A Week in the Life

Week 16

2008-09-02T09:14:00.000-07:00

Though week 15 & week 16's photos
were taken within a day of each other...
they still count!
After all...
they were technically taken in different weeks!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Here I am with the ol' Blakester.
Heaven help me...
I have very little make-up on
my hair has barely been brushed...
and here I am smilin' for all the world to see.
It's amazing what you will do when it comes to your kids!
This is the real me....
the one the kids see alot.
When I am at home it is little or no make-up...
hair far from fabulous...
and wearing some old t-shirt and shorts/sweatpants.
Now...
I would love for my kids to look back
and see mom looking glam with them
in all their photographs
but that just wouldn't be real....
One thing that is real...
the love for this guy.
Even on a day when I threatened
to strangle him for
aggravating his sister non-stop...
when he had driven me crazy...
I love him. yes. really love him.
and I am very blessed to be his mom.

Long time coming but finally....Week 15

2008-09-02T09:05:00.000-07:00

Week 15...
I couldn't be posting this at a more appropriate time.
Today...
Alex was suppose to find out about the class rep. race.
She was so worried about it
she wound up coming home from school.
She thought she may have been getting sick...
but it wound up she was sick just because of nerves.
It seems a lot of her classmates
had already determined in their mind
who they thought the winner would be....
and it wasn't Alex.
I think the mix of a nervous stomach
and feeling defeated....
left Alex heart sick more than anything.
After a talk with mom and dad...
she was feeling better
and feeling ready to
hold her head high...
be proud of her efforts...
and if all else fails and she doesn't win...
try again next year!
I love you, Sis.
Always remember that we love you
and that we are here for you.
We ALWAYS have your back!

Week 14...

2008-08-09T20:51:00.000-07:00

Week 14...
only 38 more to go.
Along these 14 weeks of photos...
things are changing so quickly.
I told all about Conner starting preschool
on my other blog.
This photo is another Jimmy took of us that day.
He has had a wonderful time thus far.
His smile here is the smile I hope to always remember.
It shows a little boy...
who is...
Happy.
What more can a parent ask for
except for one that is saved.
One down...
one to go...

