The Georgia Aquarium

The Georgia Aquarium is the world's largest aquarium. Although I thought it was a bit over-priced, we certainly got our money's worth.

For instance, did you know that jellyfish have no heart and no brain? Their nervous system is what keeps them going. My kids just kept looking for Dory and Marlin to go bouncing by.



This fish is perhaps the biggest fish I've ever seen. It's actually a kind of grouper that can weigh up to 90 pounds. This one was definitely there. We just kept watching them go by until one made up his mind to have a staring contest with the kids. Mackenzie and Aiden loved him. Dawson was not so sure.
Yes, they had several varieties of sharks. And, yes, they were very cool. The biggest and most impressive were the whale sharks. However, this was the coolest picture.



After her party, Mackenzie kept asking if they had mermaids at the aquarium. When we stopped for a snack break, we finally found one.
Her biggest wish was to touch a shark and here she gets her chance. Although, from the picture you can see that she practically had to go swimming with it to touch it.
The boys couldn't get quite as close but they were happy just to be able to splash around in the water. They did get to touch the stingrays, which were just as slimy and a little less people shy.
These were perhaps the coolest fish we saw. I forget the correct name but it was close to leaf dragonfish. You can see why. In the picture there are two of them. The one on top is upside down. They really live up to their name.

Save up your money and head to Atlanta. It was entertaining and fun for everyone in our group.

Birthday Memories

Mackenzie's party was "under the sea" at our neighbor's pool. Of course it had to have a mermaid theme complete with a mermaid cake. Since the pool was free and she already had the Ariel bathing suit, I thought it was a grand idea.

Her friends thought it was very cool that she could stunt with her Daddy and by the end of the party they were all up in the air at one time or another. Nelson was a little sore the next day, but other than that there were no injuries.


Everyone had lots of fun. There's not a better way to celebrate an August birthday in the south than to go swimming.
She was pretty lucky because she had this party on Sunday and yesterday, on her real birthday, we went to the Georgia Aquarium and an Atlanta Braves game. This outing was at the request of my mom and my brother who both celebrated big birthdays this year. But because it was Mackenzie's actual birthday, she thought it was a very good day.

Happy Birthday (Almost) Mackenzie!

It's hard to believe that my baby girl is turning six tomorrow.

I am so proud of the little lady you’ve become. This year has included many changes and accomplishments. You started Kindergarten and loved every minute of it. In fact, you were always a little disappointed when the weekends rolled around. Watching you learn to read has been nothing short of miraculous. I never doubted you could do it – of course I think you are exceptionally intelligent. It was just so amazing when you would come home and read me books. Gone are the days when your Daddy and I could spell things out to keep things hidden from you. You learned addition and subtraction. You learned Spanish and music. You loved P.E. You adored Mrs. Phillips and were friends with everyone in your class.

Of course there were a few drawbacks as well. I’ll never forget the night I put out the Dora placemat for dinner and you told me, “MOM…I DON’T like Dora, she’s for babies.” I was devastated. Suddenly there were people in your life other than your Daddy and me who had a strong influence over your opinions.

You are 110% girl. You love nail polish, make-up and perfume. What makes a dress great for you is how far out it goes when you spin around. You can do your own hair and you love picking out your own clothes, even though most of the time you choose the khaki shorts and blue princess t-shirt. You are our princess.

I love watching you with your brothers. Even though at times they drive you crazy (don’t worry, they drive all of us crazy sometimes), you show a genuine love for them. You are so kind to them and you are a very big help. Just this week you got up from breakfast and got yourself and the boys dressed all on your own.

You are every bit the performer. You never shy away from the spotlight. On the 4th of July you and Aiden sang a song in a talent show in front of several hundred people. It didn’t phase you in the least. In fact, you have your act planned out for the next three years (that is if you still think the Backyardigans are cool by then). You are a perfectly graceful ballerina, an exceptionally flexible gymnast, a strong swimmer and a talented artist.

You are the answer to my prayers. You are responsible for making me a Mama. You are a wonderful gift from God. I’m so happy you’re mine.

Happy Birthday Mackenzie girl! I LOVE YOU!!

An Errand?

Tonight, after celebrating Nelson's mom's birthday, the proverbial question from Aiden came out.

"Where are we going now mama?" he asked as Nelson led him to the car.

