pre-k this fall...maybe?

lately, i have been feeling guilty about how little this guy and i get out of the house and do things. i spend time with him at home, and he is so smart, but he doesn't get the opportunity to utilize all of the talents he has up there in his little brain like i want him to have. 

today, i called the elementary school that has a pre-k program that elijah would be able to attend in the fall, if we qualify. he is so interested in learning and being read to, but one thing i believe he is behind in is writing. he just isn't that into it and we don't really provide the opportunities like we should (shame on me!) sure, he colors, but that isn't the same. i hate the idea that qualifying means we fit into some kind of low income criteria, but at the same time i hope we do for his sake. 

linking up here, here, and here. 

 

joni - sixcherriesontop (at) gmail (dot) com | twitter | facebook | pinterest | instagram

2012 raleigh christmas parade

 
the raleigh christmas parade is always in november around here. i'm not sure why, but with all the festivities going on in december, it's nice to have the parade during november. this was the first year jason and i have gone together to the raleigh christmas parade. we usually attend a different parade, but it is nothing like the raleigh parade. the raleigh christmas parade is held in downtown raleigh and is the largest christmas parade between washington d.c. and atlanta. you pretty much have to get there a couple hours early if you want to get a good spot, especially with kids.

it was super cold, so i got up early to make coffee and hot chocolate for your thermoses and to bundle up the kiddos in their warmest winter gear. we also went to the parade with my best friend amanda, her husband rick, and their daughter gracie... oh, and little gabriel in mommy's belly {grin}, so the fun was definitely doubled having them there. the parade was great and i love seeing all of the local people i see on tv and listen to on the radio, the businesses i enjoy, and the high schools my friends and i went to growing up. i also love gossiping and people watching! hey, don't judge! we all do it and you know it!


i took a ton of photos, but here are just a few of them.

raleigh motorcycle officers

downtown raleigh horseback police officers

my high school - sanderson spartans

nc agriculture shopping cart

best radio morning show in the south - G105's bob and the showgram (check it out on i heart radio)

the historic raleigh trolley

we had such a great time, but as much fun as we all had, there was one little stinker in the bunch. elijah pretty much screamed that he wanted to go home the entire time. we had to buy an entire box of doughnuts just to get him to cease the screaming for a few minutes, but even with that, he started up again as soon as he was finished. i am starting to wonder if we are getting him out enough because he has been saying this a lot when we take him out lately. the boy is a homebody!


do you go to the christmas parade in your area every year? what is your favorite part of the parade?

linking up with the paper mama, angry julie monday, and sarah halstead for wordless wednesday. 

   

joni - sixcherriesontop (at) gmail (dot) com | twitter | facebook | pinterest | instagram: sixcherries

fall photos of the dement family

sometimes i like to pretend i am a photographer and take photos for my friends and family. I have taken quite a few photos for people over the last few years, including two weddings and lots of family photos. i shoot completely in manual but i would love to learn more about my camera and how to take better quality photos and maybe even do this as a business some day. but, for now, i am happy with the "work" i have been given.

this past weekend, i was able to take fall photos of one of my best friends, amanda and her family. amanda is expecting her second child in january, so this actually was a bit of a maternity shoot for her too. it's still a little early, however, with all the holidays coming, both amanda and i stay busy, so we may not get another opportunity for photos.

melissa over at while it rains, recently had her maternity shoot and i loved the ideas she had for her photos so much, i decided to recreate a couple of them for amanda as well. although i am not half the photographer her photographer was, i am pleased with what i was able to come up with.

linking up with the paper mama, angry julie monday, and sarah halstead for wordless wednesday. 

 

joni - sixcherriesontop (at) gmail (dot) com | twitter | facebook | pinterest | instagram: sixcherries

tika the dog

my grandmother spends most of her days alone at home these days, so she got a dog to keep her company during the week. most weekends now, we will be heading to her house to spend some time with her to help her out around her house, and my mom has spent every saturday with her for years now.

my grandmother, who was once a lively old lady, has been having minor complications with her health, including issues with her back, that prevents her from doing what she loves most, getting outside and working in her yard and garden. i wish we lived closer to her to spend more time with her.

tika is a pure bred, long hair chihuahua, and you can tell my grandma just adores him. he's about 6 months old and he was not trained when she got him. but, she already has him trained and listens to her so well and you can tell he loves her just as much as she loves him. it makes me feel better knowing that she has him to keep her company.

and of course, my kids just love him to pieces as well. my kids want a pet so bad, but with 6 kids already and this small house we live in now, we just don't have the time or space for anyone else. thankfully, they can get their pet fix with tika every weekend.

linking up with the paper mama, sarah halstead, and angry julie monday

joni - sixcherriesontop (at) gmail (dot) com | twitter | facebook | pinterest | instagram: sixcherries

bebe belleh

 

just a few quick photos i took the other day of amanda, one of my very best friends ever. she is expecting her second child in january and i am anxiously waiting to find out the sex of this little peanut. she actually goes tomorrow for the ultrasound, so let's hope this little one is cooperative. i will be doing some scheduled photos next month for amanda that include some maternity shots as well as some family photos. i am looking forward to that also. 

of course, i want nothing more than for this baby to get here safe and sound, and as healthy as can be, and i will love that little him or her no matter what, BUT i secretly kinda sorta hope it's a boy!

 

linking up with angry julie monday, the paper mama, and sarah halstead. 

