A Sweet Little Christmas Wish List

I found this on Sarah's desk Monday night and absolutely love her list.  Santa's already taken care of items five and six, and item seven will be an easy addition to item six.  Item eight?  Well, given that we already have two new furry feline additions to the family in Spartacus Pete and Zoey, I don't think adding in one more at this time is the right time, but who knows.  If a sweet little orange tabby were to show up at our doorstep late one night, I'm sure we wouldn't turn him away!

It's items one through four on this list that really struck me, particularly item four.  Oh, my sweet child.  While items one through three, though heartfelt, might set her up for the pageant set (um, no...), it's four that tugged at my heartstrings: "that mama's new job and the move work out well."  I'm on the road to Tallahassee this morning to "officially" start this new job, and yes, I'm very excited.  Professionally, I know it's going to be a great new challenge for me, and I feel very up to the task.  The mama side of me still struggles with uprooting my family for this move, but we're going on faith that we're being led where we are meant to be led.  Though nervous, or nervous-cited as Sarah likes to say (that's nervous and excited combined!), we are getting ready for our new adventure! 

Spiral Art Journal: Why Must it Go So Fast?

Every night when I tuck the girls into bed, we have a ritual. First I ask each of them to tell me the best thing that happened that day, and then I sing each of them a little song, the same song every night. About a week or so ago, we had finished our nightly ritual, and as I was walking out the door, Sarah said, "Mama, why must it go so fast?" I replied, "Why must what go so fast, honey?" and she responded, "Everything, Mama....Sing the nite nite song again...but sing it slower this time..."

Um, wow. Such words of wisdom from a child. I posted the conversation on my Facebook page the next morning, and the other night I got around to making a journal page to remember it. I love this background, and I love these words...just wish I liked my handwriting! Fellow art journalers, what pen or marker do you most love to write with?

Enjoying the Magic

So we had a big weekend….three-and-a-half days in New York City with my family and four students. Benny’s not real big on NYC, but he and the girls came with us again this year since our annual APCA Leadership Conference fell once again on the girls’ birthday. While I was in sessions all day Friday and most of the day Saturday, Benny and the girls wandered around town…walking across the Brooklyn Bridge, playing in Central Park, you know, stuff a guy would want to do. We did make it to a Yankees game Friday night too, so that was quite an experience.

I snapped the photo above on a quick whim on Thursday evening out at Coney Island. I always take my students out there the first night we’re in the city because I think Coney Island is just something you have to see. It’s not just the rides…it’s the people! All the crazy Coney Island boardwalk characters! Sarah was about to take off on the high flying swings when the sight of her snazzy little feet just screamed out to me. They just looked so small and frail, yet here they were attached to this incredible little girl who was turning nine years old. Nine years old! How did this happen!?

I was able to do some girly stuff with the girls too. Did you know that American Girl Place in NYC (the home of American Girl dolls) is THREE STORIES! It looks deceptively small from the street, but good Lord, once you get inside you soon realize the store goes way back and up three floors. The girls were a bit overwhelmed (seriously, I was too!) but they finally managed to pick out something for their birthday presents that didn’t totally break the bank. That night, I took them to see Mary Poppins on Broadway while Benny watched the Olympics in the hotel. I think the girls and I definitely got the better show!

There’s something so magical about childhood, I think especially for me being blessed with two amazing little girls. Just watching the smiles on their faces as they rode the rides at Coney Island, seeing their “oh my gosh, can you believe all this stuff?” looks as they ran from section to section in American Girl Place, and then most especially, when Bert danced on the ceiling of the theater and Mary Poppins flew with her umbrella in the show. During intermission, I saw Sarah frantically twirling her necklace in circles and asked her what she was doing. She replied, “I’m playing jump rope with the fairies, Mama!"

When I was tucking the girls in Sunday night, I told them I couldn't believe they were nine years old and asked them both what their favorite thing was of the whole trip. Livvie’s was walking across the Brooklyn Bridge (I’ll share some of her pictures later!), and Sarah’s was most definitely seeing Mary Poppins…and specifically seeing Mary Poppins fly up into the air with her magic umbrella. “It really was magic, wasn’t it, Mama?” Then as I was walking out the door, Livvie said "Mama, even though I'm nine years old, I'll always be your little girl..." Talk about magical...that's the kind of magical moment that melts a Mama's heart.

Taking a Ride with Kellie Pickler

My dad came up this past weekend in his shiny new Corvette. He’s been itching for a new toy and had been trying to decide between a Chevy SSR and a Saturn Sky. So he got a 2002 Corvette. :-) I thought it was an excellent choice, with its Florida State Seminole garnet and gold vibe, though I’m partial to old school convertible Mustangs.

