Stealing sweet notes

Back when I started to take pictures, it was because I wanted to remember every moment of their lives. I wanted to remember the sly smile, the look of intensity or the joy in them. I wanted to be able to look back on it years down the road and be able to tell them a story behind the picture.

I think it was all born out of lack of pictures or a lack of a story. I have 2 pictures of my mother and I. Two. I wonder about what was going on in those pictures, what is the back story. I think it is because I don’t have her here to ask.

But then my dad married the lady who became my mom, and she took pictures all the time. I have a bunch and I am sure in her attic or closet somewhere there is stacks and stacks. I remember the little things like the smell of a fresh canister of film. The whirl the cameras would make when the film was done. The excitement of the little envelope of pictures. Back in the day (just to much fun to say) we had to wait to see what came out. And then she would sit and write on the back of the pictures. Dates, times, people in them and why. I can look at those pictures today and there is no mystery. That is a gift.

I think that is what shaped my need for photographs. The two moms in my life. The one who left a hole in me, and the other who filled it up.

More than I would like to admit, my mom has shaped who I am. I want to give my kids what I can find in her closets. A story of who they are, so that even if I am not around they can rummage through my files and laugh at what made me smile and tear up.

So the back story of this picture. My son is now being cyber schooled. Long story short, his school did not work with his gifted mind and this works better for us. He is now home all day with me. Most of which we are sitting at the kitchen table, with laptops and school books and paper. But he takes these breaks in the day to relax and get focused. A home version of recess and class breaks.

He has taken to doing things he knows that his sister would lose her cool about. And one of those things is playing her instruments.

This her ukulele. She loves it and is teaching herself to play it since her guitar teacher wont. And if she were here, this might have been a fight. But she wasn’t and he got his hands on it. He played it for a whole break. Just kind of jammimg away. Then the time came where he had to go back to class. He packed it away, tucked it back where she had it, and she never knew.

I took the moment to grab a picture. I loved the way the light hit him. I love the look on his face. I love the story. This I want to remember when he leaves my house and starts on his own life. The moment at 12 where he took 15 minutes to find the music in the day..

Whoa Where have I been?

LOL It has been so long since I last posted, since then the re vamped word press. I could not find the log in spot.

We have been doing really good. I have just been having trouble finding time to update. When I have a free moment, I have been cooking or running. So much has happened in the 2 months since I posted that instead of going back and updating on all that is happening, I am just going to start fresh.

Today should be pretty busy. Gryffan is at school already and Lexy is getting ready to go. I have been going out for my run once I put her on the bus. I can now run 10 laps straight. Ok running is relative and it is more like jogging, but speed will come eventually. The most important part is that I am going. I have recently dropped another 10 pounds and now I am successfully in a size 12. I have not been a 12 in forever, and I really do not want to stay that size for too long. So every weekday I go up to the track and put in 10 laps. I am very proud of myself.

Hard to believe that Lexy is in school now. She has grown up so much in the last few weeks. Just the way that she is talking is older. She loves going to school and she loves her teacher. She gets the bus around noon but she is ready to go around 11 and then asks every 2 minutes, is it time to go for the bus.

Gryffan is doing very well in school. We had a meeting the other day with his GIEP teacher and his regular teacher. He is going to be competing in the Odyssey of the Mind this year. He is very excited about that. Today is an enrichment day, so he was all smiles to get on the bus.

Tonight we have a soccer game, Gryffan and I. Our team is doing really well. I am so happy that I signed up to coach. It has been very rewarding. To see the little ones work together and use what I have been teaching them in practice out there in a game is awesome. Gryffan has even scored twice this mini season. We only have a few more games left till the end of the fall season. I think I will be lost then, what will I do with free time. Hehehe maybe update my blog more often.

Gryffan also has karate tonight. He has been moved up to a yellow belt. He loves karate and it has been very good for him. I think that he is completely done with wrestling, and I am not really sorry about that. Karate has been so much better for him.

