Da Eads: 2011

>> Wednesday, July 06, 2011

I was backing up my files and found these that I never shared!

>> Monday, May 23, 2011

Lily had her first recital this weekend. I literally started crying in the lobby after we dropped her off. I then cried again right before she danced, during her dance, and during two other heart wrenching songs when she wasn't even on stage.

Yeah I am a mess.

Mainly because she is like all grown. She has gotten taller in the past week. I swear it! Although it did make me feel a little better when I realized she was not only the youngest person in her class but the youngest one on stage during the whole recital. She did so good you guys!

She kept talking about how excited she was. And kept asking who was coming. She verified with Mimi and Paw at least half a dozen times the day off to make sure they were coming. She knew they were all there to see her.

So we took her out to lunch. Mexican. Hey she loves the chips and dip. At the resteraunt she proceeded to entertain everyone with her renidition of twinkle twinkle and Monkeys jumping on the bed. At the top of her lungs. She warming up for her big performance.

Then we went home to start our day of beauty. I painted her nails red to match her outfit. We teased, curled and sprayed her hair into a perfect ballerina bun. She even got to wear a little blush and glitter on her face for the special day.

Daddy who swore he would never ever go to a recital if we had a little girl got up at seven in the morning to stand in line for tickets. He was first in line and we were first row. She whined a little when I dropped her off in the dressing room so I could go get me seat. But I promised we would come get her as soon as she did her dance.

Being the little ones in the show they got all the giggles and aaahhhhs throughout the whole show. Here is the video. She is the one in the back on the far left. You can't really see her in the beginning but her shining moment is when she leads the circle prance. Then you can see her plain as day the second half of the dance. She was so tiny on the big stage. But she was my big star!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjspSemOoFc&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Afterwards she got flowers and balloons from Brooke and Daddy that went backstage to get her. She ran out to meet us at our seat and gave me a huge hug and screamed "mommy I did so good!"

Yes you did Lily!

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If I die young...

>> Friday, May 06, 2011

I lost a friend this week. Suddenly. Unexpectedly. I have lost family but never a friend. It hit me a little harder than I expected. Maybe because she was someone young that was not done living her life from my view. I think that is the true definition of a tragedy. I thought about her parnets. And how no one should have to bury a child. No one. It just doesn't seem natural. I never would have thought about it from that angle until Lily. She had so much more to look forward to. A husband, a child, maybe a daughter like Lily. While I know that is not everything to some people I think that this has made me see that it is everything to me.

Kim was a sorority sister of mine. We pledged together. Lived in the house together. Were both active in Chi Omega after graduation. We both advised chapters, and attended convention together last year. I remember when we met Letitia Niemeier Fulkerson (our national president). We were such nerds. So excited like we were meeting the most famous person ever! And I remember how shy I thought she was when we first met. Boy was I wrong! I still think her big sister brought her out of her shell and showed us the true Kim that was hiding. I still have pictures of us all young and carefree where I swear she looks the same as the last time I saw her! How she never seemed to age. We all drooled over her job after college at ESPN. I mean how cool does that sound? And how jealous I was seeing her facebook status Wednesday saying she had landed in Hawaii. Where her life ended not 24 hours later. While we didn't speak every day or even every month when we did see each other it was like no time had passed. She was always smiling, laughing, and was genuinely a great person. We lost a beautiful person for no apparent reason. Sometimes life and death is so hard to understand or defend.

I think her sudden loss will have a positive impact in some aspects. At least in my life. I think we often take for granted our lives and how precious each day is. So I hopefully have a little bit of a better outlook. In her honor I was a little nicer at work today, helped someone instead of saying that's not my job, gave my daughter that extra snuggle and kiss, gave my husband an extra I love you before I went to bed, and called my mom just to say hi. You just never know if that will be the last words you say to someone.

While nothing heals the loss of a young friend, I hope that I can honor her and maintain my "reality check" about how lucky I really am. How much I really have even though I complain about what I lack. How much love I am surrounded by because I am not alone. How many smiles, and hugs I get from a little girl that looks just like her Daddy even when I feel overwhelmed by the whole business of parenting. Because to me that is what is important. And I am determined to find the good in the loss of a dear sister. Thank you Kim for all you have given those lives you have touched. I know I am grateful.

Love in Chi Omega,

Stephaine

I downloaded this Thursday. Before I found out. It seems fitting now...

"If I Die Young"
The Band Perry
If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a, bed of roses
Sink me in the river, at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song

Uh oh, uh oh

Lord make me a rainbow, I'll shine down on my mother
She'll know I'm safe with you when she stands under my colors, oh and
Life ain't always what you think it ought to be, no
Ain't even grey, but she buries her baby

The sharp knife of a short life, well
I've had, just enough time

If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a, bed of roses
Sink me in the river, at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song

The sharp knife of a short life, well
I've had, just enough time

And I'll be wearing white, when I come into your kingdom
I'm as green as the ring on my little, cold finger, I've
Never known the lovin' of a man
But it sure felt nice when he was holding my hand, there's a
Boy here in town who says he'll love me forever,
Who would have thought forever could be severed by
The sharp knife of a short life, well,
I've had, just enough time

So put on your best boys and I'll wear my pearls
What I never did is done

A penny for my thoughts, oh no, I'll sell them for a dollar
They're worth so much more after I'm a goner
And maybe then you'll hear the words I been singin'
Funny when you're dead how people start listenin'

