The Art Of...

Okay, so most of you know that I have a love for art. Sketching, painting, crafting, photography, Drawing etc...

I believe my talent runs in the art field. It has always been in my family but somehow missed my immediate family. My grandmother and grandfather BOTH could draw like nobody's business and even some aunts and uncles are very heavily gifted. None of which attended school for it.

I never attended school for art either. I feel that if I had I may have become someone different, getting to express and USE my talents.

Instead I went to college for Radiology. I didn't get to finish my degree. I was 2 years short of completion when I got married to J. From there, God had HIS own plans for my life. (Well from the very beginning of my life, HE had plans. but you get the picture...)

So in all the 7 years I have been married to J. Wait... 6? or 7? hmmm oh, 6! 2004-2010 :). okay so (I didn't go to school for math either) in all the time that we have been married I have never really pursued any passion of mine. Such as art, in any form or fashion. I mean I have started a few different scrapbooks but they only go 2 pages in and I have also painted some fun canvas' for some friends but that was FOR someone to bless them or their children.

Now I have been venturing into photography. I have a LOT to learn still but it is a different kind of art in and of itself. I love everything about it... minus the numbers and coordinating numbers thing...

But just the idea of capturing people in the moment is intriguing to me. The ways that you can capture people to create just the right mood or conversation in the pictures. You want your pictures to tell a story all their own, without a caption explaining what was going on.

Get rid of the stacked 5 subjects with pasted on smiles just staring into your lens for a "snap shot" to say "this is our family picture", let them LIVE in the moment and BE a family of 5 (or how many ever there are).


I love for people to interact with their surroundings, to become a part of the moment they are getting captured in.


I have always loved going back through my photographs (from when I was younger even... ones that my mother took as we were growing up.) I love seeing all that was going on in the pictures. What were people doing. What feeling was captured at that time. Was it a happy time or a frustrated time and if so what was going on around me/others. So with that I have always wanted to take pictures that told stories.

Given the circumstances I will take whatever the person wants even if that means "stacking" them and "saying cheese" BUT I want to just experiment... to create a different effect for those less daring. Capture a picture that says a million words.




What kind of art do you like?

Living on Fertile Breeding Grounds

The other morning I looked out the kitchen window to see this huge turtle traveling down our private drive.

I take Bear outside for a closer look as he is into these things now. We watch at a distance for a bit then she decides to cut off into the creek for some privacy.

We go back inside to continue getting ready to meet up with our friends for some jumping fun and pizza!

When we were leaving we see the turtle IN our yard this time, right next to our porch...LAYING EGGS!
HA! How neat is that!

I got to looking around on our property (about an acre) and have found 2 more sites from turtle hatchlings. They are already abandoned and the egg shells are scattered around but I am keeping my eye on this nest.

I looked it up online and found that they typically take 2 mos to hatch so I have to go back out in about 85 days and watch for movement, so it says.

They are Red Eared Slider turtles, they are the ones sold in pet shops all over.


Last year we found a newly hatched one wandering the same road I saw this mommy one on. Almost the size of a quarter. SO CUTE! So if I catch them in time... if you want one... let me know. They are all yours! :)


I am thinking of building a fence around the site so they can't escape. I will put a "pond" in there with some turtle food no worries. Just so they will be safe.

Update on Roo's tummy troubles

We took Roo in for his spitting up (river making abilities) because it was just getting out of control.

Back track ... We moved him to 6 oz formula ever 3 hours. He was on 5 oz every 3 hours but would not wake for his last feeding at 10P. So we cut that one and just gave him 6 oz at every feeding. From 7A to 7P.

He was spitting up EVERY FEEDING TO EVERY FEEDING! There was NO break. We'd feed him then burp him in between 2 oz he'd spit up a river, another 2 oz... river... then when he was done eating we'd let him sit up for at LEAST 30 min before lying him down. Didn't matter, he'd spit up anyway. From the time he finished his last bottle to the time he'd get his next one he would just keep spitting up, even in his sleep. It was awful. I am estimating about 1/4 - 1/3 cup per feeding (if not more).

We switched him to soy, Didn't do anything but make it smell worse. We put him on lactose-free formula. That worked for 2 days. Then back to spitting up again. Not as much but still spitting up for the whole duration of feeding and non.

I was at a loss. He was not in any harm. He was not losing weight or anything and he seemed happy enough. He was getting blisters under his little neck where his chin rested. It stayed wet from all the spitting up. One can only change outfits so many times in a day before running out of clothes! We used bibs but one "spit-up" would soak it (as well as a receiving blanket).

So I talked to his NEW dr about it. He said that as long as he is still gaining that he is not too concerned about it. But because that much spitting up can cause choking if it goes down the wrong pipe in his sleep and it is clearly becoming a nemesis causing blisters from all the soiled clothing and bibs, he wanted to put him on a "reflux medication".