"We have to run an errand and then we're going home," I called to him as I led Mackenzie.

"WHAT?" she asked in surprise. "Why are we going to run over Uncle Aaron?"

Happy Birthday Mom!

You have always had a way of making every holiday and birthday special. I now understand how much work it takes to make that happen.

You have always been there to support us at every event we participated in and that was A LOT. I now know that you sacrificed a lot more than your time to do that.

You have always shown a strong faith, no matter the circumstances. I believe in an all powerful, all loving, always knows what's best for us God largely because of your example.

You have always been a servant. You give until it hurts, regardless of the cost. You would and will do anything you can to help someone in need. I pray that I can do it as well as you.

You have always been the kind of friend people call when they're in trouble. You give medical help (from your ER days), you usher people into Heaven (through your hospice work), and you listen to many a tear-filled conversation. You are the kind of friend everyone needs. I'm so grateful you're one of mine.

You have always taught me that love is more than just a feeling. It is a commitment for better AND for worse. I love better because of your example.

There is no end to the good things you have done, the important things you have taught, the positive example you have set. From the bottom of my heart I thank you. I could not have asked for a better mom.

Happy Birthday! I love you!

Countdown to School

This morning Mackenzie appeared a little disappointed as we were walking back to the car after dropping the boys off at school.

"What's wrong," I asked her.

"When is it my turn to go to school?" she asked.

"Well let's see, after two more times of the boys going to school, it will be your turn," I said watching her eyes light up in the rear view mirror.

Then of course came the inevitable question, "How long is that?"

She does better with events so I decided to initiate the count down in the following manner:

"Tomorrow is Saturday and that's the day we're going to Damma's birthday party. The next day is Sunday which is your birthday party followed by Bama's party. On Monday the boys go back to school. Tuesday is your birthday and we're going to the Aquarium and the Braves' game to celebrate your 6th, Bama's 60th and Uncle Aaron's 30th. Wednesday is our last day together with the boys in school so I thought I'd take you to get your toenails painted. Thursday we're going out to Great Grandpa's to sing your Vacation Bible School songs. Friday we leave for Illinois. Saturday is Alice's wedding. We drive back home Sunday. Monday we'll pack up your book bag and Tuesday is your first day as a 1st grader."

From the mirror I could see her eyes get bigger and bigger. Some things were punctuated with excited squeals. "Wow mom! That is a busy week."

Realizing all I had just rattled off, my expression was a forced smile, "You're right," I told her. "Won't it be so much fun?" I asked trying desperately to convince myself.

Help!

Can anyone explain why all of a sudden my blog looks like this? Beginning with one entry last night the newest entry was so far down the page that you couldn't see it when you pull it up.

I'm no computer whiz. I need some help please.

Hilton Head

Ah, those lazy days of summer are quickly slipping away. There's just something about the beach that takes me away from everything else but my kids. It was a hard time taking care of them by myself but that sacrifice was worth every moment I got to play with them and create lifetime memories. This picture is one of them.


And, lest anyone think they're perfect, this is what it came to after picture number 4. You can almost hear them. Dawson was thinking, "This is boring. Ooh sand! I'll throw some of it." Aiden agreed with him, "I'm tired of these cheesy photos. Let's see what happens if I hit Dawson when he throws the sand." And Mackenzie I'm sure was thinking, "That's right. I'm the princess. Why do I only have brothers?."


The place we stayed at was not only just a short walk from the beach but also from a very big, very nice pool. While there something momentous occurred. Aiden, who has feared getting his face wet all summer, decided on his own to start jumping in without me there to catch him. And this time, once was all it took on our first day there. The remainder of the time he was all about going UNDER the water.

Just for the record, I think this is one very cool photo.


You can see here that I'm not exaggerating. He was really swimming around and having a blast. "Mama, watch this! Mama lookit me! Mama you go under so I can look at you." It was quite miraculous.


Mackenzie had a new pair of goggles that she was really enjoying and wearing every time in the pool. And well, what can I say, monkey see, monkey do. Aiden and Dawson were both insistent on wearing some. I can't say that they worked at all but they sure loved them.

For my husband's sake I have to say that the goggles Dawson has on were purchased for Mackenzie. I do not buy my sons pink goggles. Nelson might take the boys away from me if I did.


