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Saturday, October 30, 2010

Of Halloweens Past

*cue spooky music*

ok, this isn't spooky at all ... more cute, but what's a post about Halloween without spooky music?

This view of Halloween past is inspired by The Secret is in the Sauce's Halloween party ... day one is all about Halloweens past.

and you could win a Canon Reble T2i ... so I'm officially deleting everyone else to make my chances better to win :-)

even if you can't win now, you can still enjoy some pictures of my oldest in cute Halloween costumes!

Leah pumpkin


 Halloween 2007
Leah was 2.5 months old, and really not all that thrilled about having a costume put on her and posing so Mommy and Daddy could take pictures

Leah cat

Leah bee 1

Halloween 2008
Buzz, Buzz, Busy 14 month old bee!
No trick or treating, but we did go to a fall festival and dressed up to visit Daddy on his dinner break.

Leah bee 2

Leah and Brooke 1

Halloween 2009
Tinkerbell!
This was my favorite year so far.  Even though I was 8 months pregnant with Audrey, we still went trick or treating with Leah's bff Brooke (and my bff Kala).
They have the perfect neigboorhood for trick or treating, and I only considered stoping at someones house to ask if I could use the bathroom.  (almost did, lol)

Leah and Brooke 2

This year we are doing a 'trunk or treat' because people are weird when Halloween falls on Sunday.

Although I did beg for about 10 minutes if we could go back to Nashville and go trick or treating with Kala again.

maybe next year ....

but this year will still be fun
because what part of dressing up kids and stealing their candy is not fun?!?!?!

Leah and Brooke 3

Happy Halloween Past

Friday, October 29, 2010

Her Perfect Night

She breezed into the party with a newly discovered confidence.  Her dress was absolutely gorgeous; a present from the new high end boutique.  The shine on her jewelry reflected the money he had spent for her.   Her face radiated satisfaction and confidence.  It was her night to shine.

With her hand placed perfectly upon his arm she could feel the glances being shot her way.  She saw the guys look her up and down, and the ladies quickly turn to whisper to their friends.  Once she had been the woman envying, and now she was the one to envy.  It was a great place to be.

Together they floated through the crowd, passing the beautiful, the rich and even the governor.  At the table he left apologetically to be gone for a second, but with the promises to return with drinks and more.

She felt a tap upon her shoulder.  Of course, someone would want to complement her outfit or her jewelry or her man.  Although as she turned she noticed the gaze from the woman behind her was not one of flattery, but rather more sinister and vengeful.

Quickly the woman pulled her up from the table; dragging her into a group of women standing nearby.  Each had a gaze of hate, of spite and possibly of revenge.

She started to tremble in her brand new $500 shoes.

The girl who brought her there spoke first.  “You don’t know what you are getting into.”  The words came out with an air of experience.

“He’s evil,” another girl chimed in.  “You just don’t know it yet.”

“Trust us.  You don’t want to get caught in his web of lies.”  The words came out with the fire of revenge.

She scanned the crowd for her boyfriend as the fourth girls pleaded, “Just come to the bathroom with us.”  Surely, they couldn’t be talking about him.

Reluctantly, she tagged along behind this group of women.  Taking a second to really notice them, she saw they were all within about 5 years of her and beautiful, but each one seemed to hold onto a secret story all their own.

Once in the safety of the women’s restroom, the stories started flying.

“He’s smoother than smooth.  He knows exactly when to smile and exactly who to make friends with.  He can compliment someone, walk into the next room and cut them into pieces without batting an eye.”

“He is charming for sure.  I once heard someone say he could charm the meanest rattle snake if ever given the chance.”

“He will love you right and do you wrong.  The second he gets tired of you; you’ll be out the door and on your ass.  He won’t look back.”

“He is spoiled rotten.  He can throw a temper tantrum that would shame a two year old if everything is not perfectly his way.”

The accusations flew around her as if she was Dorothy caught in the eye of the tornado.  No, they weren’t true.  They couldn’t be true.  These women were making this up.  This was jealous in its most elemental form.  This was all brought about by her perfect dress and jewelry and shoes and her man.  They wanted him back.  They were just jilted lovers and could not control this jealous rage.  Yes that was it.  She was certain of that.

And she told these devious women just that much.

