The Day the Music Died…

Farrah Fawcett died this morning.† She was 62.† My brother had her infamous red bathing suit poster on his door for years.† We used to watch Charlie’s Angels.† I always thought Farrah was beautiful but a bit of a fluff.† Then I saw her in Burning Bed and was blown away.† Good bye Farrah, you were too young to die.

Then I heard Michael Jackson died!† Michael Jackson???† I could hardly believe it.† MJ was such a part of my 80’s music memories.† You couldn’t go anywhere without hearing Michael Jackson, the radio, MTV, clubs.† I always felt sorry for him.† He seemed so lost and alone even though it seemed he had everything.† He seemed like a gentle soul and I always found it hard to believe all the rumors and allegations against him.

Rest in Peace Michael and Farrah.† May your artistry live on for future generations.

Daddy took my car to have the hail damage appraised.† The damage was way more than we thought.† My neighbor’s truck was actually totaled from hail damage.† That was some storm.

Kei played in H2O all day.† I read.† A nice, peaceful day.† Here she was letting water run into her mouth from the sprinkler.

k-water

And here she was trying to spit a stream.

kei-spitting

This one I liked because her face was all underwater.

k-underwater

Now it’s off to watch more Gilmore Girls.† We are determined to find Stars Hollow and move there.

K

You’re my obsession…

I used to love Duran Duran. I use to LOVE Duran Duran. I discovered them one afternoon while watching MTV. Remember MTV? The old school MTV that played video after video. MTV with Martha, JJ, Adam, Mark and Nina. I saw “Hungry Like the Wolf” and I was hooked.
duranduran1

I was probably just a little too obsessed with these boys from England. I had a friend that was just as obsessed. She liked Nick, I liked John. We bought magazines, taped everything they ever appeared on and watched it back…in slow motion. We were freaks! When they would come out with a new album or video we would pick each and every word and picture apart. We analyzed and discussed, and were sure that we, out of all their fans, understood what they really meant!

john-t
John Taylor

I wore the white shoes they wore, I wore hats like they did, I wore black rubber bracelets. I dyed my hair maroon once, like John had his. I saw D2 3 times over the next few years. I even met them in Atlanta. You would have never known I even knew who they were. I just kinda stood there and smiled. Inside I was screaming, “Pick me! Love me! Marry me!” 🙂

It’s kinda fun to have a star crush. Which is why I completely understand when Kei is insistent that she is going to marry Johnny Depp. I know that one day, she, like me, will look back on this time and remember the excitement of a new movie, a new song, a new interview, a new picture.
k-johnny-depp

So crush on!
K

Covered Bridges…

I love local history.† Haven’t always, do now.

I don’t know if it’s a homeschool thing or not.† I find myself loving things I never even cared about.† History in general, science, country life.† I have thought about it a lot and I think that Homeschooling is just a gentler, slower paced life. There isn’t so much hurryhurryhurry. I mean, we don’t even use an alarm clock to wake up.

We went to a covered bridge today. Our first one.† It was in Cullman and we loved it.† I found a really cool site with all the covered bridges in the USA!† Maybe we can explore them all!† Well….probably not.

It was 10 degrees cooler up there and we had our trusty Garmin which Kei has named NIA. I love that thing! I used to freak out about getting somewhere and then trying to get home but with the push of a button she takes us home! We don’t always agree on the route because I know all the little shortcuts but we get along very amiably.

And best of all….all it cost us was the gas. Which is VERY important these days.

Splish Splashing Away…

We went to the Splash Park today.† It’s such a great idea I just wish they would expand on it more.† They could do so much with the space.† An older man who has worked in the park forever told us they eventually want a wading pool.† Since it took them 3 years to update the playground area, I figure Kei should be able to take HER kids to the wading pool.

Water Water
Water Water

This one cracked me up.

kei-park2

Of course she met a new friend cause that’s just what she does.† They bounced between the splash pad and the playground.

kei-park6

kei-park3

After her new friend left we ate lunch.

Dramatic Eating
Dramatic Eating

Then home again, home again to the cool air conditioner!

Happy Monday,

K

Dress Up and Fires…

It has been crazy hot here the past few days.† Summer has definitely reared its head.

Kei put on a fashion show for me today.† She loves putting clothes together.† Then she insisted I photograph her as she posed and spun around.† Remember how much fun dress up used to be?