One morning while I was sitting in a tidal pool something crawled across my leg. Being from Georgia, my first instinct was to wonder how a roach got into the ocean. Upon further inspection, I discovered it was a tiny crab. Mackenzie adopted the poor thing for the rest of the day.


Dawson, being the adventurer that he is, decided to take up surfing on this trip. I guess he figured he'd give it a try since he has surf boards on his suit.

Really though he loved the beach and had no fear of the waves, even after getting tumbled around by them on a few occasions. More than anything, he loved running through, splashing around and jumping in the little tidal pools that collected on the beach.

Pictures are a wonderful thing. And the beach, well it was great. But my kids, they're the GREATEST!

Hmm...

An interesting footnote to the quiz results below.

I just realized that three things tied - English, Theater and Psychology.

I have a Bachelor's Degree in English. I directed the high school plays for 15 years. My Master's Degree is in School Counseling.

Maybe I hit the nail on the head after all.

Maybe I Missed My Call

I found the results of this quiz very interesting. (*note - publishing this quiz messed up my blog so you'll just have to garner the results based on what I wrote)Someone once told my parents that my biggest problem was going to be choosing one field to go into because my interests were so spread out.

My first loves were anything that put me on the stage. I wanted to be an actress, a dancer, an artist and a musician. Next I wanted to be the first of many things - the first woman on the moon, the first woman president, the first almost anything.

Unfortunately (or fortunately) what I didn't want to be was a starving artist. What I decided to be was an English teacher who was also the yearbook advisor, the theater director and a few other tasks that were thrown my way in the small private school I worked in. For me it was perfect. Every day I was on stage in front of my students. I got to tell them about the things I love. I got to do the things I love. I got to be with teenagers who I always learned to love.

Through it all I have always been a writer. I have kept journals since I was in grade school. I write in journals for my kids. I write to people I love. For a few years I was actually a free lance writer. And, since I have started blogging, the desire to write has grown stronger every day.

Maybe I went into the wrong field. Maybe I should give this other thing a real try. Anyone looking for a writer?

Some may laugh that the second choice was a dancer but I have always loved dancing. In fact, Nelson and I teach ballroom dancing in the high school.

Apparently, some of these tests are rather accurate. Too bad I didn't find this when I was in high school.

Delicioso

This morning I was finishing up loads six and seven of the mountain of beach laundry. I don't normally watch TV during the day except when I'm folding bunches of clothes. Today I had on the typical morning talk show while the kids were around playing and I was folding.

Aiden and Dawson adore Dora the Explorer and thanks to Nelson's job at Comcast, they can watch it whenever they want due to our digital cable. I love it because they are actually learning Spanish and using it in their everyday conversations. For instance, when they get stuck somewhere they usually shout, "Ayude me!" which means help me.

Interestingly enough, today these two stories merged. I looked up from my folding to watch Harrison Ford walk onto the talk show. I've been a big fan of his since Star Wars. Just as the applause for Harrison ended, Aiden piped up and said, "Yum, yum, yum, delicioso!"

An Old Friend

Okay, so this transition from beach to real life has been a little tougher than the last. I'm on my fifth load of laundry today and it was all clean before I left. The house is a mess and there's still one suitcase on the floor (it is almost empty though).The kids and I are still tired. It was a long four days interspersed with three VERY short nights. Experience does tell me that eventually, I will catch up. However, when I look at this photo of me and my friend Kathleen, I know that all of that was worth it.
We have been friends since I was Aiden's age. We literally grew up together. Our parents hung out together so we did too. Same church, same schools, same dance studio...you get the picture.

I moved away the summer before my ninth grade year and I was devastated. Although I had lived other places, Huntsville was the only home I remembered. I had a close-knit group of friends, a large social structure, and a life I really loved.

Of all of those friends, Kathleen is one of only two who still keep in touch. We have seen each other several times over the years but the last time was at her wedding in NYC. That was six years ago. Since then we simply email and trade pictures. I was so excited to find out she was going to be in Hilton Head that I finally gave in to my husband's desire to have us leave him to his paper work for a few days.

She didn't arrive until the day before I left so we spent one whole day together. We connected as if we had never been apart. I've discovered as a mother that children are the great equalizer.

