Avery's Baptism part 1

About 2 weeks ago, Avery was baptized. Here are some of the pictures I took during the ceremony. I have more, but I have to edit them because they are dark from the church.

First Day of School

Hannah and Emily began their new school year today: Hannah in 4th grade and Emily in 3rd. They left today with bags loaded down with stuff, new shoes on their feet, and a bit of trepidation in their hearts.

A side story: I watched Emily from the side while she took the time to fix her hair (I was standing at the bottom of the steps; she was in the bathroom at the top of the steps). I watched her as she spritzed and brushed and I could tell that she was liking what she was seeing in the mirror. Then she turned around and I saw that she had slicked her bangs to the side. I didn't know what to say. I knew she liked her hair that way, but I was afraid that she would get made fun of. Do I say something? I didn't for a while. Right before I took the picture, I asked her if she wanted to keep her bangs like that and she said yes, she likes them that way. So, nothing more was said, and I snapped her picture. Sometimes it's sooooo hard for me to let her be her own person...



But she is who she is and Hannah is who she is and I love them both so much. Hopefully they will both find joy and happiness this school year.

Last Weekend Update

I didn't get to take as many pictures of Mya's visit as I had hoped because the battery in my camera died, but these are the pictures I did get (in no particular order).

Hannah couldn't wait to get Mya to sit on her lap. Hannah was quite sad when Mya didn't sit with her for long.

Hanging out on the front porch

It was funny to watch Mya wheedle her way into the girls' activities...she was the most happy when she got to do what they were doing.

Hannah wasn't always so happy! ;-)

We put her on the swing at one point...I really need to invest in a baby swing...

Hanging out one morning with some milk

Blowing bubbles

And chalking in the driveway. She was the most content while chalking with the girls. I swear she would have stayed out there all night, but after playing with them for over an hour, and getting chalk all over her, it was time for a bath and bed.

It was right after the chalking that my battery died. I thought it was so cute that she layed down on the driveway...the same thing Hannah and Emily had been doing.

It was physically tiring chasing after a toddler after all these years of not having one, but it was an awesome experience and I thoroughly enjoy having her in my life.

I {heart} summer

Saying goodbye to an awesome summer and looking forward to a great fall!

Kickin' it at the mall

Two weeks ago I took Hannah and Emily to Kohl's to buy them stuff for school--like shoes, some socks, and even some new clothes for our trip to the zoo (and, by the way, I am completely finished with their back to school shopping--just waiting for extra uniforms to arrive in the mail. Usually, I'm still shopping the night before they start back to school).

After we were through, we stopped to look at some sunglasses. I told them to look tough...this is what I got...

It was hard to get a good shot with Emily because she kept moving trying to get more of herself in the picture.

It's funny. I'm always in search of that "perfect" photo, but more often than not, it's the imperfect pictures like these that I end up liking the most!

She's here!

Mya that is! Sue and Patrick have gone to Georgia for Lindsey's wedding, and we here at the Durbin household have Mya until Sunday.

Right now she is sleeping and so far it's been great, especially with Emily being so eager to help take care of her. Of course, I've already been taking pictures so here's one that I have been playing with. Not sure which I like the best:

I'm sure once Sunday comes I'll have plenty more pictures to share.

A Day at the Beach

On Monday, I took the girls to The Beach waterpark with my volleyball team/colleagues/friends (Amber, Beth, and Tara) and Rachel (related to Amber). We had fun running from slide to slide letting Hannah and Emily lead the way.






I almost didn't go because I am still feeling kinda crappy, but it turned out to be a lot of fun, and I'm glad we went.

Monkeys at the zoo

The monkey exhibit is by far one of my favorites. I could have stood there all day taking pictures of them (but wasn't allowed)...like these two. The white one just lounged around (even rolled over) while the other one picked/ate bugs off of him/her. Hannah and Emily thought that was disgusting. I tried to explain to them that this is an affectionate thing to do. That lead us into a discussion as to whether these two just like each other of if they "like-like" each other, so I just dropped the conversation.

