A Day/Year in the Life

Hey Ya'll...here it is the end of March!  Back in January I asked my daughter Nicole if she would like to guest blog during her birthday month and without hesitation she said yes.  I felt bad asking her...she is the busiest young woman  her age that I know (so I am a bit biased)!!  But I am always so amazed by her...and wanted to share her with all of you.  Of course her days are full of everything from teaching AP English to planning prom (this school's proms are like combination debutante balls and wedding receptions), to readying students for a scholars bowl competition, to helping with or attending a singles ministry function (headed by her husband), to making Claire a dress for a special occasion, to attending her book club meeting, and to hanging out with her two favorite people...David and Claire.   

She has happened onto one of life's great mysteries and truths...time passes quickly...whether we fill our days with a dozen things or just two.  Moments become memories and curls grow and lives change.  Be sure that each day you stop "grading your papers" and play... just a little bit. 

So, I (Kim's daughter, Nicole) am the guest blogger for March.  And guess what?! I made my deadline!  One hour before April!

My days are so busy it's hard to find time to sit and reflect, but chained to my computer to write this blog, I'm thinking a lot about how rapid the pace of life is.  Before-school prom meetings, a full-day of work, home to play with Claire and David and ignore the paper grading, church and ministry stuff, and then some Ugly Betty on Netflix so I don't try to make to do lists in my head all night.

I think the pace of life sped up just as Claire did!  So, this is a reflection in pictures and video of how fast life grows/goes!

This picture is from a year ago--my 28th birthday.

We would spend our afternoons lounging in the sun or napping on the couch.

Camera in hand, I would wait for the moment she would crack a half smile, burp, or move a finger.  Each one was miraculous.  Like this one:

Or this one:

The real life changer began with this progression:

And now we are on to full-fledged running, tripping, and dancing.  The talking is new too.  There were always giggles and coos, but these days they sound like sentences, but I just can't understand the words.  The words I do hear regularly are "cat," "banana," "layla," and "woof."  Mama and Dada are words reserved for major times of need. This video is of Claire and me just hanging out: watching Wonder Pets, playing with the animals, dancing, and learning about farm animals.  She's a little wonder who seems to have gone from infant to toddler in the blink of an eye!

Every day she changes.  Her curls are a bit longer or she makes more sounds or her diapers are bigger :)  And that's probably why life seems so fast.  Every second is something new and we are enjoying the ride.

So, in the spirit of my mom: this is my life!

I hope you enjoyed it

Nicole

Happy Birthday Rich and Nicole!

I am checking out again for a couple days but not before I say Happy Birthday to two very special people in my life!!

On Friday, Rich will celebrate his 30th 50th Birthday!!  He is my best friend and my soul mate and I love him, love him, love him!

Our sweet, beautiful daughter Nicole turns 29 on Saturday!!!  If you knew her you'd agree...she's the cat's meow;)

11 in 11...Book Club Update for March!!

Before March roars out the door like the lion it has been, I thought I should do an update on the books I am...and am not reading!!  First off, if you are new to the blog...get the details by clicking on the page in my sidebar (11 in 11...My Bookclub)!  I have to admit that unlike the old days when I could pick up a book and read it to the very end within a day or two...that doesn't happen much anymore.  I get easily distracted and I really do think that aging hasn't helped...No longer can I pile into bed with a good book and plow through chapter after chapter until the wee hours of the morning (in part because my eyes can't focus with that little bitty book lite and my husband is a much lighter sleeper these days and any light wakes him up)!  I have read two books this month not on my list... Rescue by Anita Shreve and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I do love to have a book at the ready...


So to update...In February I was supposed to read A Tale of Two Cities .  I have started it and read it periodically...which is to say when I am fully awake and feel like an English teacher!!  I will probably take most of the spring to finish it (but then I do vaguely remember how it ends so there is no real sense of urgency here) and so I have moved on down my list...I am supposed to be starting a series and this is the one I chose...

It is the story of the life of Josephine Bonaparte.  The story begins on an island in the Caribbean...Josephine is 14 years old...

 "June 23, 1777~ I am but fourteen today and unmarried still. Without a dowry, what hope is there? Mother says the wind takes hope and dashes it into the sky, just as the big wind took our house, picked it up and dashed it, leaving nothing but debts in its place."

