We're home

I don't remember

having a painted map

to play on 

at the school 

playground

when I was little

when did they start

doing this

maybe I would know

my geography better

if it had been around

because I 

simply think

it's sooo

cool!

Of course

I immediately 

wanted to bring

the kids on it 

to play

to learn

and possibly 

maybe

get some cool 

pictures

is that too much 

to ask for

well... yes

especially when

the night before

there was a rain storm

and left behind

were some 

very fun

very wet

puddles 

on a 

very hot

day.

Can you really
blame them
I think not
when this might
actually be
their first
real romp
in a perfect
puddle
big enough
for two!

So I settled on
a shout out
Hi!!!
I think most
imoms
might be in this
vacinity
remember
my geography
is iffy.
;)

My only shot
of our hometown
team
the boys
as us girls
would say
the twins
especially Azalea
are starting
to pick up
on the difference.

Her only appearance
on the map
was brief
she was engaged
with the puddle
the entire
time
at one point
she just plopped
her little
hot butt
right in the middle
of the water
shorts
diaper
and all.

I had to laugh
at all of it
hey
don't they say
if you can't
beat em
join em
so here is
a shot of
us
girls
splish splashin
away!

At least
the puddle
was right next to
the map
close
yet so far
away
from what
I expected
and isn't that
the lesson
here

family

I never expected
I never imagined
it all to be
quite like
this

but now I see
the real
reality
is actually

better
more than
I could
dream

We're family
We're home

and I've never
been happier

with everything
just the way
it is.

Oil City

What started
as a tradition
has now become
more of a place
of transformation

Oil City
Softball Tournament
weekend

Even before
I met my husband
way back in 2001
before digital cameras
were common
before my obsession
passion for photography
there was
softball
there was
Oil City

The photographic proof
is scarce, but way
back in the day
when we first
started dating
I remember Oil City
being initially
invited along
was exciting
knowing I was
included
a part of the tradition
a part of his passion

Oil City 2007

Every year
the three hour drive
straight South
out of the flat
New York State
farmland
and into the
rolling hills of
Pennslyvania
proves to be
far enough destination
to feel
like a vacation
to feel
transforming

And as we cross
the Oil City bridge
on our way to
the softball fields
we know we are
being transformed
into another place
into another time
of our lives

Oil City 2008

The boys from Buffalo
as the Pennsylvanians
would say
have worked hard
have worked long
to establish
a reputation in
the softball world
so back in July 2006
when this new teacher
was planning a wedding
and meticulously picked
a hot weekend
in the middle of July
Summer
I had no idea
that year the local
Oil City Newspaper
would read
due to a team member's
wedding
the boys from Buffalo
will NOT be playing
oops, did I do that?!

You read that right
6 years ago
the team
missed out on
Oil City
because on
July 15, 2006
we got married!

And not only
would their
3rd baseman
the groom
be missing
the tournament
but their shortstop
would be honored
to be part of
the wedding party
and practically
the rest of the team
would be there
to lovingly support
to celebrate
to cheer us on
because that's what
they are
a team
a family

Of course
like every year before
and every year since
the tradition
has carried on
last year I remember
we celebrated
our anniversary
in Oil City
new babies at home
time for the new
parents
to transform
to reconnect
and in the days
after coming home
I started
my blog.

This year
our anniversary
was the weekend
we met
a fellow ifamily
and I knew
the following
weekend
we would celebrate
Us
in Oil City
because that's the way
that's how it's always been
that's how it will always be
Us
and Oil City

Oil City 2012

My husband
lives life
a lot like
he plays ball
as part of a team
as part of a family

I knew
from the moment
I met him
he was an individual
who wanted
who worked
wholeheartly
for others
for friends
for family

I admired
his focus
his strength
his determination
to go after
what he believed
he could do

He is active
He is ahead
He is always
in the game

I remember
when I was pregnant
we could not agree
on a name
for our son
about a week before
the twins were born
we were tossing around
names
he looked down at
his softball bat
he asked
he knew
Easton
at that moment
I couldn't think
of any other name
that fit more perfectly
for the son
of my husband

Leaving for
Oil City
felt different
this year
knowing
that morning
we would be
leaving
this
them

But going there
and coming home
couldn't have been
anymore
transformative
more than ever before
we left for
Oil City
trying to find
a way back
to Us
to celebrate
Us

just like that feeling
we felt
on our wedding day
never more happy
to love each other
looking forward
to our life
together
as part of a team
as part of a family.

Morning

Morning
I am definitely
a morning
Momma

Most of my best
ideas
energy
patience
is in the morning

And when considering
lately
the weather
has been anything but
cool
or even close
to tolerable
add to that
a thick layer of
humidity
much of our time
has been spent
indoors in the A/C

This morning
Momma
was running out
of indoor ideas
so today
we tried to
beat the heat
and got out
early  

I put em in the car
with really no goal
just fresh off
two cups of coffee
and new diapers
that's all
all that mattered
was we were
out
outside
of the house

9:30 am
and we were swinging
at the park
over at the tennis courts
were kids learning
how to play
with the SAME
coach
who once taught me
the same game
it was crazy
and such a sight
to see

we visited

this park

with Daddy 

once before

this morning

I managed to muster

the courage

to give it a go

on my own

they listen

they follow

I just have to

lead

we marched along
field lines

and played
tag the tree

a game
I made up
it's pretty easy
just run
and tag
the tree
they will do it
see

running
running
after me

oh boy look
what's this
let's stop
and see

Morning
Morning Momma
on my own
the more I do it
the more
confident
I become

my spirit soars
my heart sings
when I see
the joy
this brings

 

That was my morning

you can find me

and my afternoon, haha

and other imoms

on instagram

my new addiciton

free app download

for your phone

follow me

my username is

eyemom

it's random
it's fun
it's instant
instagram

a year

To think

it's been almost

a year

of thinking

of feeling

of expressing

of writing

this blog

of seeing

the distance

was it the Eye
was it the Giraffes
was it the new
experiences
whatever
the reason
the inspiration
the opportunity
pushed me
and now here I am

a year later
in full embrace
a place
I certainly
couldn't see
in the beginning

I can feel it now
embrace
I can see it now
in the distance
time
waits
for no one
and regardless
of any circumstance
all anyone
can do
is
soak it up

live it up

be in the moment

that's what
this blog
has done for me
over this past
year

helped me see
taught me how
to find ways to
see the distance

and really
what's in the distance
doesn't compare to
what's right in front
of me
today

a year ago
it was all about
the Eye
the unknown
the fear
but I have learned
that on the other side
past the fear is
Courage

the Courage
to blog
the Courage
to express
the Courage
to reach out
and in return
is great reward.


Who would have
ever imagined that
a year later
I would be
he would be
we would be
here

meeting each other
meeting another
imom
ifamily

having popsicles

visiting and sitting
under Our Tree

sharing parts
of our life
story

as much as
the Eye
may have brought
us together
the Eye
was the last thing
the day
was about

a year
what is in
a year
we have
everything
to be smiling
about

I am looking
forward
to seeing
what this next
year
will be bringing!