The First Snow

It happened. The flakes were ginormous for awhile. It was beautiful.  It doesn't feel festive to me until it blankets us. I love it!
I embrace the seasons. Living in good ole' Indiana, you basically have to for sanity's sake. The first snow is just as wonderful as the first Spring bud.
The little women got off the bus. Had a snack. And were back outside before I could say, "Please where socks!". (They did have them on, thank goodness!) For some strange reason, socks have become optional all year round. Hhmm?

Lillie had piano practice. The snow had accumulated by that time. As we were leaving Lillie told Ms. Kathy that, "people who don't have enough food will now have snow to eat." Oh Golly!!!!!
Ms. Kathy said, "yuck, you don't know what kind of varmit stuff is in it. Don't eat it!"

Ms. Kathy doesn't know the Grismore Girls well enough. Snow eating is a must:)

Happy Tuesday!

Autumn

Raising A Reader

This post is courtesy of my husband. He called me a bibliophage last night.
I love to read. I have always liked reading. Not always loved.
I want my girls to have a "want" for reading. Last year in second grade Ainzli had to log 250 minutes of independent reading each month. Seemed overwhelming at first. Turns out it got me motivated to make sure the girls read something everyday. I read to them when they were little. I still read to Lillie. Sometimes Ainzli and I will read together. I don't do the everyday reading by requirement. I do it by being sneaky, or at least I try most of the time. I am hoping they don't realize what I am doing. Then before they know it, they will have a longing to read.

Another motivator. Ainzli is reading the Harry Potter series. I am reading them with her. With this series I am comfortable with her reading the book first. Then I read it. Other books I am not sure about, I will read first. Her and I are enjoying it. We keep each other motivated and have fun doing it. This is also another way for me to check her comprehension. Or for her to check mine!:)

Side Note: At Parent/Teacher conference for Ainzi this fall her teacher gave me a whole bunch of "stuff" to keep the learning going on at home. One quote in a pamphlet really caught my eye. "In third grade kids are still learning to read. Fourth grade they are reading to learn."

Have a great weekend.

Autumn:)

A Tooth & A Birthday

She had been hysterical about it more than once. I do believe that we had threatened to hold her down once. Maybe twice. I can't decide if that is funny or just plain mean. It was so completely loose that it would lay forward and backward too easily. And then to top it all off, on Thursday she bumped it and it turned sideways!

But now it is out. Shannon pulled it Thursday evening. It was emotional (for her and her Daddy), but she realized that it really doesn't hurt. And she ate like she had a tape worm this weekend. It had been hindering her food intake.

Shannon and I have succumbed to the fact that our baby just lost her first tooth.

WTC! (What the Crap)

I am telling you what. Life is laying it on thick. I can wear my daughters shoes. My baby just lost her first tooth. And it's my birthday. But you know what, life is good. So "thick" is right where I want to be.

By the way, funny side note. This little ladies plan is to keep all of her teeth. She wants to put them all under her pillow at once. Really? She is very sure of that decision. She told me that she doesn't want the tooth fairy to have her teeth yet. Ok. Sounds good to me.

__________________________________________

Today is my birthday. Just another day. That is what my father-in-law says. I suppose. Although it is special when your daughters are sitting at breakfast and they break out their own rendition of Happy Birthday. That doesn't happen everyday!

You know that practice shot you take to check the lighting, focus, self timer stuff. 
Shannon jumped in on it. 
He makes me smile.

Thank you to my family for wanting, even suggesting this shot! 

 

Here's to a good book, coffee, and reading in my bed all morning. It's my birthday. And it's the small pleasures that mean so much.


Autumn:)

The Ducks Butt

Ms. Lillie has always been a good sleeper. She was sleeping through the night by 2 months. Awesome! 

Every since she started to sprout hair,  she would wake up with this little patch in the back that would be matted. Lightly matted, but still, matted. 

It has not stopped. 6 years later and she still manages to wake up with a "ducks butt."

Over the years we have named it. 

It is just one of those things. She does not wake up with it everyday anymore. Although, the days she does have it she does not complain about being tired. Hmm:)

 Breakfast this morning.

Cinnamon toast.

Milk. 

A good nights sleep.

The side view.

That is some serious protrusion.