So the funny story behind this picture... Dad took the girls for a ride and had his favorite CD. He asked the girls, “Have you ever heard your Mom sing?” (So yes, I’ve recorded a CD, all covers, long story I first talked about here.) Of course, the girls did not believe it was me. Sarah said something like, “That’s not Mama. That’s Kellie Pickler, Granddad. I know Kellie Pickler when I hear her, Granddad. Livvie, tell Granddad that’s Kellie Pickler.” “Granddad, Sarah said that’s Kellie Pickler. Do you know who Kellie Pickler is?” said Livvie.

Granddad tried to convince them, but to no avail. When they got back, Dad told me to take the girls for a spin, and “By the way, I have your CD in. They think you’re Kellie Pickler.” And by the way, I just WISH I could sing like Kellie Pickler.

So I hopped in the ‘Vette with the girls and Kellie Pickler. When I asked them if they thought that was me, they both replied, “No, Mom [rolling their eyes], that’s Kellie Pickler.” So, I just grinned and picked out a song in which my voice sounded closest to my speaking voice as possible and then sang along with it. Livvie looked at me like I had morphed into an alien, but she was convinced after one song. Sarah still wasn’t convinced by the time we got back to the house, so the Granddad pulled the CD cover out of the trunk and showed it to her. I think she is finally now convinced. And Olivia now likes to sing B.F.D.

I uploaded four of the songs here: B.F.D. originally by Kathy Mattea, Bringing Out the Elvis by Faith Hill, Fever by Peggy Lee, and Nobody Love, Nobody Gets Hurts by Susy Bogguss. Be kind. I’m not Kellie Pickler.

Words from a Very Sweet Girl

The girlies have definitely embraced their art journals, and it’s been fun to watch them embark on their own with their pages. Sunday while I was cleaning up my studio, Olivia was intently working in hers, and she completed about four pages, most of which included lots of rubber stamping with bright colors. She proudly showed me each one as she finished, except this last one, which included no stamping. It slipped my mind until I had to get something out of my workshop last night and found it. So continuing in my gratefulness that I posted Monday, I had to share what she wrote. In case you can’t read 2nd grade scribbles, here’s the translation:

“I love my Dad to the moon and back and I love my Mom to the moon and back and I love my sister to the moon and back and I love God to the moon and back and Granddad to the moon and back and myself to the moon and back. I love Grandma Cathy to the moon and back. I love Savannah to the moon and back [cat #1] and Tink to the moon and back [cat #2] and Molly to the moon and back [dog #2] and Isabelle to the moon and back [dog #1] and Miss Shirley to the moon and back [neighbor across the street]. And I love my stuffed animals to the moon and back and I love Aunt Kim to the moon and back and Uncle Rob to the moon and back. And I love the bunnies that hang out in my front yard too, and I love the earth.”

Oh, the sweetness. Sigh… What sweet things have you seen today?

Telephone Line to Heaven

Running errands this afternoon listening to a song on the radio that had “Heaven” in it:

Sarah: Mama, what does Heaven look like?

Mama: Well, I don’t know Sarah. I haven’t been there yet, but the Bible says it has streets paved of gold.

Livvie: I know what we could do! We could build a phone that will reach all the way up to Heaven, and then we could call and ask what it looks like!

Sarah: Yeah! We could call up there and then when Jesus or God answers, we could ask Him if we could talk to your Mama and Daddy’s Mama, and they could tell us what it looks like!

Livvie: Yeah! That would be so cool! Mama, is that armadillo we saw on the side of the road yesterday in Heaven?

Mama: Livvie, have I ever told you the story about the Rainbow Bridge?....

These girls never cease to amaze me. Not sure if these railroad tracks lead to Heaven, but Sarah spotted them and thought the flowers growing in between would make a pretty picture. And I’m sure there’s someone that armadillo will be waiting for near the Rainbow Bridge. After all, God loves all creatures great and small…even smelly and armored.

Birdhouses and Green Slime...

Anybody home? One of my Picture Spring assignments is to “reflect and look back” by looking back through my archives and selecting a photo I haven’t shared before. I captured this shot last October, just outside a really fun little shop in Apalachicola. I wish I could remember the name of the shop! I’m sure I’ll be back over there soon. Finding this picture again reminded me of that trip. I was over there to check out the property I’ve been dreaming about and had such a great day just wandering through all the funky little art galleries and antique shops in Apalachicola and dreaming about what I wanted to do. I had lunch at “That Place in Apalach,” a great old diner. It was a much needed couple days of solitude. Rare for me! But little trips like that refuel me and remind me of my blessings.

