1st Birthday

I know this looks like a replay from last weekend's fun, but this is Mr. Man's Birthday.  Last weekend was Mikkie's Birthday.  Both were at parks and both had cute, cute little guys and lots of cute friends.  My youngest wanted to go so bad but she just had too much else to do.  Work, work, school, homework, laundry, house cleaning, more homework.  So she sent the gifts she got for Mr. Man and told me to take lots of pictures. 

So Mrs. Mattie, since you couldn't go and had to stay home and work, this is for you.

He played on the slide.

He got to swing.  He just might, maybe, possibly like to swing as much as you Mattie.  We had to take him out cause it was making him sleepy.  We couldn't have him taking a nap in the swing when the party was just getting started!

He played it cool, talking to some of the girls.

 Said hi to his Cousin.

 Played with the decorations.

 He liked his presents.  Really he did.  He also really liked the bow that came on the package.

He liked Super Grover too!  But his Mommy loves Super Grover.  He was just a bit distracted by the card attached to a toy car. 

 He loved his cake!  If he could have figured out how to lick every bit off his fingers I bet he would have.

He was just looking at the cake so his Grandpa stuck his hand in it. 

 That is all the hint he needed.  He got both hands in and went to work!

 1st bite

 2nd bite

 3rd bite

He got a little bit on his face.

He wasn't worried about it.

He had some on his hands too.

His Daddy started to clean him up.

It took a lot of baby wipes and help from another one of the Dads to get him this clean!

One of the little girls played peek-a-boo.   

Can you believe how cute she is?  I couldn't help but take some pictures of her. 

Back to Mr. Man....

He had lots of fun! He played and played.

Good thing the party wasn't too long cause he was tired at the end.

I wish you could have gone.  I know you would have loved to have been there.  All your hard work will be worth it in the end.  You are going to make a great teacher.  Nice job on the A+ on your test!  I am so proud of you.  I have lots more pictures for you to see when you have more time. 

The price paid....

I had some unexpected news this week.  My father passed away.  I wish I was heartbroken.  That would mean that I loved him and would miss him.  I am sad that I didn't get to have a relationship with him.  Let me rephrase that.  I am sad that I did not have a decent dad to have a relationship with.

I remember wanting to have a daddy when I was a little girl.  I would hide and cry about it.  After we were put in the Home I dreamed that he would come save me.  I had no idea how horrible that dream would turn out to be.  What an ugly dream come true. 
My little Brother sent me a message to tell me about his passing.  He wasn't sure if I would want to know about him dying.  I know very little.  He was under hospice care and he passed this week.  I haven't been able to get a hold of my Brother since then.  I was shocked at how much it distracted me at work.  I wasn't sure how to feel.  Should I be relieved?  Should I cry?  Should I dance?  How do you excuse even making a statement like, "should I dance"?  How many people are shocked by that?  How many people would be shocked if they knew what he hid?  There were a few of us that knew. 

I don't want to celebrate the fact that he has died.  I think holding on to that kind of attitude feeds the darker part of me.  (That sounds stupidly dramatic but I can't think of a better way to explain it than that.)  I can live with feeling relief.  That is what I kept feeling when I found out.  Relief.  He won't ever hurt anyone else again.

He hurt so many people.  He ruined dreams and hearts and left scars on his family.  He had seven children, and at least 10 grandchildren.  Plus many more step-children.  How many of them were his victims?  How many of them were there for him when he was sick?   Was it worth it for him?  Did he mourn the loss of his family?  I don't even know how many of them kept in touch with him.  I have barely talked with my little Brother about him.  I hope that any of his children that needed to say goodbye to him were able to.  It is hard on the heart if there is unfinished business.

Did he ever feel, in the end, that the ability to have access to a victim was too high of a price to have paid?  Or did he feel that there was nothing wrong with his "wants".  I can not say because I did not know his heart.  I only knew his dark side. 

Birthday!

Did y'all know that if you eat this,

you will look like this?

And if you eat this,

you will look like this?

After eating all of that you will feel like dancing. 

At least that is one of the things the Birthday boy felt like doing this afternoon.  He also played all over the playground.

Chased squirrels with some of the other kids. 

He shared his cake. 

He shared his MONSTER truck! 

He cried when we made him stop playing and open his presents. 

It wasn't a real cry.  His Great Nana was able to get him to hold still just long enough to open his presents.  Poor little Birthday boy.  We were all so very mean to him.

Trying to OD

I have taken a lot of photos this month.  All kinds of photos.  I have spent hours, taking photos, looking at photos, editing and re-editing photos.  I think I have a serious addiction to photography forming.  I enjoy looking at things in front of me for the detail, then framing a shot.  Looking at the raw photo and deciding how to edit it.  There is so much more that I need to learn.  I need more time in each day!
I really like going to different places to take the photos!  I can't decide what I like to take photos of the most.  So far it is what ever is in front of me that I think will be interesting. 

I always feel a need to take a picture of any flower that I see. 

Always!

Some of this week's flowers that I couldn't, just couldn't, walk past. 

Trees are another thing that I love to take photos of.

Of course babies.  I love babies.  They have the sweetest faces!

I also like when a photo shows emotion.

Scenery is another thing that catches my eye and makes me wonder how the camera will capture the view.

Buildings too!

Clouds, reflections, automobiles, animals, anything that will hold still and let me take a picture of it!

I took a photo of a butterfly this week.  Or rather I took a whole lot of photos of a butterfly.  I will just share one of them. 

I chased it around one of the parks here in town.

Sometimes I can't get what I am trying to take a picture of to hold still.  That is something I need to work on.  It is kinda cute that there is a blur of movement.  He was in constant motion!

Happy Birthday Mikkie!  Slow down little Mister.  You are growing up too fast!