Mother's Day (129/365)

TIME: 7:26 pm

PLACE: Kitchen
SUBJECT: My kids

*~*~*

Love these guys.

My Graduate (128/365)

TIME: 10:46 AM
PLACE: Her Former Grade School
SUBJECT: DramaQueen

*~*~*

She is a college graduate!

She earned her degree in secondary education and plans on teaching social sciences in middle school.

She will be an excellent teacher and we are very proud of her!

Birthday Level Up Bonus (119/365)

TIME: 9:33 am

PLACE: Home

SUBJECT: Birthday drawing

*~*~*

I hit Level 54 today.

I received the following bonuses for achieving this level : 

1. A drawing of Jack from StellaDella (above)

2. A Charcuterie platter from HH

3. A bouquet of purple roses was delivered courtesy of MonkeyBoy

4. A supper date with HH and DramaQueen.

It was a good day. 

Simon Sees (063/365)

TIME: 6:32 pm
PLACE: Rental 
SUBJECT: Simon

*~*~*

DQ's contacts were delivered to our house in error, so I took then over to her this evening.

This is Simon, one of their 2 cats (the other being a gray cat named Alvin).

I do like me an orange tomcat.

Flashback Friday (050/365)

TIME: 19 Feb 2006, 6:23 pm
PLACE: St. Mary's cafeteria
SUBJECT: DramaQueen, age 8 & MonkeBoy, almost age 7

*~*~*

15 years ago was a Sunday and we attended a Boy Scout Blue and Gold Banquet.

Other exciting events that occurred on this day were:

48th Daytona 500 - Jimmie Johnson (Hendrick Motorsports wins 203 lap race.

55th NBA All Star Game in Houston, TX.  East beat West 122-120. LeBron James was the MVP

59th BAFTAs (British Film & Television Awards) - "Brokeback Mountain" wins best film

Flashback Friday (029/365)

TIME: 3:35 pm - Jan 29, 2011
PLACE: DQ's bedroom
SUBJECT: Tessa and DramaQueen

*~*~*

Once again I am going back to the archives for today's picture.

(AKA "It just occurred to me I did not take a photo today and therefore am scrambling for content")

DramaQueen in her VERY green bedroom with Miss Tessa.  DQ is 12 and Tessa is 7.

DQ has her blanket from when she was a baby...said blanket has been misplaced/lost/gone for quite some time and DQ still is sad about not having it in her possession anymore.

What hasn't changed is the staring at the cell phone.

Surgical Area (013/365)

TIME: 6:54 pm

PLACE: Daughter's house 
SUBJECT: Surgical site

*~*~*

DQ was diagnosed with a herniated (leaky) disc in her spine. It was giving her debilitating pain.  She had 2 epidurals late last year and did physical therapy.  Those things did nothing to ease her suffering.

Surgery was the next step.

I worried about her having this done - It seemed a drastic option to me.  She is so young.  What if something happens?  How will this affect her the rest of her life? I'm a mom, I worry, that's what I do.

In the end it went well. She said besides the general pain from the incision, she feels 100% better than before. So that's good.  Hopefully, it will stay that way.

I told her now she can incorporate her scar into a fancy "tramp stamp" tattoo.  Or maybe just have them tattoo an image of a zipper on it.  I'm just trying to be helpful.

Throwback Thursday (338/366)

TIME: 12/3/2005- 11:23am
PLACE: Murphy Company Xmas party
SUBJECT: MonkeyBoy (6-1/2 yrs) StellaDella (almost 3 yrs) DramaQueen (8 yrs)
and Santa!

*~*~*

15 years ago was a Saturday and we went with my Dad to a Christmas party thrown by one of the contractors he worked with.

This photo went out with the Christmas cards that year.  I haven't sent cards out for several years now.

Time marches on.

Mom and Claudia (301/366)

TIME: A bit after midnight on 10/28/1997
PLACE: Hospital
SUBJECT: My mom and Claudia

*~*~*

23 years ago I joined the motherhood club.

It has not been what I expected, but it has been more than I ever could have asked for.

Happy birthday to my favorite first born child - Miss DramaQueen!

(This photo does not have the best light, but is one of my favorites from that night)

Flashback Friday (276/366)

TIME: 10/1/2005 - 2:22 pm

PLACE: Driveway
SUBJECT: DramaQueen & Monkeyboy

*~*~*

15 years and one day ago, my husband and I more than likely violated child labor laws by forcing our two children to prime boards that were to be utilized in the re-building our front porch.

They were both very unhappy about having to help out.

They complained about being out in the sun and just to be inside and watch TV.

We made them paint five boards before they could go back in.

Adding insult to injury, I took pictures to document their misery while they were doing it.

Take Me Back Tuesday (245/366)

TIME: 1 Sept 2008 - 10:07 am
PLACE: S 2nd & W Garfield St
SUBJECT: Window

*~*~*

12 years ago, on this date, HH, the kids and I walked in the Labor Day parade with his union.

This was something we did this for several years as a family.

While we were lined up, waiting for the parade to start, I took this photo of an old building that was on the corner.  

