A Thousand Words Thursday - Whose Coming Up Through Those Tires

Today's submission for Jen's A Thousand Words Thursday is my Handsome. I asked him three times to stop as soon as he got into the tires but he just couldn't control the climb. When the legs got to go, the legs got to go man!

ABC Wednesday "Y"

I was searching through my photos for about 10 minutes wondering what I could use to depict "Y" this round. Yellow? Yawn? The one that kept springing up at me was "Young Women," "Young," and "Youth".

So, here is my "Y".

Seeing my niece last week was crazy. She is 13 and has grown so much. When I see her, I just want to shout, "You are So Grown" but refrain for fear I will sound like Britney Spears. Yo, gurrrrllll, you so grown!

Anyway, Sam is the sweetest kid. She is entering that awkward stage where her friends are much more important than family but she still tries. She is all about appearances and wants to keep up with the Jones' which is something I worry about for her in the future. I want her to just be happy! Love what you have and don't long or wish for things that in the long run won't matter and don't add to your life.

I have always loved taking pictures of her and told her if I ever had a daughter I would want her to be like her. My daughter is very much like her.

She feels deeply, loves clothes, is sweet and loving, loves to play with her dolls, loves to sing, act and make faces and is sensitive.

I love this photo! The original of course is quite clearer. This was cropped closely to take out all the surroundings. She looks like a teenager here.

Seeing Sam and my daughter makes my heart swell. Goddess loves her and is constantly placing her little hand on Sam's face when they hug. Cuuuutee!

I think this is my favorite picture. She looks like she is having fun!

This was too much of a pose for me. I felt like her told her to stop posing at least 5 times. I love candid shots and she sees a camera and smiles and poses.

She is wearing my hat and I had to run over to grab this shot knowing this could one day be a blackmail picture that could come back and haunt her one day.

How We Spent Our 4th of July 2009

This weekend we decided we would keep the kids up to see their first fireworks. Bed time here is at 8:00 and by 8:30 they were drifting. We got outside with some light sticks and the first thing they said, was "look at the moon."

This first picture was my first attempt. It was not what I was seeing
with my own eyes, so I tried again.

This was the second attempt. I love the branches handing above it. Gives it a nice feel.

We headed down to our beach, about a 5 minute drive and waited! Fortunately there were some other fireworks going on around the lake so we watched those.

I like this one across the lake. I was still playing with my shutter speed and aperture. It looks like there was fire but it was actually a set of fireworks going off.

Here are my two being quite patient. The glow sticks were a source of entertainment thank goodness because the fireworks didn't start until 9:30.

Here was the tail end of one. I have a ton of full blown pics but I don't love them. Hopefully next year they will be awesome.

Little miss was watching from the shoreline for a while.

It looks so bright here but it was quite dark. I really need to learn this whole aperture thing.

It was fun and the kids enjoyed themselves. I loved lying on a bench snapping away while Daddy sat with the kids oohhh'ing and ahhhh'ing

It was a good time and the kids were exhausted. The boy was fading fast and they were asleep 3 minutes after saying their prayers.

Ruby Tuesday Finds The Red In The Sand

This weeks Ruby Tuesday is all about the sand and the beach! I didn't have too much red but I managed to grab a few shots. The first is of my little summer beauty. She has a cheesy mouth due to some cheese puffs she had just snacked on.

Mellow Yellow Monday Features One Of My Favorite Photos

This is one of my absolute favorite captures. My girlfriend's husband loves his salt water tank. I love going over to take some pictures of the very expensive fish in his tank. This little guy has such personality! Isn't he the cutest?

Monochrome Weekly Meme Goes To The Beach

Hit the button above to go to the homepage of Aileni's Monochrome meme

I actually shot all of these in monochrome with my camera this week instead of changing them in a photo program. What a difference.

The first photo is of the kids sharing their snack with a school friend we ran into at the beach. Providing a snack is the only time you can get my kids to sit down at the beach. They run in and out of the lake with blue lips, shaking, with goosebumps but never want to come out.
I love the water stars in the photo above. This is my neighbor and friend with her son. She is very special and has been there for me whenever I needed a question answered about the medical care of my kids. Having a friend who is a nurse is a great resource. I really respect her because she is doing exactly what I had always wanted to do growing up. I have soft spot for nurses and the care they give. She always has a smile on her face and is fun to be around.
This last picture is of a sand castle that was knighted over by two kids who built it. They never played near it but God forbid you walked over to it. I hear they worked with their dad for over 2 hours to build it. It took up a good portion of our small area and it was hard not knock some over when you walked near it. The turtle is my daughter's however, after rolling over and needing to be fished out by Dad, the Goddess was a little apprehensive about getting back on.

Blue Monday - Brings The Beach

This weekend our beach open which means for us, summer is officially here. Usually they open on Memorial Day, I have no idea what happened this year. We headed to the beach with the kids, some towels, water, corn chips and my camera and enjoyed the ice cold lake water. There has been so much rain and the temps haven't been above 83 in weeks, so it was a bit frigged.

