Maisy is stressed as Matt takes suitcases and small piles back to the van. Poor pup. She just got used to being home after our sojourn to the beach!! This one is much quicker girl. I promise.
Off to Kentucky to see Uncle Butch and family. Back soon!!
All the Dev cousins (except four). At the beach. Good, good times.
I am hoping to upload the pics soon. However, they are on Matt's work computer, my blog site allows me to upload only one at a time once I transfer them to this computer, and this computer is as slow as Christmas. If you have a facebook account, they are on Matt's site. "Friend" him if you haven't already! He'd love it, and then you can see all the pics. (And there's some really gruesome ones of the kids after cousin Keith found a tube of fake blood. They had just watched "Twilight" and I think some of their more villainous natures were showing!!)
Off to bake a few things for our NEXT trip Friday. Then watch MJ's memorial. And listen to small children whine b/c I am not nearly as exciting as their cousins. Ah well. They'll always have their beach memories.
He got this one just right. It still gives me chills. THIS is what a music video should do to you.
And this is what he did. Artists by trade make you feel things pretty deeply if they are doing their job right. He was an artist, wonderful or just plain weird. Take your pick.
I know there's much to mock and mimic and be mortified by in his life. I certainly have done all three. But I also felt that this was a person whose childhood was robbed of him. It doesn't excuse anything, but perhaps it explains an awful lot.
Regardless, for now, I want to think about how much he made me dance and laugh and feel, and yes, even sometimes think about things, at least for a little while, when I was so much younger.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/personal/06/17/housework.relationships/index.html
I post this old news because it finally hits an intriguing point that's often left out of the whole "men-who- do-housework-get-more-lovin'" reporting. The idea of the "invisible" component of household management. The card-buying, present-wrapping, doctor-appt.-making, record-keeping, medication-giving, haircut-arranging, pet-care-managing, packing and unpacking, grocery-list-making&shopping, yadda yadda yadda of household management.
It's one thing to do all the housework. Staying home with kids pretty much damns you to take that burden on, and that's ok. Kind of like a price you pay for wanting to be there all the time. (Don't even start me on my female friends who work and STILL do all this stuff. I'd have divorce papers in hand in that situation, but I digress.) You can trade the benefits of being there for your kids by being there with the mop, vacuum, and ever-present washing machine and rationalize it pretty easily. My personal viewpoint is that I signed on to be a full-time mom, not a full-time maid, but we all sacrifice something to achieve a dream and that's worth it to me. Most of the time.
It's another thing to do all these mind-blowing, nit-picking, itty bitty generally unacknowledged and truly, TRULY unseen tasks that require the mental dexterity equivalent of "cirque de soleil" that really saps your energy stores. And the irony of it, is if you do a good job juggling these many mental and organizational jobs, it looks easy....that is, if anyone takes a minute to think about it. Which often does not happen.
The wheels are constantly turning in your mind like so many hamsters running manically through the day and night. How do you turn that off when turning it off means so many balls get dropped?
The article calls these tasks "emotional labor." I think that's an accurate term. Because just thinking of handling some of this stuff makes me feel ALL kinds of emotions...some not too pretty.
I'm not really linking my thoughts about this article to my relationship with Matt. Unlike a lot of guys, he is openly appreciative of the work I put into thinking through the days and weeks and seasons of our family lives, unlike so many other men. But the article does get me to thinking. And just wishing and longing for the ability to compartmentalize the chaos that I must sift through to keep this family unit going. Or at least be able to remove my brain at the end of the day and set it aside. Why do men seem able to do that so easily? (Compartmentalize...not brain removal. Of course you know that's what I meant, didn't you??)
That's a skill most women cannot master, and even if they could, still a luxury most women I know could not afford, unless they were single and didn't have kids.
Is your mind on hyperdrive? Case in point...it's July and I just bought my personal family management planner for this year and the next. Not to start early. Just to keep up...
(Having said all this, I will say that I felt sorry for my hubs walking out the door and back into work mode while we all snoozed in bed this morning. Not saying one kind of work is easier or harder. Just so very, very different.)
THIS is the one food I would eat if I had to choose just one for the rest of my life. THIS is my official summer treat. THIS is splendurifous, inexpensive, lowfat, dairy-filled, and quite frankly, our family's favorite treat on a hot summer afternoon.
I am a simple gal. When a spot needs hitting, THIS hits it.
