Happy Birthday to ME!

September 15th, 2021

I turned 47

We had a quiet little birthday, but I insisted that I have all the candles on my cake.  It was a regular bonfire.

Robert bought out Kroger with all the ice cream he brought home.  The twins treated me to breakfast, dinner and cleaned up the house...a perfect birthday gift.

And I got this awesome card. 

I love my throne.

 

I hate buying school pictures.  It is one of my most frustrating pet peeves.  The pictures are always sub-par and then the company that takes them has the gall to only offer huge packages for 5 hundred million dollars.  So. Annoying.

So, I usually refuse to give in.  On principle, mostly.  There is a slight possibility that someone might construe my tenacity as bull headedness...but I like to view it as 'sticking to the man.'  Or perhaps I'm sticking it to the mild mannered, pleasant photographer who is just trying to make a living...

Whatever.  They'll bleed you dry if you let them.

So, instead, I drag my kids to a park and insist on taking the pictures myself.  (take that, Lifetouch, Inc.!)

I do alright.  Here are Emmett and Jason's 'school' pictures.  And because it doesn't cost me any extra, you get all the good ones.

You also get guest appearances of Robert and Ethan, who both join us on our photo shoot. 

Oh...and Penny.  Who could have a school photoshoot without the dog?

2021

Emmett - 2nd grade

Jason - 4th grade

And our very special, and unexpected guests was one of the invasive, Giant Joro spider's hailing from Asia and taking over Georgia like a storm.  These suckers are pretty harmless, I think, despite their bright red-coloring...but they have huge annoying webs and they are EVERYWHERE!  I don't like it...but Robert thought they might make a good treat.

We had another hurricane cleanup in Florida, and this time Wyatt Jones was able to join the kids as well.  These volunteer opportunities are so meaningful to the kids.  There are so many times that we have been involved in volunteer work that really had very little impact on others.  I have always tried to find activities and groups to help my kids not only feel compassion for those less fortunate then they are, but also to have real-life impact on the people they serve.  These many hurricane trips have been physically exerting, time consuming, and a real sacrifice of time and effort, but the rewards have been amazing.  They kids have done everything from chopping up trees to mucking out houses and they can see the relief and gratitude on the people they help, as they help.

I'll always be so thankful that we moved to Georgia and were able to experience this level of service.