At Codorus State park 10-3

August 3

The summer is really keeping us busy. July went by so fast! Hard to believe that the children will be going to school in a few short weeks.

The weather has been playing tricks on us, and so much of our plans have had to have been put off because of it. I wanted to camp a few times this year, but with a rainy June and a colder than normal July we haven’t. June and July are our free months in the summer, try and pack as much into them before the chaos of school and soccer happens in August and September.

I have lots of pictures of thing we have done in July.

My princess

On the 12 of July we went to the annual MCA Elementary wrestling picnic at Locust Lake. The kids had a great time, but the lake smelled really bad. Like dead fish bad. I did not want to get in it at all. Tim says that I a spoiled about what kind of water I swim in, I say if I can not see the bottom, I am not getting in.

Not sure if he wants to go in or not.

I have been debating on going to school for photography. On the walk back to the car the kids stopped at a playarea and Gryffan informed me that he would gladly be my model for school. With looks like his, I think it would be smart to take him up on his offer.

Ahh my love!

A friend of mine asked me to make her a rag doll for an upcoming baby shower for sister. She liked how the doll came out so much that she helped me inlarge the pattern to make a bigger doll out of it. Lex just loves the bigger doll, but she can not decide on her name. Some days it is Love Blossom and some days it is Apple Blossom.

Momma and new dolly

We have been spending nice days outside. This is one of my favorite pictures of the summer. I have a thing for kid feet.

Happy hippie feet

Then we took a day trip down to Hickory Run State Park. We had such a good time! Unfortunately it started to rain around 3 cutting our day short, but it was still a good day. The kids loved playing in the woods by the creeks, Boulder Field just fasinated Gryffan and the water bridge got the thumbs up too. They also liked seeing wherre Tim and I got married.

by a creek

Another of my favorites this summer.

Take my hand, it will be ok

Gryffan in the water bridge. Lexy was afraid of the rushing water and would only go in it with daddy, and she did not stay long enough to snap a picture.

How could you not pinch those cheeks?

Then over to Boulder Field. Gryffan wanted to keep going out farther and farther, but Lexy hung out on the edges with me (I was in flip flops) and said she thought that there would be snacks and spiders out there so she was happy where she was.

Lexy at Boulder Field

Then we went over for lunch at some new picnic area. They really have done a ton of work up there. Either that or we just have not been there in ages. They expanded the beach though, that I know for sure is new. And the bathrooms, now those are nice.

Finding a quiet spot to chill

And then it was off to the beach before the rain came 20 minutes later. lol

helping each other

There has not been too much creative coming out of the kitchen lately. But we did try the Banana Pudding Bars recipe from the July Vegnews and it came out wonderful. The kids and hubby liked it, and it made me weak in the knees. I ended up making it again this weekend for a family bbq. Quick and easy and kid helping friendly.

mixa, mixa, mixa (blues clues)

The biggest news of July had to be that Gryffan lost his very first tooth! It took about 48 hours to go from wiggly to out. He played with it constantly and it came out after he went to bed. Silly boy did not tell me that it came out, instead he put it right under his pillow. About a half hour later, he was very upset because he could not find it, and that was when he told me it came out. I informed him that he HAS to tell me when they come out so that I could call the tooth fairy. lol About a week later the second one came out as well, and now he has a super adorable gap. He went to the dentist last week and the dentist said that his teeth look healthy and strong! He has been taking very good care of them.

it is hard to get a picture of a mouth.

Lexy’s dance class also performed twice last weekend at the picnic in the park. They are all just too cute for words. She did well. I am very proud of her. How could you not be, look at her!

Beautiful

After dancing they went to play in this amazing bubble area. Which was great fun for them till it got in the eyes, and the man supervising sprayed them right in the face with a hose. I think that was his fun for the day. After that they came to me to wipe out their eyes.