I heart you madly, vanilla cone...
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Other glorious and sticky-sweet updates of joy...
**My brother and his lady love of over twenty years married this week!! Congratulations Kara & Paul!!
**Happy belated birthday, Mr. Matthew Needham!! Hugs from us in Knoxville...come see us!!
**Happy Birthday Melody!! http://www.knitphomaniacs.com/ Come see us too!!
**Beach pictures coming soon. YES I actually opened up the camera box, read the instructions, and planned to take oodles of pictures of the revelry. And forgot to do so. So Matt's pics will be coming soon.
**Heal quickly vibes to Mrs. Goodman...hope your heart is healthy and strong now!!
**Farm trip this weekend...will unpack today to repack all week. Ah well...
**Fiestaware coming our way! The beach house was fully stocked in glorious fiestaware, and hubs agreed to update our dishes with its rainbow-hued goodness. Shamrock green and Sunflower place settings are first in play. Next, peacock blue? Fun stuff...
So purty.
Now away I must go...Matt and Hannah went to pick up Maisy this morning. An explosion of puppy love and canine frenzy is about to run through our door. Adios for now, friends!!
"...I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with white clouds flying,
And the flung spray an the blown splume, and the sea gulls crying."
John Mansfield
(From the animal shelter website...they just posted some more Camp Care pics on facebook. This is Aron with Shadow the kitten.)
Somebody in this house wants a cat real bad. (Well, more than one somebody, but somebody named Aron is feeling the feline pull after his time spent helping at the animal shelter.)
And can you guess who didn't sneeze or itch when he was holding kittens during his time at camp?
And did you know that his father told him if he was ever not allergic to cats we would get one??
Mulling this over. Having a chat with the allergist next month at Aron's yearly checkup. Thinking through the implications this poses for her highness, Maisy Jane. Just bought this book for research.
I have no real qualms about getting a cat if Aron is not having allergic reactions to it, except for Maisy. Just don't know how that would fly with the queen of the cockapoos. We're pondering this. (And when I say "we," I mean "I" am pondering it. Matt hates cats and is sorry he ever opened his mouth about the subject.)
Thinking it through...
Meow Meow Meredith
The flower girl surrounded by her ring-bearing brothers...at the end of a long, busy, and happy day. (And they had a "candy bar" at the reception for the kids to enjoy and fill bags with goodies on their way out...is this heaven, or what? So many special and sweet parts of such a magical day.)
Sarah and Matt looked happy, young, beautiful, and very much in love...
And our guys? Well, you be the judge. I personally think they were very adorable and took their jobs quite seriously. Great behavior all around.
My sweet babes.
This child's look was built entirely by safety pins. If you held out a magnet during the ceremony, he would have flown across the sanctuary directly to it. BOING!!
Daddy took good care of the boys in the grooms' room. Those tuxes are not easy to put on, believe me. Glad he had that job.
"My name is Bond. JAMES Bond!!"
More pics...
Their day began with haircuts/styles at 9 a.m. and we didn't return home until all was done around 7:30. And they behaved and listened and did as they were supposed to pretty much all day. Way to go, guys...that's not easy for adults, much less children. Of course, they did it all for their Sarah. So they had good reason to try and to their best.
Of course, every now and then, a little personality and spunk peeked through that formal facade.
OH my.
My Aron took good care of his little bro during the ceremony. He helped him navigate it all, gracefully. Thanks Aron.
Our princess. She would be the flower girl in a wedding 7 days a week. She could not get enough. Hanging out with the bridesmaids. Pictures with the bride. Riding with the girls to the reception. She positively blossomed every time Sarah looked her way. And she wanted that dress on asap. No complaints. She really loved this day.
Such gorgeous and sweet bridesmaids.
Hannah didn't want the day to end.
James, Aron, and Mrs. Malinda, Sarah's mom. If you ever want a wedding planned to absolute perfection, this is the woman you want. She made everything so beautiful. And I was glad that James could provide her with some comic relief from wedding day stress during pictures. He was oh so serious about each pose!
Goofball!
That cake was beautiful AND so tasty.
Cheers!! Of course, lemon-sucking was a big part of the after wedding relaxation. For Hannah, anyway.
Now Sarah thought we had left, and we did head out because the boys were getting tired (Hannah would have stayed ALL night), but the kids got to help decorate the car a bit before we left. Surprise! Thanks Allison for including them with this. Another way for them to feel a big part of this fun day.