Or how about this one checking out the other's butt:



Or these two. The one in the water was pushed in by the one on the rocks. It was funny because I wasn't watching them when I heard a splash and a monkey screeching.

The one on the rocks doesn't even seem to be bothered by the screeching one. Made me wonder what kind of a relationship they have: sibling, rival, dating, spouses, etc.



The monkeys also make me sad because sometimes they look like they are not happy in their envrionments. I know the zoo is a good thing, but their homes at the zoo can be nothing compared to their real habitats...so...is it good to keep them in captivity?

Brick me, please

Ummm...yeah...please hit me in the head with a brick the next time I blog about feeling better with bronchitis and then run out the door to play an indoor soccer game...I've been coughing my fool head off ever since!

The unexpected has happened

I'm actually not sad about having to go back to school. GASP!

Don't get me wrong...I do not want summer to end and I haven't made any plans for school, but I'm not sad. In fact, I'm kind of getting excited.

This summer has been the most productive summer I have ever had. With my "free time" I have...(sorry if this gets boring!)

** hung shelves in the dining room
**stained and painted 21 picture frames of various sizes
**hung said 21 picture frames in dining room with kids' art work
**made curtain panels for dining room
**bought an area rug for dining room
**converted window into mirror
**painted canvases for hall way
**turned metal plaque into picture frame
**made curtains for bedroom
**made a bench for bedroom
**covered said bench for bedroom
**made a bedside table for bedroom
**stained and painted 3 different picture frames for bedroom
**hung these picture frames in bedroom with some of our family pictures
**bought shadow box picture frame
**hung it in bedroom with a picture of me and Ray
**spray painted candle-holder things for bedroom
**bought some throw pillows and a basket for bedroom
**spray painted several frames and made them into jewelry organizers
**made a paper flower to hang from ceiling in bedroom
**painted flowers on the walls in Hannah's room
**painted dresser by front door but will repaint because it is ugly.
**used 13 gallons of paint painting our old house
**started making shower curtain for kids' bathroom
**turned a piece of plywood into a piece of "art" for upstairs hallway
**made a side of the pantry into a chalkboard
**bought almost all the girls' school supplies (shirts, socks, shoes, bags, uniforms, stuff)
**have done lots of things with the girls--water parks, swimming, zoo, fireworks, etc.
**have babysat--a lot
**read at least 8 books
**learned a lot about photography
**played sand volleyball and indoor soccer every week
**hung with friends several times
**stayed up really late by myself and watched a chick flick

And I still have a few more things on my list. But, I think I feel almost complete, and that has made all the difference. The teaching profession takes a lot out of me. I give and give and give all day long, but I never really stop to give back to myself. I finally gave in and just started making things and doing the things I've neglected doing for a very long time.

I have plans to actually decorate my classroom--something I have never really done. If I have learned one thing this summer it is that my environment is soooo important to my mood and emotional health and neglecting the one room I spend at least half my day in is just plain stupid.

Plus, I have just spent the last week sick with asthmatic bronchitis. Very reminiscent of last spring/summer. Now that I'm feeling better, I feel renewed. It's crazy, actually, to say that I'm thankful I have been sick (for only a week this time!) because it reminds me of how awesome it is to NOT be sick. We take our health for granted and we shouldn't.

On top of that, I chopped off my hair (literally) and actually like it (today anyway), and I went shopping, and now am remotivated to work out again. I bought a pair of jeans today that "almost" look good--I've never done that--to give me something to look forward to. And, I've reinvigorated my dream of wearing that bikini one day.

I've always dreaded the start of the school year because it signaled the end of something; I'm thinking maybe I should see it for what it is--the START of something new.

Can you believe it? The unexpected has truly happened!

Tough chicks

Here we pose, acting like tough chicks on display at the zoo...

I'm thinking we make the best exhibit there!

The elephants

One of the first exhibits we saw at the zoo was the elephants.

What can you say about these peaceful, almost graceful, creatures?