day 11 {recent photo}

09.10.2010

day ten {photo of me over 10 years ago}

high school graduation - 1999

my mom scanned this in a long time ago.  i personally have not scanned in any old photos. i wish i would but i suppose i'm lazy.  if i were to have chosen a photo, this definitely would not have been the one. i mean, there is a spot on my mouth.  and isn't this photo supposed to be about me?  but yet she didn't even notice.  oh well.  more importantly - you should have seen my leopard shoes.  i mean, graduation is about the shoes.  right?

day nine {photo i took}

as you know i love taking pictures.  i love documenting life.  i love that i will have these memories forever.  life moves so fast, times change and james just keeps growing from my sweet baby boy into a little man.  since i take so many pictures i thought i would post the very last picture i snapped.  the very last image on my memory card.

tuckered out.

this is what happens when you wake up early to play, eat breakfast, go to the park and then take a drive to look at outrageously priced midtown homes.  the ones that make you wonder how people can ever afford to live in them.  simply exhausting.  and fun.  it is amazing how much you can get done before 10 am when you're up and ready to go. 

day eight {sad picture}

this picture is of the man for whom my son is named after.  of the great man he'll never meet.

had jim not suddenly passed, there would be a similar picture of jim and james - instead of my nephew. 

James D. Netherton

Stillwater resident James D. Netherton died Sunday, Jan. 26, 2003, in Stillwater Medical Center.
A memorial service honoring his life will be held Wednesday at 3 p.m. in University Heights Baptist Church. Dr. Tom Westbrook will officiate. Strode Funeral Home is directing the arrangements.

He was born in Headrick June 26, 1930, to Jasper and Maudie Netherton. He was greeted by three older siblings, Irene, Finley and John.  He graduated from Warren High School, Altus Junior College, Oklahoma State University and the University of Chicago.

He served in the Army from Aug. 1, 1950 to June 8, 1952.

He enjoyed working with youth and adults. This was reflected in his chosen career with the North Carolina State University Extension as an Extension agricultural engineer from 1958 until 1959; the University of Arkansas Agriculture Extension Service as an Extension education specialist from 1959 until 1970; and OSU as an associate professor and coordinator of personnel development and field studies from 1970 until 1976.

He retired from OSU in 1991 as a professor and assistant to the dean for personnel and affirmative action in the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.  For him, retirement only lasted a short time. He then maintained two part-time jobs simultaneously. He was employed at the OSU Community Federal Credit Union and as an emeritus professor in the Division of Engineering Technology with the Ground Source Heat Pump Association.

His hobbies included reading, watching the History Channel, wood-working projects, building and maintaining fences on his farm in Jackson County and helping his friends and neighbors. Sharing quality time with his family was top priority and he enjoyed many happy hours playing with his grandchildren.

He was a devoted husband, loving father and proud grandfather.

Immediate family members include his wife, Sue; daughter, Susan and her husband Frank of Chesapeake, Va.; son, Paul Netherton of Pasadena, Calif.; Tressie and her husband Darrell of Tulsa and Amanda of Stillwater; three granddaughters, Madeline, Caroline and Caitlin; and a grandson, Cade.

Memorials may be made to the William F. Taggart Scholarship Fund, Oklahoma State University, Division of Agriculture Sciences and Natural Resources, 139 Agricultural Hall, Stillwater, OK 74078.

day seven {happy picture}

first family photo

if you know my delivery story, you'll know that i didn't get to hold my baby right away like most mothers.  james was sent to have tests and get oxygen.  after i recovered, i could visit him but i could only touch his back.  the following morning was the first time i actually got to hold him.  i couldn't nurse him yet because they wanted to monitor his eating - as you know this turned out to be a-okay.  this picture is the very first time i got to snuggle and feed my baby.  this is our first family photo.  this picture makes me very happy.

day six {mud run}

today's topic is "what ever tickles your fancy".  so, i'm going to tell you about the third annual tatur mud run.  i participated in this 2ish mile obstacle course the first year it came about and then again this year.  the tulsa fire department and runners world team up to create a fun run where the proceeds go to the tulsa firefighters burn camp which services children that are burn victims, or children that have any disfiguring type injuries.

