eye candy

Just a little eye-candy. This is Romie Boy today. Isn't he just soooo cute?

scrapbooks etc.

I've mentioned my photograper niece Mindi before. Well the following post is directly from her blog. I wanted to humbly bask in the fame of my niece and great niece. This is too cool.


Mindi writes:
guess who is on the cover of October's "Scrapbooks etc."????? my annabelle!

i've been keeping this a secret for SEVERAL months, in fear of it falling through and me looking like an idiot. you have no idea how hard it's been! but i finally picked up my copy at my local scrapbook store tonight (they should hit the shelves at Wal-Mart/Hobby Lobby/Michael's/other bookstores, sometime around September 11th, i think.

aside from the fact that they seemed to "edit" my photo and make it incredibly over brightened, i'm happy. (as a photographer, the editing is really making me cringe, i have to admit, but hey, what can you do?)

annabelle is so over the top excited and can't wait to take it to school. dustin went out of town tonight for business, and took the copy with him to show everybody.

as soon as i can, i plan to buy a few more copies and probably frame one!

so here's how it went down:
i have a few pictures of my kids posted on a scrapbooking website (under photography) and one of the editors for this magazine (which is put out by Better Homes and Gardens) emailed me back in December, asking to use a picture of Julian as a possible cover idea for March/April. She wanted the picture in color, not b/w which is what i had posted. i sent them a copy, and they all debated it, and ended up going with a different photo.

however, for the next couple of months, i started getting submission requests that they sent out to a slew of photographers/scrapbookers, which you have no idea how excited/honored/flattered that made me.

then, a month or two later, another editor contacted me about possibly using Annabelle's soccer photo for the Oct. issue, since it was "sports themed". I told them yes, but didn't really get my hopes up. But this time, they voted to use it, and finally, months and months later, I have it in my hands!


There is a little write-up about the photo on one of the first few pages of the magazine, that gives photo credit to "Mindi Bartell", and talks about what we were doing when we took the photo. so neat, because 2 years ago, i added to my list of "goals", to
"Have SOMETHING published. anything. a story, picture, scrapbook page, anything."

finally, something to cross off the list. although, tonight julian made me promise that he can be on the cover of a magazine next.
we'll see what we can do about that...

Hannah's party

Today was Hannah's birthday celebration with a couple friends. We went horseback riding. It was great to see them all so happy.

My 11-year-old Hannah.

Rachael

Hannah Bear

Hannah and friends

ride 'em cowgirls.

Roman Laughing and Not

I couldn't resist sharing these pictures.

Happy B'day to Hannah

Pardon my blurry pictures. As usual with the older photos, I've taken pictures of pictures.

Eleven years ago today a 9.9 pound red baby with lots of black hair came into my world. (She had actually been in my world long before then, but not in my arms.) Hannah Kathleen. She looked nothing like my previous babies and had I not witnessed the whole thing, I would have said they'd given me the wrong baby. I wanted to tell everyone in the delivery room, "Hey this is really weird. My other babies were pretty. Really, I mean my others were very pretty. Everyone said so." But no, not Hannah. She looked like a mixture of a cranky Winston Churchill, the fat toothless old lady down the street, and a red poached egg. But I loved her. I loved her lots. "Oh Gordon, she's so ugly," I said proudly. And I was proud.

When we came home from the hospital, my next door neighbor came over and oohed and awed saying stuff like "Look at all that hair," and "She is so sweet." I wanted to tell the neighbor that I knew she was ugly, but I didn't want to sound un-proud, because I was proud. I know a few tricks when it comes to dealing with ugly babies. Among my tricks are, "Look at all that hair," and "She is so sweet." Might as well just come out and say, "Woe is it ever homely."

But I loved her. She loved me too, so I loved her all the more. As she grew she lost the Winston and egg look but kept looking more and more like the toothless old woman down the road. More than a couple times I thanked God that it was a woman down the road she looked like and not a man. When she became expressive with grinning and all, the resemblance to the sweet lady was astounding. My girlfriend Elisa knew the lady down the road. Once the old lady left my house and I confided that I thought Hannah looked like her. Elisa laughed and said the she and Walter thought so too.

