The One Thing

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So.

Lots happened to us in 2010.

Good, bad, ugly, indifferent.

You know the stories, you've been there with us the whole time.

But if I were to really look at 2010, through all the good, the bad, and the very ugly.

I would have to say.......

That the ONE thing that mattered the most.

The ONE thing that we will remember forever.

The ONE thing..........

.....is.........

that our baby girl was given 'back' to us.

(Photo credit to Aunt Mona as she visited Reilly in the hospital)

That is the ONE thing.

It is the ONLY thing.

That we never became three, and always remained FOUR.

Yep.

That's the ONE thing.

Happy New Year to you and yours.

And always hug your babies.........

Rojo

The Terrific One

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On the last day of school before Christmas break,

on a day declared "Pajama Day and Hat Day",

on a day LITERALLLY filled with Sugarplums,

on a day when it dropped down into the 20 degree range *Yeah, we still live in Florida*,


on a day characterized by the craziness of Christmas shopping and the chaos of Christmas gift wrapping and the consumption of Christmas goodies.

on a day when the Christ was omnipresent in our Christmas,

on a day when a NINETEEN day winter school break was overhead-looming,

We stopped.

And took a break.

To honor someone.

Someone who didn't just celebrate a Sixth birthday.

Someone who really does get all the love we can give.

Someone who really does get plenty of attention, just not the same kind of attention as another pirate on this ship to nowhere.

Yes, today we stopped, and we honored our Reilly the Red,

Who received her Terrific Kid Award in a ceremony at her school.

And since it was 'pajama day', she even got her picture taken wearing her pajamas!

We adore our Terrific Kid, Reilly the Red!

Good job, Baby Girl!  We are soooo proud of you!

(Now get your book report done that is due next week.  Chop Chop!)

I had to get that in there somewhere....  :-P


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Christmas Photojournalism by the Sparrow

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Not to be outdone by his brilliant photojournalist of a sister, the Sparrow had his way with my (insured) SLR this week.


Please note, the pictures were taken at the Captain's eye level.

First of many photos of our newly remodeled den

The Captain's Magazine Collection

A personification of his favorite Christmas carol verse:  "FIIIIIVE  GOLLLLLLLDENNNNNNNNN Rings!"

The Grinch was on TV at the time.

Yes, that's a  llama.  From Peru.  Next to a book on psychology.  And a reed diffuser.  Yes.

Yep, still the Captain as the photographer.  Amazing.  I know.

And now we are moving onto the kitchen.

And a not-so-inspired-model, Fred.

Perhaps Fred was not so inpired because the Captain had yet to feed him???

Why the laundry area? 

Okay, so there WAS dog food.  Just not GIVEN to the dog.  Nice.  I am loving this 'evidence' that was literally dropped into my lap on a photo memory card.

Shout.  AKA (what Jake has to spray on his shirts EVERY SINGLE DAY OF HIS LIFE)

Jake's favorite thing.  The magical box that cooks his NIGHTLY bag of popcorn.  And the prints totally give it away.  MORE evidence!

Coffeemaker, wine opener, and bagels?

Wine and a toaster?

Now just a toaster?  What happened to the wine?

His right foot.

Gorgeous picture of my kitchen table with a pot holder and an empty napkin holder and two smitten carolers.

Note to Aunt Jodi:  NO DARK SODA!

Ahhh.  Pic #1 of Jake's bathroom, aka the "Beach bathroom". 

I was instructed to mention that he turned the starfish 'upside-down', so that he could take a picture of it's "BUTT"!

Yes.  A skull and crossbones toilet seat cover.  You were expecting perhaps, the Tooth Fairy?

Again, eye level of an 18" tall SIX year old.

How many Publix Christmas salt and pepper shakers do YOU have?

It's not REAL granite.  It just stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

Jake's Birthday present from Aunt Meredilicious and Two Fisted Chris - and he has been rocking out to Godsmack, Kid Rock, Queen, AC/DC, and the Veggie Tales ever since.

AHA!  The mess that becomes him!  Finally!  You get to see HIS ROOM!

Newly painted, 'Mountaineer blue'.

Yep.  Drums.  Real ones.  Yep.  Our THIRD set.  Yep.  Insane.

He has been sleeping with a cast iron DEER for weeks now.  That HAS to hurt.

Whoa.  It's looking at me.

An unhappy carryover from his 'old stupid baby' room.  We're keeping it.  Forever.  Suck it up Captain.

A picture of Batman Bear's crotch.  Dunno why.

And NOW his head.

Yeah, I have no idea when or how his closet got that clean, but it never was before, hasn't been since, and never will be again, I promise you THAT.

Birthday present from favorite cousin Sammy who came and spent three days with us last week for Jake's birthday.

HIS right foot and flip flop

It's a garbage truck!  He loved it!  Especially getting to put real 'garbage' into the back of it and dumping it all over the house!

And....one more of the garbage truck.  And more awesome evidence of WET STINKING towels on his floor.  

I am MOST definitely going to allow him to use my camera more often.  If for no other reason than the 'evidence gathering'.......

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