As she stood in a huff to exit the bathroom, a small voice spoke.  The fourth women, the one with the pleading eyes, the one who had been quiet until this moment spoke up in a meek voice, but it was the words, not the voice, that caught her off guard.

“You know he’s married, right?”

She turned to see the fourth woman appear from within the group of women.  Tears stained her cheeks as fresh ones threatened to fall.

“No, he’s not married,” she answered with authority that tried to drown out the doubt growing in her soul.  “I live with him.  He can’t be married.”

The sadness seemed to flow from her words as she told her story.  She followed him one weekend, just to see where he disappeared to.  He said it was a work trip, another weekend spent out of town, but something told her otherwise.  She saw the three story house on the cul-de-sac in the quaint little neighborhood out of town.  She witnessed the young boy and girl race from the front door into the open arms of their daddy.  She saw the woman holding the baby on her hip accept his kiss upon her cheek.  She saw the perfect family of five enter through the perfect house in the perfect neighborhood.

As she listened to this meek woman tell her pitiful story, the new dress upon her body felt like a trap to his lies.  Her shoes became her shackles.  Her perfect night, her night to finally shine, to be the woman everyone wanted was over before it even started.  She was now the other woman. 

She was now the woman everyone hated.

And she hated him for it. 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This story was inspired by Red Writing Hood's describe a villian challenge.

Please feel free to offer constructive criticism.  Also, I don't really like this ending, and I would love to hear if you would do anything differently.  Thanks for reading!

Thursday, October 28, 2010

I lied on my Job Application

What? 

like you've never fibbed just a bit ...

It's not like I added a degree or claimed to speak Finish

(learned not to do that from Confessions of a Shopaholic)

It's more like during the interview process someone is going to ask a question along the lines of ...

"How do you process your emotions?"

and that's when I lie with something like ...

"Oh, I just take a moment to collect myself.  I keep it inside.  I would never display my emotions."

big fat LIE

(just ask my husband ... he's probably laughing as he reads this right now)

because if I answered with the truth; you know something like ...

"Well, my face is an open book for every single emotion I feel at the moment.  I take constructive criticism personally.  I have been known to burst into tears when I'm upset.  and pretty much, I'm just an emotional wreck."

because if I told them that, then I'm sure the next response would be

"Alright.  Let me show you to the door.  Oh and don't let it hit you on the way out!"

yeah ...

So now, when someone brings me samples to analyze at 3:30 (when I want to leave at 4) they have started saying "Don't be mad at me, Christy."

What?!?  I didn't say anything.  Ok, so my face may be screaming 'I hate you!!!!', but really I'm not mad at you, honestly, I swear.

I'm more mad at the situation ... you get that right ... the situation .. the fact that since you are bringing me more samples means I'm staying here for a minimum of at least an hour and a half; I'm going to be late for dinner, and I'm really missing my girls about this time.  I'm mad at that.

Not at you...

Try explaining that logic to a bunch of guys.  (I’m the only girl in the lab)

I did.  and I sounded like a crazy person.

So no ... I'm not mad at YOU.  I'm mad at the situation.  and honestly ... it's more of frustration, not anger.

Why don't guys know their emotions?  Geezz ... do I have to explain everything.

I know that I need to not show my emotions.  I need to take it in stride.  Really in the long run, what's a couple of extra hours but some overtime pay?  I can handle that.  And then I'll just take extra long rocking Audrey at night and crawl into bed to read to Leah and stay after the book is over to share make believe stories and fall asleep in the bed with her.  I can handle some extra time at work.  Really ... it's ok.

Could someone tell my face that?

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Pumpkins!

pumpkin 1

pumpkins 2


Pumpkins!

Front Porch


Happy Halloween Decorating!!!!

Linked up with:

Dumb Mom at Parenting with Dummies; A Lot of Loves; Kristi at Live and Love ... Out Loud; and Alysha at Supermom

Monday, October 25, 2010

I heart Pink and Breast Cancer Awarness


Today at I heart Faces their weekly photo challenge is Pink for promoting Breast Cancer Awarness.  This gives me a great opportunity to write on something that I have been wanting to write about for awhile.

pink fountain

A couple of weeks ago, my dad called me up and invited me to come walk a Mile Fun Run with him in a few weekends.  I was excited; although I had no idea what marathon / event / what-not we were walking in.  Imagine my excitment when I found out it was the Race for a Cure supporting Breast Cancer Awarness.