I got home late last night so I didn’t get to talk to the girls before they went to bed. This morning, they both excitedly told me about some card project they needed to do for their teacher. I think Olivia said it best. Livvie: “Mama! We have to make seven cards for Jaxson de Ville!” Mama: “Why?” Livvie: “So I can win a big bucket of green slime [sang with opera-like gusto]!” So there you have it. We have to make seven cards for Jaxson de Ville so Livvie can win a big bucket of green slime. Talk about reminding you of your blessings! How blessed would this world be if all it took to make us all happy was a big bucket of green slime? What’s your “big bucket of green slime”? What would really tickle your toes? Maybe you are already blessed with it.

A Little Monday Happiness

This little note was waiting on my towel for me when I got out of the shower this morning. It was from Olivia. The second page says, “I love my mom because she makes fun stuff with me and says she’ll love me forever and ever and ever.” And, “I love my dad because he makes really good pig butt and gives me little pieces while he’s cooking it on the grill.” True love.

For Sgt. John Nathan Spearing

The girls and I were driving home from school one day last week when Billy Currington’s “People Are Crazy” came on the radio. Sarah in particular loves to sing, and she has my gift for remembering song lyrics. Shortly after she sang the verse below--

Last call it's 2am, I said goodbye to him,
I never talked to him again.
Then one sunny day, I saw the old man’s face.
Front page obituary, he was a millionaire.
He left his fortune to, some guy he barely knew.
His kids were mad as hell. But me, I’m doing well.
And I dropped by today, to just say thanks and pray.
I left a six-pack right there on his grave, and I said,
God is great, beer is good, and people are crazy.

--Sarah said, “Mama, I think that when we go to the 100 Acre Wood this weekend, we should leave something on Sgt. John’s grave.” “Wow,” I said, “that’s a great idea! What would you like to leave him?” “Well, I bet he liked oysters, so I think we should leave him some oyster shells.” So there you have it, Sgt. John; have some oysters. Livvie added the red berries in case the oysters were too salty.


That got my curiosity up. Just who was Sgt. John Nathan Spearing anyway? And why is he the only marked grave in the Theodore Roosevelt area outside of the Browne Cemetery? The park shares the story of the Brownes right there on the trail, but nothing about Sgt. John. So I did a little research and found that John Nathan Spearing was the original owner of the property.  When he and his wife settled in the Jacksonville area after the Civil War, they first settled in "the city," as the area where this land now sits was far out of the city at that time. Spearing eventually wanted more room and settled on this land.  It was he who sold the land to the Browne family, with the condition that when he died, he be buried in a pre-selected spot on the property.  His original gravesite was not where this tombstone now sits.  When his original grave was vandalized, Mr. Willie (Browne) moved the grave and stone to this spot, which is very close to the spot where Mr. Willie loved to sit and watch the marsh and river beyond. Very interesting!

If Only...

Conversation with Sarah while I was brushing her hair before school yesterday morning (picture taken on the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway)...

Sarah: Mama, is tomorrow a school day?

Mama: Nope, tomorrow's Saturday. Weekend's here!

Sarah: Livvie! Tomorrow's Saturday! We have two days off school!

Livvie: I wish the weekend was three days.

Mama: Me too.

Sarah: Me three. No! I wish the weekend was FOUR days. I wish "wish spray" worked on that.

Mama: Indeed.

Sunday PostCard Art: Vintage Bathing Beauties

“Daddy, I am an artist, not a fish-feeder. I’m creating art right now so I don’t have time to feed the fish.”—Sarah’s response to DH when he asked her if she wanted to help feed Nemo and Marlin.

The girls had a friend sleepover Saturday night, so I thought we might not get to this this week, but Sunday about 10am, with their friend in tow, Sarah reminded me, “Mama! We have to do our Sunday PostCard Art!” I’m surprised she remembered since we’ve only been doing this a couple weeks. Their friend made a card as well but she took it home to her mom so I couldn’t scan it. We found these images on a really fun vintage postcard website. Below: Kelly, Olivia, Sarah. See all of this week's entries here.

My Budding Fashion Designer

When I got home from work last night, Sarah had filled her Curious George notepad with various fashion illustrations. She said they were all of me. We had Mama in a brown dress, Mama in a purple dress, and Mama in this lovely red dress. She even had a couple with no color added. When I asked her about those, she said, “That’s Mama getting out of the shower.” Out of the mouths of babes…

Busy weekend ahead, getting ready for the Thornebrook Arts Festival which will be Oct 4-5 in Gainesville. I've been procrastinating as usual and will probably be up till the wee hours of the morning all next week getting ready for the show. Also getting in a little Florida State football Saturday afternoon. Hopefully we'll fare better than that miserable showing against Wake Forest last week. What's up in your world?