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A Lesson In Stealing


I’ll admit this is a pretty good age combination for my two kids. Z is going to be 4 soon so we seem to have fewer irreconcilable differences and SJ is 14 months which means she isn’t quite to the stage of running off faster than I can catch her. In other words neither of them are at the terrible two age where temper tantrums and defiance abound.

A year ago I was scared to death to approach a grocery store with both children.

If Z wasn’t strapped in he was darting off in the opposite direction of wherever I was headed. When I went to the store last week with the kids I was taking in this little window of time where they were both cooperative. Z was walking along beside me like a precious little angel, SJ was sitting calmly in the shopping cart like his precious little angel sister. Then we went to check out and I left feeling quite smug until I looked down to see that Z had an opened Kit Kat in his hands. I immediately did a U Turn (we were still in the store) and went back through the line to purchase the overpriced candy bar. The cashier had a line full of people waiting to check out, so I found an employee that looked less busy and made Z apologize for taking something that didn’t belong to him. She helped by telling him that it was okay, but that it was a bad idea and she hopes he doesn’t do it again. I looked at her and mouthed “thank you” because I always feel like things stick with him more when he hears it from another adult that to him is far more intimidating than his mom.
He is three and I don’t even think he understands the concept of purchasing versus stealing, but he did know that he was taking without permission and I figured we might as well address the issue early on. I do not condone his actions in anyway, but if he is going to steal at least he picked a good candy bar. Kit Kats are my favorite, and I was the one who got to eat it. Can you imagine if it was an Air Head? What a poor choice that would have been. I’m sorry, I mean, stealing is a serious crime. Bad. Very bad.
By |2015-05-14T23:15:46+00:00May 10, 2011|Uncategorized|4 Comments
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Waiting

I am not the most patient person when waiting. I’m not the worst either, I think I am just average, which in our culture means I don’t tolerate much. I had to photograph a professor the other day who had a line of people outside of his office. I had an appointment, but somehow it didn’t matter. Isn’t that how it always goes when someone has Dr. in front of their name?
So I am sitting outside his office waiting next to this old lady and noticing my equipment she asks me about my profession. I tell her about my job and how most importantly I am a mom. She starts advising me about having a back up plan because photography is unsteady work. Then she says “but you have your kids… for now”. It was so strange. I was glad when my time of waiting was over.
Then today I went to have my license renewed. You walk in and take a number (I took a number and a picture).

Then they call a number, a person walks in and out within 5 minutes, BUT they still do not call another number for another 20 minutes. In the mean time I am going a little stir crazy and dreading getting my picture taken because the idea of going to the DMV was not preplanned and I looked like crap. Finally they call my number and I have to fill out a little form which asks if I want to be an organ donor and I am not sure. I checked yes for one box, but no to another which sounded more like giving your parts to scientific research. It’s not that I don’t want to donate I would LOVE the opportunity, but unfortunately I have known some people that were donors and I’ve listened to stories from their loved ones who told me that dealing with the organ donor process immediately after the unexpected loss was a tedious intrusive and a painful thing to endure in the middle of a very difficult time. This makes me hesitant.
As I am filling out this information the employee asks me if I am still 5 ‘4, to which I laughed and confirmed. Then she asks my weight and I have to think about it. I know they aren’t worried about the exact numbers, but I was taken off guard. I don’t ever talk about my weight to anyone, it just seems personal. Not that I am worried about the DMV, I’m just saying that it feels weird to say it out loud, and on top of that I weigh less now than I ever have in my adult life, so the weight I am used to being is no longer the exact weight that I am. I never tried to loose anymore weight when I got down to my goal about 5 months after having SJ, but then I went down about 5 pounds further. At first I gave credit to breast feeding, then my excuse was that I was busy planning for my vow renewal, and now I am cutting back on sugar because of health issues. Either way I am at a healthy weight and I may or may not stay this size for long, but I am not complaining.
Anyway, I got my new license, the photo is taken, and I am not thrilled with the results, but I can live with it for 5 years or 6 if history repeats itself.
By |2015-05-14T23:15:46+00:00May 9, 2011|Uncategorized|2 Comments
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Bad Blogger Busy Liver