The amount of people there amazed me.  I think we pratically walked a mile from where we parked to where the race was ... good warm-up right?  So many people were there; so many people were wearing pink; and then I saw the survivior shirts and my emotions balled up.

I don't personally know anyone who has struggled with breast cancer.  I don't even know a friend of a friend, but I do know of struggle.  I do know of the love you share with a loved one and how you never want anything to harm them.


Pink Lady
This is the picture I would like to enter into the Pink contest.

This lady; her untold story moved me.  As she sat in her chair, she was constantly surronded by people who I assumed to be family.  I imagine she was enveloped by the love of her family; son or daughter, grandchildren all running this race to celebrate her and her life; to celebrate her struggle and how she overcame them.

The stories told and untold. The lives lived and the lives lost. The telling glances of a Mom wearing a survivor shirt and holding the hands of two young sons.

Pink collage 1

Signs held high in memory of a young lady who did not survive this cancer. Stories and quotes on the back of shirts proudly worn by groups of people. So many emotions gathered all in one place caused a dam to form behind my tear ducts threating to break forth at any moment. Tears to mix in with those cried by the families, the survivors, the friends, the on-lookers. So many stories could not be contained in the downtown square.

Pink Collage 2

I hope the young girls in the cheerleading squad understood why they were running. As I stood at the finish line waiting for my dad, I was enveloped by coaches of one of the nearby high school's cheerleading squad. I hope they grasped that this was more than a race to run, but a race that could impact their lives.

Racing People

I belive in science ... I have to; I'm a scientist.
I belive in faith ... I have to; I'm a Christain.

and with both Faith and Science; I know that someday, somehow, something will be found to fight against this disease.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Scavenger Hunt

It's another Sunday Scavenger Hunt photo day!  Here are my pictures for this week's themes:






The 5 Senses
Touch
Touch ... so important to babies learning the world


Child / Children
Auburn Audrey
Audrey -- my Auburn baby.


Dining
eating ham
ummm ... I didn't have anything I loved for this ... so I went and took a picture of Leah eating lunch and this is what you get, lol!


Night
Night

Sky
Sky


I hope you join Ashley in her scavenger hunt next week too!
The themes are:

  1. My Town
  2. Something Vintage (October 2010 item)
  3. Tilt-Shift Photography (October 2010 item - Tutorial Here or Tilt-Shift Maker here or Coffeeshop's Teeny Tiny World)
  4. Dress Up (this could also be "in disguise" - October 2010 item)
  5. Chocolate

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Easy like a Saturday Morning

"That's why I'm easy
I'm easy like Sunday morning"

-Lionel Richie

Apparently Lionel Richie never went to church on Sunday mornings or else he would not clarify Sunday mornings as easy.

No, Sunday mornings are filled with running around to find that hidden dress, those shoes shoved in the closet, making sure everyone eats breakfast and gets in the car in time to make it to church.

Or is it just my house that is crazy on Sunday mornings?

But Saturday mornings ... those are easy!

On Saturday mornings you can sleep in a bit; roll over when the sun peeks in through the curtains.

Audrey morning

Saturday mornings are perfect for grabbing a blanket and having a breakfast picnic in the backyard.

outside

Blowing milk bubbles is ok when it's on a Saturday morning

blowing bubbles

On Saturdays you can keep your pajamas on till noon and then take a nap after you change into clothes.

saturday morning

Saturdays are perfect for slowing down and taking the time to notice the little things; like the fly resting on your picnic blanket.

a fly

Saturday mornings are perfect for cuddling and loving. The cleaning; the laundry can all wait until the afternoon.

Audrey smile

Yup, it's definitely
sat morning
Easy like a Saturday morning!

How was your Saturday morning?  Did you take a second to breathe and recharge?


Friday, October 22, 2010

Good Night Moon

Today has been one of those days ...

I got to work around 8am and left after 6 pm (I usually leave at 4pm)

I came home to a teething baby and a drama queen three year old (at least I had a drink after they went to bed)

But tonight, I would like to wish adieu in the same way as a very loved book

Good Night Moon
Moon

Good Night Chair
Side Light

Good Night Lamp
Lamp Outside

Good Night Leah; my drama queen princess
Leah Night

Good Night Audrey; my teething baby
Audrey Night

Good Night Blogging world
Outside

I'll see you in the morning!