The old factory building is no longer there; it was torn down years ago.

TIME: 1 Sept 2008 - 11:00 am
PLACE: Hough Park
SUBJECT: DramaQueen, StellaDella & Monkeyboy

HH's union was always at the beginning of the parade, so we would be the first group at the park where the parade ended and there were rides and food.

The kids loved it because they never had to wait in long lines for the rides. 

DQ was almost 11, MB was 9 and SD was 4 - they were so little!

Monday Memories (223/366)

TIME: 10 Aug 2008 - 8:17 pm

PLACE: Garage
SUBJECT: DramaQueen with stepping stone

*~*~*

I remember this day.

It was a Sunday.

I was getting a migraine during this process (not because of the kids, I had several migraines that summer).

This is the only clear photo I have from this day.  All the other photos are blurry, probably because I didn't have the flash on and it was getting dark.

Throwback Thursday (186/365)

TIME: 1:36 PM – 5 July 2006
PLACE: St. Louis Zoo, Children’s Zoo
SUBJECT: James, Stella & Claudia

12 years ago, we went to the zoo with Grandpa and all the cousins. 

Soon after this was taken, the zoo had to close because of some electrical issues.

I don’t think it was our fault.

~*~*~*~

The next day we went to Six Flags
TIME: 5:30 PM – 6 July 2006
PLACE: Six Flags, St. Louis
SUBJECT: James, Stella & Claudia

These are my kids on the kiddie coaster.

Let’s look a bit closer, shall we?

Good times.

Good times.

12 Years Ago (112/365)

TIME: 22 April 2006 – 9:35 PM
PLACE: Kitchen
SUBJECT: James, Stella, Claudia

Back when Stella didn’t want to wear clothes in the house.

She just wanted to be “belly”

Christmas Morning (050/365)

TIME: 8:51 AM
PLACE: Living room
SUBJECT: Kids and dogs

Another annual photo tradition.

Kids and the dogs in front of the tree before opening of the gifts.

The dogs were not very co-operative this year – I was lucky to get this one without anyone moving.

Garden Glow (046/365)

TIME: 7:15-8:30 PM
PLACE: Missouri Botanical Gardens
SUBJECT: Garden Glow

Forced family fun was implemented this evening at the Garden Glow in the Missouri Botanical Gardens.

Half-lit tree

Luminaries

I call this one “The Angel of Death”

But I think the Christmas theme comes with the green light and red (eye) windows?

Maybe I just have a dark sense of humor.

Are we having fun?  It’s hard to tell.
I think a flash was needed here.


StellaDella and MonkeyBoy had fun portraying two of the eight “Maids a Milking”


They all look a little happier here.

I love these guys.

Sunday Funday (028/365)

TIME: 11:59 AM
PLACE: Cherokee Street, St. Louis, MO
SUBJECT: Alley art

DQ has a part-time job at a store on Cherokee Antique Row in St. Louis and invited me and SD to their Annual Cookie Spree. 

So we did.

I may or may not have had some Riesling and a nip of Sherry along with said cookies prior to 11am.

Santa’s not telling.

SD had her portrait done.

She and I had our picture taken with the man on the moon too!

~*~*~*~

TIME: 5:46 PM
PLACE: National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows
SUBJECT: SD, DQ and Mulder

In the evening we attended the Tails, Trails and Twinkles at the Shrine. 

We walked Mulder through the lights with many other dogs.  At the end there was a pet blessing. 

Which was good, because he needs all the help he can get!

I was a little worried about him, but he was a pretty good boy.  He was a little excited at times, but behaved otherwise.

Topsy Trees (027/365)

TIME: 8:38 PM
PLACE: St. Louis Zoo
SUBJECT: Trees

My dad’s former employer invited him and his family to their Christmas event which was held at the St. Louis Zoo.  DramaQueen, StellaDella, 2 of my nieces, my sister-in-law, my sister’s mother-in-law and I accompanied him.

After a delicious dinner at the McDonnell Center, we walked through the Wild Lights displays.

It was a mild evening and there were tons of people there – last year it was cold and much less crowded.

Even so, it was nice to see the lights…

…and the kids had a good time.

Senior Year Homecoming (283/365)

TIME: 5:04 PM
PLACE: Around town
SUBJET: Claudia and friends

The last high school homecoming for Claudia -
She learned a valuable lesson today.
ALWAYS double check the material of your dress before using an iron set on “Cottons”
That way you don’t melt the material on your right shoulder.
She wore the dress anyway.
Hardly noticeable.
Right?

With the guys.

Throwback Thursday (232/365)

TIME: August 18, 2007 @ 12:42 PM
PLACE: St. Louis Zoo – Children’s Zoo
SUBJECT:  Grandpa and the Kids

We were invited to an appreciation day at the zoo. 
Grandpa went with us.
We arrived about 8:00am and ate breakfast.
Then we had the run of the zoo for about an hour before the general public.
By the time we took this photo at the end of our visit, the temperature had become very hot and humid.
James looks like he had had enough and is ready to go home.