Fav Foto Friday (8-29)

Time for Favorite Foto Friday!!!!

This week's theme is black and white photos!

Here are three that I thought looked great in b&w!

(of course, I love b&w pics anyways!)

For more awesomely cute pics go to:

http://www.kissthefrog4me.blogspot.com/!

Please scroll down the page and nominate Do Good Inc. for Amex Members Project!

Do Good Inc. is a 503c Charity that does good work in Guatemala!

If they get enough nominations, they will be able to recieve a portion of 2.5 Million Dollars to help struggling hogars in Guatemala!

For more information on Do Good, please see: www.guatadopt.com!

History! Yesterday!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbUtL_0vAJk

I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.
Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.
But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So we have come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.
In a sense we have come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds." But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to cash this check — a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quick sands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.
It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.
But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.
We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. They have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.
As we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied, as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their selfhood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating "For Whites Only". We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.
I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.
Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair.
I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.
This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.
This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring."
And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!
Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!
Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!
But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!
Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!
Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.
And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

Fav Foto Friday (8-22)

It's Friday again!!!!!!!

Today's theme is stuffed animal friends!

To see more stuffed friends, visit www.kissthefrog4me.blogspot.com!

In our house, we have lots of stuffed animals...but Ernie is really the only one who has ever taken to one of them.

His best friend (besides his brothers) is a build a bear cookie monster!

He got it back in Aug of 06 and it has been a constant companion ever since!

It has gone on numerous trips to Guatemala, it's been to Texas, Tennessee, Ohio, and multiple trips to Grandma and Grandpa's house.

I dont have a current picture of it...mainly cuz I'd be embarrased to show anyone.

Let's just say that it is very well loved!

So, here are some pics back when Cookie was brand new!

Happy 3rd Birthday K!!!!

Tuesday was K's 3rd Birthday!!!



He woke up to a table full of presents and balloons and then we treated him to MickeyD's for lunch!!!

We are having a little get together on Sunday after Church at Chuck E Cheese!



I actually cant believe he is 3! He has changed so much in the last year that it blows my mind!

Last year we were worried about him talking...now... wow... cant stop him! He is now completely potty trained!!!!!!! He is just so active and so much fun that I am just amazed!



Here are a couple pics from his birthday morning!

So happy to see a dinosaur!

Getting some help from big bro E!

Showin of his Ninja Turtle!

Taking a quick break at MickeyD's!

Fav Foto Friday (8-15)

It's Friday!!!!

Time for Favorite Foto Friday!!!!

(to see more FFF's go to http://www.kissthefrog4me.com/!)

Tuesday will be K's 3rd Birthday!!!!!

K is our rough and tumble guy. He loves to wrestle and to play sports. He is also our introvert (like his momma!). While he does like to mix it up, he also is content to get his trains together or his cars and play by himself for a while. He is a great thinker and he already shows he has mechanical ability. He can count to 20 in English and in Spanish and knows his abc's in English. He can talk up a storm...and he also knows a ton of Spanish words. He likes to sing and he also likes to dance. His favorite movie's are Shrek, Madagascar, and Alvin and the Chipmunks. He is also obsessed with Thomas, Ninja Turtles, and dinosaurs. He also loves his little matchbox cars...but not the movie Cars! (they scare him), nor Scooby Doo (scared of the bad guys).

He is a lovey little guys who gives great hugs. He has a 1000 watt smile! He has one little dimple that comes out when he really grins and his smile can light up a room.

He is almost completely potty trained!!!!!!!!!!

We love ya big guy!!!!!!

Here are his pictures!!!!

Missed it....

My blogversary that is!

I got to thinking about what I was doing last year....thought i'd go back in time...and realize I started this blog on July 29th of last year!

Wow.... I was just getting ready to take the LSAT...now, I'm getting ready to START law school!
I had three kids.... now I have four!
I had a cantankerous husband...now... ok...that hasnt changed....

It's been a year that defiantly had it's ups and downs....

