Today's Random Pics...

My parental units











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A few shots from my family's Christmas party...

My dad with some of my sisters...






My sister Sherry with her son Andrew:






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'tis the season...

I am loving this Christmas season! I can't tell you how great it is to be home for Christmas!!!!!

I am really feeling in the Christmas spirit... mostly because this week has been a lot of fun! The other night I went to see Santa's village with my mom, sister, and my sister's three kids. Seeing Santa... hearing the choirs... and feeling the fake snow really made me ready for the season! Then... today my family had its' annual get together meal. Just about all of my sisters were able to come (keep in mind that I am the baby of the family... and that I have six sisters!). We had a blast eating... laughing... watching old home movies... playing games... and exchanging gifts. I had to keep reminding myself that it was NOT Christmas eve yet!

Have I said that it is great to be home for Christmas?


Here is a pic for you. This is my two nieces (Laura Beth and Brooke) with Santa.





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Mallory's brother and sister on the rope...

I have to include a few pictures of Mal's siblings on the rope. Who would have thought that something so simple could bring such enjoyment...
















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‘Faith like a little child’

I need to tell you about my amazing little niece - Mallory. She is four and half years old, and is full of spirit and attitude. This little girl (I say 'little' because she really is so small) is already a very talented artist (I have many pieces of her artwork already), and even a hair stylist (She recently cut her own hair).


The following is an account of an event that happened this summer:

Mallory was feeling a bit tired and laid down upstairs to take a quick afternoon nap. Little did she know that her Grandfather had come over on a mission. He took a really long ladder and tied the most beautiful blue rope high in the old tree in Mallory's back yard. Mallory awoke shortly after her Grandfather left but did not discover the new toy until the next day. She saw her brother and sister swinging and climbing on the incredibly long.... thick....rope that seemed to reach all the way up to the sky. With amazement she said, "That was so nice that God dropped us a rope from the sky for us to play with!".


Here is a picture I took of Mallory playing on her rope.







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A study in eyes...

I love to photograph people. I usually don't have too many willing subjects that will actually work with me a little bit. Having said this... I have really enjoyed having nieces and nephews who are all too happy to smile for a picture. The following pictures are a short series of photos that I took last weekend of my niece (Abby). I don't know what it is... but I love eyes. They are so expressive and capture such emotion. So.... these are Abby's eyes. Enjoy.
























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Running with pride...

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Veterans Day

Yesterday was Veterans Day. This year this national holiday was especially meaningful to me. I am all too aware of the wars that are going on in Iraq and Afghanistan, and as I am getting older I grow more and more appreciative for those who have sacrificed so much for others. Lately I have been reminded of this all too much......

Whenever we fly back to the states we are confronted with the droves of American soldiers on a layover at Shannon Airport (this is the refueling stop for troopers on their way to and from Iraq). We were there several Christmases ago and watched the long line of service men and women calling home to exclaim that they had made it to Ireland and would be home soon. I was heart broken while we were in Washington DC. We went to the museum of health and medicine. I had no idea that it was located on the campus of Walter Reed army medical center. The sight of so many injured young men was haunting and heart breaking.

So... this year we went to a local Veterans Day celebration to show our appreciation. Here are a few pics from around the memorial park...




















I will be posting more pics over the next couple of days.


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Things you can do when you are two years old...

My niece Brooke is now two...






Now that she is two - she can also wink...





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In the streets of Boston...

We had another great day out in Boston. In fact, we were able to meet up with some other old friends (from NC) that are now living up here. Kinda strange.... but we have several old friends that now live up here. We spent the afternoon at the children's museum and just hanging out at a local cafe. Another great day. Here are a couple of pics. This first one was taken in the museum (in one of the exhibits)... the second one was taken as we walked back to the subway (T)at the end of the day.







(Click to see this one larger)



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Today's Random Pic...

A street performer at Boston's Hay Market





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More from the Children's Garden...

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Deep in the south….
In the shadows of the live oaks and Spanish moss…
Where the humid air and heat of summer days seem like they will last throughout the year…
During sunshine and warm breezes… rainstorms and hurricanes… ice and snow…

There is a perpetual playground

Where everyday
Children catch fish….
Planes are flown….
Ropes are skipped….
Friends are made…..
Children dance and smile….




Deep in the South
In the shadows of hospital wards and ambulance bays
Where children are born and leukemia patients fight
During times of sadness and times of joy… shock and grief… hope and victory

There is a perpetual playground

Where metal and bronze make children and parents dream of the day when
Fish will be caught….
Planes will be flown….
Ropes will be skipped….
Friends will be made…
Children will dance and laugh… again.




The Children’s Park at the University of South Alabama’s Women and Children’s hospital in Mobile, AL.


















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A few more pics of the fam before we leave OKC...

One of the many treats of this trip has been being able to hang out/learn from my cousin Jason... a real photographer!





At the botanical gardens with Pris and Amber...





Ollie




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More cute kids pics...

As promised.... what you come here for...

more pics of cute kids!

more to come....

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While in Atlanta...

I have to say that the best bit about being in Atlanta was getting to see some old friends who are now living there. They were nice enough to put us up for a few nights and it was great to have the time to catch up. Their three energetic boys were a lot of fun to roughhouse with and were willing subjects to photograph. One funny thing - The oldest boy kept asking me to tell him stories about the civil war....... he looks at the site with his dad and now has a new interest in all things related to the War of Northern Aggression - I mean Civil War.

Here are a few pics:
















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A few more pics from the game...

Braking up a double play...






Meeting at the mound...





Us at the game....





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Civil War pt. 5 (the last post... I promise!)

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Civil War pt. 4

The United States Civil War was the bloodiest conflict in American History, claiming more lives than The American Revolutionary War, World War I, World War II, The War against Switzerland, The War of 1812, and the Vietnam War combined. It is estimated that during its four year term, over 620,000 solders were killed or missing in action, and countless others were left maimed with burns, severed limbs, swamp rot, and many other various ailments.


















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Civil War pt. 3

I learned something very important about taking pictures at a civil war reenactment. Never wear a Boston Red Sox baseball hat. I was busy snapping pictures like a crazy person when from the viewing stands behind me I heard someone yell, "Shoot the Yankee sympathizer in the Boston cap!". The remark got a good laugh out of the crowd, and a red face from me. Mark that little oversight in my wardrobe up to inexperience....


Now... some more pictures....


The confederate advance









The Yankee calvery




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