Well the pretty fairies visited when Hannah was about 5 months old and she became cute. Actually very very cute. She got a couple teeth and lost the little old lady look.

Unfortunately I was exhausted from having two babies. And it sure didn't help that one of them was Rachael. Exhaustion, hormones, - call it what you wish - wiped me out. Depression came on and my memories of Hannah's babyhood are cloudy and murky. I simply don't remember a whole lot.


When she was just a couple weeks old Gordon told me that there was a surprise baby shower for us two doors down. I sat and wept. I cried hysterically, "I'm too tired to go out." But I pulled myself together and we made it. Those sort of emotions marked those days. Fortunately I have pictures and when I look at the pictures I remember things. She's smiling in the pictures so I think she fared okay through it all.

From the get go in her little life, Hannah had a big sister that was a baby herself. Rachael colored all over Hannah, sat on her, man-handled her like a sack of potatoes. Hannah smiled through most of it.

She learned fairly early how to stand her ground with Rachael. We realized in her young life that she had her own methods of handling her overbearing big sister. Some of those things we still quote. Once as we drove Rachael protested that Hannah was touching her. They were both in car seats and Rachael said, "Hannah's bothering me."

Hannah made a pointy with her index finger and began a little sing-song as she poked Rachael over and over saying, "Bovering, bovering, bovering." We knew then that life was going to balance things out fine. And occasionally we all say, "Bovering, bovering, bovering," as a way of saying I'm trying to get on your nerves.

Hannah grew and became sensitive. She cared about the feelings of others including animals. She became very articulate, loving to learn new words. Her musings in the backseat often were word games. She played it alone and with no guidance whatsoever. "Re-spect-ful. Re-spect-ful." "Dis-cip-line." She spoke slowly and crisply. We could tell she was saying the words just to enjoy rolling them off her tongue. She played this game for years actually. Once after watching the Tigger Movie, she sat in her carseat quoting Tigger. "Splen-dif-er-rous. Splen-dif-er-rous." We loved to drive along just listening to Hannah practice saying big words.

Twice Hannah did weird little falls that knocked her out cold. The first time I was vacuuming when she fell off the sofa. It scared me silly. I phoned Gordon and he did the typical man thing. He rebuked me for worrying too much. Months and months later I felt rightly vindicated. He had taken the kids to Burger King. Hannah did one of her weird falls and went out cold. He absolutely panicked. Someone phoned 911, a lady came over to help out. She told Gordon that Hannah was breathing and would probably be fine. Gordon sat holding her, crying like a baby, waiting for the ambulance.

By the time I got to the emergency room, she was in a tiny green hospital gown soaking up the attention. She was fine. I've often wished I'd stolen that little gown. She looked so cute.

Hannah has always marched to the beat of her own drummer, more than once taking abuse for doing so. When she was in grade 1 she loved to look for and collect bird feathers. At the park some boys teased, "Ooh, it's the feather girl. She's always got feathers." Hannah was hurt, but undeterred.

Her grade one teacher told me that Hannah was a strong little girl who was willing to be different. And she was a bit different.

Hannah is my easiest child to buy for and treat special. She has so many likes, interests, and passions. Dogs, horses, art, music, piano, stationery, pretty things, porcelain dolls, - she has many interests. It's an endearing quality.

She's thoughtful, considerate, compassionate. She's kind, funny, artistic, and clever. She's typically an absolute doll to be around.

Yesterday she and I went to the Humane Society for a date. I was struck again by how easy she is to please.

This morning she smiled broadly as she was served breakfast in bed.


Tomorrow she is going to Beppe's for two nights. I guess they'll do the usual birthday shopping trip. She's excited. Then on Saturday we'll celebrate. She's chosen horseback riding and a picnic. She's so happy with her plans.

Hannah is delightful. I love her so much and marvel at her many talents. Truly to know her is to love her. I'm thankful for her.

Happy Birthday my sweet Hannah. You are beautiful (but I'd love you no less if you still looked like a poached egg). You bring delight to our lives and to our home. May you grow to be all God created you to be. And may you always point others to Him.
I love you.
This morning, breakfast in bed for an 11 year old.