Hopefully I will make it another year of blogging!
I enjoy having a place to put my thoughts and such...and also to show off my kids! I know as they get older, there will be even more to brag about...and more to laugh about! Just hope that my classes still allow for me to write a little...and to at least do FFF.... although dh may be taking the pics for me! I know that I enjoy reading and commenting on the various blogs that I read and I would like to keep up on those also.

Well.... I'm still sick... been sleeping all day... gotta get in and see the dr tomorrow.... hopefully I will feel better by the weekend... I still havnt done my homework.... yes... I am already slacking off.....

Couple of Bad Days

Where do I begin.....
Sat night, didnt feel very well.... stomach was upset, had some pain inside in my back (not muscular), tried to lay down after the boys went to bed so that I could see if the pain could go away... it didnt. Instead, it began to migrate to the front of my stomach, on the right side.
Could not sleep. Could not get comfortable. If I moved or anything, it felt like I was being stabbed. I was running a fever. I just felt like crap.
Woke up Sunday morning.... felt worse... pain was worse. Had a hard time getting dressed. Had to have dh dress the kids. Couldnt stomach anything for breakfast.
Went to church. Pain got worse.
Dh invites people to go to lunch with us. *scream*
So... go to Big Boy for lunch.... cant really eat... but of course, have to wrestle toddlers around. Now I really feel like absolute crap.
I call my doctor to talk to the doctor on call... of course.... go to urgent care or the er.
Take the kids to their sisters house.... after of course, I have to pack their stuff up and pack a bag for myself....
Go to urgent care, they cant do anything cuz they cant rule out Appendix. Of course not.
I say it isnt that... dh is absolutely sure that is what it is.

Get to er. My blood pressure is high...combined with my symptoms I am whisked away to a private room in the er. Urine testing, blood testing, and a cat scan with contrast later, uh... we wait. Oh... did I forget to mention the oh so lovely pelvic that I also got!!!! Special!
Well... my appendix didnt look enlarged...I had some elevated white cell counts. So... it must be a kidney infection.
I am still in pain. I still feel like crap. I still dont have any other symptoms of a kidney infection.


Yesterday, I am sleeping (at 5pm) and the phone rings.
Dh of course doesnt answer...so I do.
I wish I hadnt.
It was a call from South Africa.
It was AnnaMarie. Our friend Neil's wife. Our friend who has stayed with us for the past 3 years. Who we talk to on the phone quite a bit, who we email with, who we were expecting to see again in January.
AnnaMarie is crying...asking if we had heard yet.
I had no idea what she was talking about....
Then she says she was calling us to tell us that Neil was dead.
Apparently he died on July 17th.... Massive heart attack.
He was only 47 years old.
Dh and I are devastated by the news.... how really does one reconcile a death like this?
He was a brilliant professional hunter, a brilliant scholar, and a great friend.
He really took to our boys (he never met our little lady) and our boys absolutely adored him.
We have not told them yet that he will not be here this year.
Just last week they talked about going to his house and him showing them his elephants. We were waiting till they were a tad older before taking them to South Africa.
Our little Lady sleeps in "Neil's room" according to the boys.
His pictures are in their scrapbooks.
It's so difficult for dh and I. We just dont want to put it on the boys just yet. I'm sure they will notice. Or maybe they will ask. Then we will have to sit down and have the talk with them.
I hope the talk can wait....till dh and I get a handle on things.
AnnaMarie said she was going to try to keep the business going.
I wish her the best. I cant imagine what she is going through right now.
Our prayers and thoughts to AnnaMarie, Mariane, and Geoffry as well as the rest of the Wayland family.

www.fortrichmond.com

Brilliant Blogger.

So here is how this Brilliant Blogger Award works: 1st I have to answer a quick questionnaire, then I get to choose 7 bloggers who I feel are BRILLIANT (or I allow them to choose themselves!). They will post their own answers to the questionnaire on their own blog and they will choose 7 more recipients. I love the idea of recognizing brilliant bloggers, but also know that they are busy mommas too, so we'll give this one a try and see how it goes.