Playing in the bubbles

By the end of the month, the summer is starting to lose all the fun aspect to it. Both kids were getting “bored” and starting to drive me up a wall. Think of the Staples commercial with the parents excited for back to school and that was me last week. I decided to open up Gryffan’s balcony and let them play up there. They made it into a fort and we made a little flag for it. (speaking of, I have to remember to take that down soon, 😉 ) That seemed to perk them up for a bit, and it was really nice to see them working together again with out any fighting.

The Super LookOut Club

Ahhh I am going to be in trouble someday. Look at those eyes!

Mommy I want a pony, Yes dear what ever you want

This past weekend we went down to Uncle Donnie and Aunt Jane’s down in Hershey, where Gryffan took his place in a long line of Clyde blooded men and rode a dirt bike. Part of me was so nervous I could puke, and the other half of me was proud of him.

My monster

In the gardening front, this year has been horrible for us. Nothing we started from seed survived. We picked up a flat from the aution in Hometown and some of the stuff is really doing well. I have a ton of pickle cucumbers, and lettuce out the wazoo, but no eggplants or peppers. I think we will have a bumper crop of brussle sprouts when the time comes and tomatos will be plentiful, if they ever get red. Tim planted a rose bush earlier in the year and it is just taking off. Here is a picture of the blooms that we got already this year.

kordus perfecta, i think

I am going to be coaching Gryffan in soccer for sure this year. I got the call the other day, and tomorrow I will know for sure if I got Lexy’s team as well. I am a little nervous about that, but excited too.

Well till tomorrow. lol C-

June 2nd

my take on the soccer portrait.

Another beautiful day in the neighborhood. I went out for a run this morning. I had taken last week off due to the crappy rainy weather we were having. Today I paid for it though. I was up to 6 laps of running, which is 1.5 miles, before I needed to walk a bit. Today the most I made was 4 laps. Ouch! I would like to get up early in the morning and run first thing. I think it will be cooler and calmer and the building block of a great day. There is just one thing that stands in my way. I hate mornings. lol

Lexy and I made the icing for cupcakes that I am making for the soccer party on Thursday. Unfortunately I did not have enough green food coloring, so they were put on hold. I am going to make the cupcakes tomorrow. Tim thinks that I need 40, I think 24 would be enough. I mean I have never had a piece of cake at the end of season parties. Hopefully they will turn out in real life like I think they will turn out. Fingers crossed that tomorrows post will have pictures of some kick butt cupcakes.

Also day 2 of no tv for Gryffan, we have been to busy really to watch anything once school is over anyway. But he played in the sandbox after school, and read a few chapters of his new book. He is in love with the Magic Treehouse books. He also had a free day at school, and I know that he played in some running around capacity. He told me all about their game of Super Villains.

The only time that the tv was on when it was just Lexy was when Tim and I watched WWE Raw. ( slightly hides face in embarrassment, but I can not help it, Randy Orton is HOT!!) And really she does not pay any attention to that. She thinks that Santino Morrella is funny, but that is it. I let her play her leapster for about a half hour today, but that isn’t so bad, because it is an educational toy.

So our running tally is :

Gryffan- 0

Lexy – 1 hour approximately

Constance – Work out- yes/ diet – yes

Holy cow, it has been forever!

With the school year winding down and the sport season in full swing, seems like I don’t have a free minute. We have been so busy. Last week we had sign ups for next years soccer season, and guess who will be coaching? Thats right, I did it, I took the plunge. Hopefully I wont be absolutely terrible at it.

Gryffan has been doing well this season at soccer. He scored a goal at a game last week. I think that it totally took him by surprise, like hey what did I do?

We also had track and field day up at the “stadium” last week too. Gryffan competed in 4 evens, 60 yard dash, obstacle course, tennis ball throw and stomper relay. It was so much fun to watch him compete and interact with his friends. He did a lot better at throwing than we thought that he would do. Apprently playing fetch with Em has helped him in that department.

Lexy has been keeping busy too. She has been going to dance class twice a week, and they are getting ready for a preformance at the town park picnic this year.

