about the table for a bit and then I said, "You sure loved preschool, didn't you? It was really fun, huh?" Max matter of factly stated, "Yeah...while it lasted. Then came Kindergarten and I had to start learning more stuff." Ain't that the truth baby?

Ryann wrote and illustrated a book for me this week. I'll scan and share it soon. She did an excellent job and when I asked her how come she can write a book but can't quite read one yet, she got an amazed look on her face and said, "I don't know?!!" She also drew a picture of me the other morning. Her most important questions were whether I'd like to be portrayed wearing a necklace and if I'd like to be saying something. Right away I responded I'd like a necklace and to be saying "It's going to be a good day". She forgot the necklace but remembered the speech bubble. Stu helped her spell the words since I was at a class I've been taking recently. I am busy working on getting myself to the healthiest Sheri-state possible. And let me tell you, it's hard-ass work. Ryann's picture is in my folder and I take it out to look at it several times a day.

While driving Ryann to dance class tonight, I was enjoying some new music I'd added to my iPad and thinking about who I really am...at my core. Sometimes in the everyday busyness of being a mom and a wife and a daughter and a granddaughter and a sister and a worker and a friend and especially in the traumas of life - the threat of possible blindness for your baby, the tragic, senseless, frightening, needless death of a best girlfriend's little brother, the loss of a fur-baby, the absolute tragedy of a family member taking their own life on Christmas night, your own searing internal pain that no one can understand no matter how many times you try to explain, the fear and disappointment of not getting relief from the pain and sometimes trying treatments that make things even worse for months on end....one can get really lost. But I'm remembering who Sheri is.

At my very core, underneath the pain and hurt and confusion:

- My cup spilleth over with Love. Love for God and appreciation for the people and situations He's placed in my path these tough past several years. Love for my family and friends. Love of puppies and kitties and horses and good books and beautiful or just catchy music.  All my past loves who still hold places in my heart.  Love of fresh sheets on the bed and aromatic candle scent in the house.  Love of bubble baths and birdsong in the spring and summer mornings.  Love of the warm sun beating down on my body.  Love of swimming in a clean lake or heated, chlorine-smelling pool.  Love of being pregnant and bearing babies.  Love of holding freshly born babies.  Love of photography.  Love of Love (I love me a good wedding).

- I am a good mom.  I try my best every day.  I fail sometimes and am ok with that because I know I'm doing the best I can.

- I am a good wife.  Sometimes I fail but it's ok because I'm trying the best I can.

- I am a good person.  I am accepting of other people no matter their skin color, their religion, their income, their Loves.

- People like me and want to be my friend.

- I want people to like me but am learning that I don't have to compromise myself in order to be liked.

- I'm a perfectionist working to dial it back a bit...or a whole lot.  It's a hard habit to break.

- For a long time, I thought I was in control, thought I needed to be in control.  I'm slowly learning I'm not in control and life will be more pleasant when I stop trying to be in control. It's a hard habit to break.

- I seem to have broken the habit of biting my nails...most of the time.

- I recently got test results with confirmation of something I've always "known".  I am a slow metabolizer of drugs and so am very sensitive to most medications.

- I inherited a propensity for anxiety and depression but I am NOT "anxiety and depression".

Even just skin-deep, I'm special:

- I inherited very easily stretched skin so bear tiger-striped stretch marks and the saggy-baggy elephant skin of a mother three times over (even after losing nearly 30 pounds over the past 10 months - no flat tummy for this lady).

- I burn easily in a tanning bed.

- I scar easily and so have visible memories of bike falls, wall crashes, foot gouges, and roller blading incidents.

- I have amazingly blue-ish eyes that change color with my moods or depending on the color of the clothing I wear.

All this to say that this time in my life feels like a sort of metamorphosis...except I'm not morphing into someone brand new.  I'm trying to get to the real Sheri God means for me to be.

And when I get there A. It will be a dream come true and B. I'm thinking about getting a tattoo to remind me of this terrible path I've dragged, scraped, and clawed my way to the end of.

I'll keep you posted....or maybe not...depending on what I feel like sharing when the time comes.

Thanks for reading and for understanding (if you do).