Baseball Spring Training -- The Brogdon Way

Earlier today, Jon sent me a text message to let me know that he registered Chris for another season of baseball.  Both Christopher's and my reaction were the same:  YES!! This phenomenon happens in our family every year.  After the holidays are over, we start getting a little antsy for spring, and for baseball season in particular.  Jon starts preparing in his traditional way -- he starts watching all the baseball movies we have.  I guess it's kind of like his own form of spring training!  In no particular order (except for the first one), we start watching The Natural, The Rookie, Major League, A League of Their Own (my fave), Field of Dreams, and several others that are too numerous to mention.  It's a great tradition that I'm glad my kids are carrying on now.  


I don't know exactly how my love for the game developed.  So many memories throughout my life involve baseball in some way, shape or form.  You'd think I'd be this fantastic softball player myself, but, ummmm ... no, that's definitely not the case.  Let's just say I'm so much better as a fan!


Chris will be finishing up his basketball season in a few weeks, and he had the option of playing football this spring as well.  But he himself said that it wouldn't feel right to him that it would be spring time and not play baseball.  Needless to say, Jon and I are pretty proud of his choice!  :)


We have a way to go still before the season starts, but appropriately enough, I saw this recently and it made me a little nostalgic for our nation's past time.  Well, it was either that or the fifth time we've seen A League of Their Own this week ... I can't decide which.  


Happy Monday!  -- S




"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring."  -- Rogers Hornsby

A Valentine Lovebug

She really is just the cutest thing! This is the second time this little one has posed for me
and my camera, this time for a Valentine's photo shoot. I had the opportunity to photograph Miss M and her family at Christmas, and I was so happy to get the chance to see her again and capture these images.

Take a look at this little lovebug girl! Yes, she WILL steal your heart!

Happy Thursday! -- S

Annie went with me on our first photo shoot with M, and wanted to see her again too, so I brought her along. At the end of our session, M gave Annie a big kiss. It all happened so fast I didn't get to adjust my focus properly, but it was just too cute not to include in this post.  Kissed by an angel ...

Guest Blog From The Dog: Sasha Says -- #5

Hey there and WOOF!! Remember me? It's been a while since I've blogged. We heard comments from a few folks that there needed to be another Guest Blog From The Dog -- Sasha Says blog post, so I thought I'd do that and give you an idea how things are going for me.

I'm now about seven months old, and I weigh about 11 pounds now. Mom thinks I'm about the biggest I'm going to get and won't really grow much anymore. That's okay with me ... I can still squeeze into a size SMALL. But you know, I gotta work out to keep my puppylike figure. Besides all the jumping I do when my humans are in the kitchen eating (man, talk about stingy ... they don't share!), everyday pretty much like clockwork, I just gotta RUN everywhere in the house. And sometimes, if I'm lucky, one of the kids will leave the front door open when someone comes over to hang out with them, and I make a bee-line for the front yard WITH NO LEASH! It's such a blast to watch the entire family come out to chase me down. Ha! Ha! Yeah, it takes five people to catch THIS fluff dawg!

So I hear the word about me is that I'm this feisty pup with lots of attitude. I've got nicknames like the Feistasaurus, S.R. Fluffenstuff, the Feistmaker, Growler Girl ... okay, kinda got a lot of them. I admit, I like to get my game on and maybe even grab a pant leg or two. But it's all in fun! Take a look at my recent pics and decide for yourself. What do YOU think? Grrrrrr .....

Have a great night! Paws and peace out! -- Sasha

A little blurry, but that's just 'cause I'm too fast for my mom with that Canon thing of hers!  Oh, snap ... did I just say that?  haha

Me on the way to school this afternoon to go pick up the boy.  At about 2:30 on weekdays, once I'm out of the house, I walk on up to the car and practically jump on in.  Yeah, that's just how I roll.  :)

Do you think this Valentine sweater makes my fluff butt look big?  Hmmmm .... may have to chew this one up to get rid of it. 

Me a week or so ago, just after seeing the groomer.  Yeah, that stupid bow was gone in about an hour.  haha

Me?? Feisty?? Grrrrrr.....

No, not me! See how innocent I look?  [hee hee]. 

A Walk Around Town With The K Family

You've seen a lot of my family in my posts lately. Over the holidays, I photographed my brother and his family, as well as several of my cousins and their loved ones. So, here's one more ...

My beautiful cousin Nicole, her husband Kris and their Little Miss A posed for my camera over the holidays. We had a nice time walking around the Pearland Town Center in the Houston area. I sometimes forget what it's like to have a toddler running around ... let's just say Miss A kept us all pretty well on our toes! She's so full of life, and was such a joy to photograph.

Nicole and Kris -- thanks so much for our great photo session! Much love to you all! -- S

Chris: Senior Pics

Okay, so now I officially feel old. :( I remember when this guy was born and was just a little one. About a month ago, I had the honor of taking Christopher's senior pictures. He'll be graduating this May from Alvin High School. Yes, they really do grow up way too fast! Chris' family (my cousin Liz, her husband Manual and their kids) were also there and joined in on some of the pictures during our session.