We also have been working on her “school work”, to get her ready for pre-k. Although really, I do not think that there is much to get her ready for. We had to go over what her last name was, because she thought it was Dyann Jane. lol She has taken it upon herself to learn how to count in different languages! She can count to 10 in English, Spanish (thank you Dora), Japanese, French and German! She is going to be a little smarty pants like her brother!

Tim has been doing well with school. He is maintaining a A average in both classes that he is taking, and he is thinking that he may take 3 classes next time. He just wanted to get his feet wet before he really jumped in. We are all very proud that he is going back to school.

And what is new with me? Well besides running around with the kids like a nut, I have been running. lol I am up to 2.5 miles in about 38 minutes. I figure it to be 10 laps around our track and I can run 4 laps before I need a bit of a break and have to walk. I am really happy with how far I have come, considering when I started 2 months ago I could barely make one lap. Also the biggest news, or I guess getting to be smaller news, is that I am back into a size 14! I was so excited the other day when I went shopping for pants! The scale has not reflected a big loss, but I know that I am shrinking in certain areas. I am hoping that I am gaining muscle. And considering I started this whole thing almost 2 years ago at my biggest, a size 22, I am very happy with how far I have come, and confident that it will stay off. Slow and steady win the race, right?

Feb 18

Everything is back to normal. We got the wireless network up and running, so now we no longer have to share a computer, and I can load up minw with all the pictures and messangers that I want and I do not have to hear any complaints.

Today Gryffan did the mathathon for St Judes Childrens Hospital. He completed it in about a half hour. This year they were super heros, he liked that. I totally did not read what they had sent home, and was waiting for them to send home a disc like last year, but this year it was all on line. I would have taken him to the library or a friends house. Next time I have to read more carefully. He managed to get 56 dollars in donations, including 5 from his sister and he put in 5 from his own stash.  He wanted to put in all the ones that he had in his bank, but that would have been 6 weeks of savings, so I said no. if you want to make a donation in his name for St Judes got to mathathon.org, click on students on the right hand side, which will open a new window. From there scroll all the way down to the bottom and click on sponsor, then click on pa then when it says find type in mt c as our 4 letter code. Click on Elementary then in the next page click on sponsor a student. type in Gryffan O’Donnell and click on his name and that will take you to a page where you can donate. Any money for St Judes is money well spent.

December 11th

This morning we had quiet a surprise. I got Gryffan ready for school, like normal, put the dogs out and notice that it was still raining. We go and stand up at the bus stop and wait, and wait and wait. No bus. After 20 minutes of standing and waiting in the rain, I decide to take him home and check the delays, maybe there is no school. Sure enough it is delayed. I thought that it was wierd  that they would delay school for rain. I thought that right up until we decided to go to the bank which is 20 miles away and up and over some mountians. There was ice everywhere. The trees looked beautiful, and thankfully we were on 54 and then route 11, which are all state roads so they were clear of ice and just wet.

Gryffan had practice last night at the high school. He loves to practice over there. He got weighed for the tournament on Saturday, he is 48.9 lbs and he will be wrestling in the 50lb weigh class. Which is good, we do not have to worry about weighing in on Saturday morning. He can eat breakfast before he weighs in and we will still be alright. Tomorrow I have to bake and cook all day so that we can have some good things to eat. Funny that when you go to a sporting event, where the kids are suppossed to be in good shape and aware of their weight, and the only thing to eat is pepperoni pizza and hot dogs.

Gryffan reading to Lexy on Sunday

December 9th

Tonight was the First grade Christmas musical. Everytime I say that word anymore I say it like High School Musical, Music- cal. Yes I am a dork. It was really cute, but like most things it was packed. And people camp out early to get good seats. Something came up on the home front that caused us to be late, but Gryffan informed me that you can see better from the back row. And really you can see pretty well. But if you are in the back row watching and your child is tall and in the back row on the stage, the pictures come out bad.

It was a really cute play. These penguins come to the North Pole to take over Christmas for a movie shoot. His little friend Kyra was Dancer, and she had a speaking part. She was so cute!