Week 13

2008-08-09T20:41:00.000-07:00

Ok...
trying to play catch up again.
Up to this point...
I have gone from the oldest to youngest.
I thought I would switch it up a bit...
Actually, I have just had an easier time of getting pics.
of my two younger kids here lately!!
~~~
Here is me and my baby...
well...
me and my now 3 year old baby.
He celebrated his birthday this year
at Chuck E. Cheese.
We even allowed Chuck E. to help us out with the cake!
Who knew the big mouse had so much to offer?!!
Anyway, here he is trying to blow out those candles
while his mommy wished & prayed for him to have
a wonderful 4th year full of happiness, love, and dreams coming true.

Week 12

2008-07-25T15:42:00.000-07:00

I am on a roll, and I am going to take advantage of it!

Week 12 brings me back around to a photo of me and my baby boy. Well, with him turning three on August 2, to most, he's not really a baby anymore, but to me he will always be my baby. Three years have just flown by, all the more reason to hold onto little moments like this....

Jimmy took several photos for me, we are both looking at the camera in a couple of them, but for some reason this one was my choice.

Week 11

2008-07-25T15:18:00.000-07:00

Can I get a "Hallelujah!!!" in celebration of the fact that I am back to posting on this blog!

I knew when I started this blog that it would be a challenge to keep this up for 52 weeks, but I am bound and determined to do this. It may not be 52 consecutive weeks, but I WILL finish 52 weeks none the less. It is something I must do for this little guy here. One day, he won't be a little guy anymore, and one day I won't be here. I want him to remember me, the moments we shared, and fun that we had together. In the meantime, this photo isn't really for him, but instead, for a selfish mommy who loves to look at a photo showing a boy who loves his mommy, and a mommy who eats it up!!

Week 10

2008-06-11T12:27:00.000-07:00

Ok, it finally happened.
I missed a week.
Why now?
school's out, ball games are over.
Just another reminder that life never stops.
But because life doesn't stop,
I continue to try to do this.
Mr. B will be "10" the next time you see him.
Unbelieveable to me.
love him bunches.

Just a photo of us trying to enjoy
some pool time at our hotel.
Thanks buddy for all your help
at the pool with the little ones.
I don't know what I would do without you.

Week 9

2008-05-28T21:44:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I am going to cheat a little this week.

I had a great idea for a picture for Alex & me but being that I haven't felt the best..... well..... I don't believe that it's going to happen as I planned.

I'm still posting a photo of me and my girl, only it is from last week, not this week. Actually, it is from the night of the Mother/Daughter banquet. Alex looks forward to this every year, it is a special something she and I can have as a memory. We were headed home and I decided while sitting in the parking lot to set the camera on self timer and try to get a picture of us.

Ten shots later and this is what I got. I am not completely in focus, but I love it. Just me and my wonderful girl. I cherish these moments, I can tell everyday that they are going by faster and faster.

Thank you Alex for going with me, I felt very honored and proud to have you as my date!

love you!

Week 8

2008-05-20T22:27:00.001-07:00

It's time again for a picture of me and my littlest man.
With a little instruction from mom, Blake helped me get these photos.
He did such a good job that I had a hard time deciding which one I liked best.
Since my computer wouldn't cooperate and
allow me to make a collage of the three photos,
this week you get all three.
I am showing my indecisive side here as well as
some smile lines starting to form and some gray hairs.
I still have a ways to go with these photos.
I almost shudder to think what changes
I may see in myself at the end of this thing.
Even more though, I hate to see the changes in this little fella.

Week 7

2008-05-12T21:47:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I ran late with last week's post.
I am not about to do it two weeks in a row.
Ok, wiped the shocked look off your face,
I can actually pull my act together when I have to!

Just me a my Connerman after his game tonight.
I was so proud of him.
He is usually the one laying the smoochies on me,
He thinks it is so funny to hold me down and lay one on me.
I don't think he knows what to think about me trying to lay one on him!

Week 6

2008-05-12T21:39:00.000-07:00

I knew this 52 week project would not be an easy one to keep up with at times.
You would think, it's one picture, how hard can it be?
Well, with four kids running around, achievement test, baseball games,
Mother's Day shopping,
church, etc, etc, etc...well,you get the idea,
let's just say last week was a busy week and to find time for Blake and
I to take a moment to stop and take a picture and then get it downloaded,
sized for the web, posted to the web, and then posted to blogger was a chore.
So, here we are, a week late. But as we say in the Conwell house alot these days,
"Better late, than never!"
So, here is week 6, and what do you know,
for a change, Blake is ready to have his picture taken,
and I am the one clowning around.

Week 5

2008-04-28T17:58:00.000-07:00

Just me and my gal,
After spending a day shopping together.
I don't know what I would do without her!

Love you sis!

Week 4- finally!!

2008-04-25T18:52:00.001-07:00

It is so fitting that when it comes time to have my week 4 taken picture with my fourth child that I am running four days behind. That is pretty typical of my life these days. Thank goodness for this fourth and special blessing by the name of Carson. God truly knew what he was doing when he sent him to me. He is the true meaning of a Mommy's Boy. One day, he may cringe when he is called that but for today, he is oblivious, so I will take and enjoy every minute of it.

I have said it many times, for years I heard my mom tell person after person that I would have a house full of kids. I truly believe my mom took God to the side, and told Him that three just wasn't enough and to send me one more. He couldn't have sent me a sweeter one. He loves his mommy very much and I love him. I wish I could take every single snuggle, every single kiss, every single moment and freeze it in time. I haven't been blessed with the ability to do that so I'll just keep taking photographs so I can hold onto moments like this.

Week 3

2008-04-15T19:42:00.000-07:00

I knew it would happen eventually, my plans to post every Monday would be thrown off. This week is the week, but not bad, just a day behind.

What is bad is that you get to see me all natural, well except for a little bit of mascara left from last night. Ok, some of you that know me can close your mouth now, it is not a common thing for me to show myself to strangers without my make-up on. I combed my hair for the first time today right before Jimmy took the picture. I did have the Pebbles look going for me, but figure since I was without make-up, I might need to put forth a little effort!

I told myself that I would try to capture some pictures true to life, not all posed with everything in place. Granted, it could possibly get much worse than this but as I said in my first post, 40 years from now when this little guy wants to tell his children a story about their grandma, and he pulls out this picture, he won't be thinking about me without make-up. I hope instead, he is telling them how we spent that night watching a movie together as a family.

Yes, this week, it's me with the Con-man. How fitting a name is that? He is truly my charmer, not afraid to lay a big smoochie on me if he thinks it will help him get out of trouble or get him what he wants. He keeps me on my toes, but does it in such a way that most times you have to make yourself discipline him. That face of his gets him out of more trouble, God blessed him there! He really has the sweetest nature, I hope that as he grows older that life's struggles and disappointments will not change that about him.

Again, just one from tonight.

I actually got him to sit by me long enough

during the movie to get a quick picture.

Until Next Time...

Week 2

2008-04-07T21:32:00.000-07:00

My second child, poor thing, he is just like me. From the way he likes taking pictures, but hates having his picture taken. From the way he secretly loves to sing, but when caught doing it in front of people, tends to turn it into a joke so that the focus isn't on him. From the way he deals with not getting his way, he tries to pull EXACTLY the same thing that I did at his age. From the way he likes most things orderly, though you wouldn't know it by looking at my house right now, yes, that's me.

It reminds me of something that my mother said to me so many times after I had pushed her about as far as she could go. "Michelle, I hope that one day you have one just like you." She must of talked to God as soon as she hit Heaven's door because there is no doubt, he is just like me! I wasn't all together bad I guess. I don't remember much of the good in me as a child, there probably wasn't isn't much to remember, but I must have done something right because Blake has the sweetest way about him. He has a heart for children, just like I did, and still do. I was always drawn to the liitle ones, even at a young age and I see Blake doing the same thing. Little boy or little girl, it doesn't matter, he just has a way with them. He is a great helper and has the most beautiful brown eyes. It was so much harder than I predicted getting him to cooperate for a few minutes to have his picture taken with me, maybe one day he will look back and consider it worth it all.

Getting this in just before midnight. This is just week two and I am already struggling to get it done. One thing is for sure, when I say I am going to do something, I do not let it go. So, my goal was to post these every Monday. There may be a few weeks they hit on Monday, some on Wednesday, but in the end, what will it matter, as long as I have these photos, these memories, these 52 weeks of moments........
to cherish.

Week 1

2008-04-01T17:23:00.000-07:00

First post of 52.

********

The point of this new blog is to record moments of me with my kids.

********

After losing my mom to cancer at age 20,

I realized how few pictures I had of us together.

********

Now, I have my own children.

I have spent years hiding away from the camera

due to my own issues with weight & otherwise.

I was reminded recently of the fact that when I am no longer on this earth,

that my children will not care how overweight I was,

or how my hair looked,

or if I had my make-up on,

they will just want something to help them remember me and our moments together.

********

I am challenging myself over the next 52 weeks to post

one photo a week of me with my children.

********

Naturally, I must start with my first born who is growing up all too fast.
She now tries to wear my shoes, and I, when I don't look too foolish, wear hers.

Oh what a blessing to freeze her with me forever in time in this photograph,

if only I could freeze time for real.

*******

See you next week!