Mommy's Treasures

I started following Bailey Jean, over at Brave Love Blog, as a way to learn more about art journaling, and Bible journaling in particular. While I love the idea, I just haven't gotten started yet, but still hope to do so in the future. Life is busy, and sometimes things just get put on the back-burner. I go through phases where I blog a lot and then go weeks, and even months, without a post. I love to blog, but it does take a good bit of time, which seems to be in short supply right now.

Enter the Blog-tember Challenge---a daily link up that begins today.

Bailey has suggested a prompt for each day to help help jump-start my blogging again (which I desperately need right now). I'm going to give it a try. I don't guarantee posting every single day, but hope to get as many done as possible.
Today's prompt: Introduce yourself. Here goes. I'm Linda . . .

Wife of two years to Ron.

Mother to Jana and Callie.

Mother-in-law to Jordan and Rob. Step-mom to Carmelle, Terry and Tyler. And grandmother to Michael, Adellelyn, Archer, baby D and baby B.

Those are my very favorite roles in the whole world, but it isn't all of me.

I am also a believer, teacher, crafter, seamstress, scrapbooker, sister, amateur photographer, runner , "junker" and friend. As you can tell from those descriptors, I'm MUCH better at making a mess than in cleaning one up, so if you come to my house, be prepared.

I love to travel, to hike, to be outdoors, to learn, to create, to play, to laugh, to serve and to explore.

I don't consider myself much of a writer at all, and am terrified by public-speaking. I am definitely an introvert (just the thought of going to a party with lots of people makes me shudder), but have gained more confidence as I've gotten older. I like working out early in the morning (after I've made myself get up, that is), but am a complete klutz---and have the scars to prove it.

Hope you'll join me as we all learn more about each other through this challenge.

Way back in July, Baby B came to visit---along with his mama, Jana, of course. I hate living so far away from them, but am so grateful for technology such as cameras, computers, phones and Facetime, that all make the world a little bit smaller. This time together, both Baby D and Baby B were much more aware of each other, and Baby D liked him just fine. . . . .

as long as he wasn't touching him.

While they were visiting Shreveport, Baby D celebrated his first birthday! (how is that even possible????)

Callie and Jordan had a nice, family birthday party for him, with dinner, presents and birthday cake. I made special outfits for the boys, but it was hard to get them to sit still long enough for a picture.

There was a loose "Hungry Caterpillar" theme, but it became a little more solid when he received 4 different kinds of caterpillar toys as gifts! Each different and each very cute!

Baby D was not at all sure what to do with his own personal birthday cake (the head of a home made caterpillar cake), so at first, he just played with it, picking it up, feeling it, etc.

Once mama encouraged him to take a taste, he discovered quite a treat!

With Jordan's side of the family there, there were four generations of boys in the room. How lucky they are to still be able to spend time with his grandfather!

Baby B is such a happy baby, with a giggle always close at hand. And when he giggles, everyone arounds him is soon giggling as well. Soooo sweet!!

He was much more fond of the birthday hat than his cousin was!

We also enjoyed a visit with the Jamar side of the family, who came in to meet Baby B.
One of their cousins, Meredith, was even able to come with her two sweet little ones.

The girls, their boys and I drove down to Cheneyville one morning to surprise Dan with a visit. He was thrilled to see them!!! It was a quick visit, but we were able to enjoy lunch together and let him get some hugs from everyone.

One morning, we had an impromptu photo session in the backyard.

That smiley boy loved is sitting alone . . . . most of the time.

He enjoyed being outdoors and watching the dogs, and hammed it up for the camera, too.

Over the weekend, we squeezed in a trip to the lake---so that Callie and Ron could practice for their upcoming triathlon, we could play in the water, and I could snap a few pictures. Okay, a lot of pictures! I haven't had time to edit them, so these are SOOC.