this is year was much more intense than the last time i participated but it was still just as fun as i remembered.  plus it is a great way to get use out of my old running shoes.  below are some pictures i've gotten from the official website.

mr. h has seen these pictures but still doesn't think that i enjoyed myself.  do you not see the smiles?  i had a great time with my friends and hope to do it again next year.  maybe james will even get to do the kids course when he is a little older.

above is my run leader, wilma.  i just thought this was a great picture.  this is at the end of the course.  there was a huge tarp set up on a hill and a fire hose continually sprayed it with water making it a huge water slide.  this is the puddle at the bottom.  wilma came down the slide like a cannon ball!

before:

after:

after the run you go and get hosed off by some more firemen.  then enjoy your two free beers.  i opted for a snow cone too.  it was 105 degrees outside.  the water felt great and the snow cone was refreshing.  check out the official pictures to see more of the obstacles and costumes.  i wish i could have taken pictures myself but obviously i wasn't going to risk it.  fun times were had by all.

day five {favorite quote}

When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me."




- Erma Bombeck

run note.

this morning i ran further than i ever have run before. 14 miles. and the best part is that i feel great! i was in control. i did more than just merely survive. the weather was perfect in the high 50s and my van morrison mix was divine. i was so nervous because my training has been slacking the past couple of weeks between james bronchitis and ear infection combo, my serious eye infection (a scratch on my cornea became infected) and then the whole family had a battle with the rotavirus. these past weeks have been hard and exhausting. nothing is worse than a sick baby. BUT i did it today. i kicked tail too. my three day weekend has started out perfect!

day four {favorite book}

i will admit that since becoming a mother my time spent reading has dwindled down to nothing.  this makes me sad.  therefore, i'm open to all suggestions on good books.  but i do have a favorite book.  it's old and it's actually known for the movie version.  yes, i said version.  it isn't near as good and it really isn't even the same.  the notebook by nicholas sparks is so sweet.  it's a short easy read that will remind you what love means.  i read this long before the movie came out and while most girls were so pleased and loved the movie i felt short changed.  i thought - wow.  the book was so much better.  did this film even do it justice?  overall i suppose it did because it made lots of money and was a box office hit but personally i'm just not so sure.  i suppose you just can't recreate a good book.

day three {favorite tv program}

well, you're going to think i'm crazy but i honestly don't have one favorite tv show.  now, don't read that sentence and think i don't watch tv.  i watch tv.  my husband thinks i have tunnel vision, others might suggest it's selective hearing.  i really do like to watch tv but i really like my dvr.  this has allowed me to keep up with my current tv selections.  if i didn't have it, i don't think i would watch near as many shows on a routine basis. 
as i've thought about this it has made me realize that maybe i should do something more fulfilling with my time if i don't particularly love a show.  i could read or clean or iron.  iron? i know.  i never iron but i could if i didn't watch river monsters with my husband i could save money on the dry cleaners.  well, let me back up.  i like watching that show with my hubs.  i also like grey's anatomy, even though i've sworn it off a million times, project runway and entourage.  i should trade in some of the i.q. dropping shows like the real housewives of whatever, teen mom (don't judge - even though i know i judge them), the bachelor/bachelorette, and definitely jersey shore.  now, not all of those are on my record list but i stop to watch those if i catch them one random week night after james is in bed.  i also find myself watching random shows while i'm snuggling him to bed or if i can catch some marathon over the weekend. 
i do think that we watch some non-trash shows on animal planet, discovery and the history channel most of the time.  even though i'm not sure the most current history channel show swamp people is the most intelligent, it is eye opening and somewhat entertaining to watch.  i also can watch a law & order or ncis too.  i like them bc you can watch it in one episode and not be lost.  it can be just an hour of my time with a beginning, climax and end. 
i have also been known to just put on something random for background noise.  most of the time it's nick jr. so i have james tv on when he is awake even though we are playing, reading and not really watching it.  i do the same thing with hbo and movies.  i like that there are no commercials.  i've even been known to put on a music countdown on sundays while we cook breakfast, clean and play.  i like having music around the house.
so, day three down and i've successfully cheated on two of my challenges.  i would care more but it's my blog so i don't feel bad.  not one bit.