A Piece of Me

I'm having one of those days. Maybe it's one of those weeks. It is actually one of those summers.

You know the kind. Everybody wants a piece of me. Every day.

Most of the time, I don't mind at all.
But sometimes, I do.
It's summer. It's my vacation from work.
It's almost August and I'm still waiting to start having some fun.
I know that I bring a lot of it on myself by offering to help people.
It's just how I am. It's how we were raised.
You help others.
I go to things thinking they are going to be fun and then people are whining and complaining.
Just like I am now. I admit it.
But if I can't vent on my own blog, where can I?
I try to be positive. I try not to complain to my husband or family.
I do have one wonderful friend that I walk with in the morning. She is my therapist and I am hers. That helps so much.
How fast we walk depends on how angry or upset we are at something. Those are some of our best workouts. When we are laughing and joking, we are just strolling along.
It's kind of funny actually. We talk, we cry, we bitch, we laugh and we feel better.
There isn't an emotion we haven't covered in that three and a half miles in the morning.

Don't get me wrong. I love my life. I have a family of 34 people now. We get together fairly regularly. The kids have so much fun together. I love to watch them.
My own little family unit of 13 is awesome.
I love them with all my heart.
I have the best friends ever.

But, one day I'd just like to spend some time sitting in my yard with a good book and looking at my flowers without the phone ringing or a car pulling up or someone coming out from the house wanting a piece of me.

You Capture / Play

The You Capture assignment was to capture play.

I had some pretty good opportunities with the grandkids.

We were at a birthday party that had a big blow up water slide.

Natalie loved it.

She even loved when she hit the bottom and the water splashed everywhere.

She even liked it when she came down head first.

Lizzy wasn't nearly as excited.
One half of a slide and she was done.

Lizzy had much more fun playing with mommy.

Another day Natalie decided that she could surf in the pool on a raft.

I think she enjoyed the falling down more than the actual surfing.

Lizzy had fun playing piano.

Lizzy also had fun playing with grandma.

Jack just tolerated us.

I think he knew he wasn't going to be a featured subject in grandma's You Capture this week.

p.s. I confess that I didn't take the last picture, but Lizzy looked so cute I couldn't resist.

People are playing over at Beth's.

Want to join them?

Random for Randoms Sake

1. I started aqua jogging in the pool. I really like it. I learned the hard way though that you should not run on your toes. Very sore calves for a few days.

2. My garden is beginning to produce and I have an over abundance of cucumbers. Good thing we love them. We also have green onions, jalapenos and cilantro.

3. We went to a birthday party on Saturday and they had a big blow up water slide for the kids. Natalie loved it. Lizzy not so much.

4. I have a bunco pool party on Thursday. One of the girls that used to be in our club is in town from Arizona. It will be fun to see her. I'll be able to show off grandbaby pictures.

5. One month from right now, school will be back in session.

6. I've been making a lot of progress with the editing of my house. I'm definitely sorting through some junk.

7. There is no score in the Cubs game at the end of six innings. I warned you this was random.

8. Not only is my oldest daughter an awesome photographer, she is an awesome writer.

9. My youngest daughter made dinner tonight and it was really good. Fiesta ravioli, tossed salad, green beans and garlic bread. Very tasty.

10. Because there are people that I know in real life that read this blog, I can't always write about what's on my mind.

11. Jack is this close to laughing.

12. I'm going to try to convince Dick that we need to take a little trip before I go back to work.

13. The girl that I walk with in the mornings realized that we walk no less than a 5k five days a week. If we were running that would be a real accomplishment.

14. I'm going to sew some pillows for my daughter. I like to sew and I just never seem to find the time for it on a regular basis.

15. Oh crap....two to nothing Houston. Let's go Cubbies!!

I think I have bored you long enough.

Calling All Bird People

Does anyone know what kind of bird this is?

They are sitting out on our back fence and have been for quite awhile.

I don't want to get too close and have them fly away.

Any ideas?

After some Goggle searching, I think they might be Least Bitterns.

Can anyone confirm that?

You Capture / Black and White

You Capture this week was to do something in black and white.

I'm one of those people who doesn't care much for black and white.

But, here's what I captured.

Here is Lizzy playing with the bubble machine.

These are the woods behind our house.

This is the squirrel in the tree in the woods behind the house.

Head over to Beth's for more black and white.

God's Newest Little Soldier

Yesterday was Jack's baptism. He was so cute and sweet. He wore his mommy's christening gown that her grandma made for her. His sisters wore it too.

Here he is with mommy and daddy

Here he looks like he might be wanting to ask daddy what is going on.

Here he looks pretty happy to get out of a dress.
Uncle Roy said that was embarrassing for a little guy.

And back home in his big boy clothes and after a nap, he is a happy camper.

Natalie and Lizzy looked adorable in their matching dresses, but I didn't get a picture of them together. And...this is a post about Jack.

World's Longest Picture Post

My grandgirls came over for the night. Their mom was busy getting the house ready for a party after their brother gets baptized on Sunday.

They built with blocks.

They climbed in their brother's bed.

And looked......

pretty darn cute.

They played with the dollhouse.

And they curled up with Aunt Abby to watch Enchanted while they fell asleep.

After a request for blueberry pancakes for breakfast, they stopped for a quick photo op with Aunt Abby before we took off for the zoo.

We saw tigers.

We saw zebras. Even a brand new baby zebra.

We saw bald eagles.

We saw yucky reptiles.

Some of us liked it.

And some of us didn't. She said the tigers were too loud.

They were asleep three minutes after they hit their seats.

We came home and chased poppa in the pool.

Lizzy made her first jump (and several others) off the ladder and loved it.

This girl has no fear.

They stopped to look cute.

They both did.

Natalie rode her jeep.

And Lizzy learned how to drive herself.

After a 22 hour adventure, I took my little darlings home.

I love these girls with all my heart, but they sure can wear me out.

I'm still tired and they are on their way over to go in the pool.

It is 93 degrees here and humid.

The pool is the place to be.
Hope you all have a great weekend!

You Capture / Vehicles

Random vehicles at the air show.

Vehicles outside our hotel window.




Vehicles in the air.

Vehicles in the water.

Vehicles in the air and the water.

Head over to Beth's to see some of the clever ideas people had for vehicles.