What this post title means is that I have been so busy living life that I have had a hard time keeping up with my blog like I would like to. Sure life is always busy, but right now it seems extra busy, like my busyness temperature reading is showing a fever of 103, and I hope to get that down to 98.6 soon. Speaking of fevers, I mentioned that we’ve all been some kind of sick around here. I try to fight things with natural remedies when I can because medications usually just deal with symptoms and I will spare you all my theories on that, but there comes a time when I just can’t take it anymore and I reached that point on Friday. I could feel the right side of my skull throbbing with sinus pressure and it was one of the worst kinds of pain I have every experienced. So I went down to drug store to get the strongest medicine available, for which you have to show an ID. No problem, I pulled out my wallet and the pharmacist told me that my license had expired. I was shocked. REALLY!? I asked with a perplexed congested look on my face. Yes, almost a year ago, she said. She couldn’t sell me the drugs with my expired license, so I just pulled the next best thing off the shelf. In the mean time I still have a sinus infection and an expired license which I have been driving around with since last JUNE! Hopefully I will have it all sorted out this week and still have enough to time to post some updates on
the kids

the chicks

and the house

because we have a lot to catch up on!
By |2015-05-14T23:15:46+00:00May 8, 2011|Uncategorized|2 Comments
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Q Week 7


I haven’t been posting my deals, although I have been going to CVS every week to at least “roll over” my extra bucks before they expire. Week 5 I got some free bubbles, easter candy, and an intuition razor for under a dollar, then on week 6 I got eye drops and some dove men’s deodorant (shown in the photo) all for free. This week I was able to get some household items that I really needed for just 62 cents. I had to use up some of my extra bucks, but I have $16.00 in EB left so I am doing just fine.

2 Magic erasers for $3 -$1.50
1 Cascade gel packs $4 -$.25
1 Colgate $2.77 -$.75
Total $12.77- Coupons and ECB’s= $.62
Total amount saved in 7 weeks= $122.33
By |2015-05-14T23:15:46+00:00May 8, 2011|Uncategorized|1 Comment
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Poetry

Everybody is sick around here. UGH! But I had planned on posting some of my poetry. This is the last one that I performed on Saturday. When I shared it I had red, yellow, black, and white construction paper, and the final piece of paper had a heart that my son had painted.

Jesus loves all of the little children

All the children of the dark and scary world

He wants them to know that he hears them

Even all of the things they never told

Like the young girl with red curls who tries hard

But her best never seems to please them

He has spoken over her plans to prosper

And wants her to see him as a friend

Like the boy riding on the yellow school bus

Who doesn’t want the bus to take him home

Jesus said I know that you are scared son

But with me you will never be alone

And for the young child who is hiding the bruises

Because black and blue could give away the truth

He can be the one to take you out of hiding

He already knows all of the that pain you go through

For the girl whose white dress has been tainted

She feels used confused and unsure

He alone can be your restoration

And He knows that you are still pure

Jesus sees all of the little children

and they are so very precious in his sight

And not one of them goes unnoticed by Him

And all that is exposed in his light

Jesus loves all the little children

He saves them from the pain of the world

He wants them to know there is a future

And that each have a love to behold

-Natalie Busch
This poem has been passed around a little bit and I think that is great, but I went ahead and included my name on this one for just that reason. It means a lot to me. I wrote it several years ago after coming back from a mission trip to an orphanage in Acapulco, Mexico. Every child there had been abused in some way. There are so many more children out there that all have in common pain and dark secrets. I feel the father’s love going out to them and how any harm to them brings Him such grief. We are to be a light, and deliver the message of the hope that is in Christ. I would like to say thank you to all of the parents, children’s pastors, and teachers that extend a special kind of love and bring hope to children. I would also like recognize that we are all God’s children and we experience pain in many ways. God sees all that holds you from being complete in Him. He loves you and wants you to allow him to father you.
By |2015-05-14T23:15:46+00:00May 6, 2011|Uncategorized|1 Comment
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Gil And Jil

Art seems to run in my blood. My dad side of the family are all very artistic, my mom’s side has the theatrics, and I seem to carry a little bit of both.

My dad’s sister has always been an exceptional painter. She recently decided to start to pick up some brushes again and has been creating some mixed media folk art. She is so talented and she is actually giving this painting, based on Proverbs 4:9, to SJ whenever we are able to get up to Cincinatti to bring it home to Dallas.
She has lots of cool stuff available on Etsy, so you should check it out, and no did not ask me to do this. Gil And Jil is the name of her shop.



I love this little diva chichuahua. I think she is saying “Happy cinco de mayo everybody!”

This post is linked up with Things I Love Thursday at the Diaper Diaries.