...from The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B.

Already I am wondering...how does she get from the Caribbean to France?  So this book will go with me to New Orleans on Thursday...I will have travel time in the car and maybe a few minutes here and there to read while celebrating Rich's 50th birthday with his mom and dad on a trip down memory lane...more about that later!

Also on my book list for April was the new testament of the Bible.  I began that in early March and actually started reading it daily on my phone...

but I am an old-fashioned girl...and I just wasn't feeling the love while I was working toward my goal. 

Soooooo....

I went back to my dearest bible...purchased in the early 90's.   It has been read, studied, pondered, and loved til it can't be carried about unless in a zippered case because its pages are literally falling out of it!

So much of my development as a Christian is documented in the pages of this book...and I am so glad I was one of those who didn't prescribe to the ...."never write in the Bible..."

and yes... I even let my girls draw pictures during church services (although I think some of their best artwork is in their dad's bible :)...

So there it is...now how is it going for you?  I really am curious if anyone has as much difficulty keeping to a list as I do? Also, if you have read something really excellent...let the rest of us know!

Remodeling...Done!

The study/hall bathroom redo turned out to be quite a bit of work!  It was a job for a professional and fortunately he has a boom box to keep him company and a toolbox full of patience as it took quite a bit of time to remove wallpaper and ready the walls for paint!  As the week rolled along, so did the paint and for the most part both rooms are back together. 


                                                       The Bathroom~Before

After

Gone is the white-striped wallpaper and in its place a nice warm golden glow! The shower curtain...well, it speaks quite nicely for itself!  I found the bird prints at the Florida House at Pier Park.  I am still on the lookout for shades for the lamps on either side of the mirror...and some really cool botanical print for the wall opposite the birds!

The biggest change in the study besides the clean look of the walls is the clean look of the bookshelves!

Before...too much stuff on shelves, what is that picture floating about on the wall, worn out pillows on the chairs, and the standing cue rack behind my chair...ugh!!

After...minus a lot of books and actually the walls are more golden honey-colored than orange!

Some things are still not done...there is a Blue Ray player/sound system still to be installed (that's my son-in-law's job :), the floor stand of pool cues...it's got to go. I am still looking for a rack that can be hung on the wall.  Also, one picture is left to be rehung and new pillows and throws are out there somewhere waiting for me to wander upon them!!   

I'm Back...I guess I needed a Spring Break too!

I took a little break last week to enjoy the kids being home...

The girls put together a tent for...Claire...

Chelsea and I made Paula Deen's Coconut Lime Cake...

                            Claire perfected splashing in the pool!...

...and loved playing in the Spring basket (my new version of the Easter basket...since my girls have finally outgrown them)...

...and I am pretty sure she ate her weight in blueberries!

On Wednesday Rich, Chelsea, Katelyn, and I headed up to Nashville...

We visited Vanderbilt...Katelyn's home starting next August!

Kate will live somewhere in this freshman quad next year!

While there she bought her dad a gift for his 50th (on the 25th)...a Vandy hat!

On St. Patrick's Day we went to a Nashville Predators Hockey game! They played the bagpipes version of the National Anthem, had an Irish band playing during the game, and served green beer! It was crazy...physical...and fun...a first for all of us...next time we will all bring coats to wear!

Look closely and you will see #12...Carrie Underwood's husband!  In case anyone cares...the Predators beat the Boston Bruins in overtime 4-3!!

As if that wasn't enough fun, Rich found a place right outside of Nashville where we could zipline...

Getting onto the zipline was half the fun! We all enjoyed it but thought it would be better after the leaves come in...

 Before we knew it, it was Friday and time to start back for home!  We spent one night at Nicole's...said goodbye to Chelsea, and then headed back to Panama City...but not before...

We enjoyed some time with Claire at the local park!

So for a couple of days it is back to the reality of laundry...mail...grocery store...errands, but it's birthday week in our house so we have a 50th celebration for Rich coming up on the 25th and Nicole's birthday the 26th!!! 

I hope you had a fabulous spring break and you wake up daily to sunshine!  Stay tuned this week cause there is good stuff coming...an update on the 11 in 2011 book club...a guest blogger...and the end of the study/ bath remodel!

Happy Spring :)