My nephew, Alex has spent the past month in Australia – visiting his sister Annie as she completed her student teaching. Annie has graciously stayed there an extra month to be a tour guide for her big brother. I’ll probably never make this trip, so I’m living vicariously through his photos. I can honestly say that I LOVE all his photos, except that shark adventure he went on. That kid ALWAYS was the daredevil of the family!!
Hey – are you my twin??
My mommy has a twin.
I wonder what my mommy and my Aunt Katie were thinking when they were my age and they looked at each other. My grandma says that mommy used to bite Aunt Katie, and Aunt Katie would just let her do it.
So, I’m asking you one more time – are you my twin??
The story began two weeks ago, when a large frog found himself trapped in the window well of Carrie and Joe’s house. This window well housed one of the basement egress windows, just outside of the kid’s playroom – and the frog would sit and watch the kids through the glass. Carrie knew he would eventually die, but she didn’t have the nerves to climb into the window well and rescue the stranded frog. Today, with Nolan and Kelli’s help, the frog was rescued and returned to safety in the lot behind their house. Nolan tried first, but even with a little prodding from a plastic putter, the frog wouldn’t jump into the bucket. Now, it was Aunt Kelli’s turn. And she was successful in convincing the frog that they were simply trying to save his life.
You know how you have those events in your lifetime that you remember every detail of? October 19, 2008 will be one of those days for me. The excitement, the fear, the relief and the gratitude.
Some day, little A.J. can read about the miracle of his birth, thanks to my scrapbook page. My photographs didn’t turn out well (thanks to hospital lighting), but the photograph of father and daughter is one I’ll treasure forever.
The journaling reads as follows:
It started with a phone call at 8:30 p.m. on October 19th. "MOM, I think I'm in labor!" I tried to keep her calm, and told her to call the answering service. She had been suffering all day with a terrible case of the stomach flu. Ten minutes later, Jimmy called back to tell us that the doctor wanted to see her at the hospital. Her due date was still three weeks away, but little A. J. seemed to be in a hurry. As I stepped off the elevator on the third floor, I could hear her screaming. As Jimmy told me later, he felt we were "living an episode of ER, but this was happening to us." As nurses crowded around her, I tried to answer their questions. One nurse told me that most likely the sever stomach flu had forced her into labor. I heard someone say she was 9 centimeters dilated. Then her doctor appeared in the doorway and everything else seemed a blur - nurses tossing gowns to Jimmy and I and the doctor asking Colleen if she wanted to push, and then suddenly rushing her across the hall to surgery. Within minutes, we wer in our gowns and rushing through the door, only to be met by a nurse who told us they were doing an emergency c-section and we would have to wait in the hall. It couldn't have been more than three minutes and the nurse returned to tell us that the baby had been born and both of them were "ok" and the doctor would be out soon to talk with us. I walked down the hall looking for Bob and the kids, only to be met by my dear friend Mary Lou - with camera in hand. Within minutes, family started to arrive. Jimmy and Colleen left their home at 9:00. Andrew Joseph Van Fleit was born at 9:39 p.m. on his Grandpa Bob's birthday. The details of this night have been shared on more than one occasion, but the reality is that Colleen was "abrupting" and the doctor and staff had a matter of minutes to deliver the baby safely. For me, the most touching moment was when I saw Bob lean over her bed and I was able to capture it (thanks to Mary Lou's camera). From there, he went to meet his grandson. Every time I look at little A. J., I thank God for the "miracle" that he is.
The wedding is just two months away, and I’m still scrapbooking engagement photos from LAST summer. There’s currently no end in sight to my backlog of photos.
A new inning begins. A pitcher takes her warm-up pitchers, the catcher throws down to second and the infield meets on the mound. At the same time, a batter waits on deck and another is “in the hole”.
As you can see here, Kelli and Lauren are watching the pitcher and mentally preparing themselves for their turn at bat.
That is, until you have to wait for the opposing catcher to get into her gear. At this point, the seriousness turns into an episode of Star Wars and the bats become light sabers.
May the force be with you!!
For nearly 20 years, Bob and I have been following our daughters throughout Indiana, Michigan and Illinois on summer softball travel teams. Living out of hotel rooms, packing coolers, numerous injuries and emergency rooms. But I wouldn’t trade those summers for the most glamorous vacations in the world. A month from now, the softball travels will come to an end, but the memories will last forever.
For the next three weekends, we’ll be on the road throughout Indiana with Kelli – living out of coolers, perched in our lawn chairs and working on our tans. This will also give me a chance to practice my “sport shots” with my new camera. The camera is doing an awesome job – it’s the photographer that needs some lessons.
I just completed this layout for Pages in Time using the new Bo Bunny Mango product line. Anything with the word “mango” in it works for me. I love the way this product looks with my photograph, AND it reminds me of the frozen peach/mango drinks aboard ship.
Ohhhhhh, how I wish I were there right now, sitting on the deck under the hot sun with a big foo-foo drink in hand. I can see it now, with the little umbrella hanging off the side. Maybe some day…..when these weddings are behind me.
Today’s bridal shower was beautiful. The weather cooperated and the shower was held outdoors at the Blackthorn Golf Course. Our oldest flower girl Grace, considered herself to be a hostess of sorts. Before we knew it, she’d managed herself a tip cup and a couple of dollars. Don’t ask me how.
Melissa and Brianne (the Maid and Matron of Honor) outdid themselves on the decorations and the menu. Everyone was instructed to wear black and white, which was fun. Only the bride was allowed to “stand out”.
Here’s a few photos of our day…
Benjamin and Grandma spent a little time on the playground last night. He was so enthralled with the playground equipment, that I had to keep reminding him to look at me and SMILE. Every now and then, he granted me a fleeting moment of that sweet face.
….and we can’t forget A.J.
Found these guys enjoying some peace and solitude on the bank of the St. Joe River. Peace and solitude until the woman in the white Lexus disturbed their nap. They tolerated me for a few moments.
…and then they gave me a wave of their little tail feathers and they were off to find a spot where weird women with cameras were not to be found.
Scentsy’s Warmer of the Month for June is entitled LIBERTY and it’s a personal favorite of mine. Thanks to our son’s six years of service in the United States Marine Corp, I have an Americana themed room in my home. LIBERTY will now have a place of honor in this room. During the month of June, LIBERTY is listed at 10% off the retail price - $27.00. If you’d like a little “liberty” in your home, drop me an email.
Oh, to have this much energy! These are some of the “girlfriends” of the baseball team. Note the matching shirts. One of them came up with this concept, and $15 later, they all have their boyfriend’s name and number on their back.
It really doesn’t seem that many years ago that I was a teenage girl, sitting in the stands cheering for my boyfriend on the baseball field. Now, he’s my husband, and too many years of baseball and softball are telling him that he needs a new hip.
I’d need one too if I tried this jump.
…is spent in this office. It’s little, but it’s mine. I have a window, which makes me happy. I can open it and smell the spring rain. I can look out and see the winter snow. I've recently been offered a larger office, but I turned it down because it doesn't have a window. I kind of like the compact size, because it doesn’t allow for clutter. And if you know me, you know I don’t like clutter. Everything has to be in it’s place. Unlike the five men who’s offices surround mine – and who can’t even SEE the top of their desks. And the best part is....I have a door. I can close it when things get to bad. Occasionally, that happens.
Notice my Scentsy warmer? That’s Doodlebud. It’s pink. My only piece of femininity in an environment full of men.
Spent part of my lunch hour driving through Sacred Heart Cemetery on the Notre Dame campus. So beautiful and peaceful. This statue caught my attention.
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