Showing posts with label raising a family. Show all posts

What Will Our GrandChild Call Us?

As I recently revealed, we will be expecting our first grandchild any day now. That got me to thinking what will the baby call us? Should we go traditional or nontraditional? Creative or staple? What about the fact that there's two grandmother's. With so many things to consider and the thought that this title would be upheld several years (and possibly several grand kids), I really wanted to choose wisely.

Being true to myself, I knew I was far from traditional. I had no interest in grandma, granny or even the modern nana, mimi, or that whole glam-ma thing. I was feeling kind of lost, when suddenly all the names I've had in life filtered through my brain, one in particular stood out, my childhood nickname, Pooh bear, eventually shortened to Pooh. OMG I've got it!

Honey! Life just went full circle with this one. Seriously, Honey is sweet, fun, and respectful enough to grow with age. 

Now it was time to help my wife choose her name. We wanted to stick with something equally as sweet. We toyed with Peaches, Coco, and Lolly. They were fitting, but further in our conversation we discussed how her father use to call her tugga-bugga. We both looked at each other and shouted Sugga!!!! Accept she's no longer into that southern flair, so it's Sugar.

Sugar and Honey.

Waiting patiently for our Sweet Tea. Sweety. See what I did there?

The One Thing I Want More Than Anything

One of my life's greatest joys, is photographing. Ever since I was a child, about 10, I've had a camera in my hand. Capturing the beauty in nature, the scenes of street life, and the most intimate of details in everyday situations. But the one thing I enjoy photographing the most is children and their families.

Children are so genuine. No matter the situation they can't help but display their raw emotion, be it joy or tears. Over the past 6 years that I've been photographing professionally, I've had the pleasure of making many portraits of little ones, including those of my own.
 
I wallow at the thought of how many images I have of each of my 7 children. Memories of them small and with every milestone reached. But you know the one thing I don't have.

The one thing I don't have is a picture of my 7 children together. It breaks my heart to say that. But I have never had all 7 of my children at the same moment in time. 6, but not 7. Let me explain why. There is a pretty good gap between the ages of the kids the eldest is 20 and the youngest two are 6.

With my eldest 2 sons being in California, they were often only with us during the summer months. So I have pictures with the oldest 5 (the twins were not born yet). By the time the twins were born, my youngest daughter was often in Tennessee with her grandparents.

 So that left me with 6 when the boys visited but not 7. My eldest daughter is now an adult. So again I am left with a different set of 6.

I've tried so many times to get them all under one roof, but it just never seems to work in my favor. I dream of the session I would have with them. It would be everything to me. I tried again this summer and had things set, but at the last moment, plans fell through and my heart was yet again broken.

Sure I could make a composite with everyone together, but its just not what I want. I want the memory of the moment. I want true memories embedded in all of our brains and hearts....

What I Do All Day

I've been a stay at home mom for about 6 years. The first few years were super hectic with 3 small children home during the day. Pretty self explanatory.

Recently, the twins began kindergarten, leaving me child free during the day. 

My sister, who is in law enforcement, decided to place her career on hold, and give this "at home mom" thing a go. Similarly, both of her daughters are in school. 

Last week she rang my phone frantically asking and I quote: "How do you stay busy?, What the heck do you do all day?!" 

Hint: It isn't what's pictured. (Though I'm sure that's what some may think).

 I find it pretty comical when people ask me this question, because just like those that work outside the home, I feel there aren't enough hours in the day to get things done.

 This post is for those who's children have just begun school and looking for a little inspiration.


{And for if there are people asking you that same intriguing question (assuming since we don't work outside the home, we have no life) well I'm here to make their mouths drop.}


Things I do every day:
Make kids beds
Sweep the house (we have hardwood floors)
Pick up clothes the kids have thrown on their floor (usually yesterday's school clothes and p.j.'s )
Wipe up the toothpaste they left in the sink, around the sink, and on the mirror (just keep a pack of cleaning wipes in the bathroom cabinet)
Laundry (they remove clothes everyday, there IS always laundry)
Cook Dinner (on a rough day, at least know what everyone is eating)
Do the dishes (that I've used to prepare dinner or throughout the day)
Take out the trash (I hate the smell of trash, it has to go everyday)

[The above are for good measure] :)

Kitchen:
1. Experiment with a new recipe ( you may want to try this or this,)
2. Cut up veggies for the week. (i.e. dice onions, bell peppers, shred cheese etc.)
3. Clean out the fridge.
4.Organize dish cabinets and get rid of any fast food cups that have found a home in them.
5. Compile a grocery list.
6. Go grocery shopping.
7. Have a glass of wine, why not?

Kids:
1. Find kids clothes for the week, if you're really feeling it, iron them.
2. Clean out kids closet.
3. Store too small clothes or out of season clothes in bags and put unwanted items in boxes for Goodwill.
4. Volunteer for an event at the kids school.
5. Surprise the kids and show up for lunch.

Family/Friends:
1. Plan a day to meet your significant other for lunch.
2. Call a loved one you haven't talk to in a while and catch up.
3.Take a moment to write a handwritten letter (or poem/song) to someone you love. Be creative this can be to your spouse, mom, dad, child, or friend.

Online:
1. Start a wish list on your favorite stores website. This could be for you or a birthday or special holiday coming up.
2. Send some of those adorable photos your phone to the lab for printing, make a few extras to give/mail to family.
3. While your at it, get regain some space by getting rid of all the unwanted photos.
4. Pin a few crafts or recipes to your Pinterest boards to try at a later date (If you're not on Pinterest yet, now's the time to join).
5. Play a thought provoking game against an online opponent (I like words with friends and Wordox) to keep your brain sharp.
6. Learn a new hobby or skill from watching Youtube tutorials. (I've seriously learned how to play  guitar, how to crochet, and some great photography tips).
7. Catch up on an episode of your favorite show.

Around the house:
1. Rearrange a room just for the heck of it.
2. See if you can find the mates to those loose socks, if not save them for crafts to do with this kids (this is a fun one).
3.Use a duster (or your broom) and swipe the corners of rooms for any webs.
4. Sweep or clean off the porch/deck.

Self Care:
1. Try a new hairstyle.
2. Take a warm bubble bath to clear your mind, before the family gets home.
3. Give your toe nails some much needed attention (clip, file and polish).
4. Clean out your purse.
5. Snuggle with a warm cup of tea or coffee and a good read.
6. Catch up on some much needed sleep (let's face it, sometimes we really need to).

Did you enjoy this list, or have something that should be added?  Sound off in the comments, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

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