Liz, Manual, Chris, Felicity and Jeremiah -- thank you all for such a fun photo shoot! I feel very privileged to capture these images of all of you!

Love to you all! -- S

A Plea For Help

Written on Saturday, January 15, late at night. Please forgive the long post, but it's important.

My family received some bad news today. We were out at dinner when I heard. We were anticipating results, but I did not expect to hear THIS. It was all I could do to keep my composure in front of my child and not excuse myself from the table to go to the ladies' room in tears. All I could think was "no, not again!"

Two years ago, my cousin Christina was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). She went through a year long ordeal of chemo treatments, doctors, hospitals, tests -- everything you can imagine. For almost a year, she's been doing okay after finishing chemo ... until now.

The news we received today is that the last residual cancer cells in her body are not only present, but have multiplied. This means, quite simply, that she is relapsing. The cancer is back, and the treatments this time will be even more intense than before.

Without question, Chrissy will now NEED a bone marrow transplant. Immediate family members are usually the first among whom doctors look to, and unfortunately, none of them were a match. We have a large extended family and many of us have either registered, or are being tested to register, on her behalf. I sent for my test kit as soon as I got home this evening. Donors of Hispanic descent are particularly sought after for her case.

So, here's my plea for help. But rather reading it in my words, I thought you might get a better idea expressed by Chrissy herself. I hope her words will get you to consider her request.

-- S
___________________________________________________________________

January 15, 2011 -- I desperately need everyone's help. Several of you are already on the national bone marrow registry. But if you are not, please, please please get tested to join. When they considered a transplant two years ago, there was no match on the registry. A family member would likely be a better match; a ten point match -- from a family member or friend or even a complete stranger -- could do the trick.

Registering for the NMDP (National Marrow Donor Program) is an easy process. Here are three ways:

Look for a bone marrow drive in your area, or even organize one. We'll be arranging some of those in Houston/Katy. If you would like to organize one in your area, please contact me so we can set that up.

Visit www.bethematch.org to order a home test kit. The kits are sent to your home, you perform a saliva swab test, and send it back in. That's it!

Visit www.aadp.org. This site is part of the Be The Match/NMDP Program, and specifically targets, and offers free home registration kits to donors of all or partly ethnic minority descent. Visit www.aadp.org/pages/register.php , fill out an information form, complete the test kit sent to your home and return it. Easy!

I find it ironic that two years ago TODAY, I was diagnosed with ALL, and our lives changed. Two years later, I will start Round 2 for the fight of my life. I have so many mixed emotions about all of this. I am by no means giving up -- you have my promise on that. But I would be lying if I were to say that I'm not scared. I am scared -- I have never been so scared in my whole life. But I'm not giving up.

But PLEASE PLEASE join the registry. Get everyone you know to join it, family members, etc. Someone needs your match. I need it. Someone out there is my match and will save my life.

This isn't over by a long shot.

C

"But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds," declares the Lord." Jeremiah 30:17


Cancer has picked the WRONG person to mess with this time! My cousin is one of the strongest, most resilient persons I know. She has fought this battle so far with incredible determination and has done it all without losing her sense of humor and grace. I continue to be amazed by her everyday!

I took these pictures of her and her family just a few months ago. The idea was to take holiday family portraits, but I also wanted to take a couple of pics of just her ... the Leukemia Warrior ... as a memento of how far she'd come in her battle. But now that she'll be facing a Round 2, I know that with the right help and support, she will fight this again and WIN!



Chrissy and her husband Alex, and their three sons.



Chrissy and I on the day after Christmas, at our aunt's house for our Hernandez family celebration. I love my cousin! Please help us if you can.

It's A Fine Mess We're In

Recently, Jon and I and the kids cleaned out our game room. And believe me, it was long overdue. When we moved into our house three years ago, we figured the game room was plenty big for all their crap (oops, I mean ... um, toys.) We had Polly Pockets, Littlest Pet Shop stuff, Leapsters, Legos, Thomas the Train ... you name it. When all their stuff was all over the place, it often felt like every toy company out there had moved inventory into our home. In the last year or so, we realized those things were being neglected, and it was time to haul that stuff out. Now, the game room houses the girls' musical instruments, and it's a nice comfortable music/utility room for the kids. They did a great job cleaning up!

But for all my bragging on my kids, now and in previous posts, I feel I must point out that life is not quite so bliss and perfect in my home. Far from it. See, my kids are well ... a bit messy. Yes, I know, you're shocked and appalled. Seriously. But it's true. Allow me to rant on some things about my kids to which we parents, I'm sure, can all relate.

