Anticipation

Sing along with me now...

Anticipation, anticipation
Is makin' me late
Is keepin' me waitin'

You say you don't know that one? Maybe I'm dating myself once again. It's an old Carly Simon song that jut seemed so very appropriate for my photos today.  I've been taking Ashley Ann's SnapShop Photography class, and I've learned so much about not only my camera, but storytelling at its finest from one that I consider a master of the art!

While at the beach this week, we noticed the ice cream truck cruising up and down the beach...repeatedly.  When I say we noticed it, I really mean that Marli Claire yelled, "I want an ice cream!"...repeatedly...loudly...in our ears!  Finally, we convinced her mom to allow us to buy her one on the very last day.  Wouldn't you know it, the truck was a bit late the very day that she was eagerly awaiting it; and just when it seemed it might never arrive, we could see the glow of headlights far in the distance and began to hear strains of that familiar, tinny music.  As it came closer and closer, MC's little feet started doing her happy dance, and squeeling with excitement. And then...it came to a stop and angled its wheels...was it turning to go back the other way?!!! I envisioned our entire group frantically chasing an ice cream truck all the way down the beach! Thankfully, it was just waiting on another customer and was quickly headed back our way. 

Marli Claire took one bite and declared it to be the bestest ice cream ever!

Incredible Giveaway from Crave Photography

I've read somewhere about "crushes" on your favorite chefs, stars, authors, etc. Well if it's possible to have such a thing, I definitely have a photography crush on Crave Photography. I first saw Andee Tate's work on Pinterest and literally swooned over the vintage-y circus-style engagement photos! As I clicked on through, I was awestruck by her beautiful images of her daughter at a lemonade stand and then baking cookies. Now she's giving away many items from some truly incredible vendors...but I'm dying to win the 2day trip to be mentored by her in person! Oh Lord...please let me win this!!! Just so I don't seem greedy, I'll post the link below so you can go enter too! http://cravemyphotography.com/blog/world-wide-giveaway-2012/

I'll Love You Forever, I'll Like You For Always...

as long as I'm living my baby you'll be.

I'll spare you the whole book this time (simply because I couldn't hold myself together enough to type the whole thing!)  Today is my sweet Austin Taylor Youngblood's 21st birthday, and yes...he is definitely still my baby.  I was given the book I'll Love You Forever when Austin was born.  I can remember thinking then about how time flies, but I truly had no idea.  It is unbelievable that this child is now 21...a legal adult...not that he has my permission to do anything crazy!

Throughout this sweet book, the Mom chases her child around through his growing-up years, and the author describes the many things the little boy gets into.  Wow the memories that brings to mind!  My own precious boy has had me scurrying after him literally since birth.  He drew black pumpkins all over the walls for his baby brother to enjoy at 2, "tee-teed" out the back door onto his grandfather at 3, made pb&j sandwiches with an entire loaf of bread and whole jars of jelly & peanut butter dripping from the ceiling in the middle of the night at 4, tossed a whole dozen eggs over the kitchen bar into the living room at 5, sprayed passing cars with a waterhose (giggling all the while) at 6...do I really need to go further?   But the real question is, "Would I go back and do it all over again?"  In a heartbeat (if we could skip a few of those teenage years!)

What a guy he has turned into though.  Somehow we managed to raise a thoughtful, generous, caring young man from that rambunctious boy!  I can't say that we honestly deserve very much credit as we were so young and naive and ignorant...growing up alongside him really.  For Mother's Day this year, he picked out the gifts himself (quite an accomplishment for a guy!)  We attended a concert at Northside Baptist one evening, and he quietly slipped out to the lobby during intermission to buy a Point of Grace cookbook for my mom - knowing how much she loves a good cookbook.  He bought me gift cards to be used at the High Museum in Atlanta (even one for parking!) - knowing how much I love to surround myself with the arts, but never would spend the money.  He's been known to slip a little money to his starving, college-student brother - even though the mean old parents had limited his funds.  Stray animals seem to search him out from every corner of the earth, and his soft heart must rescue each one...oh mercy!  This week's new stray is a baby duck...a real live quacking yellow duck.  He found him underneath a dumpster covered in mud and just couldn't resist...welcome to the family William III (or baby duck as I call him!)