Then last night, we had a fire.† Of course it was about 90 degrees but it was still beautiful.† We didn’t have any marshmallows so Kei roasted a stick.
kei-fire
A quiet Friday.
Happy weekend,
K

I Wanna Be a Cowgirl..

kei-cg

Today at the library they had Mooo Day.† Kei wanted to go so we headed up there.† I had to drop some Ebay things off at the Post Office anyway.

It was packed when we arrived.† So I had to parellel park!! I haven’t done that in forever.† I did very good thankyouverymuch.

There was a cow there but she didn’t look like she was having too much fun.† It seemed to be geared toward younger kids but I did learn something.† Cows have 1 udder and 4 teats!† I have always called them udders.† They spoke about cows and milk and let the kids pet Daisy.† Then they served them ice cream!

daisy

k-eating-ice-cream

There are several cool things planned at the library for the summer.

After we left we went to the Post Office and then stopped by The Farmer’s Market.†† We love the Farmer’s Market!† I got some green beans called rattlesnake beans, peaches and plums.† When I lived in California there was an awesome Farmer’s Market that we went to.† They had things I had never seen before.† It was so cool. I would love to take Kei there!

Happy Friday,

K

If I Were a Rich Girl…

kei-hat-lake

We spent delightful days at our friends new house at Smith Lake.†† The house was incredible.† Over 7000 sq. feet, on the lake front and beautiful.

I could stay there forever and Kei had all the rooms assigned as if we lived there by the time we left.† Complete with a homeschooling room of course.† An amazing house.† Imagine waking up, walking into the kitchen and being surrounded on 3 sides by floor to ceiling windows with a lake view.† The pool was great and Kei worked on her diving skillz.† She stayed in the water for hours and hours.† I swear she is part mermaid.


It was just what we needed.† Of course I got horribly blistered.† Why is it I lather Kei in sunscreen and then half way put it on myself!!!!?????

Happy Thursday,

K

Summer Days….

We had a really good week.

We always try to do things that do not cost money since we have none.

Kei is reading The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.† She is loving it.† We are actually doing an online Unit Study with other HSers.† It has been a blast!

Kei In Narnia
Kei In Narnia

Kei and some of her neighborhood friends are keeping the sidewalk beautiful!

chalk2

chalk3

chalk1

We went to Cathy and Kaitlin’s swimming Thursday.† We had a blast soaking up the sun and listening to Dr. Horrible.† Cathy made the best food!† We had chicken spaghetti, black beans and a corn casserole that I have to have the recipe for.

girls

Kei and I woke up Saturday and she just had to do something! She wasnted to go letterboxing.† I tried to get her to wait until we, hopefully got a GPS, but she wanted to do it now.

So, we hopped in our car and took off to Falkville.† Of course I went the long way around because that is the only way I was sure of.† The first place took us to a cemetary with these cool directions:

From I-65 take exit 322 (Falkville-Eva). Go west (toward Falkville) on highway 55. Turn left at the Love’s truck stop onto Douglas Rd (.1 mi.). At the end of Douglas Rd. (1 mi.) turn left onto Piney Grove Rd. From Piney Grove Rd. find the outdoor resting place of hundreds. If you come to a “DEAD” end you’ve gone too far. Go back. Park.
Find the loneliest “Dad” at the front (NE) of the lot. Have a seat facing the sleeping souls and give your regards to David. You will find yourself looking at a fallen giant, which is where your treasure awaits.

When we found it we were both so excited!† It is so cool reading the notebook to see who all has come before you and where they are from.

k-letterboxing

The next place was also in Falkville, so after a stop at Love’s Truck Stop [I just adore truck stops!] we were off.

This one had really cool instructions:

When driving the great 65 that cutteth the east in half, if thou dippeth below the Mason-Dixon line into northern Alabama, thou wilt come to exit 322, Falkville/Eva. Thou can makest a quick detour off the ribbon of blacktop onto highway 55, and turn west, toward Falkville (small town USA). When thou cometh to the second road on the right (Culver Road), turneth right there. A short way down this road, watcheth for a place where the young and old can cometh together. Pulleth into the lot where the old folks roam, and the children play. Pulleth to the North end of the lot, and thou wilt find the twin dining area for the old folks at home. Yon box is not there. Skirteth this area and droppeth into a shallow ditch. Climbeth out of the ditch on the other side. Thou wilt see a cluster of three trees, one with a curly trunk. Looketh in that spot to find thine treasure.
Please rehide this box very well, as one box has already disappeared from this area.

