Stick and the Bones: August 2008

Saturday, August 30, 2008

Meet J.J.

The newest addition to our ever growing circle of joy.

Our friends Kristin and Joe had this beautiful boy last night.

Everyone is happy and healthy.

Here he is at 12 hours old.

(Heather.... you're next!!!! :)

Friday, August 29, 2008

Back and forth, back and forth.... not in my opinions/politics but if I should write this post. I typically try not to talk politics with friends or family that I know are not like-minded. Mostly because I don't want to debate issues I believe fundamental to the greater good of society. I say "I" because everyone's political/spiritual beliefs are intimately personal. I can not fully speak for Brian in this entry, although I will say that he does support 'CHANGE' and 'Enough is Enough'. We are very similar in our political opinions. But back to the blog entry...

Well after some time thinking about it...

IT'S MY BLOG AND I CAN TALK ABOUT WHATEVER I WANT!!!! :))

So sorry if you don't happen to agree. Skip this entry. I'll have something posted about family life soon, I'm sure. Happiness will rule supreme again in "blog land". But today it's politics.

I have been watching the DNC all week. It's been inspiring to listen to each speech. They kept getting better and better. I was so proud of Hillary, she did a great job. It was the best speech she has given and she seemed so relaxed. Love her, hate her... no one can take away the history she made. The path that she made for other women has permanently entrenched the country, with no going back. I LOVE that my daughter will grow up not knowing anything different than she too could become president. ANd I ABSOLUTELY LOVE that my son will too. That he will grow up with more respect for women's rights, not knowing the "old style" of doing business. The finale of the week with Obama's speech was the BEST! Always eloquent, honest, and inspiring. Below is a link to the speeches. Become enlightened, become inspired! (Go ahead, no one's looking, and I won't tell anyone! :)

(** I won't even profess my feelings on the VP selection for McCain. All I have to say is it doesn't get more transparent than that.)

Obama

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

The Back 9

I meant to post this a few weeks ago.

Sam designed a "golf course" in the back yard. We call it The Back 9.

The inflatable pools became water hazards, the mulch around the trees were sand traps, the big yellow inflatable slide transformed into a "mini golf-esque" hole, beach buckets turned into the holes, and the Barbie Jeep became the golf cart (only Sam could fit in ;)

They had so much fun.

Imagination and resourcefulness... that's my boy!

Monday, August 25, 2008

Trouble...

... with a capital "T"!

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

'Saying Goodbye to the House that Ruth Built'

There it is.

Who knew that this moment, this click of the shutter would become my baby.

I entered 4 photos into the NYS Fair this year. All I was hoping for was to get an acceptance. To have some of my work displayed. I was told by many that it is very hard to get in. It may take years for an accepted photo to be displayed.

When the mail came last week I received the notification cards. Four cards for four photos. As I turned them over, one by one, "not accepted" was all that was checked. That is until I got to the last one, "WINNER" was marked off.

Nothing else was mentioned. 'Winner' could mean 1st-3rd places.

So tonight was the Artist Reception, to see the gallery before the public. I took the kids with me, my friend Emily met me there and Kristin A. came. As I walked around the corner this is what I saw....

BLUE RIBBON!!!!

Can you believe it??? :)

Like I said before this was my baby. This image means a great deal to me. It's my three loves, all together, in a special moment in a special place.

I love it.

It's hanging in the Art and Home Center at the fairgrounds if anyone wants to see it in person. After that... it'll be hanging in my family room! :)

~Tara xoxo

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Days gone by in the Butternut Valley

100th Annual Wilber Reunion

Actually it was the Wilber, Rowe, Foster Reunion.

My grandparents grew up, married, and started a family in the Butternut Valley. It is beautiful there. The farmlands are stunning. I have always loved being there... as if I was going home again. Every summer there is a reunion. I have missed it for a few years... (it's also Madison-Bouckville Antique show the same weekend ;) But this year the antiques would have to wait. It was important to my grandfather that all who could attend, would. It was nice to see everyone. 90 people were in attendance. Lots of old photos were passed around, genealogy being gathered, and great food being eaten. After the reunion my grandfather drove us up to the old family farm were he grew up. He shared a lot of memories with us. It was sooo nice. There was no one home at the farm so we took the opportunity to walk around a little bit.

We had a really beautiful day.