He prescribed Reglan 1ML 3 times daily BEFORE feedings.

I am AWFUL at remembering things, but because I wanted the spitting up to cease I forced myself to remember.

All of a sudden our sweet baby boy went from okay (he has never been the HAPPY baby) to ANGRY! JUST MAD all the time. No matter what you did to relieve his anger... it would just get worse. He had just gotten to where he had started smiling and cooing. That was ALL OVER with now.

From the time he finished one bottle to the time he got his next one he was ANGRY. He'd only sleep for about 30 min for a nap and then wake STARVING and ANGRY! (The dr also knocked him back down to 5oz per feeding asking us to try and fit another 5 oz feeding in at night... we did but it wasn't getting better. HE was still MADDDDDD)

SO. I waited a week to see if things would eventually settle down before calling the dr again. I waited, they didn't improve AND he was still spitting up. Not as much but it was still a problem.

One night discussing my concerns with a dear friend she sent me the link to the possible side effects of this drug, Reglan. It blew me away. Just some of the things it listed broke my heart. I literally cried at the thought that Roo could be experiencing these feelings. Just to name a few... Dizziness, Confusion, headaches, Anxiety, agitation.

I know it says possible. But it was apparent there was, in fact, SOMETHING WRONG.

I called the dr the next morning and asked what we should do. We were told that the nurse would ask the dr and get back to us. I had told her that he was ANGRY all the time now and he was still spitting up and it had been a week!

She called back a few hours later and told me that the dr said to continue him on the medication. That hopefully it would balance out soon.

HA! REALLY! So I kept him on it for the rest of the night and through consulting with my friend I decided enough was enough and I was going to take him off and try some different formulas designed for Acid Reflux. Like Similac sensitive R.S.

I took him off and noticed an IMMEDIATE difference. That morning I didn't give him his first dose and he was SUPER happy. He spit up a LOT but he was happy!

I went out and got him some Similac sensitive R.S. and that still wasn't sitting well.

Finally I decided we'd try some rice cereal for him. Maybe some solid food in his tummy will help some. It did a little bit. But it just didn't seem right. He was still starving and he was still spitting up even though we were still only giving him 5 oz.

Many different tricks and many different prayers later and we are now giving him a 6oz bottle of HEB brand Lactose-free formula with cereal mixed in it. I know we "are not supposed to" but really there is NOTHING else thus far we have found and this is working wonders!

He still spits up, But nothing in comparison to what it was. When he burps now it is like a normal baby spit up, just a small amount will dribble out. GREAT! (approximately 1-2 Tablespoons instead of the before 1/4 -1/3 C)

He is now on a WONDERFUL schedule (3 hour cycle)... he is clockwork again and sleeping for his full hour at naptimes, 3 times a day and from 7PM to 7AM during the night. I am absolutely LOVING this new baby! He is so happy... most days he's really serious but when you get him going or when he sees mommy, daddy or his brothers he is all smiles! He is now starting to giggle even.

I have learned that just because a Dr. can prescribe it, doesn't mean that it is MEANT for your baby (or you for that matter). If you are having doubts, STOP, and consult someone immediately. Do some research of your own if need be. If you are blessed, like I, with friends that research like nobody's business...ask them about it. Find out all information before "settling". It could do more harm than good.

announcing the winner

Yesterday I posted this picture and challenged you all to find the "Ultimate Job" [hidden within the picture].
My thought was that you would SEE the person that was, indeed, doing the ultimate job.

Some of you mentioned jobs that were seriously some ultimate jobs, scary and non.

BUT I should have been more specific that I was looking for the job that was being done at the time the picture was taken that I considered the ultimate job.

The job was, however, guessed... TWICE. SO because there were two people who actually guessed the right JOB. I am going to honor BOTH correct guesses.

SO NOW without further ado. The two winners are, in order, Tia Gathright and Nicole Caldwell. When they guessed the "window washer" of the very tall building in the background.

Yes that is ultimately the SCARIEST JOB...well one of them. For me anyway. And there is, IN FACT, a man hanging on a swing cleaning the windows in the picture. You have to click on the picture and then zoom in with the magnifying glass. He is like the 3rd row of windows down on the bottom tier of the building!

When I saw him up there I almost fainted! I had to breathe deep and then take a picture!

So Tia and Nicole if you will email me we can communicate what your winnings will be :). Congratulations! And thanks for playing along. Hopefully we will have more to come SOON!

the ultimate job!

Okay. So seeing i have SO much time on my hands ;P I figured why not have a fun contest post seeing that it has been forever since I have done that. AND frankly I miss you all! :)

So let's come together for a fun "figure it out" picture contest!

I will leave comments unpublished so that you all can figure out what it is without the distraction of other comments... AKA... NO CHEATING!