For as smart as my kids are, they cannot seem to:

1. pick up towels off the floor
2. load a dishwasher to save their lives
3. pick up the couch pillows off the floor
4. feed the dog without being reminded
5. empty the trash cans (it's more like a contest who can stack and balance the trash the highest)
6. likewise to item #5, take trash out of our vehicles
7. wake up to go to school on time (we're always running out the door at the last minute)
8. bring down their laundry
9. turn lights/radio/tv off when not in use; and (this is the biggie I hate the most ...)
10. remember anything I said just two minutes earlier.

Having said that, my kids also have this AMAZING ability: all of these things can be performed expeditiously and without hesitation if it means a cell phone, a Kindle or a special outing of some kind just ohhhh, suddenly goes ... buh bye. Yeah, I thought you could relate.

My kids are free this weekend. Anyone want to have them over? :)

Have a great evening! -- S


This basket at the bottom of the stairs is supposed to be for all their little stuff that's supposed to go in their rooms. Most often, it ends up with dirty clothes, shoes, towels ... you name it. This "little" mess was created in just mere minutes after school today. Sheesh!

But while the kids could be hanging out at your house this weekend, Sasha and I could be chilling at home. Doesn't that sound nice? :)

Crochet Love

It's something I've done most of my life. Since I was 12, in fact -- almost the same age as Annie and Kate. A happy accident, if you will. And though I enjoy other types of creative endeavors, I have to say that it has always been my first "crafty" kind of love.

Crochet -- it's an older kind of hobby, I know. And maybe even Martha Stewart-ish. But it's just something I do when I have a few minutes here and there. I didn't set out to learn it, and even though I have an aunt who crochets, she wasn't the one to teach me. As I said, it was kind of a happy accident. Over a summer in seventh grade, I spent a week with a friend and her grandmother. I do not remember much about about this lady ... her name, what she looked like, where she lived, really anything about her. Except that she taught me how to crochet. And that it has stayed with me, all this time.

Since then I've made lots of blankets and scarves. Mostly because they're hard for me to mess up (but don't get me wrong, I have certainly done my fair share of that too). I have made some things for family and friends, many blankets for my kids, including the heirloom blankets they used in their baptism ceremonies. Many other projects we've kept here at home to enjoy. It's just something about finding a great yarn stash, cuddling up with a crochet project and watching tv during the winter months that I really love. Right now, I'm working on ... ummm .... ANOTHER blanket for the family room. Yeah, I guess in a way, we're kinda like Linus -- we all like snuggling with our favorite blankets that I've made.

So, much thanks to the lady who, albeit randomly and unbeknownst to her, has touched my life in such a "fiberiffic" way. Although I can't remember your name and your face, when I curl up and am stitching away, I do remember your incredible patience in teaching me how to crochet when I was a young girl. I guess you just never know how some people can affect your life in a way that is everlasting.

Here are some pics of a few of my projects over the last few years. Have a great weekend! -- S

"Memories are stitched with love." -- author unknown


Recent blankets for the family room. Most of these are made with two to three strands of yarn at a time so that they're extra warm.

The last blanket I made for Chris. It's also made with two strands of yarn, in a colorful/transitional pattern. He loves this one!

Recent blankets I made for the girls. Annie's is the white/green/blue/dark blue one; Kate's is in the same pattern in pink/cream/orange/dark red.

I love scarves! Here are several that I wear in the winter.

A Memo To My Dad

To: Dad
From: Your loving, favorite (and only) daughter
Date: January 3, 2011
Subj: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Just a few words to commemorate your special day today. Happy Birthday to the man who taught me how to catch a ball, taught me how to bowl, and passed on his love of music and family. Thank you for all the wonderful outings/lunches/bowling beat downs (ha ha) with you, Janet and the kids -- Annie, Kate, Chris and I have loved the time we have spent with you. I am so fortunate to have you as my dad, and I am very proud to be your daughter!

I hope you're having the happiest of birthdays today! I love you! -- S


A restored-as-much-as-possible photo of my dad with his trumpet, back in the day.

Dad and Janet. This is my favorite photo of them.

Dad at a family reunion, ready to get his game on with the grandsons.

Welcome Connor!

He's finally here! You might remember I recently posted pictures of my brother and his wife, who were expecting their first child. Well, he's here! My new nephew was born on December 15, and he's absolutely beautiful! Take a look at the photos (and okay, yes, there are a lot of them, but hey, that's what aunts are for, right?)

Welcome Connor! Can't wait to see you again, little one!

Love,
Aunt Sylvia

But before I show you my nephew, I thought I'd give you a little glimpse of Connor's Corner (aka, his nursery). It's decorated in a classic car theme ... so cool!








This is the Pooh Bear the girls gave to their new cousin when they performed "Return to Pooh Corner" at Meredith's baby shower.

And here he is!





Just love this one!

This one is a favorite too!







My brother is a trumpet player, as is our dad. So of course, Connor had to get his own special trumpet too, right? haha .









Congratulations Mike and Meredith! What a wonderful Christmas gift for the two of you! ♥