Marking our terriory

Funny how they both said, "To the mountains" 

When I posed the question of staying home or heading west.

Now I know why.  They can mark their territory the way little boys do

With Airsoft guns.

I'm not sure if I am scared or proud.

But I do feel safe.

Welcome to the Melang Family Emma Hui!

This is a picture of the newest Melang - Emma Hui Melang.

Adopted from China, but alive and loved in our hearts from the first day the plan was made.

And to give credit to her parents - there are many of us that would thought about another plan.

But they kept the faith.

Literally and figuratively.

And look at this little ball of cuteness, this new life to the family.

Welcome, little girl.

Hold on for the ride of your life.

Day 1 - EOG

I like the feeling of freedom in this picture.

I and they are counting down the days.

Specifically 2 until all the testing is done.

And school officially becomes nothing but waiting a few more days to freedom.

This will be the same picture as we drive to the beach.

But I bet there is a smile on his face.

My favorite place on Earth

I joke about always wanting to be high, but it true.

This is my favorite place on Earth - just a long weekend here reaffirms it.

I was meant to be on top of a mountain.

Our winter friends are turning into summer friends.

Our summer friends are back for the summer season.

It doesn't get much better than this.

Spending time in God's country.

Bluebird day

Nice 8 mile run,1 mile walk.

It is almost chilly!!

I love it.

The best part?  It's 5 o'clock and the children have decided they are going "Out Into The Wild" decked with airsoft guns, back packs, and hammer because, "you never know when you'll need a hammer."

Me?  I'm thinking about two women at a retirement home that started a story yesterday and may get a little editing today.

Life on Manly Street

I couldn't live on Manly Street

Too much testosterone, too many muscle shirts, tight jeans

Everyone out mowing at the same time to see who would finish first.

No indoor bathrooms because they need room to hold peeing contests.

Not a single toilet seat down - anywhere, any how.

The sound of engines reeving, chainsaws grinding.

I couldn't live on Manly Street

Because we all know who really wears the pants in the house.

Uh oh....

My sweetie is on his way to Kenya this time.

So the picture is his.

Think of him on the 16 hour flight because right next to him

Is a small child.

I remember those days,

He already looks tired.

Bad idea

What was I thinking?

Lets fill the kids with 44oz with no ice of caffeinated beverages?

I think the cuteness factor clouded my mind.

Honeysuckle....

Rain doesn't stop a walk in the woods.

Quietly talking about plans for the week,

Which trees to climb

Which plants not to touch.

It's a little early, but that sweet smell catches our attention.

I show him how to get the most nectar out of each flower, how I did it as a child.

We spend a few quiet moments tasting honeysuckle

Until the work is not worth the result.

So onward we go with that sweet taste in our mouth and the picture in our minds.

Strawberries!

We went strawberry picking, or should I say strawberry eating.

The rule of thumb was pick one/eat two.

Max ended up with some strawberry juice left on his chin.

Always makes me think of doing this with my Mom in Ocean City.

Looking for blueberries or strawberries

Then holding our stomachs and groaning all the way home.

You know you love your dog

When she goes out and rolls in poop

And you don't let her sit in it for a few hours.

No, you take her to the sink

Gently give her a bath - all while she acts like you are violating her.

Then finish with a butt hair trim and eye booger dig out.

Yes, you love them.

And most times they love you right back.

Except she's pissed off at me right now.

Do you see him?

I ran into a snake today on my long run.

Not good because those know that on a long run, you cannot stop because if you stop once then you convince yourself that walking is OK.

But I didn't smash him, I just took a picture and watched him cross the road.

Wondering, "Why did the snake cross the road?"

Oh, and the adrenaline rush from that - well, it helped me limp through the last few miles.

Thanks Slithery Slithery Snake  (say that with "th's" not "S's")

Wedding day

Sometimes I feel like that ring bearer at the wedding.
Then I get caught up in the emotion.
The beauty
And I am renewed in the belief
That all we really need is love.

Is that what I think it is?

I've missed you

Art at the Heart

There's nothing like the feeling of doing something good. Here's the winners of our art contest at school

Cinco de Mayo

It's Cinco de Mayo

We're out to Playo

A few little tacos

And a little Ironmano!

Competition

Funny how when you take the competition out, how much fun it was to hang with some friends.

Makes me wonder what other things I would see

People I would get to know

Things I would miss

When rushing?

Bad Mom!

Yes I let them stick their heads out of the sunroof.
Why?
Because they feel they are outlaws and this memory will last forever.
You can have your Mother of the Year status
Because I have that up a long time ago.
I'll just go for the memories...

STEM Banquet - welcome to nerdville!

Tonight we had the honor of attending the Hanes Middle School STEM Banquet.  I was laughing at how the banquet felt like Revenge of the Nerds.  These were kids that clearly were nerds, getting excited about solving a 6 hour Math problem as part of a competition, but also were cracking jokes with each other like normal kids do.  My son was part of this, his brother and I in attendance, letting him accept his Nerdificate, and made a list of clubs I'd love seeing him do next year.

Artwork

This is a piece from my Art At The Heart Clay Class for the month of April.  The kids were Charged to make bowls with cut outs of their hands.  I love how this child went beyond the traditional bowl and made something different.  That's the point of the class, to let them be creative in an accepting environment, and this beautiful piece is one of the results.  Now to see what makes it OUT of the kiln in one piece.