*** Sorry about the sloppy collages. I had so many pictures to share and not a lot time to fuss. You can click onto to the pictures to view them larger.

Wilber Hill Farm

Beth, Sam, and Livvie

(Isn't Beth getting so tall??)

The VanScoy House

This was my great great grandparents home.

It was also the first house that my grandparents had. It's one of my favorites.

Grandpa and the Barn

My grandmother's old school house.

I can't take 100% credit for this find. My Uncle Paul thought this would make a nice shot. So I walked around and found the best angle. Love this picture... it's by the schoolhouse.

Thanks for taking this walk with me.

Tara xoxo

*** If anyone is wondering where Brian is... he is in Canada fishing with my dad and brother (Patrick). I'll have pictures to post from their trip in a few days. :)))

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Our Last Katie

Katie and Sam

Sam has been in speech therapy since last September. We were blessed with Miss Katie who came to our house twice a week for almost an entire year. Through our 1/2 hour sessions and many months, our family formed a special bond with her. She always arrived at our house with a smile on her face and the aura of eagerness to teach and make a difference. I will tell you that through out the year, Sam sometimes didn't want her to come. It was usually when he was involved in something ,(and you know how 5 years olds are) sometimes transition is tough. She never took it personally and would have a super fun activity planned for them. He ALWAYS was attentive and tried his best. They worked on his 'snake and shark' sounds for months and when he finally got it, I think she was as happy as me. They moved onto more complex sounds and proper language skills. He has really progressed nicely.

Today was our last session with Miss Katie. Last night I told him it was going to be his last Katie. I was half expecting him to be upset but he wasn't. He just yelled out YEAH!!! So I said- ok why are you so happy? He told me that it just meant that he was closer to his first day of school and he was really excited.

So in thinking about that for a while, I think Katie gave him more than just learning vocabulary sounds. She helped nurture a love of learning. Isn't that the best gift a teacher can give?? :)

Beth will definitely miss prancing around in her princess dresses and showing off for Miss Katie.

Thank you Katie for coming into our crazy lives with patience and guidance.

Thank you for helping Brian and I add one more brick to the ever rising foundation in Sam's life. Please keep in touch. We wish you all the best in all your future endeavors.

xoxo, Tara

***Quick Side Note***

She really does have remarkable fortitude because, me being an older sister, I of corse tried to set her up on a date with Patrick. Wouldn't they be cute??? Oh- that's besides the point. Thank you for ignoring me and my crazy ideas. Thanks for not being too uncomfortable to come back to our house. :)

BUT... if you ever change your mind.... :)

Always have to have hope, right! :))))))

Friday, August 8, 2008

Sunflower Maze

There are sunflower fields just a little drive from our home. There is a sunflower maze too which the kids LOVED!! They had so much fun running through the aisles of towering giants.

Of corse the combination of the kids and sunflowers at sunset had me all ready to go into a photographic frenzy. It didn't work out quite as I planned. The kids were not cooperating with any of my ideas. All they wanted to do was run and hide. So I gave up and just let them have fun. :) I'll be honest, it was ok because I could have walked through there for hours all by myself and take hundreds of pictures of sunflowers solo.

As Kristin said, "As soon as you get a really good view of the fields it's so overwhelmingly beautiful it's make you want to cry a little."

(I'm paraphrasing slightly.)

I have to whole heartily agree. Gorgeous doesn't even begin to describe it. For whatever reason the only thing I could think of was HOPE. Don't ask me why.

It's weird how just a few acres could represent such beauty in this world.

So, now that I have you all puking on sentimentality....

ENJOY the Pictures!! :)

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Happy 25th Birthday Patrick!!!

My Brother Patrick's birthday is today.

It is the on-going rumor in our family that he is everybody's favorite. Why? Because he gets a long with everyone, stays away from all conflict, always has a smile on his face, is an expert at flying low under the radar, is as laid back as they come, loyal to the core, is always there for you when you need him, is ALWAYS hilarious and has lots of "trick-isms" we can all count on.

Basically he is an all around GREAT guy!!!

So... HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAT.

We all love you to pieces!

(And, if anyone out there is single..... :) I'm always looking out for him. That's the price to pay for having older sisters.)

I had lots of the cutest baby pictures you've ever seen of Patrick BUT my scanner isn't working so all these pictures are within this last year. He avoids embarrassment... this year!Enjoy!