Okay, while we were in Kentucky for the 2 days we finally found a park for the boys to play at. It was a GREAT park, I believe it was called a "creative park" where kids actually had to interact with things to make them work or make them more fun. I know that sounds like a lot of parks but it was more than a common play ground with a slide and monkey bars and swings.

The boys played for HOURS there. We all loved getting out and exploring in the fun fresh air and cool temperatures. And it was right on the Ohio River. SO MUCH FUN!

While there, I spotted this "ultimate job" (in my opinion). I will not tell you whether or not it is the ultimate HORROR job or the ultimate DREAM job. Heck it could be one and the other depending on who you are.


So, in this picture is the "ultimate job" if you can spot it too and be the first to leave the correct answer. You will receive a fun original masterpiece by Bri. :). Not sure what that is just yet but I have been feeling a bit creative and depending on who you are I will make it to suit your fancy! Get me on a rough day and you may end up with a 2 year old on your doorstep via UPS!

Have fun!

Some Serious Excitement! (Trip pt.1)

We had a wonderful family vacation. I am so glad we got to see God move in a mighty way to provide this fun adventure for our family. So amazing! And we are SO BLESSED! *J did get his job back, in case you missed that post :)*

I will be trying to post a lot about this trip (as well as lots of fun pictures) as time allows. Yeah, I know... you can stop laughing now! haha. Time is my enemy right now BUT we will see :).

This beautiful sunset graced us with it's beauty as we had dinner out on the patio of Joe's Crabshack in Louisville KY.

We were blessed to be able to splurge twice :). Woo hoo. Thank you Jesus, you love us that much that you provided for us to be able to witness and experience such beauty and fun.

The patio over looked the Ohio River. There were big boats/ships/tankers *big water vehicles transporting what looked like coal* going back and forth. The boys were LOVING watching these said boats.

NOW, The going home part of the trip was a bit more eventful. Not that going there and being there was not. Trust me on this one... this leg of the trip was just WAY more eventful!

See the excitement in the boys.

They were having a blast.

They loved getting to play in the beds and play with the UNPLUGGED phones and remote control to the UNPLUGGED TV :). I know, it's random, but because they don't get to play with these things at home it is fun for them to be able to push the buttons and pretend with them when we stay at hotels. Keeps them entertained for hours.

Now, THESE pictures did not cause the next drama-filled hour in our hotel room to occur.

THIS one did.
I was taking Bear potty and asked Moe to put the phone on the table and come to the bathroom to go potty seeing we had just got there from a 3 hour trip from KY. (We were staying in Nashville for the night to go sight-seeing a bit before we left for home the next morning.)

I heard the thud and a crash and went to tend to Moe. I see him bottoms up between the night stand and the bed. I laugh and think, "He is just scared". I pick him up and stopped laughing! PANIC! Not out loud though :). I kept my cool and was calming him. There was a HUGE hole in his forehead!

(sparing you the pictures... AND I didn't get any. I was calming him down, remember. OH and a nervous mother has the SHAKES BAD!)

Apparently he slipped and fell and hit his head on the corner of the night table (marble tops with sharp edges... NOT a good combo for a NIGHT STAND that sits between two beds!). It was not bleeding much but it was enough to make me freak a little. Not that blood scares me, but when it is your kid (or not, even) and there is a hole in their forehead... NOT COOL! So I put a tissue (read SEVERAL) on it and applied pressure to keep the bleeding at a minimal. I calmed him down enough to get a closer look.

I could see his skull... oh WOW! This is not good! The cut itself was not but about an inch long but it was just hanging open. I am thinking, "Hmmmm, we are in NASHVILLE, Where in this city are we going to go get stitches?"

J is out getting more stuff from the car to bring in and I cannot reach him on his phone. Finally he walks through the door and sees us. "OH MAN!" ... UM YEAH! So I ask him what he thinks we should do. "Does he need stitches, do you think?"

He calm and collectedly states. "Hm, no I think some butterfly bandaids will work fine". He and Bear leave to go get butterfly bandaids. They return and we dr. Moe's head. worked good. He just has a small scab left to show for :).

and not 30 -45 minutes later Bear felt a bit left out of the wounded loop and had to join in the game! (notice the look of sheer satisfaction on his precious face)

Granted his was not gaping open like Moe's was, but it was BAD enough!

I had to move this little bundle away from the beds in case someone decided to fall out of bed they would not land on him, given how this night was going. (What, like you've never put your baby in a dresser drawer ... aaand then under the table to protect him from all things falling!)

*Bear was still awake at almost 11PM. He got to go swimming in the indoor pool with daddy while mommy bathed Roo and Moe and put them to bed. He had so much fun. He came into the room so excited and telling me all about it! Completely exhausted was he :) Way to go Dad! *

I mean, really. Like there wasn't enough adventure and excitement in the 20 hour trip there! Seriously guys, when are you going to let mommy exhale!

Love my guys! Wounds and all!