A. Attached or single? Married to K and attached to my cell and computer.

B. Best friend? My mom and K.

C. Cake or pie? Both, thank you! Chocolate preferred!

D. Day of choice? Thursday

E. Essential item? DVD player! Makes toddlers happy!

F. Favorite color? In clothes: Black, Everything Else: Purple

G. Gummy bears or worms? Worms...but real ones for fishing. :)

H. Hometown? Ypsilanti, MI

I. Indulgence? Raw Cookie dough...right out the package!!! Yum!!!

J. January or July? For me, January... Love Winter!! For me with kids... July! Get them kids out the house!

K. Kids? 4 under 4!!!!! I still want some more also!

L. Life isn’t complete without? My family!

M. Marriage date? June 25th, 2004

N. Number of brothers & sisters? None! My parents had perfection with me!!!!

O. Oranges or apples? Apples... HATE pulp!

P. Phobias? Ladders and things on my wrist

Q. Quotes? "Shit or get off the pot!" My engagement moment to dh! (Please dont steal my line!)

R. Reasons to smile? My 4 and early bedtimes!!!

S. Season of choice? Hunting!

T. Tag seven peeps! Uh. Ok! Tag!!!!!! Let me know if you are gonna fill this out!!!

U. Unknown fact about me? Even though I'm currently a Millwright getting ready to start law school.... I am actually a musician. French Horn player but also proficient on trumpet, flute, and play tenor sax for jazz. I cant wait to teach my kids an instrument!

V. Vegetable? Most of them... not brussel sprouts though.

W. Worst habits? Knocking myself, being too bossy, wanting to sleep too much, too much time on computer, spending money, etc.....

X-ray or ultrasound? Neither please.

Y. Your favorite food? Mexican!!!!! oh..and Pizza, and ice cream!! Ok... I just love to eat!

Z. Zodiac sign? Cancer

ANYONE ELSE??????????

Enquiring minds want to know!!!!!!

Fav Foto Friday (8-8)

It's Friday again!!!!!!

For my favorite foto Friday for this week, I wanted to show off my daughter's one year pics!!!

Like her brothers, she seems to enjoy the camera!

Well.... Here is my little lady at a year old!!!!!

To see other FFF's.... jump ahead to: http://www.kissthefrog4me.blogspot.com/!

My mom had her surgery.

My mom is at home resting after having her gallbladder out.

She didnt have any complications but she did get an extra bonus!
The dr found a henia while taking out the gallbladder... so he fixed that too!!!!

2 for the price of 1!!!!!

She isnt as excited about it....

Ch Ch Ch Changes...

Did some changing today!
Also did a little donating to charity!
Donated just over 14 inches!
Of hair that is!!!! To: locks of love!

I've been thinking of changing my hair for some time now... and as I continue to get closer to law school *operatic moment*... I began to think how much upkeep my hair was. It was to the middle of my back and because I am almost completely grey, I have to have it dyed... not to mention it cost quite a bit of $$ in shampoo and conditioner and takes time to brush out, put up, etc.
So...last week I decided to chop it all off!
I havnt had short hair since 2002. The last time I got sick of my hair...but that time, I shaved it all off! This time, I had a more sensible cut done!
I did find out that locks of love will take hair that has been dyed (other places will not) and as an added bonus, Grondins (where I got my hair cut), is partnered with locks... so I got my haircut for FREE!!!!!! and they are sending it down, so I dont have to pay postage!!!!! I LOVE a good deal!

Lady L also got a trim!
I wanted to shave her head...which is customary in Guatemala to do so on a 1st birthday...but I was getting SO much flippin flack for even considering it, that I didnt want to deal with it... so I just had her hair cut. Hopefully it begins to grow nicely so I can get some barrettes in her hair!

For those following along... please pray and send positive thoughts to my mom tomorrow. She is having her gallbladder out in the morning. We have to leave at 5am since the hospital is not close to us.... hopefully her surgery goes quickly and simply!

My long hair!

My donation! Just over 14 inches!

The New me!

The Little Lady before the cut!

Ice cream treat after the hair cut!

Kid's Day!

Well.... I do have to say that our kids made out like bandits today!

