Day 9: My Parents House (5/31)

 HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

Today I choose to take a picture of my parents house for my Project 365. I love this house but it's not something I would choose to live in when I buy a home one day. It's a 100 year old home that sits on acres of land with an old foundation and my parents added the A/C but it's one of my childhood homes and I always love coming back to it.

My favorite time to come to Stroud is when this house is full of my family. My sisters will come home and bring their husbands and children and we all cram into this house and spend our days together. It does get crowded but we wouldn't have it anyother way.

Notice the flag in the front yard? In every house we have every lived in my dad puts a flag pole up and flies the American flag everyday. I remember in times of trouble my dad lowering the flag to half mast. I love coming home, driving down Central road and see the flag, it means I am almost home.

Day 8: Grandma/pa Schluge (5/30)

Project 365 is only ONE picture a day but I couldn't choose so you get all three!

Grandma and Gavin after a day of swimming. Grandma has 5 children of her own and from those 5 children she has 15 grandchildren and from those 15 grandchildren she has 9 great-grandchildren but 10 if you count the one that's on the way. (Not me!!)  She has pictures all around the house and loves to tell anyone about all her babies! Today when Gavin didn't have any toys she got out some pots and spoons, got down on the floor with him and let Gavin go to town. We are very lucky that at this point in Gavin's life he has all 4 great-grandparents on my side of the family and 1 great-grandparent on Rennie's side of the family.

Grandpa's walker is the best toy!! Every great-grandchild who has visited has loved to play on the walker. Whether it's with the wheels or pulling themselves up on it! It is the best source of entertainment at their house. When Grandpa goes for a walk he has to navigate his way around the babies on the floor wanting to play with the walker. 

I remember going to Grandpa's house when I was younger and he would sing so many different songs to us. Today when he held Gavin he sang the exact same songs. I can only hope that the tradition continues and Gavin will one day remember sitting on great-Grandpa's lap and listening to songs that are way older than he will ever be. I have Grandpa and Gavin on video singing some of the songs and it's something I will treasure for the rest of my life.

Grandma and Grandpa have a pool!! Gavin and I will be spending many days this summer at their pool. Rennie picked up this float today at Walmart. Gavin (and mommy!) loved it. He can still be in the water but isn't dependant on me to be in the pool! 

Day 7: Softball (5/29)

Because this is my first softball picture (probably of many!) I will tell you why co-ed adult softball is such a large part of our life. So here is the story of how Rennie and I met:

I was at OSU attending college. I was in close to my last year and was playing intramural softball. I wasn't on a really good team, I was pitching and batting pretty close to the top of the line up... (ok ok I was batting fourth!!) but anyway we were getting beat horribly, probably being run ruled because of this I wasn't in the best of moods. Anyway after our bad bad loss, I was walking to my car when this man gets our of his pick-up and approaches me. He asked me if I played co-ed with a team in the city, then asked if I wanted to play league and a few tournaments. I said sure and he told me practice was on Saturday at the city fields. I showed up for batting practice on Saturday and took BP. I was hitting well and then hit one over the fence. After that practice Rennie invited me to league games and tournaments.

I always like to say that Rennie recruited me!! Anyway, we continue to play ball during the summer. It's a wonderful way to relax, hang out with friends, have fun and be active. I always say that I am getting to old to play during the summer but each year I come back. Even Gavin comes along now on our weekend trips around Oklahoma, and sometimes out of state. It's wonderful family time.

Today, we played in Enid, OK. It was a ten team tourney, we won our games and ended up winning the tournament.

Days 4, 5, and 6: Moving DayS (5/26, 5/27, 5/28)

This summer we decided that Tishomingo, OK was not the best place for our family to live. So a major family decision was made and we packed up all our items and moved in with my wonderfully generous parents for the summer. I am so excited to able to spend more time with both my family and Rennie's family who live in Stillwater. This is a perfect opportunity for family to get to know Gavin better. 

My next three days of pictures are about the three days of moving... 

5/26 -- The day that we began our move to Stroud for the summer.

5/27 -- After three years of moving my wedding bouquet to multiple homes, I decided that this move was the move to throw it away. TEAR but honestly the flowers were shedding and it didn't smell very nice anymore. I harp on Rennie all the time to not be such a pack rat and here I was totting around a delicate, smelly bunch of flowers! 

5/28 -- The last BIG load to the storage! We are so happy to be out of Tishomingo, OK for the summer. Our hearts are light.

Day 3: ummm, OK?! (5/25)

This is going to be so much harder than I thought it would be!!

It's only the third day and I was struggling to find something worth taking a picture of. I didn't do anything special, I ran to Walmart to get basic baby: formula, diapers, and wipes. While I was there I decided to get a summer pedicure. When I got home I played with Gavin and I couldn't let the first three pictures of my Project 365 be only of Gavin. I need to start being more creative!! IT'S ONLY THE THIRD DAY!!

Day 2: OSU Cowboys (5/24)

This is my first offical day of summer. It's Monday and I don't have to be at school today!! I get to spend the entire day with Gavin and Rennie. The smile melts my heart. <3

The t-shirt is a gift from Uncle Robert and Aunt Carol. He is finally big enought to wear it (it is a 12 month year old shirt.)

Day 1: Ball Game (5/23)

I decided to start my Project 365 on Sunday, May 23. I just finished up the 2009-2010 school year at Madill Public and Rennie, Gavin and I with some friends drove down to Arlington, TX for the weekend to watch the Cubs play at the Rangers ballpark. It was so hot but Gavin smiled the whole time! He is such a wonderful boy always happy and smiling (except when he's hungry, he doesn't miss a meal!!)

Gavin is almost 9 months old and he has already been to 2 Cubbies games, one in Chicago and one in Texas. In my entire life I have been to 5 games. Our family record is 2 wins and 3 losses.

GO CUBS GO!

Why a family Blog?

I never felt the need to start a blog but I was playing on my iPhone and came across an app called Project 365. This app has a slot for each day of the year and the job is to take a picture everyday. The idea is to see your life in pictures. Here is how Project 365 explains it:

Taking a photo a day is a big undertaking with big payoffs. Here are just a few reasons why you should consider doing it: Imagine being able to look back at any day of your year and recall what you did, who you met, what you learned… (Often we find it hard to remember what we did just yesterday or even last night, let alone a whole year ago. Your year-long photo album will be an amazing way to document your travels and accomplishments, your haircuts and relationships. Time moves surprisingly fast.

Anyway, after almost a week of taking photos I thought what is the point of this if I am the only one who sees all the pictures. Since my summer vacation has started and I don't have too much to do I thought this would be the perfect time to start a blog. I thought this would be the perfect way to share my project. So please enjoy the Nickell's Project 365.