The funny thing is,

The front will look perfectly manicured. 

Then she turns around and 

BAM!

Happy Wednesday.
I hope you got a "Ducks Butt" nights sleep!

Autumn:)

P.S. Sorry for the insane amount of grammatical errors in yesterdays post. I suppose my passion overtook my brain. :)

Handy Photo Overload

I am trying to get back into the swing of things. We have had one busy, busy month. At times I doubt my abilities to handle so much "busy".............. but that's a whole other post!
We recently got back from our annual Fall Break trip to Grammy and D's. They relocated to the foothills of Tennessee a couple of years ago. And man does it make for a nice, beautiful, fun filled, affordable trip! WooHoo!!
I had one goal and one goal only for this trip. I wanted to take a hike. Not a baby hike. Not a Mt. Kilimanjaro hike. A hike that would be doable for the little women and push us a little physically as well. We did. It was awesome. It was probably a couple of miles. It got the heart rate up. And we all loved it! Loved it! Loved it!
We like to explore and boy is the area packed full of places to explore!

Day One:

We just went up Grammy & D's back hill. You see down there it is just a hill. Not in our hometown. It is a mini mountain! It was fun.
Ainzli just ran around. She is one busy girl. She tried to break limbs and destruct trees. You know, things she enjoys best.
Ms. Blue was on the hunt for moss and fungi.

Our treasures. 

That is what we call them. 

Treasures.

Ms. Blues work of art. 

Look at those sweet little delicate hands. 

So proper.:)

Day Two:


The hike. It was wonderful. I love my little women.:)

Ainzli and Grammy. 

Walking the trail. 

Ainzli can wear Grammy's shoes. 

Please tell me you remember how cool it was when you could

finally wear an adults shoes!?

I have never, not ever, seen a fungus like this. 

B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L!

These are my new leg warmers. 

They are the arms from a sweater I bought at Goodwill.

I saw the idea somewhere on the world wide web sometime ago.

I always think I will remember where I get ideas so I can credit them, but if it doesn't happen

within the hour it is hopeless!

By the way, I don't think everyone is sold on this total awesomeness :)

(My oldest daughter!)

Hmmmmm! 

Saw this at a hotdog joint.

I sent it to my husband.

Grammy/Ava and I tasted wine at the local winery.

Not too bad. 

The best part was the location.

Breathtaking!

Day Three:

A walk in Rogers Creek Valley. This church sits right around the bend from Grammy and D's. It is so peaceful. I joke that when we go visit I could sit on the couch the entire time. Not true, but I don't think I would have to leave the valley.

 This is funny. 

Especially now that I see it here.

I am wearing the other half of my leg warmer idea. 

Oh, Autumn:)

 

This is Rogers Creek. 

It also runs through Grammy and D's property.

We so like to play in and around the creek. 

In the creek happens in the summer.

If you are Ainzli it could happen year round!

Aaahhh. That was nice looking at all these pictures. Now I must get back in the groove.
Back to life.
Back to reality!

Autumn:)

Could You Have At Least Freshened Up?

It has been wonderful this week. The weather. My motivation. The little women. Shannon will hopefully (fingers crossed) be finishing up with something at work that has basically had him living there. We are "living the dream." (Shannonism).

Yesterday I was buttoning up a couple of loose ends here around the house.  I was in the cleaning mood, but also in the mood to take my picture with my little women. I have been hanging a ton of the pictures up that I ordered and Ainzli made the comment, "Are there any of just you and us?". Looking around there are not many. Not many at all (2).

We can surely remedy that. So I did. In my cleaning clothes. Greasy hair. Unmentionables showing (didn't realize that till after the fact, oh well!). Face looking red and splotchy. Farm girl arms.
Honestly, that is how my family sees me. Most days. So when they look back at this they will see who they always saw.

Scary, greasy, tousled. Me!

Have a wonderful weekend.

Autumn:)

You Wouldn't Even Know It

If you walked through my house you would not even know that photography is something that is in my blood. That I love it. That it makes me so very very very happy.
All of that is about to change. :) I received a free shelving unit that matches our TV stand. Nothing spectacular, but nice. Once I started getting it in its place it was like a kick to my motivation bum!