Ok...well, it didnt begin soo good for them.... We all went to church. They were very good though! We even sat in the main part of church and not in the cry room! This is my mom and dad's church also...and kids are not quite accepted unless completely silent and still. So... it is a big deal that they made it all the way through mass without having to go to the cry room! Church was good for me today also! My parent's go to a parish...that is... well... older... their normal priest reflects that. Today though, they had the priest from the neighboring church who is younger, has been married and lived as a secular man, and has a fabulous voice! Sooo happy to see him walk in this morning!!!!

We drove all around the lake today to find somewhere to eat after church.... we couldnt get in anywhere without waiting a long time. There was a HUGE party this weekend here (bud bash) plus a very nice summer weekend with gas prices about 15 cents cheaper...so things were horribly busy around here all flippin weekend! Soo... all the restaurants were packed today. Well almost all the restaurants... McD's was busy...but their play area wasnt packed. So... McD's it was for Sunday breakfast... but... this was after church... and so we had to have lunch. I dont care that I missed the breakfast food...but... didnt really want McD's. The boys had a great time playing though.... and a sad situation since McD's is next to the craft store with the HUGE selection of scrapbooking supplies!!!!! Grandpa was nice enough to watch the boys while us girls went to look at the scrapbooking stuff!

After McD's.... we decided to take the kids to the local county fair.

Parking was FREE!!!!

Admission was FREE!!!!!

Boy's played for FREE!!!!!

Ok... so... not much at the fair... One food vendor. Some flea market things, some used books, and some inflatable toys to play on. There were horses...but they were police horses... and were actually working. So... we didnt really see any animals... but the boys did get to bounce around for an hour and my mom and I got to have some yummy lemonade and some elephant ears! So... guess it was a good trade off!

K is STILL doing wonderfully with potty training!!!!!!

L seems to be ready to walk any day now!

She is now standing alone for minutes now.... and can get to her feet without help and just stand there...of course, she usually claps for herself also!

I had to take a pic of her eating tonight though.... she is so into feeding herself now... and we had spaghetti...and boy did she make a mess!!!!

She isnt usually messy...so Had to get a pic while it was there.

F on the bouncy slide!

E and K on the bouncy slide!

L looking into her playpen!

L looking like she enjoyed her dinner!

Pics of fun!

The past two days have been nothing short of absolute fun!

I will have to crop these pics when I get home.... (cuz my mom's program is JUNK!) But... ya get the ideal!



We went to the "petting zoo" in the next town over.

I'm not sure where the petting takes place... as we were told not to touch any of the animals...and most of the animals bite anyways.... I guess it is a zoo in a way... but most of the animals are farm animals.... cows, horses, donkeys, goats, pigs, and a few exotic animals... a camel, ostrich, some monkeys, some little weasel like animals, and an African cerval.

They sold little bags of carrots... of course, Grandpa had to buy some for the boys to feed them to the animals!!!!!!

The boys liked to look...but they sure didnt want to touch...nor did they want to feed any of them except for throwing the carrots at the animal.... but, after I fed a couple of the animals and the boys saw that I still had my hand, at least K would feed them. E and F still just threw the darn carrots.



We have been swimming every single day we have been here! It's been a lot of fun and the boys are getting a lot more comfortable in the water! They are even starting to use their "vests" and float a little bit and kick their feet and move their hands. Gotta get them kids into swimming!!!



My parents were able to give me a couple hours of break time today!!!!!

Everyone (except for me!!!) went to the elementary school to play! Then they got to go grocery shopping! I spent 2 hours scrapbooking!!! Highly exciting! I'm onto L's scrapbook already!!!!

Since I left pics and stickers at home, I had to stop on F's at his pickup trip... but... hey! I didnt even have it started 2 weeks ago! So, I"m pretty proud of myself! I have a good start on L's.... of course, she just turned a year old...so... If I can get her to her 1st bday.... I'll be way ahead of the game!

Grandpa feeding a very cute goat!

K feeding a minature horse while E looks on.

Group pic with a Panda statue!

The boys enjoying a wooden train at the park!