We reminisced. We talked about our lives and our families. We wondered how our mothers were able to do anything with all of us running around. But mostly, we spent our time chasing the kids. Between the two of us we had 6 children under 6 with one on the way (and NO IT'S NOT ME).
As her husband took this picture, the first one we had taken since her wedding, I wondered out loud, "Who would have ever thought we'd be here six years later with all of these little ones?" We all got a laugh. It's amazing how much changes in such a short amount of time. What's even more amazing is how much some things stay the same.

I am so grateful for Kathleen and the friend she has been over the years. I am grateful for the time we got to spend together. And, I really hope another six years does not pass us by before we see each other again.

Uh-Oh!

I just walked in the boys' room to tell them to be quiet and found Dawson out of his crib and in the middle of the floor.

I looked at Aiden, who seemed to be in his bed as opposed to running and jumping in it as the door opened. I asked him, "How did Dawson do that?"

"He did it by himself on the fan," he answered.

Whew!

Well, we survived. And, besides wanting to call Nelson at 2 a.m. the first night to tell him we were coming home because I literally got NO SLEEP in the same bed as Mackenzie AND Aiden with Dawson right beside us, I did alright.

The kids had a blast. I got to visit with my friend who I hadn't seen in 6 years. We didn't get lost. We didn't get rained on. We didn't kill each other.

However, in the argument between Nelson and I over who loves who more, I DEFINITELY win!

Out of the Mouths of Babes

Tonight after dinner at my folks, Nelson got the kids together while I helped clean the kitchen. My brother Kevin ran up the stairs and said, "Okay everyone, I have an announcement to make!"

Although there was a scurry of activity, he managed to catch our attention to relay the following story.

"Hey guys, Nelson was downstairs yelling at Aiden to pick up the toys. He finally said to him, 'Why do you have to be so hard-headed?' Then Mackenzie said, 'Why are you getting so mad at him dad? You don't pick anything up at home.'" Kevin was laughing hysterically.

I had to promise Nelson that I did not coach her to say that. Really, I didn't!

Here I Go Again On My Own

We celebrated my brother's birthday tonight. Because he works in a parish, he has to be there on the weekends. It makes me appreciate the fact that a priest rarely has the weekend off. They work so hard for us and for God.

We had a great dinner and lots of fun followed by lots of dishes. I then came home to a few more dishes from the Snickers cheesecake I made him and lots of packing. You'd think after having just been to the beach it would be easier, but packing for four is never easy.

Let's see there's the food, bath and beach towels, kitchen stuff, sheets, beach toys, house toys, sunscreen, pillows, books, drinks, swimsuits and clothes. Am I forgetting anything? Oh yeah, my husband. Well he's not coming. He's the one sending us off.

The good news is that a friend and her kids are joining us the first two days and the third day I'm spending with my life-long friend I haven't seen in six years. I can't wait to see her and her three children.

Can't someone just beam me up? If only it were that easy. Pray for me and the kids. And please be patient. I promise I'll be back soon.

Happy Birthday Aaron!

Today is my brother's 30th birthday. As a lot of you already know, this is a milestone birthday. It's one that often makes you feel as if you're actually growing old.

For me, number 30 was a celebration. I had achieved a good number of my major goals and heard the answer to most of my prayers. With Aaron, I think it should be much the same.

He is on the verge of his life's vocation. In October, he will be ordained a transitional deacon in the Catholic Church and in June, God willing, a priest. His ordination in October is in Rome...Italy...in St. Peter's no less! What more could you ask for?

In a lot of ways, he is my hero. I can remember the phone call when he told me he was entering the seminary. He didn't want anyone to know because he wasn't sure he was being called to the priesthood. And yet, even though he felt no certainty, he went out of obedience and a willingness to listen to God's will for his life.

Two years of pre-theology and three years of theology later, he knows he is where God wants him. He has a peace about it. He is anxious to get started (and to get out of school and Italy).

How many more priests would we have today if everyone approached praying through his vocation this way? And let me be clear, he's not my hero so much because he's becoming a priest, but because he listened to God and followed His will. I would be proud of him if he decided to come home and get married. I would be proud because as long as you do God's will, you can't go wrong.

Happy Birthday Aaron. May these first 30 years only be the beginning of your lifelong journey with God! I love you.

Just a Typical Night

One discovery led to another tonight. My discovery that Klondike makes an Oreo version led to Dawson's discovery that he could grow a goatee just like Daddy's.
That discovery led to the knowledge that no mess is too big for the tub and...



no lap is too small for story time.


