Truly Maw-va-lus

It has, indeed, been quite some time since I captured this video of my Chasey. I had intentions of posting it ever since we came home from California, but you know....time just gets away from you sometimes.

One of my favorite songs right now is The Lighthouse by Acapella...you may have heard it a time or two (or ten) while perusing my blog. Apparently, Chase also likes it a - lot. So much, in fact, that he picked the whole thing out by ear and learned to play it. Amazing, he is. The kid has an ear like you wouldn't believe.

While I stayed with the Winbergs for those many weeks, I used to hear them in my sleep...I would dream about the two songs that this one loved to play. He would sit at the piano 4-7 times a day and crank them out. Sometimes poppy, sometimes bluesy, and sometimes....just chasey.

Here is my little man (well, technically he's not mine) playing his most favoritest song ever.

**at least it WAS his favorite, like, two months ago. I'm sure he's picked up several more since then. He probably stole them from Kyle. Hee hee. By ear, of course.

One thing Keith misses a whole bunch is being able to jam with others. Others who play musical instruments. When we go to Cali or Oregon, he spends a lot of his time playing. Here is a video of him and Chase playing a Jack Johnson song.

**again, this is several weeks old. I'm a total slacker.

It brought it all back

After listening to Lauren's precious little voice over and over (and over) I was reminded of a video I've seen in the past.

At one point during her message, she says "It's my birthday today" and the way she says "today" totally brought it all back. Feef? I know you know what I'm talking about.

I'm sure for those of you who have spent any time in a nail salon can totally and completely relate to this...

Sweet Lil' Thang...

We called to wish Lauren a happy birthday yesterday. She's already THREE! I can't believe that little girl is three years old.

Anyhoo...we left her a message and then she called back and left us one. I think I've listened to this little message at least twenty six times.

By the end of the night, I may reach fifty. It's that cute.

I sure do miss her.

Gifts of Love...

It seems my kids like Post-it notes. It wasn't very long ago that my eldest left me a darling little note such as this....



I was in the kitchen the other day, when Karly came in and told me that she left me a "special gift" on the front porch. Since I was busy with nasty salmonella causing goo on my hands, I didn't stop right away and go out. She danced around and just couldn't stand the waiting...so I washed up and went out the garage door and around to the front. This is what I saw.

I told her to sit down by said gifts so I could capture her cuteness. Although, her hair could have most definitely been styled in a cuter way...at least she doesn't look like Orphan Annie. 'Cuz she does sometimes ;o)

I immediately put the flower in my hair and then, she too, wanted one.

This was definitely reason to bring the camera out.

Which then caused my littlest monster to want to take a picture. Which is pretty much anytime he sees a camera. He did a swell job, don'tcha think? We actually have heads!

And then it was Karly's turn. Between the three of them, and myself, of course, my camera gets used a LOT.

I'm so thankful for cameras (even my little point and shoot). For all that I'm able to capture and keep of these precious beings.

Homegrown Yummy-ness

Ever since we moved in, last November, we've been looking forward to seeing our strawberries bloom. Bloom? Blossom? Germinate? Sprout? Whatever you call it....


We've had such fun harvesting our berries this week. Although they are small and not the sweet California strawberries we're used to...it is still lots of fun to pick/eat them right in your own backyard!

Dylan and I gathered a bunch the other day...

I had to thump him a few times for behavior such as this. Not really.

Here are the three of them taking in the wonderfulness of the homegrown beauties.

Later that evening we served them like this for dessert!

Pure yummy-ness ;o)

A healing

Geoffrey is feeling much better...



He told me so.

A subject of debate....

It seems a few of my readers are questioning my ability to decipher who's who.


In my recent Flashback Friday, I posted this picture...


I commented that it was "my studmufin" and it seems, a couple of my followers, who will go un-named at this time, think that it is not "my studmuffin", but one that belongs to someone else...

I thought I would post a few more pictures from the same session, with the same shorts, board, gloves and, um, body.

What do you think? Is this Craig or Keifer?

Here's another...

And another....

~

I don't have any pictures of the Craiger, because to be honest? I sat with my hands covering my eyes the whole time he was behind the boat. I needed a third arm to hold a camera. The guy is nuts. Besides, if I did have any pictures of him, they wouldn't be worth posting because it would either be a big blurry figure (due to how fast he moves) OR all you would see is a huge splash of water...due to him falling caused by the speed and craziness at which he moved.

~

I believe this is settled? Whatd'ya say?

Flashback Friday

Oh, how I miss these trips....



My brother pullin' a tight right....

And brave enough to even try this! I'm not sure if he landed this one or not, or any...but it was a blast to watch.

Actually, that's not even true. I sat as Nervous Nelly watching and biting my fingernails. I couldn't wait until he was done...and safe...and in the boat.

I'm just like that. Nervous.

And, of course, my studmuffin. Although not quite brave enough to try the flip, still quite studly.

I miss those houseboatin'-lake floatin'-wakeboardin'-sun bathin' days a whole lot. Every time we drive through Vegas, (which as of late? very frequently) I hear Lake Mead calling my name.

But, it just wouldn't be the same.

Our captain is missing and it just wouldn't be the same.

The Redneck Fire Alarm

****update - I feel rather akward doing this but, it seems I must clear something up...This is most definitely NOT my house. It was a picture that someone emailed me and I thought it was a crackup. I instanly thought of Jeff Foxworthy and his "Redneck song" and I thought I'd post it. As a joke. If I ever have that wallpaper in my house, or a Jiffy Pop (for crying out loud) as a smoke alarm? Please, someone shoot me.


