Scavenger hunt

It is a fun challenge to get my camera out and try an work on a challenge.  This week I really tried to use photos from January and February....clearly I need to get my camera out a bit more!  But here goes!

1. Shadow

Snow day fun in the sun!

2. Patterns

Superbowl's Black Eyed Pea's half time show.....it was AMAZING!

an up close view.....just because it is cool.

3.   Bright White

O.K....I know there is a lot of color here, but focus on the feta.   I had a photo shoot for a local cheese company's "Odyssey Feta" cheese.  Here the feta is a beautiful part of a greek pizza, which by the way was delicious.

4. Strong

Bob the french bulldog.  He is a strong presence in my home, in fact he is sleeping in my bed as I speak. But just check out the muscles....his muscle tone amazes me.  He is such a handsome fellow!

5.  Warmth

Sometimes squeezing 4 little bodies into a big warm tub is just plain fun!

Scavenger Hunt!- click to check out all the awesome entries

red...

Red... i heart faces challenge

This shot of our sweet girl from last summer....she was turning one and just about to walk, 

which as you can see she was excited about!   

I bought this outfit from the GAP's product

RED campaign (RED) raising $$ for the Global Fund to elimate AIDS in Africa 

This outfit sat in her dresser long before she came home from Ethiopia (almost a year ago now!).  

Here RED signifies hope for Africa...

r is for....

Proud Mama Alert!

R is for reading....   but right now R is for.....ridiculously excited!    We are so excited and proud of the hard work our Drew has been doing on his reading.  It hasn't been easy.  There have been tears and frustration, anxiety and sadness.   Last summer he even said "I hate reading" and he meant it.   Thank goodness that is all changing thanks lots of work at home and to Drew's fantastic 1st grade teacher....Mrs. Keisling-Davis, we should all be so lucky to have a teacher like her.     

Right now he is excited to try and read, to get out his readers and fluency card and show us what he can do.   

 Of course we are crazy proud of him.....but the best part is that he is crazy proud of himself!!!!!

This is Drew's 100 chart.....100 stars for reading, piano, chores = a new d.s. game. 

Hey, it worked!  Again.....super proud of himself!

reaching

My heart feels like it is bleeding.   I am reaching out right now because sometimes I get in my head.  big surprise, huh?!   We were just out of town for 4 days (Superbowl mania).  Beyond the normal Mommy anxieties about leaving their children, I always wonder if it will effect Tessa's attachment to me when I leave.   I feel like we have been making really steady progress from where we started (which in the beginning I was a nanny to her...her only frame of reference).  But with every few steps forward I do realize now that when you go out of town their is bound to be a step back.

Full disclosure....I am very tuned in, very intuitive in general.  Possibly too much so to the nuances in relationships, always have been.  And while it is so important to be aware of your children's state of mind, sometimes during this bonding process it makes me feel insecure and anxious.  Insecure about Tessa's need for me.   This has been ever present the last 4 days.  She has literally been "reaching up" to any woman when I am present.  I'm right there.  I am there ready to pick her up when she reaches and she is searching for someone else. I will reach down and she will often look for another option if we are around other people.  She has even been going to the boys for comfort.  It makes me feel so sad.  Defeated.  I am trying so very hard to build the trust, attachment and love.  To be the one to comfort her and so often she doesn't seek or want my comfort.  I don't understand.

Today Tessa had a round of vaccine shots.  (always awful to watch as a Mommy and scary for her).  After her vaccine while she was screaming and needed to be comforted, I was holding her and she reached for the nurse that had just given her the vaccine.   I felt so hurt.  I don't know what to make of it. I almost felt like she was trying to hurt me.   That sounds crazy, I know.  Obviously, we are still on our journey.  But sometimes this journey hurts my heart.  Each time she reaches for someone else, avoiding me.....while I am reaching for answers, for an end, for comfort of my own that everything will be o.k. for Tessa and I.  I love her so.....

below is my beloved chandelier.....half of it is looking through glass.
Things are distorted....
Among these tears and this heavy heart there must be hope, there must be clarity...

Superbowl Mania!!!!

What can I say.....The Superbowl was a BLAST!

"We are the champions, my friend..." (I  can hear Queen singing in my head)

So, here we go with the Superbowl - Packer mania photos you are looking for!

Pregame party.....Texas style.  The party began at 10:30.  good times....

famous Packer players pepped up the crowd!

Outside the stadium

Then we got settled into the stadium!  yahoo! We were on the 4th level.  

Pretty high up, but with the monster screen, every seat has a great close-up view.  

We didn't have any complaints...just happy to have seats!

warm-ups....

This guy sleeping next to Andy was a real piece of work.  He was so odd that I felt like we were being pranked.   He eventually fell asleep.  Some may think he passed out....but to me he didn't seem drunk, just weird.  Who does this?   He and Andy couldn't be more opposite!  (Thankfully!)  I was totally giggling about it...here Andy is concentrating and sending the Packers psychic messages.

The halftime show was AMAZING!  I was jamming out in the stands.

I am told the sound was terrible on t.v.....in the stadium everyone sounded fantastic.  The sound, lights and choreography, and performances were outstanding!

Don't you just love this heart of people!?

 I think I caught the very last play on the big screen!   This is the one that sealed the deal!

That's one happy hubby!

Go Pack Go

Yep, I may be fully converted to the green side now.

i heart faces- hearts

A heart of people!   This may be unlike any other i heart faces entry this week.... you may have seen it on t.v. during the halftime show.   It was memorizing!

Superbowl bound! I am not worthy

Go PACK Go!    I know, your thinking, "wait, is this the right blog?"   That would be the normal response to anyone who visits me here or knows me well. Yep, it's me.....here in Dallas, TX gearing up for the Super Bowl.  First....a disclaimer.  I am not worthy and I know it.  I just haven't had interest in jumping on board for football mania.  During football season when a game would be on I just don't have it in me to sit for hours watching when I have little people pulling on me, I have a million things to do and I am just not that interested.  So, I am not worthy to be here at the biggest football event in the world, but alas here I am!  (maybe I will be converted....maybe that is what this is about...hmmm)

But really what could be more American?  I am all about experiences....so this is a true American experience that we will remember for a lifetime!   Of course, it was all my Packer loving hubby's idea......and he is thrillllllled.  I am really excited too!   More than anything I was really happy that he wanted me to come be with him, in stead of one of the many lifelong Packer fans in his life.  I think that is a sign of true love.

In the world according to Jeni, it his "Oprah moment".  The first time I got tickets to the Oprah show a couple years ago Andy came along....one of the only men there, but he was there for my "Oprah Moment".   Of course, the Super Bowl is a totally different and exciting experience!  There is a whole lot of love for the Packers all around us.  We arrived to the Great Wolf Lodge and the wolves outside even had their own green and gold scarves.  It seems only Packer fans are welcome!  No intermixing with the Steeler fans until game day!

Being Superbowl bound means we are kidless.  What a strange feeling as we are here at their favorite hotel which includes a huge water park.....this seems tragic to them.  They love to visit the Great Wolf in the Dells ...it is pure fun.  We are enjoying it all on our own.   A long visit to the hot tub.  A afternoon visit to the spa.  We also went out to a wonderful dinner with Auntie Cheryl and Uncle Don and I didn't chase a toddler, or wipe any faces or cut food.  We had a wonderful grown up Italian bistro meal.   ahh....I drank 2 glasses of my favorite muscato wine.    And now I write after a full nights sleep, uninterrupted awakening on my own at 9:00.  Yes, 9:00....a new relaxation record.   So, far I love being super bowl bound!