10 Everyday Life List

1.      I gave Leah a horse shaped piggy bank.  Any coin left alone for about 5 minutes goes straight to her horsy bank.

2.      She also reminds me that I’m going to work to make money for her horsy bank.

3.      Our house has become a revolving door for plumbers and butt cracks.  And yet … the drain is still stopped up.

4.      The joy of renting is that we don’t have to pay for any of this!

  1. Landlord bought a new dishwasher for us!  (Praise Jesus)  The last couple weeks we have been washing dishes by hand … oh the travesty.
6. Everyday this week I have worn long sleeves to work even though the high has been projected in the 80’s.  I figure if I wear long sleeves enough, maybe someone will get the hint and bring fall really down to Alabama.

  1. Everything is so slow today, so I went and made friends (I’m still new here) and gossiped for about an hour.  I got some good juicy gossip, but no one to share with.  Eh, I shouldn’t gossip anyways ;-)

  1. Audrey has a snotty cold, but is terrified of the little bulb that gets boogers out of her nose.  If she sees it coming towards her; her head starts shaking like it’s gonna spin around backwards.

  1. Do you watch Modern Family?  You should … it is the perfect comedy!

  1. Make sure you watch CBS tomorrow at 2:30 to see my Auburn Tigers whoop up on some LSU tiger meat!  WAR EAGLE!

Thursday, October 21, 2010

The ABC's of Me

My middle name is Anne; same as my mom and my baby
I’m the Bread-winner … uh huh, I bring home the bacon
I am a horrible Cook and can burn almost anything
I’m a Devout believer that Jesus Christ died on the cross to save me from my sins.  That doesn’t mean I understand life any better though.
I have two holes punched in each Ear, but I rarely wear earrings. 
I love Football!  I’ve impressed guys with my football knowledge, and have a winning record versus my husband in fantasy football.
My favorite kind of jelly is Grape jelly.
I have a big Heart. Not literally, but I love first always.
I play multiple musical Instruments.
I rode the bus to high school until I was a Junior and could drive myself.
I Kicked a soccer ball from the age of 8 till I was a sophomore in high school.  I hope my girls love soccer as much as I do.
I am one of the few converted Lutherans.  The joke is in the South you are either born into a Lutheran family or you marry in.  I married in.
I am a Mom to two beautiful girls
I read fiction Novels like they are going out of style.
I love the color Orange because it represents Auburn!  War Eagle!
I call myself a pretend Photographer and I’m learning everyday
Leah calls me Princess Mommy, but I tell her I’m really the Queen!
I Rode on a bus from Birmingham to Washington D.C. in 5th grade.
I studied in school to be a Scientist.
I am addicted to the Television!  Don’t worry … I dvr my shows and watch them while I’m folding the laundry.
When I was a kid I collected Unicorns.  Yeah, then I moved on to less dorky things … like being in the marching band.
I love the look of Vintage furniture.
Everyday I’m learning more and more what it means to be a good and supportive Wife.
Sometimes my husband would describe me as a Xanthippe.  That means an ill-tempered woman (your welcome for the vocabulary lesson)
I am a Young mom and was worried I would not find people my age that had kids the same age … and then I joined the blog world!
I wanna go visit the Zoo!  (what … it’s the end of the alphabet and not a lot starts with Z)
Audrey and Mommy
Inspired by Mama Kat's prompt #2: About me. Do you have an about me page? Because people want to know. Write a page that describes who you are and what you’re about or spruce up your current about me page!
Mama's Losin' It

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Fall is creeping into the South

Fall is finally here in the South. Although as I write this it is projected to be 80 degrees here today. Well, at least the humidity is down!

This past weekend we had some fall fun!

Everyone (except me) went to a fall festival Sunday afternoon. Where was I you may ask? at work ... but hey, it's better than the other job I interviewed for that practically required full days on the weekends. I can live with a few hours a weekend or two.

But, I did get to join the family in time for the pumpkin patch!

both Girls

This paticular pumpkin patch is super special to me. It is at the church that I grew up in and the one my parents still attend.