I can hear Jeff Foxworthy now...

"If you died before 'yer fire alarm alerted you....you might be a redneck"

13 down...a whole lot more to go

Today is our anniversary. 13 years has come and gone in the blink of an eye.


We went out on a much needed date the other night....

We sat in Starbucks at the end of the night like a couple of teenagers...and took some silly pictures

Just him, being his goofy self. Showing off his *gasp* favorite Cornwell trait.

~

Perhaps he was imagining that he was Edward Cullen? He does like to do that from time to time. And, yes, he read it.

Someone once told me a long time ago, when we first got married that "we didn't even know what love was yet, just wait". At the time, I thought, no, way...I totally know what love is...but they were right. The longer we're together, the more I love him.

~

Happy anniversary love...I hope we have many more.

Once a chore...now a blast

Look what the Easter Bunny brought...

Well, not really. Easter was like, a long time ago...

This guy is now excited to go out and mow...you should see him...it's like a kid on his brand new shiny bike.

Between Keifer, Dylan and myself, there will be a fight over who gets to go out and do the once dreaded chore.

I'm afraid I might lose this one. You know, 'cuz I always win.

Flashback Friday

My, my...I think I shall re-title my blog "HOW TIME DOTH FLY".

I know, I know, I say that way too much here, but I just can't help maself!

Look at this!!

Well, don't look too close, 'cuz that hair of mine? Good golly, that is just atrocious....But boy, does my pop look purdy.

Wasn't this just like last week? Honey? How 'bout you? Does it feel like yesterday or a million years ago?

(This should definitely get him to post a comment ;o) That stinker never shows me any love on here)

In honor of our THIRTEENTH wedding anniversary this week, I thought I'd flashback a picture of that day, long ago.

Thirteen??!!! That's amazing. I love you babe. You bring me such joy, and I thank God often that he chose you for me.

~

photo courtesy of Uncle Mike - the only one who takes the time to scan old photos

One of those moments...

Meet Geoffrey...

Geoffrey's been around a long time, longer than the majority of my children. He's part of the family. He's one of us. Or, should I say...one of mine.

My children have grown up with him and know him by name. Have sat with him on many occasions.

~

We talk to him as we pass. There he is, sitting gracefully in the corner of our family room.

I have a very large soft spot for giraffes. You can find them all about my house....

There are these unique little guys on my mantle...




...and this neat vase with a momma and her baby...

This one with many faces of the wild...



But NONE of them mean more to me than Geoffrey. He has never meant more to me than at this time in my life. My dad bought him for me years ago and since his passing, I feel even closer to this porcelain animal....a connection.

He's been this little treasure to me in recent weeks, a treasure that my dad gave to me. I felt like it was a little piece of him that he left with me.


So, you can imagine what I felt when I saw this....
I was sitting at my desk talking to my sister when I heard a loud crash in the other room. Of course, whenever I hear this sound, I cringe and wonder what it could have been, hope that it's something insignificant.

As I entered the family room, this is what I saw. That's when my heart fell to the floor and splattered.
~
This was most definitely not something insignificant.
~
I immediately walked out of the room and ....I cried. I cried in my best friend's ear. My friend who lives a million miles away. I cried.
~

I'm sure to some this is so, so silly, but it was very hard for me. Even now, it's difficult for me to not feel it all over again.

~

I just hope I can find some super, super strong glue. Otherwise, Geoffrey might remain as he is. Broken, lying on my family room floor. Just as he is.

~

p.s. my darling daughter, who happened to be holding Charlie at the time "hit him (on accident) with her hand"?? Geoffrey's head hit the wall which caused the neck injury. Even though I cried a few times yesterday, I did have a laugh or two when I thought of Dawson's assessment of the situation...

~

"Momma, Kar-dee killed him! Why mom? Why'd her do dat?"

~

p.s.s. if you've ever wondered what those little squigglies are in between my paragraphs??? Occasionally, Blogger wants to combine all my writing into ONE paragraph, and I just don't like that, so this is the quickest fix. Anybody know why this happens sometimes?

Recent Happenings

It's been a very busy two weeks around here.....

This little lady came to visit us and we haven't stopped moving since. As most of you know, she doesn't do things very slowly ;o)

She accompanied me the first time I walked through our house last September, right before we bought it. Her favorite part of the house was this little side patio in the front of our house. Whenever she talked about the house it was "the patio this" and "the patio that"...

I don't think she was here 24 hours and this was purchased.

Right in this here chair is where she spends most of her time...

Of course, Miss Karly doesn't let her sit by herself very often. She is perched there on Nan's knee oft times.

Mom's cousin Marie met her here for her (mom's) birthday. You would have thought these two were two little girls at a four day sleep over, the way they giggled and cut up.

This little lady, apparently loves to garden. To say that she has a green thumb is quite an understatement. I believe she's green all the way up to her elbows. We, or I should say I have been completely overwhelmed with gardening. Since this is my first Spring in this house, I have recently been thrown for a loop. The landscaping here is bee-you-ti-ful, but good golly, it's a lot of work. She helped me to know what to do with the hundreds of different kinds of plants and such.

See what I mean? This little girl loves to perch....but I haven't heard a complaint yet.

If I hadn't been dripping with sweat and at a very high level of frustration when we assembled said patio set, I would have gone in the house to get my camera and taken a picture of the three of us trying to put it together. It was quite a task...

But worth every drop that fell from our brow.