If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a, bed of roses
Sink me in the river, at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song

Uh oh (uh, oh)
The ballad of a dove (uh, oh)
Go with peace and love
Gather up your tears, keep 'em in your pocket
Save them for a time when you're really gonna need them, oh

The sharp knife of a short life, well
I've had, just enough time

So put on your best boys and I'll wear my pearls
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Spring Daze Entry 2011

>> Wednesday, April 27, 2011

I entered the Cary Spring Daze (formerly Lazy Daze) photo contest this year. I need your support. Come out this weekend and vote for my pictures for people's choice! The festival is going on from 9-5 on Saturday. The picture contest is in the Boat House. Here is a link to the map. Hope to see you there!

http://www.townofcary.org/Departments/Parks__Recreation___Cultural_Resources/events/festivals/springdaze/map.htm

Send out to anyone you know that is heading out to the festival this weekend!

The two pictures I entered

I need your help!

>> Tuesday, April 19, 2011

I am entering two of my photos in the Lazy Daze competition this year. I am having a hard time deciding which two to enter. Head over to the photography blog and help me choose!

http://www.lovinglyphotographedblog.com/

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Mr. Wuf

>> Monday, April 18, 2011

I am a little ashamed to admit that I have never actually met and hugged a Mr. Wuf. Being the die hard NCSU fan I am this may shock some or all of you. It has always been my dream. Small I know but a dream nonetheless. Well this weekend at the Red and White Spring Football Game...guess who we ran into?

from across the parking lot Lily spotted him and that is when it started. The screaming. Not the screams of a scared little girl but the screams of raw excitement. I would be lieing if I said I didn't feel that way on the inside!

Lily literal starts running down the parking lot. (all the while trying to finish the muffin she was in the middle of eating). "Mr. Wuf Mr Wuf!!!!!!"

Well I am proud to say Lily lived my dream on Saturday. I like to think it was a shared dream the way she took off across the parking lot (supervised of course). And boy was she proud to show off that wolf sign!

And you know what? I forgot to take my picture with him because I was so excited for her.

Lily wants to be a Mommy

>> Sunday, April 10, 2011

The Alden's visited this weekend with baby Libby as Lily calls her. Lily pretty much thought she was a big baby doll. She wanted to read to her, give her kisses, put her to bed. Anything that involved taking care of her. Of course she pulled the two year staple of "no these are my toys" but other than that they girls had so much fun together!

Here is Lily reading Libby a night night story

Lessons for Lily

>> Saturday, April 02, 2011

There are a few things that every woman should know. One of the top five is how to hover over a toilet seat. I am not sure when this talent develops. I am sure it is restricted by height. So I was probably twenty. Okay I am exaggerating. Maybe nineteen...before I was tall enough to hover. But there are many uses of this talent.

1. To avoid STDs, crabs, other people's urine and general grossness of public restrooms or worse portapotties!
2. Tailgate peeing. No toilet involved, same talent.
3. To avoid a cold toilet seat at all costs.

So the other day Lily was in the potty and as I walked by I saw her sitting down. As her bottom hit the seat her little face squished up and this is the conversation that followed

Lily: "Mommy? Why the toilet seat cold?"
Me: "Learned that the hard way didn't you Lily?"
Lily: :Dissappointed: "Yeah my booty booty is cold"
Me: "Reason number 1001 that is sucks to be a girl.."
Lily: "face still squished: "Brrrrrr"

Here is to teaching Lily this valuable life lesson in the years to come. It comes in handy in the middle of the night, in public restrooms, and in our guest bathroom where the toilet seat is just a little wobbly. Don't worry you only have fifteen more years until your tall enough. I apologize for that gene by the way. Until then I recommend learning how to not squish up your face like that when you hit the seat. That leads to this annoying wrinkle in between Mommy's eyebrows and her desire for botox. But that lesson is for another day and is reason 1002 that is sucks to be a girl.

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Stephie and Michele Take on Vegas-Part Two

>> Tuesday, March 29, 2011

I am known for very few things in this life. My boring blog. My love of photography. Mediocre wife and mother. But one thing is known for sure by anyone that knows me. Any time I hit the sauce I start taking open mouthed self portraits.

This is what was found on my point and shoot upon my return to vegas.

Michele and I before Yard Drink: Night One

After yard drink and getting hit on by hot young guy in which I had to lie and say Steve (Michele's Husband) was my own to get the guy to leave. Who still has it??!!! and then immediately took out her camera to mark the occasion!

Before Night Two: AKA St. Patty's Day. $3 Guinness $20 buckets

A little later....five Guinness and two buckets deep

The end of the night...more buckets deep than we care to admit. Also followed by a search for firefly vodka and lemonades. To no success.

The very end of the night when asked how much money I had lost! Or wait was that about how many types of sweet tea vodka I tried? Or was it irish car bombs? Oh dear lord.

Gosh you would think no one but Michele and I were on this trip!! Oh wait I guess Steve was there.

And photographic proof that we were there to celebrate little bro's birthday...not just to take self tonsil portraits. And no ladies I did not photoshop the chick. Yes I hate her too.

So those that don't know me now know this. If you see me drinking out in public remove the camera out of my hands. Because ya'll no one needs to see my tonsils (or red tongue).

Want to see non-tonsil shots? AKA Sober shots? Head over to the photography blog.

www.lilymaephotography.blogspot.com