Sarah & Matt had presents waiting for each child in the church vestibule after the service, so typically thoughtful of them. Aron got a gamestop gift card, Hannah got one from American Girl. And James? Guess what he got?
Yep. He earned his Wolverine claws. Thanks Sarah and Matt!!
Yikes!!
A wonderful day indeed. Everyone felt so glad to be a part of making Sarah and Matt's day special.
But really, for one little girl, this wedding was the best day ever.
Sarah's little shadow.
Thanks so much Malinda, Sarah, & Matt. We'll never forget your special day!
Thank you, Aron, for convivncing me to go to the world-class Guiness Book of World Records "museum" in Gatlinburg this week. Thanks for prodding and begging and eventually using your fascination with your world record book and reading and factual data to push me over the edge to plunk down $17 for you and your little brother to feast your eyes on all the mind-blowing attractions there.
I hate to make my blogging readers jealous, but here's a few of the many a-MA-zing exhibits on hand...
*Stuffed possums
*Rocks from caves
*Fossils
*Statues of really tall and really small people
*Sports stuff (yawn)
*A giant fiberglass squid and squid beak (ick)
*Fake bats
*Old cars
*Pictures of the Beatles, Madonna, and Elvis
*Tiny books
*Big shoes
*More statues
*A motorcycle
*Batmobile replica with really sad Batman & Robin mannequins in ill-fitting costumes
*Fake space shuttle
*An entire wall about winners of "eating" contests, with a tribute to the man who eats more worms than anyone in the world
And finally, the best exhibit EVER... a wax figure of Michael Jackson in a graveyard with tombstones and a coffin that eerily opened and closed while the video for "Thriller" played on an old t.v. set in the background.
(That's the best Michael has looked in years, people, I tell you. Of course, all Aron had to say was "Who is Michael Jackson?)
Aron, you owe me $17 and a good half hour of my life back. Thanks buddy!!
What a couple of beautiful ladies...
Sarah (the bride-to-be) and Hannah (the flower girl-to-be!!) A wonderful luncheon on the lake with Sarah and her friends. It was absolutely gorgeous.
Here's a few pictures of my little lady getting ready.
Her dress POPS against Aron's newly painted bedroom wall!
To me, she looks so mature here. She desperately wants curls. That Tennessee humidity didn't let her keep these for long!! But I thought she looked very grown-up and extra lovely today...if I do say so myself.
Of course, she's not too busy to give Maisy a goodbye cuddle before all the fun begins!
Now some pictures from the luncheon. Hannah was spoiled rotten. She got her own monogrammed towel for a day at the lake, her own sweet mongrammed plate and cute "girls love chocolate" bowl to keep, a picture of her and Sarah as a place setting that she got to take home, a silver charm baked right into the cake that each "maid" got to pull out with a ribbon (Hannah's was a silver flower for the best flower girl!), lovely sparkly earrings to wear in the wedding, shoes to match her dress, and pale pink nail polish to cover her fingers and toes. And did I mention the shrimp cocktail and pasta and fruit salads in a chocolate cup! and chicken and fruity tea and on and on and on....
As Hannah said, it's so much more fun being a girl in a wedding than a boy!!
Plus there was swimming AND surprising and delighting Hannah, boating and wave-running and tubing too! She had the time of her life with all those grown up girls and especially her beloved Sarah. Those mommies that planned this day certainly made it a memorable one for my girl. A girl too often surrounded by boys who needs her girl time and loves it so much!!
Enjoy the pictures...
Pretty maids all in a row...
OH I forgot she got her own monogrammed notecards too!
Aren't their wedding party shirts so sweet?
Hard to see, but that's Miss FlowerGirlPants tubing for the first time ever!! Thanks Sarah for keeping her cuddled safe and tight!
Mr. Tom letting Hannah take control of the wave runner!! She loved it.
Fearless Flower Girl!!
I can't gush enough about how perfect and special this day was for everyone. Even yours truly took a boat ride and it was so much fun.
Mrs. Malinda/Sarah, I will send you attachments of the pictures soon. Thanks to you and the lovely hostesses of this wonderful day. You just don't know how special it was to a certain little member of the wedding party!!
We're heading to the mountains tomorrow, so we'll catch up with my blog friends and readers later this week. Have a nice one!!
