My interests

Aaron's new blog, Unstressed Syllables, is amazing. His descriptions and stories make writing easy and fun. Not only is the instruction helpful but the weekly writing excercises are great for practicing and honing your writing skills.

Last Monday, Aaron posed an exercise to make a list of your favorite Interesting Things and write about them. Here are mine (in no particular order), hope you find them interesting too.

1. Art and art history
I am sorry to say that I wasted the first 19 years of my life. That's how I see my life before I was introduced to the wonderful world of art. College opened my eyes to the world. Well, college and my highly educated and constantly reading everything husband who taught me to think and study for myself. I love art and art history so much I was willing to continue art education into graduate work. Unfortunately I wasn't able to complete the work.

Why do I love art so much? I'll give you an excessable example: the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci, painted in the 16th century. This painting has amazed and astounded people for centuries. Who is the woman portrayed? Where is the setting of the painting? And of coarse, what's with the smile?

The study of art and art history attempts to answer these questions and more. The answers bring more life, interest and passion to the work. It's not just a painting of a woman in a window. I don't want to give anything away. You'll have to find out for yourselves.

2. Scrapbooking
This is also an interest that I picked up in college. I went to my first scrapbook party that my friend Amberly had at her house. They showed us how to use stickers, paper, and adhesives (that's technical talk for tape or glue). Since that first meeting my scrapbooking skills have improved dramatically. I spend hours looking through magazines for the perfect layout and embellishments that satisfy my strict preferences.

Me and a friend, Rebecca, started a monthly get together to scrapbook. These groups are called crops, a photography term meaning to cut or crop pictures. Scrapbooking is definitely a social hobby. Crops usually last for 6 hours but can be an entire weekend. I love sharing ideas and materials with fellow scrappers. It may take longer because of the visiting and eating but crops are more fun than doing it alone.

More than socializing or a creative outlet, scrapbooking is a wonderful way to preserve memories of family and friends. Every time I sit down to create a masterpiece, I think about my children and grand children looking at the pages I created. It is truly my legacy.

3. Sewing
My mother taught me to sew when I was in the 7th grade. We used an ancient machine that her mother used. She taught me to use patterns, how to cut fabric, how to make button holes and put in zippers. I may not have liked it then, but looking back on that time makes me happy and gives me those warm fuzzies.

A few years ago, my mom gave me a bag of zippers and thread and many patterns that grandma used a long time ago. I love looking at those patterns and thinking about my mom wearing the sweet dresses that my grandma must have sewn for her. When ever I sit down at my sewing machine I'm thankful that I have a mom who could pass on the skill and that her mother taught her and that I will one day show my daughter.

Sewing is a wonderful creative outlet. There are so many patterns available at craft and fabric stores. I love making things for others and to see the astonishment on their faces when they realize that I made it. Sometimes I have to take a break from making gifts and make something for myself. It's just too wonderful to give so I will always sew and give.

4. Teaching
From a very young age I thought teaching was going to be my destiny. After years of avoiding and resisting, I gave up. I am a teacher. That's what I do and I do it well. It's easy to teach kids, they soak up everything but adults are hard to entertain.

During my education, I was able to present some of my papers in class. Those were undergrads so they weren't to interested but my fellow grad students thought I did great and I got an A so the prof thought I did well too. I would love to have that opportunity again.

I really enjoy introducing scrapping to people. When I worked at a scrapbook store I had a lot of opportunities to show friends the latest scrapbooking tools, embellishments and products. I enjoy seeing my friend's delight when they learn some new scrap technique. It looks so hard in the magazines, but it's not!

I haven't had an opportunity to teach anyone sewing but I have a daughter. And I am willing to teach anyone who wants to learn. Which brings me to my final interest.

5. Learning/reading
Of coarse in highschool, like everyone else, I hated learning . But when I got to college I began to understand that learning doesn't have to be boring especially when the topic is interesting to me. After college I began, for the first time, to read and study on my own. I developed a love for reading and books.

During grad school I wanted all the books on art I could find. And those are expensive! I loved going to B&N and spent hours looking at art plates and reading about history. I always kept art books from the library way too long.

I read scrapbook and sewing magazines and books. I also check out tons of kids books and recently rediscovered kids audio books. They are great and keep my 3 year old entertained for a while. I hope that I can instill a love for learning and books in my children.

I can't forget how much I adore my husband's writing. I am so amazed and delighted at his gift. One of my life goals is to read everything he's ever written. I've got a good start but it's hard to keep up with him. He's a machine!

Those are my top 5 interests, I think. There are so many things that I love: photography, music, watching tv, and the list goes on. Maybe I'll do another list. Thanks for the assignment, Aaron.

Annabelle is almost 3!

Can you believe how big she is?! Her party is going to be awesome!