I starting going through pictures. Choosing. Editting. Ordering (hardest one for me to do!). 89 prints in all. Mostly 4x6's. A couple of 5x7's. About 10 8x10's.

I have frames here I am going to "modify". I will purchase a few. I also have a few that have never had a Grismore picture in them. Sad!!  But, Big Plans. I am excited. I have well laid plans for myself this fall in my house.
A transformation in the making. Yah!!!


I am going to share a few pictures with you that I took of the girls last week.

All of the Black and Whites are in an 8x10 size.

After looking back through her pictures. 

This little head tilt/side eye look in pictures 

started about age 3.

I would not trade her saucyness for anything.

A.N.Y.T.H.I.N.G

She went from little girl to little lady in no time flat.

It is amazing watching your children really come into their own. 

Just amazing.  

See.

Don't you see it.

I know you do.

She is......... I don't know how to explain her.

She is..............Saucy:) 

(This will be a 5x7)

She is now taller than my shoulders.

She is "leggy".

Her new shoes are a size 4.

They are Sperry's.

She has wanted them forever!

(This will be a 5x7)

I am bias. I know that.

But.

She has the most beautiful profile. 

Mom told me that when she was just a tiny baby.

Your right Mom.

Beautiful.

(4x6)

Have a wonderful Thursday!

Autumn:)

Defeat & Disappointment

Ms. Ainzli is not going to be a student council member, at least in the third grade. Although, if you want to know my honest opinion, it wouldn't bother me if she doesn't ever run again. It hurt my heart so much for her. I didn't realize how I would feel about her defeat. And not in the crazy parent way, like the pride thing. Just how does SHE feel. 
They got off the bus (my little women are now riding the bus home, they LOVE it), and they both come running upon the front porch. I am sitting in my wicker chair, anxiously awaiting their return. Ms. Ainzli has this huge smile on her face. I didn't know if they would get the results the same day or not. She tells me that two other kids are the representatives from her class. She is not sad. She is her same old happy-go-lucky self. I LOVE this about her. Ainzli really doesn't show much expression. She never has. She can be hard to read sometimes. I just know that this will be a huge asset for her later in life. Guaranteed. Anyway. I am so proud of her. I told her over and over and over...........:)

So fast forward to late evening. She is in the bathtub. We are talking about people, books, events of the day.... just stuff.
I get down on the floor right beside the bathtub. She is looking at me. I at her. Her beautiful dark brown eyes. Her long light brown hair. Her cute little button nose. Soaking her all in.
She tells me that when she heard she didn't win her stomach hurt for a little bit. I told her I understood. I do. I told her that she can't always win. I told her that she did her best and she should be more than proud of that. I told her that SHE did her project. I also told her that she is beautifully and wonderfully made.
I realize there are great lessons in defeat. I know this. I understand this. It does not make it much easier for me to swallow. There are so many bigger obstacles and trials in our future. I am only skimming the surface. These are the roads ahead of me. Walking these winding roads with my children. Always being there for them. Being their confidant. Being their sounding board. Watching them. Holding their hand. Not holding their hand. Learning with them. Learning from them.

I am proud of you, Sis. So very proud.:)

Elect Ainzli

Politics just might be in our future here at the Grismore abode. Ainzli came home last week (or the week before, can't remember) and told me she wanted to run for student council. I am thinking, "student council in third grade. Rubbish!". So of course, I say ok.
Last weekend we made her campaign poster. That was fun. She knew just what she wanted and I only helped a little. I did come up with a pretty cool acronym for her name. Very political.!:) She was very authoritative with the poster. I have no clue where she could have gotten that! heehee. She did inform me last night that there were a couple of posters that were better than hers. I told her not too worry. The speech is where it is.

Her eyes are a little puffy here. 

She had just gotten done crying.

She can be overly passionate.

It all worked out and was over pretty quickly.

She worked feverishly on her speech.

She did it all on her own. 

She would read it to us and we would tell her whether we thought it sounded correct.

She has awesome ideas.

Blow me away ideas.

She is amazing :) 

The speeches were today. I prayed for her. We (Shannon, Ainzli and me) had a talk about all being well if she does not get elected. She looked at us like we were Bozo's. She has a peace about her sometimes that can set us all at ease.