What a blessing it is to know that some day (hopefully many years away) I can look forward to this precious boy helping to take care of me.  Happy Birthday Hauchin Tater Unblood!

I have a confession...

I'm a tan-aholic - there - I said it!  Whew that's such a weight off my very brown chest.  It seems I just can't help myself.  Maybe it's like those folks who have that body dysmorphic disorder and only see themselves as hideously ugly...only I see myself as blindingly white.  Sadly, along with losing weight, it becomes harder to tan as you get older.  Maybe it's my skin's way of saying, "For the love of all that's good, haven't you dried out and wrinkled me enough already?"

I do finally realize it's time to take a day or two off the tan-cycle when my sweetest little student asked, "Mrs. Sherri, are you Mexican like me?"  (Note: she's never heard of politically correct and doesn't see the need to be called Hispanic.)  Yep, it's time to "step away from the tanning bed." as my sister would say, but really... it's the best sleep I get all day!

These shoes are made for...dancing?

Oh beautiful, shiny, red patent shoes...how I love thee!  You were mine the very moment I saw you, and I've cherished you each day since.  Well...except for the first day when your stacked platform heel tripped me on the sidewalk at the post office.  But even the lady helping me up off the ground had to agree that you really are adorable.  You make me want to sing and dance each time I slip you on...except I can't sing...or dance...but even still, I tap you along to the music in my head.

Is it possible to have too many red patent shoes?  Andy says I only need 2 pair of shoes total - 1 pair of casual shoes, and one pair of what he calls Sunday shoes!  He even has a name for many of my shoes...he calls them the 3rd Row Shoes.  This title means that I purchased the shoes, tossed them into the third row of seats in my Tahoe, and brought them out later so I could say, "What?  New?  These shoes?  No, I've had them a while now!"  Oh to have a husband that never notices anything new!

Out of the Mouths of Babes

For most of the school year, I teach 4th, 5th, and 6th grade art in 3 different public schools.  The last 9 weeks of each year, however, I travel to a small community school that has Kindergarten through 6th grade.  It is an extreme culture shock for me...truly!  I still like to dream and believe that I am a young, energetic teacher, but these young children take that dreamy look right out of my eyes and stomp it to pieces!  Bending over and stooping down, wiping noses, and checking wiggly teeth becomes a regular part of my day.  And Oh! the stories they tell, each one bigger and more outlandish than the last.  If I had known how much a kindergartner tells their teacher, I probably would have much more careful with my words and actions when my boys were young.  I now need to apologize publicly to Mrs. Sumner and Mrs. Funk for anything you may have heard from Austin and Ches!

These kids are so adorable, and I sometimes feel like a rock star.  I walk down the halls and into the cafeteria and hear their whispers turn into chants.  "Miss Sherri is here...The art lady is here...HEY Miss Sherri...HEY MISS SHERRI!"  You've gotta love them, unless you're the teacher on duty in said cafeteria.

This will probably be the last year I work with this age group.  Our school system is realigning the grades, and I will be teaching at an all 6th grade school next year.  I've long wanted to teach at just one school rather than four, but it will be sad to leave these little ones behind.  Just imagine what they will be like when they're 6 years older and on the cusp of the teen years.  I don't think I can place bubble paint and straws in front of them then and get these same reactions!  What fun they are...

Open letter to Couch to 5K...

Dear C2 5K,

  I've missed you, and so have my thighs and calves.

I lied...my thighs and calves have taken this break and run with it (not literally of course!)  They've celebrated like there was no tomorrow.  The truth is, you make me feel old...and tired...and sore in places I never knew I had.  Heck, you make my 20-something year old friends feel old!  They now have bunions and bursitis thanks to you...didn't Aunt Bee have those on Andy Griffith?

  But really, I've missed you.

It's all Dr. Bowman's fault.  He said, "Sherri, no more running the rest of this week or next week until you can breathe easier and the pollen count is lower."  Who knew this would be the 2 weeks in which you would accelerate from little 5 minute jogs to 20 minute marathons?  Sadly, you left me behind.

  Even so, I missed you.

I have a plan for us to meet again...it's all right here on my iPod.  This time we'll go at my pace...okay?  We'll be best friends again...just let me finish this last piece of Toll House Pie!