Really Too Late To Post But . . .

I decided that the last post was not the one I want to keep coming up as people check in over the next few weeks. Although I will say that your comments were very sweet and extremely helpful. I didn't mean to sound like I was fishing so much, as I was looking for ways those in the blogosphere have come to grips with lots of marriage and little romance.

Anyway, on a more cheerful note! At least I've sacrficed my body for three beautiful kids! These are pics from "the last supper." You know, the big family meal that grandma plans before a family member moves to the back of beyond. Obviously these are not all mine, they are also my brother's and my sister's kids. You can see we have a real shortage of girls in this family. Only one out of eight.

I zoomed in on my two big ones. Of course, baby brother has to be clear over on the opposite side. Still, this is way cute. Scallywag went from throwing a huge fit over the group picture (taken earlier, without him, on the porch) to acting like child model. I think he is going to finally outgrow these fits just in time for puberty to get him.

What is a family picture without the, "Okay, everyone make a silly face!" Of course, this made the babies cry so this was the last one we were able to get. They scattered like cockroaches a mere 1.2 seconds after this photo was taken.

So serious. That is scallywag for you. He mostly hates to have his picture taken and he is probably thinking, in this picture, that someone is breaking the rules and he needs to go fix it. Unless, of course, he is breaking the rules. Then, apparently, it is okay.

The poopy pirate also has his share of pensive faces. Even his baby pictures are serious and intense. He is holding a train in his hand in this picture and explaining to my brother, the photographer, all about Thomas and Diesel 10 and Pinchy. You moms of boys will know what I'm talking about. And thank you, forecastcallsforrain for giving us the "Thomas and the Magic Railway" video. It is totally Alec Baldwin's finest moment as an actor.

This is the baby with his oldest cousin. The baby has moments when he looks cuter, you know more smiley, but I think it would be hard to find a sweeter expression anywhere than on this 10 year-old's face. It is rare to catch this look on anybody--and harder and harder as they get older. I think I'll save this one until he is about 15 and send it to his mother so she can remember who he is underneath all that teenage angst.

So, happy posting my friends. Keep checking in with me; I'm hoping to be on-line soon. I know it seems a little bit silly, but you have no idea what you mean to me, my fellow bloggers. Especially as I embark on this latest scary adventure in my life. Until I make some real friends I'll probably cling pretty heavily to the virtual ones. Okay, you are real too, but visits are rare gifts when you move so much. Each of your wonderful personalities come through in your writing and comments, and I feel as though I'm part of a conversation if only for a minute. In the movie "You've Got Mail" Meg Ryan says, "I know in this medium, you are more likely to talk about nothing than something, but all this nothing has meant more than so many somethings." I feel a little bit the same way. Even when we "talk" about nothing, it is a few minutes each day to share my thoughts and learn more of yours.

See you soon . . . .