Roman - Sumo Boy

Too cute!

Moving Mountains

On our holiday we visited a major rock slide. Frank Slide. The slide happened a hundred years ago and still looks like it did back then. It buried the town called Frank. It's very fascinating.

I was reading some of the information about the slide to the kids. Among other things I read that the Natives never settled there because Turtle Mountain, the mountain the "slid", they referred to as the "mountain that moves." And they called it that long before the devastating rock slide.

Hours after reading to the kids and visiting Frank Slide we were in the throes of the Rocky Mountains. Mountains rose up on both sides of us. Deborah studied the mountains as we drove. Gently she asked, "Mom did the Natives ever say 'this mountain moves' about this mountain?"

Roman smiles

Isn't Romie-Boy the cat's meow? He started smiling today. :-)))))

my handsome grandson with Steph and Christopher

While on holidays, I had no computer access. I went through Roman-picture-withdrawal. At home I can hardly pass my computer without looking at Roman's pictures. I got home last night and immediately went to get a Roman fix. I wasn't disappointed. I smiled and smiled. These are some of the latest photos from Stephanie.
Roman sleeping contentedly.
Aren't they lovely? Stephanie and Roman.
Uncle Christopher (my son) and Roman.

Finally, Capernwray

If you click on this photo you can see where we stayed. It is the farthest away building center-left. It is called Preedy Lodge.
A view from the road right after leaving the ferry. The bridges over streams added so much ambience to the place.
I don't know this girl, but did she ever find a whoppin' big pretty starfish?
Every day I walked past this garden and pretended it was mine. Growing up can be so hard.
Capernwray has more than a hint of English influence. The houses, cabins, and the Tudor Lodge had many flowers, covered bridges on the walkways, beautifully manicured lawns, and terrific ocean views. This house and a few others had walkways that emphasized the English feel for me.

I love this picture of Gordon on Thetis Island.

Day 5

This was an exciting day, as we finally arrived at our destination, Thetis Island. In Chemainus we got on a small ferry that took us to the island we would call home for the week.
This is Thetis Island and we were at Capenwray Harbour. The red-roofed portion you see is Capernwray Harbour. It is beautiful.
Rachael and Hannah on the small ferry to Thetis Island.
This is Deborah at low-tide at Qualicum Beach between Nanaimo and Chemainus. The girls spent the morning collecting sand-dollars. The van had a horrible fishy smell the rest of the trip.

Days 4 and 5

When we left Cranbrook we headed to the West Coast. It was a long, fun, eventful day. In Vancouver, (actually it was Langley), we caught the ferry to Vancouver Island. We spent the night in Nanaimo.
I love this picture because it captures a bit of who Hannah is. Doesn't she look contemplative? She is.
In Vancouver we boarded the ferry -- the girls' first ferry ride. It was a beautiful 2 hour sail to Nanaimo's Departure Bay.

In Osoyoos, (between Cranbrook and Vancouver) we stopped at the lake and ended up banana tubing. It was a hoot. The best part were the crashes. The worst part was being heaved back on by 3 men all thinking something like, "this girl's a pretty good sized woman."

Days 2 and 3

Days 2 and 3 were spent in Cranbrook with our friends, the Jasters. We had a great time visiting some of our old stompin' grounds and especially enjoyed catching up with our friends. This was our first time back to Cranbrook since leaving there in 1995.
The girls and Brenden near Marysville.
At Wasa Lake with our dear friends, the Jasters.
First Baptist. Where we were married and where Gordon pastored for 3 years.
Our first "home". Apt 409.
In the olden days, Gordon and I used to enjoy this spot along the river.
Along the Marysville Falls path. A short hike, but well worth the small effort.

Day 1

Often photographed mountain in the Crowsnest Pass.
Approaching the Rockies.
Deborah. Major rock slide, eh?
in the Crowsnest Pass.
still in the Crowsnest Pass.
Biggest truck in the World. Sparwood, BC
Alberta Foothills
More Alberta Foothills.
Hammy Hannah.