 

 

joni - sixcherriesontop (at) gmail (dot) com | twitter | facebook | pinterest | instagram: sixcherries

sunflowers

on my morning run yesterday, i noticed that all the sunflowers on the sunflower farm near our house were finally bloomed, so i decided to take the kids for a walk to see them. they really were a beautiful sight, but we almost couldn't even enjoy them because the sweltering sun and heat practically melted us away on the walk there.

i will be honest, i cheated and used auto to take these (which i never do anymore) because it was super hot and so bright, and  i just didn't want to be fiddling with the settings. but, i will definitely be going back when the sun isn't so high in the sky and the heat is a little more tolerable. 

however, elijah had no complaints the whole time because he was being pushed from behind on his trike. i am pretty sure he said "let's go again!" while i laid dying on the floor when we returned back home.

linking up with the paper mama, angry julie monday, and sarah halstead for wordless wednesday. 

 

joni - sixcherriesontop (at) gmail (dot) com | twitter | facebook | pinterest | instagram: sixcherries

i am the burger queen!

i have been motivated lately to add more fruits and veggies to my meals and have been replacing items i would normally eat with other healthier options. some of the things i have been doing are replacing french fries with my hamburgers and hot dogs with sliced cucumbers or corn on the cob. the other night we had alfredo and i measured out a small portion of pasta and filled up the rest of my dish with diced tomatoes, cucumbers, and mushrooms. then i added a super small amount of i can't believe it's not butter spray, a dash of garlic salt, and a sprinkling of cayenne pepper seasoning. it was pretty much the tastiest thing ever and i have been craving it ever since.

since it is summer, we have been enjoying burgers at home quite a bit, but rather than throw a giant burger on a bun, i make a small thin burger and load that bun with lettuce, tomatoes, and mashed avocado (plus a squirt of mustard). avocado is a healthy fat, so although it is good for you, it is still filled with tons of calories. to make a mock guacamole, i just mash an avocado and add a little bit of garlic, crushed red pepper, and cilantro.

 

this burger was BANGIN'! it looks huge, but it is filled with veggies and a side of corn instead. i know that this burger is still filled with tons of calories, but far less than if i had a thick burger with a side of fries.  

small steps in the right direction, right?

linking up with the paper mama, angry julie monday, and sarah halstead for wordless wednesday. 

joni - sixcherriesontop (at) gmail (dot) com | twitter | facebook | pinterest | instagram: mamacherry

semi wordful-less-ish wednesday - jacob

jacob, pullen park, mother's day 2012

 

even at 10 years old, jacob still "plays". he plays with cars, transformers, power rangers, and even rides his bike. at 9 years old, ryan was talking about girls. the two of them are so different. jacob is so easily entertained we often joke that he could play with the wind and keep busy for hours. elijah is even following in his footsteps. the two of them are so much alike it's uncanny.

however, since jacob turned 10 in january, every now and then he will show his "big kid" side. the side where clothes and image is important, girls are no longer gross, and xbox and music take the place of board games and disney channel.

he is definitely growing up!

...........

i wanted to share so many of the other photos i took on mother's day this year but i still don't have my laptop fixed and i have resorted to editing through one of the free photo editing sites.

did i mention it sucks? it sucks!

did i mention i want to whine like a brat? i do!

did i mention money is tight and  i may have to wait a really long time to get another computer? i just might!

but, i am trying to keep a positive attitude about it all because being a brat and throwing a temper tantrum isn't going to make a new computer land in my lap. and if you like phone photos, crappy edits and SOOC shots, you are in the right place.

..........

this was nearly a full body shot that i love cropped like this. and i am actually pretty pleased with my edit considering what i had to use. 

linking up with the paper mama, angry julie monday, and then she snapped, and sarah halstead. 

joni - sixcherriesontop (at) gmail (dot) com | twitter | facebook | pinterest | instagram: mamacherry

violet irises

when i first got these irises, most of them were yellow, with a few violet ones. now, as the years have gone by, and they have begun to spread, they are mostly just violet. i may get 4 or 5 yellow ones. 

if you don't have a green thumb like me, irises are the way to go. buy them from a farm that grows them or just find a friend that has a bunch to share. their bulb only grows a few inches below the surface of the ground and you could almost just dig down with your fingers and pull them up.

replant them where ever you want (just a few inches below the ground), and enjoy them year after year. you can even plant them in large containers. i have a some planted in old metal wash buckets and they look great. the best part is that over the years they will multiply. you don't have to do anything except let them do their own thing. 

go get some if you don't have some already. they come in tons of colors.


if you do have irises, what colors do you have or what are your favorite colors?

linking up with the paper mama, angry julie monday, and then she snapped, and sarah halstead.

joni - sixcherriesontop (at) gmail (dot) com | twitter | facebook | pinterest | instagram: mamacherry

it's gracie's birthday week

it's that time of year again and i can hardly believe it. this gal will be three in just a few days. i missed gracie's birthday last year due to a household full of sickness. but not this year!

gracie is my best friend amanda's daughter. when amanda was six months pregnant with gracie, i found out i was pregnant with elijah. the irony of it all was that gracie was her first child, elijah was my last. 

i have been photographing this little princess since she was born and she is such a photogenic child. check out some other photos i have taken in the past here, here, and here.

linking up with the paper mama, angry julie monday, and then she snapped, and sarah halstead.

 

joni - sixcherriesontop (at) gmail (dot) com | twitter | facebook | pinterest | instagram: mamacherry

my geek squad will blow best buy away

wanna create your own little squad of geeks? check out geek booth in the app store (i used the free version).


linking up with the paper mama, angry julie monday, and naptime momtog 

joni - sixcherriesontop (at) gmail (dot) com | twitter | facebook | pinterest | instagram: mamacherry