Elect Ainzli. She is Always Intouch, Naturally Zealous, Lives Intently

Autumn:)

We Are Back At It And Loving It

We are definitely getting back into the swing of full time busy around the Grismore abode. School is going good. No more crying. Thank you Lord! This week we started our extra curriculars for the fall/winter. Ms. Blue started back up with piano. Yay! I love when the piano is making a tune.
Ms. Ainzli is trying something new. She has done art camp for three summers(?, I think it has been three). This summer it was photo camp. She was hooked! So now she is doing art lessons at Sugarbowl Art Co. She is eladed. Can't wait to share with you the stuff she produces! I am feeling wonderful about the activities the girls have chosen. :)
So Ms. Blue and I have an hour to share together. We headed to the park at a local church. Great church park! Seriously!
Anyhow, as we drove up they have the driveway lined with American flags. Made my heart flutter. I tend to be very patriotic. Love my country.

Look how big Ms. Blue looks. Her hair is getting so long. By the way, she asked me why I always have to take pictures. I told her because I like it. She said she doesn't like it so much. She was being a little contrary. Oh Ms. Blue, how I do love you. All of you.


Autumn:)

Lovely Little Surprises

This is what you might expect to find when you have a babysitter for an entire day. While Shannon and I were enjoying our day at the race, Ms. Ainzli and Ms. Sarena were enjoying theirs. I was briefly scrolling through images last night and stumbled upon some unfamiliar ones.

I LOVE THIS!

Ainzli is becoming more and more confident with her photography skills. Practice definitely makes you better in this venue. Thank you Ms. Ainzli and Ms. Sarena. You most definitely put a smile on my face:)


Autumn:)

Didn't See This Coming

The newness (not sure if that is a word, but my grammar here has been horrible lately so why not keep the trend up!) has worn off. Ainzli convinced Ms. Blue to tell me that she cried at school on Monday. Oh golly. This is not good. Not good at all. We were rolling. She was excited. Oh yeah, why didn't she tell me?! She is now struggling to get out of bed in the morning. I expected that. The coolness always wears off. But not crying. Did not expect this.
She told me that she is gone for seven hours every day. "Mommy, that is long and I miss you." How did I hold it together? I am not sure. But I did. Mama has to be strong.
This morning I walked her to her class. First time I have done this. She wanted/needed me too. She gave me a hug and I could see there were little tears welling at the bottom of those big brown eyes. They did not fall in the hallway. I pray they did not fall. She walked right into her classroom. I didn't look in. Just turned and walked out to the loser cruiser.

There are days she seems so big, strong, bold.......well beyond her years.
But most days she is simply my baby and she is struggling right now.
She will get through it. I know it. But we are in the eye of the storm and it is hard. Oh golly, is it hard.

So I will be joining her for lunch today:) School pizza, baby!

Autumn:)

Handy Photo Tuesday: Homework Edition

Handy Photo Tuesday. Don't you love it! I surely hope so.
Oh my. This one is fun!

We have hit the year of homework. It is every night. It is not only one paper, like last year. It is at least two subjects with a math time test and spelling bingo to boot.  Ainzli is doing great with it. She comes home with about 20 minutes of down time, snack included. Then she gets started.  I am sssoooo glad we established the "homework table" last year. Not kidding. Shear genius!

So this particular day Ainzli wanted me to sit directly beside her and help her with every single question. I will not do this. It is not my homework. It is English. I know she knows what she is doing. I will pass through frequently for moral support.


Not Good Enough! So I concede. I pull up my rocking chair. Sit behind her. I stay there because I can sense that we are on the verge of some sort of melt down. I am pretty sure this is what good mama's do.

And it goes a little something like this.........................

This isn't so bad.

Read a chapter in my much loved

"Around the World in 80 Days".

OMG. Now I remember why homework stinks!

I must widen my eyes to keep from falling asleep! 

 My view.

Poor Sis. 

So diligently working. 

"Way to Go, Ainzli!"

I was chanting this in my head.  

Phone on vibrate.

I snuck up behind her.

She never even knew I was there.

It was an hour.
This was the longest evening for homework.
She finished.
No tears.
Felt good about it.
Didn't complain.
Awesome.


Autumn:)