Everything went smoothly until we actually saw the container.† I was reaching for it when I felt FIRE on my feet.† I looked down and there were, honestly, thousands of ants on my feet.† I kinda freaked out and went screaming.† Thankfully my fast thinking child grabbed her water bottle and a towel we brought and drowned those suckers.† But…the pain!† I had tons of ant bites.† All in all, NOT an enjoyable experience.† We got all the ants off me and my sandals and got outta there.† We did find a really quicker way to get to Esthers though!

We love just getting in the car and driving, Kei especially.† But I am so directionally challenged that I always get lost.† Today after church we were over at my Daddy’s and my sweet brother brought us an early Christmas present.† Our own Nuvi!!† Adventure here we come!

Happy Week,

K

My Girl

I have done so many things in my life and times.

I have traveled across the United States and lived in San Francisco. I have spit off the Golden Gate Bridge and worked for a company that won an Oscar. I have laughed and loved and cried. I have lost a brother and a mother. I have been a wife, a sister, an aunt, a friend.

But none of those things compare to what I am now…a Mother. I never knew how this would feel. I never understood the saying “I would die for you”, not really. Now I do. I never understood wanting so badly to give your child the world. Now I do.

She delights me, amazes me, frustrates me, makes me laugh so hard my stomach hurts, makes me cry, teaches me, makes my heart overflow with love, refuses to clean her room, never stops talking, drives me crazy, fills me with a miraculous joy, lights up my life.

my-kei41

She loves to bake, to dance, to sing, to perform in plays, to read, to play video games, to watch silly reality TV, to eat, to pretend, to swim, to be outside. She prefers mushrooms to chocolate. She loves to snuggle and still believes hugs from me will fix any hurt.

She is smart, caring, beautiful; inside and out, inventive, curious, kind, a champion of the underdog, intuitive, a dreamer. She refuses to use plastic bags, she believes in causes, she wants to change the world. She believes anything is possible.† She is such a good God girl, she has so much faith.† When I listen to her prayers I am so touched by the things she prays for.

She sees the world as a wondrous place and almost every day she claps her hands and jumps up and down with excitement. She believes in fairies and magic and Santa Claus and the tooth fairy. She makes me believe in them also. She has a definite sense of right and wrong. She absolutely hates to hurt anyone feelings. She is not just a “glass half full” kinda girl; she is a ìgive me some water and I will fill it upî kinda girl. She refuses to say bad words; which, to her, is butt, dang, crap. I call her my little nun.

my-silly-kei25

She could have her leg cut off and refuse to cry. She wants to be tough; she thinks she has to be tough. This is not something I have taught her, it is just who she is. She thinks she must take care of me, and I tell her I am the one taking care of her. However, in some of my darkest moments she is there like a light beckoning me to her. I couldn’t have survived my Mother’s death without her.

She can be wise beyond her years one minute and playing with her dolls the next. She is a beautiful mix of young and old. The sound of her laughter is the sweetest music I have ever heard.

I am her teacher, but she has taught me so much. She has taught me how to be completely unselfish, how to love unconditionally, how to put someone else’s well being above my own. She is my life, my world.

I love you so much my baby girl. To Pluto and back…

Mommy

my-kei3

Water, Water Everywhere..

K loves water.† She loves to swim, to splash, to dive, to go underwater, to just sit with water all around her.† She takes hour baths and uses her mask in the tub!† I swear the kid is part mermaid.

She isn’t able to put up her pool this year and at first she was so sad.† But, being the creative kid that she is, she has made adjustments.

One day she played all day on her Water Slide:

Kei Water Slide
Kei Water Slide
Sliding
Sliding

Then she made some sort of train/water track.

Kei Train
Kei Train

Then we went on a Wild Swim with our HS Group.† It was awesome.

Rope Swing
Rope Swing
Chillin' n Relaxin'
Chillin' n Relaxin'

Then yesterday she made a Water House.

Water House
Water House

Thank goodness the rain has left for awhile because she is enjoying every wet second of the SUN!

K

Jesus, a Mother, a Daughter and a Dog….