Photo's of David and I

This is why I spend more time behind the camera than in front of it. In fact, you would never know that I had been on several of our vacations. I can usually get David to smile and look at the camera. When I am the one in the picture, we get photos like this.



 

At least he's looking at the camera...

Wordless Wednesday

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Ten on Tuesday, Vacation Style

What is your dream vacation?

     Way to start a Tuesday off hard! Italy. I have always wanted to go to Italy.

 

What has been your favorite trip so far in your life?

     Canada. I loved that trip! It was the summer after Nate and I met. We took a 10 day trip up north, with a stop in MN to visit his brother and my college friend, then we camped around the Canadian side of Lake Superior. We camped 1 night and stayed in a hotel the next all the way around. We stopped at every pull off, saw waterfalls, talked to a vet when we stopped at an old camp, saw baby bears, almost got eaten by a momma bear, and I got stung by some bug that produced a huge blister on my ear. It was a good old fashion road trip, and I loved it! I want to repeat it with David when he is older.

 

If you and one of your best friends could go anywhere in the world for one week, where would it be and why?

     Apparently San Diego since she thinks she is moving there, violating the 2 hour rule, yet again.  But really, probably somewhere in Europe. We both love music, books, and some history, so that would be fun.

 

Have you ever booked a trip using an online deal? How did it go?

     I haven't tried.

 

What’s your favorite thing to do while you’re on vacation?

     Take in the sights. I want to see and do as much as I can. I may never get back to that place again, and I want to take in all the memories that I can.

 

Have you ever missed an opportunity to take a trip that you regret?

     Nope. If I have wanted to go, I have gone.

 

You travel far away from home and get stranded with no way to buy anything, what’s the one thing you can’t live without?

     I am assuming that there is Wi-Fi, so my iPod? At least then I could let you all know that I was stranded and maybe someone would come get me. Unless it was paradise. Then I would just let you all know how wonderful it was!

 

What’s one of your favorite traveling memories?

     Just one? I have so many. I think I'll have to stick with Canada. I really did love that trip!

 

All included resort or backpacking? Why?

     I have never been backpacking, only camping. Not sure I would like backpacking, so I'm going with resort. I can still get out and see the sights, but still have a drink at night.

 

Are you more of a lie on the beach kind of person on vacation, or do you prefer to see the sights?

     Both have their benefits. I'm not a fan of the sand, or not being able to see my feet, so I would rather get out and see the sights, but maybe reserve one afternoon to be a beach bum.

 

 

Fall

Fall is in the air. A very nice change from the hot Indiana summer.

Fall also means apples from Tuttle's. We only live 5 miles away, and should go more often than we go. They have amazing produce, and of course, you pick apples. David loves this, so we decided to take our first trip of the year.

Could he be more excited?



Don't get between me and my apples!!

Sampling

Looking for his next pick.

You coming?

Fall also means more hikes and trips to Ft. Ben. Before the big hike, he needed to take a break on the playground.

Sharing his juice box with mommy.

Let's go guys!



On the particular day, we had to bribe David to keep hiking. We told him that there would be a bridge. We didn't lie, and he loved it!

Walking back for promised cookie.

Homesick

Music has always been a mainstay in my life. I turn to music in good times and bad, when I am angry and when I am ecstatic. Certain songs speak to me more at different times in my life. "Lucky Love" by Ace of Bass screams early high school to me. This came out back when you bought cassette tapes of a single and on the other side was a different song from the album. "Everyday is a Winding Road" reminds me of late high school/early college. Avril Lavigne and I spent time together in late undergrad with her "angry chick" music, and Rascal Flatts came into my life around the same time and they are still my favorite band. Music has always been in my life.

In the past year, I have turned to songs to look for meaning in things that have happened, like here and here. This summer another song came out, but it took me until now to really listen to it and let it speak to me. The song is "Homesick" by Mercy Me.

You're in a better place, I've heard a thousand times
And at least a thousand times I've rejoiced for you
But the reason why I'm broken, the reason why I cry
Is how long must I wait to be with you

I close my eyes and I see your face
If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place
Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
I've never been more homesick than now

Help me Lord cause I don't understand your ways
The reason why I wonder if I'll ever know
But, even if you showed me, the hurt would be the same
Cause I'm still here so far away from home

I close my eyes and I see your face
If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place
Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
I've never been more homesick than now

In Christ, there are no goodbyes
And in Christ, there is no end
So I'll hold onto Jesus with all that I have
To see you again
To see you again

And I close my eyes and I see your face
If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place
Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
Won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
Won't you give me strength to make it through somehow

I've never been more homesick than now

I don't know anyone who hasn't lost a loved one and questioned why. It's human nature. In the moment, it is so hard to remember that God will give us the strength to make it through. It may take months, it may take years, but we will make it through by the glory of God.

In the last year, the Mott family has had a lot of loss. We lost two of Nate's grandparents and we lost two pregnancies.  Today Dew passed. I know that Dew is a dog, but she wasn't just a dog, she was part of the family. Dew was 16 years old and lived a good life. She will be missed. She's up there looking down on us now, feasting in cheese.