Ah, these are the days to remember. When the biggest problems are who gets the biggest ice cream, who has to get out of the tub first, who gets to pick out the bed time story and who gets to sit in the middle of the story teller's lap.

Here We Go Again

In the myriad of things my husband is involved in (i.e. building our home, investing and working 60 to 80 hours a week, just to name a few), he's gotten a bit behind in his household paperwork.

This is not the first time this has happened. I'm not complaining. I know how easy it is to get behind. As a matter of fact, right now I'm thinking about the two pair of his khaki pants that he'll expect to be ironed by tomorrow. They are presently hanging in the laundry room.

His excuse for not getting on top of things is that he can't get anything done around here with all the distractions. My response is always, "Welcome to my world!"

Don't get me wrong, I feel his pain. What I wouldn't give to have him take the kids out of town for a few days so that I could actually clean the house AND sit down in it while it's still clean!

I've indulged him in this request before. However, since Dawson came into the picture I've been reluctant to try it. "What's the problem," he asks, "I thought you liked getting away?"

Hmm...going out of town for a few days alone with a 22 month old, a 3 year old and a 5 year old is not exactly my idea of getting away. Can I hear an "Amen Sister!”?

Last week however, I got an email from a friend of mine that I've known almost since birth. I moved away when I was in high school but we've managed to keep in touch and we’ve seen each other a few times over the years. She wrote to let me know that she was going to be in Hilton Head next week and wanted to know how far away that was from me. Last night, I relayed that information to Nelson.

By ten o'clock this morning he had arranged for me and the kids to go to a friend's condo on the beach for three days next week. Okay, so I can’t really complain about a husband who sends me to the beach. I love the beach. I love watching my kids on the beach. I can't wait to see my friend and her three kids.

So...once again I will prepare for the beach. I will pack the suitcases and the car. I will drive the kids. I will build sandcastles and spend time with an old friend. I will do it because I love you Nelson.

By the way...when I get back I'm looking into making some arrangements for you and the kids to “get away” for, oh I don't know, a week or so:).

Oh Say, Can You Sing?

"Up, Two, Three, Four!" he shouted into the mike after donning the soldier suit. Then, he sang every song he knows at full volume all around the house.

In thanksgiving for all of the men and women who risk their lives daily for our freedom.

Weighing the Options

As of late, Aiden has been into spitting for some strange reason...like, he's a boy I guess. At the breakfast table this morning it began again.

We've talked about this many times and given many warnings. We've told him he's being a bad example because as soon as he starts, Dawson soon follows. None of this has had any impact on his three-year-old mind.

"Aiden," I asked him, "do you want to get a spanking?"

He thought for a brief moment and asked, "Who's gonna' spank me, you or daddy?"

Still Thinking About the Beach

I'm still thinking about how nice it would be if I could send the kids out to play on the beach when they wake up at 6:30 on a Saturday morning.
A big hit with all of the kids was the fact that they could actually fly kites on the beach without much effort at all.
The hardest part was holding on to them since the wind was so strong.
We spent a day in Charleston during the week. Since Nelson and I had both been before, we decided to do something specifically for the kids.
We had a picnic lunch in the park and then took them to The Children's Museum. If you're ever in Charleston, I highly recommend it.
There was room after room of totally accessible kid stuff. Think a room that studied motion by letting the kids throw golf balls down spirals and racing shoots; a room that taught about water by letting them race boats, paint with it and make it rain; a room that demonstrated fishing principles on a life size fishing boat complete with nets, rain boots and slickers; a room that let them experience shopping in a kid-sized grocery store where they got their own carts, picked up groceries and checked out; a castle with dress-up clothes and hiding places galore; an art room where the sky's the limit; a garden that let them dig and pump water from an old barrel pump. The only trouble we had was convincing the kids to leave one room so we could see what was in the next. They loved it.

Mall Moments

Mackenzie and I spent some time at the mall today while the boys were in school. When I can, I try to use their school days to etch out some good one on one time with her.

The mall was a bit crowded with all the back to school shoppers. As we sat in the food court while Mackenzie finished her lunch, I was looking around at some of the teenagers. Some were there with friends, others with parents. Some caught my eye because of the strange ways they were dressed or acting.