Leah and Pumpkins

It was a bit strange to now be here with my kids. I remember coming over and working the pumpkin patch when I was in middle school. I remember unloading the pumpkins and watching in delight while the rotten ones crashed down the hill.

Audrey wave

I remember reading a book while 'working' the cash register in high school and being suprised by friends coming to visit (or maybe a boyfriend a time or two).

And yet, it seems different in a way. It's not my pumpkin patch and my memories anymore, and I'm cool with that. They now belong to the gaggle of girls dressed up in costumes and waving posters at passing cars.

Pumpkin Kiss

Now my memories are watching the girls pick out the perfect pumpkin and sealing it with a kiss. The memories now belong to my girls and hopefully the years we will spend visiting here. I know they will hold onto the good memories; like I have for years to come.

B/W Audrey

Everyone (espeically around this church) keeps telling me they are so glad we are back home. But I'm not sure I see it that way. Birmingham is my childhood home for sure, but when we left and spent over 2 years in Nashville; that become my home too. Yes, I am glad we moved back to Birmingham, espeically to be closer to family, but I'm not coming back 'home' in the sense that I seem to get people expect me too.

Bridge

We live on a different side of town. We attend a different church. We are making new friends and rekindling older friendships.

Birmingham is now my home in the same sense that Nashville was my home.

and who knows what the future holds? Who knows where our home will be in 5 or 10 years? Just because we moved back to Birmingham doesn't mean we have moved back for a lifetime.

Our life and our future is in the hands of God. He knows what is best, and He will guide us a lead us to where we need to be.

And where ever we are ... will always be HOME!

Fall

Happy Fall from our Home to Yours!

Linked up with tons of wonderful wordful / wordish linky's!

Dumb Mom @ Parenting for Dummies; Angry Julie Monday; a little king and i

Wordish Wednesday
The Paper Mama

Lovely Photo - Wordless or Not-So-Wordless Wednesday at Aspire

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Come on in!

Welcome to The colour 4. 

Yeah, it doesn’t make sense, but that’s ok. 

What can you expect here:

Pictures:  I like taking pictures.  Almost more than I like to take pictures, I love to show my pictures to other people.  Yes, I am that person who bombards you with pictures when you walk in the door, stands over your shoulder as you glance at them, and then eagerly asks ‘well, what did you think?  Huh, huh, huh?  Did you love them?  Aren’t they cool?  Huh, huh, huh?  Aren’t I the bestest picture taker you’ve ever seen?”

I promise that … well, my husband is always reminding me not to make promises I can’t keep … so I will try not to annoy you with my anticipating glances as you look at my pictures.  That’s why there’s an internet between us.  And you better follow through with some awesome comments … because my friends on Facebook are currently failing.

Writing:  I like to write fiction.  It’s like an escape from life.  In fiction you can be anyone, anything and nobody can tell you no.  Although I do struggle with the fact that I want everything to have a happy ending.  It’s the 3 year old in me; just the way I end all the stories I tell Leah “and she lived happily ever after  or maybe it’s just because I think people will see me as morbid if I pick anything but happy.

So expect some writing up in here.  Although I have yet to write a story more than a chapter long … well, I’m learning and growing and may lock the kids in the playroom on a Saturday to write.  What … there’s a glass door leading to the playroom; I could still see them.

Everyday Life:  I’m not that good at writing about everyday life.  Because if I was then I would remember half the stupid conversations I have with Andrew or a quarter of the silly and sweet things Leah says. 

Or I would tell you about how within the first two weeks at my new job I got in trouble twice for reading a book … while on lunch break.  So I can only assume that someone (whoever was telling on me) is intimidated by me reading or something like that.

Or I would tell you about the other day when my boss came to work dressed in a tan camo outfit and in the afternoon I saw him outside shooting a bow and arrow at a target that was facing the building we work in.  Talking to the associate manager and shooting arrows kinda close to the door … only in the south, y’all.

and the random:  just stuff … you know the random stuff that doesn’t fit into a pretty category and sometimes just plain makes you go ‘huh?’  But I will try not to blog drunk … talk about not making sense!

I hope you stick around.  I hope you come with me on this journey we call life.  I hope you leave me a comment so I feel good about myself … at least for a moment!