Xander's 4 month photo shoot

Annabelle's first hair cut.

Over the last few weeks, Annabelle's hair has been annoying her and us. She gets food in it and it tangles easily. So this morning after her bath I got out the scissors and comb and this is the result. Afterward, Annabelle ran to the mirror and said, "I'm Sophy!". She looks a lot like her cousin. Her new haircut is super cute and I'm glad we finally did it. I did keep a lock of the hair for her scrapbook. This pic is sooo adorable!

Cute Christmas pics

Grammy got Xander this adorable outfit for Christmas and we got Annabelle's dress at J.C. Penny. They are so cute. I love how Annabelle tries to hold the baby's hand. Xander likes to look up at the ceiling fan. He just smiles and nearly laughs. I call it his little fan friend.

Xander 5 and 6 weeks

5 weeks-Aren't they so sweet when they sleep. And it's so peaceful. I wish I could sleep that deeply.

6 weeks- What a big yawn! Vicki Graham sent us this onesie. Isn't it cute? Thanks, Vic!

Fall Leaves

I love watching Annabelle play in the fall leaves. We have a huge oak tree in the back yard and the amount of leaves that drop from it's branches are incalculable! I usually rake them up several times before I get them all cleaned up. It's great seeing AB pile them up and jump in them. She buries herself and hides in them. It's pretty cute. She loves it too. And she doesn't get too dirty.

Village Fun Fair

Annabelle rode a pony. She did great. I can't wait to ride beside her some day.

Shannon took her girls up this big inflatable slide. Annabelle wanted to go too. I took her up last year and it was hard. So Shannon took her this year. Thanks Auntie Shannon!

This fair is at a park near my home every year. It's got several inflatable rides for kids. We bought a wrist band and the kids can ride them as much as they want. They also have a train and ponies to ride. There is a small stage with dancers, karate demonstrations and an auction. Annabelle and I stayed nearly the entire time, from 10-4. It is so much fun, I look forward to it every year. I can't wait to take Xander too.

Pumpkin Patch

Sophy and Lola wait for their mom to come back to the car. She went into the Dollar Tree to get some sun glasses.

Annabelle played Pick Pack Pumpkins (Tic Tac Toe)

A cute little pumpkin house. Smile girls.

Playing with Friends

Emilie and Maddy come over on Monday to visit and play. We played outside a little and Annabelle read a book to Maddy. It was pretty cute.

Nicki and Jason came over Thursday. Nicki brought chicken and dumplings. They were delicious. We went outside. Annabelle played in the leaves and Jason enjoyed the swing and trying to pet Carmine.

It was so nice to have company this week. It made the week pretty busy but fun. Thanks for coming over!

Aunt Shannon

Haysville Fall Festival

House of Hope/MITI parade float

Uncle Matt and Annabelle

Annabelle riding the carousel

Annabelle riding the space train

Annabelle and Papa riding the twirling cups

With Daddy

My guys. So cute.

Family!

Aunt Heather

Poppy

Grammy

Annabelle's Halloween Costume

Mom did most of the sewing on this. She got most of it done in 1 day. She did a great job.

Annabelle tries to stand still so Nana can check the size and length.

Annabelle is a beautiful Renaissance Princess. Thanks for the help, Mom!

Brother and Sister

Daddy, Annabelle, and Xander

A Sweet Kiss

Aww, this is so cute. They're both smiling.

Baby shower

September 13th. Baby Shower for Alexander Lewis Pogue
At the home of Shannon Iverson

Cake made by Shannon Iverson

Watermelon Baby buggy made by Rebecca Campbell

Hostesses: (from right to left) Emilie Gordon, Dianna Huddleston, Me, Rebecca Cambell, Shannon Iverson, Nicki Austin, Rosemary Bartel

Thank you all for a wonderful shower. The food, games, gifts and company was perfect. Thanks also for being such great friends.

A Dedication

For many years, I prayed for my future children. God heard me and gave me what I asked for. Now, I willingly and entirely give my children back to Him. I will continue to thank and praise Him for giving such wonderful gifts to me.



"I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD." And he worshiped the LORD there." I Samuel 1:27-28

Grammy, Poppy, and Aunt Heather

So, Grammy, Poppy and Aunt Heather came to visit the new baby. On Satrudady night I lost my camera and subsequently, all the pics I had taken of them with Xander. I can not tell you how angry and frustrated I am with myself for misplacing the camera and at the camera for being lost. This is the only pic I have from the weekend. I keep praying that God will reveal the camera's hiding place and I will be relieved soon. In the meantime, I'm sorry to Poppy and Heather. I will post the pics when they are found.

Some more pics of Xander

The Austins
Aunt Shannon

Nicki and Gwyn and Simon

Daddy!

Nana and Papa