While watching a pair of very "Goth" looking teens lunch with their obviously conservative mother, I wondered how that happened. How do teenagers stray so very far from the way of their parents and why do their parents let them?

I'm not trying to be judgmental about the way they were dressed. Goodness knows Mackenzie already has a mind of her own as far as style goes. What caught my attention was the seemingly polar opposites at the same table, from the same family. I mean, there was nothing subtle about the teens at all. I just can't imagine that the mom said to them, "Why don't you paint your face white, wear all your black and put in your lip ring so we can go to the mall."

I looked Mackenzie in the eye and said to her, "Will you promise me that you'll always listen to me, even when you get older?"

"Oh yes," was her sweet reply. "I know that some kids are disobedient to their parents but I will always be obedient to you."

Okay, so I know she's only 5. I know that she won't always listen. I know that we won’t always agree on what she should wear. I know that she won't always be obedient. But at that moment, I was very thankful for her answer.

I was thankful for her knee length denim skirt and the satin ribbon that tied back her hair. I was thankful that we sat there looking eye to eye talking about her 6th birthday coming up and whether or not she wanted a vanilla cone before we left.

Hopefully ten years from now we can have the same kind of moment. Hopefully she'll still be willing to be out in public with me. Hopefully she'll still look me in the eye and listen to what I have to say.

Thankfully, God starts us out with babies so that we have a little bit of wisdom under our belts before we have to deal with teenagers.

I Say A Little Prayer

On our way out of the pool today the kids spotted a playground. Even after three hours of swimming and a heat index over 100, they begged for a few minutes to play.

After a few trips down the slide, Aiden spotted a child's bucket-type seated swing. He ran at it full force screaming, "Mama, pretty please, you put me in this swing. Please you push me."

After several minutes of running back and forth between pushing Aiden, spinning Mackenzie and making sure Dawson didn't fall from the top of the slide, I had had enough. It was hot. I was tired. It was definitely nap time.

When I tried to get Aiden out of the swing, he got stuck. First I struggled to get his knees out then each foot. It seemed as though he was trying to make it difficult and I was frustrated. "Come on Aiden," I said. "Get your foot out."

As I was tugging with my arms wrapped around him I heard him say, "Please Jesus, help me get my foot out. Amen." Sure enough, the foot came loose and he was out.

The more I think about this, the more encouraged I am. All too often I see the bad impact I have on the kids. I hear them repeat something I shouldn't have said. I see them display my short temper. I feel their pain as they struggle with their own frustrations with each other and me. A lot of times I beg God to forgive my short comings and plead with Him not to let my mistakes hurt my kids.

Today, however, I saw something good. It was short. It was sweet. It was totally spontaneous. It was straight from the heart. I have offered up these little prayers of desperation many times myself. Sadly, they often come as a last resort after long moments of frustration, but they do come. And, when they do, they come out loud so the kids can see who I turn to in times of need.

Today I saw a tiny piece of evidence that something positive is rubbing off. I’m not perfect, and neither is Aiden. But in that moment, stuck in that little rubber swing, I saw perfection. An innocent heart was calling out in total purity to God. And God, being God of course, heard him and answered his prayer.

On days like today it requires a bit of reflection to take away something positive. It was a trying day. Everyone got sent to their room, disciplined and seriously talked to several times. But that’s not what I’m going to focus on. Instead what I choose to see is that a difficult moment that would usually turn to yelling and tears, turned into a prayer.

Have you noticed that more times than not, it’s our children teaching us and not the other way around? Today I chose to listen and I loved what I heard.

O Happy Day!

Sonic's Happy Hour is back and, thanks to a fellow Sonic devotee that I spent three hours at the pool with this afternoon, I've indulged.

It really is the simple things in life isn't it? What could be a better way to cool off in this unbelievable heat than to hang out at the pool and follow that up with three little slushes and a Rt. 44 for $3?

Hopefully the kids will keep their voices down when they ask if we can hit Happy Hour again!

Beach Memories

Their feet hit the sand running and never stopped. I just had to capture this moment. If they could just stay little..



They played for hours in the sand. Oh to have the beach in my own backyard.


They spent so much time in fact that Dawson became quite proficient at sand sculpting.




The girls were given the opportunity to live out their mermaid fantasies.

And the kids cha-cha'd their way out of the beach house.

It was a good week. More pictures may follow.