By |2015-05-14T23:15:47+00:00May 5, 2011|Uncategorized|3 Comments
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Spring Art Fest

On my top ten things to do this spring I listed my first poetry reading as #9. Well, I can check that off my list and follow up with a list of things that I loved about the art festival I participated in on Saturday.
1. Poetry
I did it! I actually recited 3 poems and although I was nervous (and it showed) I did all 3 by heart.
2. Family surprise
C & SJ
At the very last minute I posted something on Facebook about my upcoming performance and my sister in law and niece surprised me by driving an hour to come see me.
3. Photography
I submitted some of my biggest pieces yet at about 36 x 48 inches.
4. Art
Well duh. I loved looking at all the art work throughout the gallery. There were some absolutely incredible artists showcased.
5. Live demos
Several artist created pieces on the spot which is always a treat.
6. Painting
I am a horrible painter, but I did sit in one of the art lessons. We were supposed to be painting a lighthouse, but I call mine the emergent pencil. In my defense I only had a few minutes and one fat brush to work with.
7. Community art
In the kid zone there was a humongous canvas that the children could paint on and they called it community art . I loved this idea and Z had a great time.
8. Music
Tim Miller, Taylor Davis, Men as Trees Walking, and many other awesome local musicians played throughout the day.
9. Feather clip
With feathers being all the rage right now I took the opportunity to buy my first feather accessory while simultanously showing support to the artist who made it. I wore it yesterday.
10. Henna
So many new experiences in one day. I also got my first henna tatoo at the end of the night. It’s a triangle. It represents the trinity as well as my marriage (not my love of Doritos as one of my friends suggested). It should last a couple weeks. I am having fun with it and the kids like it too.
The Spring Art festival was a complete success and I look forward to doing it again in the fall!
Be sure to check out more top ten lists on ohamanda.com
By |2015-05-14T23:15:47+00:00May 2, 2011|Uncategorized|4 Comments
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Day 2

This week’s camping trip was much more primitive than the one that I deemed cushy earlier this month. When I wrote that post about all the amenities my dad’s response was “I thought we raised you better”. Well, dad you would have been proud of our two little tents set up on the edge of a cliff overlooking lake Travis.
There were no cabins, mirrors, electricity, running water, NOTHIN’. It was gorgeous setting though and I was able to enjoy some nice quiet time on my own in the early morning light at 6:30 am.

Once everyone else was up we went swimming, hiking, kite flying,
and even hung out in a lagoon like setting under a water fall

where I eerily almost stepped on a huge snake.

After we experienced our fill of nature we headed into the city to eat at a trailer park (these set ups are popular there),

followed by some homemade ice cream which was served up by a guy who tossed the scoops over his head to be caught in a cone behind his back, very entertaining, and delicious. Then we dropped our pals off at a concert and J and I went thrifting and Ikeaing. Then we both took in the Mumford and Son’s concert bootleg style, meaning we didn’t have tickets, but it was outdoors and there were plenty of other people to join on the outskirts.
We left the next day, so other than a few more stops at some indie coffee shops, that is pretty much the whole trip. On the ride back the fatigue and allergies had begun to take their toll. We were going off of little sleep and we all had work to get back too, but that still didn’t stop us from reminiscing about the experience we had just shared and our favorite Austin moments. I don’t think I will ever forget this little time away, but if I do I can just read this.
By |2015-05-14T23:15:48+00:00April 30, 2011|Uncategorized|3 Comments
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What a Trip

We got back from our Austin visit yesterday and it never fails that I need a vacation to recooperate from my vacation. We had a blast though. It was our first adults only road trip since we’ve had kids. J’s parents watched Z and SJ while we made our way to the “live music capital of the world” with two of our nearest dearest friends. Since I had my hands free of kiddos I was able to take lots of pics, but I won’t bore you with them. Oh, who am I kidding? Here is a little play by play of day one.

First stop coffee of course.
Then we hit this cool park to play some bocce ball.
If you’ve never tried Bocce ball you are missing out.
Then we walked to the bridge were all the bats sleep during the day.
And we waited for them to come out.

And we took pictures while we were waiting.
It was really difficult to see in the dark, but thousands of bats came swarming through the city, and they moved really fast!

We made time for sushi that evening.
And ended the night with one of the cities randomly distributed public pianos.
By |2015-05-14T23:15:48+00:00April 29, 2011|Uncategorized|2 Comments
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Austin Texas!!!

Hey guys, I am currently hanging out in the fun, beautiful, and unapologetically WEIRD Texas state capitol. We just got done watching the world’s largest urban bat colony fly out from under a bridge. Anyway, I’ve got to run for now, but here are some Easter weekend photos for you all to enjoy. I’ll check back in when we get home in a few days.






By |2015-05-14T23:15:48+00:00April 24, 2011|Uncategorized|5 Comments
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