Wordless Wednesday

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Ten on Tuesday, All About Me

Not actually 10 questions, but a questionaire about me.

A. Age: 31
B. Bed Size: Queen
C. Chore that you hate: Dishes and bathrooms
D. Dogs: 2 - Dew and Sadie
E. Essential start to your day: a shower
F. Favorite Color: teal
G. Gold or Silver: silver
H. Height: 5'2''
I. Instruments you play: flute
J. Job Title: School Counselor
K. Kids: 1 - David
L. Live: Indianapolis, IN
M. Mother’s Name: Patricia
N. Nicknames: Angie, Ange'Shell, La
O. Overnight hospital stays: 1 after having David
P. Pet peeve: People who don't use their turn signal
Q. Quote from a movie: "Let your heart guide you. It whispers, so listen closely" from the Land Before Time
R. Right or left handed: Right
S. Siblings: 2, Caiti and Cori
T. Time you wake up: 5:30am
U. Underwear: yes please!
V. Vegetable you hate: Brussel Sprouts
W. What makes you run late: Nate :)
X. X-Rays you’ve had: other than at the dentist, my wrist and my knee
Y. Yummy food that you make: Cheesecake
Z. Zoo Animal: Seal

A day at the river

Nate and I recently went to visit his parents at their trailer on the Ohio River. Prior to David, we went a lot, but since having him, we have only been twice. Bad!

David loved being on the boat, though he hated the life jacket. He wanted us all to wear ours, but it got hot. (Thanks Sandy for keeping yours on!) David wanted speed!

Getting ready for the trip out.



Do I have to wear this?

Let's go!

Now, the main reason the boat is around is so that Doug can skate. David liked watching him go, and was jealous that he got to wear his shoes in the water!

When we got back to shore, David wanted to put his toes in the water. He will love me in 5 years for picking this picture to share.

 

We ended the day, after a short delay thanks to me locking my keys in my car, with a visit to Markwood Damn and locks. I had been in the locks, but never seen how they worked from up top. It was pretty cool. We told David that the barge was a "choo-choo" on water. He kept pointing to it saying "choo-choo barge". He thought it was neat to see it, but got bored. It takes about 20 minutes to get in, tie off, drain, and then get out. That's a long time for a little guy, especially since it's hard to tell that anything is happening while the water is draining. 

All in all, a fun trip. It's nice to go down when it's not really hot. The water creaps me out to get in. I like to see my feet, so it was perfect that it wasn't so hot that we needed to get in to cool off. I'm sure David would have loved to get in. Maybe next summer...





Wordless Wednesday

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Ten on Tuesday, Would You Rather

I'm following in the footsteps of  fellow May mommies and linking up with some other sites. Hopefully I'll remember to do these each week. :)

Here is my first Ten on Tuesday!

1. Eat chocolate covered grasshoppers or this freaky squid thing?
     Um...neither? Grasshoppers if I have to choose.

2. Never see another movie or never watch TV again?
     Never see a movie - I need my nightly news.

3. Be a superhero with a lame power or a supervillain with an awesome power?
     Superhero with  lame power - I would want to use my powers for good, suckiness and all.
    
4. Eat only salty snacks for the rest of you life, or only sweet snacks?
     Sweet - can't go without chocolate.

5. Never read another book or never hear another song?
     Really? Never read again. I need music.

6. Be a whale carcass remover or a sewer inspector?
     Whale carcass remover. At least then even though my job sucked, I would live near the ocean.

7. Have no electricity or no running water?
     Man, no easy answers on this one. :) No water. I can drive my car to the store and buy jugs. I need power to watch said nightly news.

8. Be a dog or a cat?
     Cat - I'm not a big people person, so I could hide and no one would think twice.

9. Always be hot or always be cold?
     Cold - I can do cold. I hate hot.

10. be forced to watch all 3 High School Musicals on an endless loop, or the Twilight movies?
     I thought I got TV, not movies? High School Musical - music to sing and dancing to watch.

New Wreaths

I have folders and folders stored on Internet Explorer full of things I want to try. Of course when I want to try them, I can't find them in the folder. Enter Pintrest, an amzing site that helps you to save and organize these great things you have found on the internet, with a picture to help you remember what you saved. I am in love with this idea, and bummed that I didn't come up with it.

Since "pinning" most of my internet folders, I remembered that there were some felt pinwheels that I had wanted to try out. I decided to make a wreath for work, and put them pinwheels on there. I think it turned out pretty well.

To make the pinwheels, I cut squares of felt, about 4x4. I light drew a line from corner to corner and cut each line towards the center, leaving about a 1/2 inch uncut. Then I glued corners down in the center. I used some old beads that I had laying aroud to the center. I didn't get pictures taken as I went, but here is what I used to help.

Nate then helped me stick the rods through the wreath so that I could attach my letters.  Total cost for the wreath - $10. Not to shabby. Would have been less if I hadn't bought the more expensive letters, but they looked cuter.

I also decided to finally finish the other wreath I had started a couple of months ago. I love the simplicty of it! I'm not totally happy with the ribbon yet, but I'll keep playing with it.