My blue towel is always the one we put down for the kids to sit on or to play in the sand. They never sit unless....I put out a snack. Here is my daughter enjoying the sun and the sand on Saturday.

Self Portrait Sunday #7

Come on, admit it, you look through your photo albums or computer folders and see very few photos of yourself. Maybe it is because, like me, you are usually behind the camera. Or maybe, it's because you never feel you look good in photos so you tell everyone, "don't take any of me."

Join me, putting up your self portrait shots every Sunday. There is only one rule. Link back to me so I can come visit you. I would really love seeing some participants so come and play.

This week, I snapped some while the kids were busy. Here is am with my double chinny, chin, chin. But notice the staged happiness on my face. Oh, check out the pin, my daughter made that at school this past mother's day. My son made one in green. I switch off every couple of days.

The hair is down now, but still the same day. I don't know you about you people but my hair up hurts after a while.

Ahh...you caught me! Reading a book during the day. While the kids play near by. Hahahah...nope totally staged. I pushed, the timer button and jumped on the couch with the book. I do however, look very relaxed. The kids were shoved out of the way on my way over so they wouldn't' be in the frame this week. After all, it is a self portrait meme.

Randomness...................

1. Did you ever have someone just make your day. I was informed the other day that I would have been chosen as someones sponsor for their confirmation. I was surprised but oh so moved. I was told it is because they noticed what a good mom I am, a kind person, how I "really see and pay attention to" my kids, how I never talk down to them and how they know I would have been there for them throughout their life. It made me cry to know that someone, a child thought this of me. Who wouldn't want to hear such things about themselves?

2. We received a hand me down swing sets (one of those old rusty kind) from someone on our street whose children have outgrown it. You would think my kids were given a pony. My daughter spent the first 5 minutes running around the yard screaming, "I'm so happy!"

3. My 6 year old started his swim class on Monday. It's awesome. He gets to swim for 45 minutes two times a week. At the end of the second class the Frogs are asked if they would like to jump off the diving board into the deep end. My son with no fear (exactly the reason he is in the class) was right there on line. Shaking with his purple lips waiting his turn to jump. It was his first time and although there is an instructor waiting to catch them when the land it made me so nervous. I really wish his father was there to see him.

4. I sold my first piece of jewelry. It happened over 4 weeks ago but it was such a good feeling. She said, "are you selling jewelry?" I told her I was making it. She took a pair and said, she had to have it, put it in her ears and asked how much? I told her that I hadn't priced them but would be happy to have her wear them, no cost. She insisted and threw two 5's at me telling me to put one in each of my kids banks. I did and the kids and I are so grateful. Didn't even open my Etsy shop and already I sold a pair of earrings. Hooray, I'm doing the happy dance as I type this.

5. This week I was approached by a sponsor who would like to use my pictures. I have taken pictures for as long as I could hold a camera. I got my first camera at 7 years old and haven't stopped taking pictures since. They won't be able to pay (they are a free site) but I would get credit and eventually some sort of payment. I am still weighing the idea.

6. Worked as a freelance writer for the past two months but unfortunately the company had their outsourcing meeting and decided to close down their freelance writers for now. They are looking for a bigger contract and I can only hope something comes up.

Friday Memes Are Abundent

1. How do you feel about fireworks displays? As long as they are done in a safe environment and not out on the street where someone could lose a limb or worse; I think they are great.

2. What were the details surrounding one of your mishaps with fire? I was a child about 10 years or younger. We were home alone as usual. My parents worked and it was the 70's so no one was concerned about a 10 year old taking care of her younger sisters all day. We knew our parents worked hard and did a lot of chores. This one particular day, I swept out the fireplace and put them in the garbage. My sisters were helping and tossed paper in and wouldn't you know it, the garbage went up in flames. We headed outside to get the neighbors and who called the fire department and put out the fire. It was horrible and wouldn't you know it, the cops never came, my parents weren't called and no one removed us from the house. When my parents came home I was so upset about having to relay the message. I think they were happy no one was hurt, I don't remember being yelled at and fortunately, the only damage was the
garbage can, and a burn mark on one of the cabinets. Thankfully, the curtains never caught.

3. Who in your life could be described as a real firecracker? Back in the day my girlfriends would have described me as one. Those days are long over.

4. When did you last feel you were being put on display? Oh, lets see...it has been a while.

5. How confident are you in your barbecue skills? I do pretty good on the BBQ. I am quite confident.

1. When I heard Princess Diana died, I stood up in a diner and shouted, "she died????" before putting my hands on my head. (Dramatic yes, I know my husband was like, "umm, could you sit down?!")

. Sex is the best medicine.

3. It's late, but I'll sleep when I'm dead!

4. Friends always.

5. My eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord. Weird! That is the first thing that came to mind. It was a song we sung in Sunday School when I was a kid.

6. Hug me strongly.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to watching TV, tomorrow my plans include going to the beach and Sunday, I want to play outside.

Food 4 Thought Friday ~ This week's questions

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Breakfast

What is the last movie you saw and how did you like it? I took my two to see their very first movie. Night At the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian. You can read about our excursion here and find out why I don't have an answer to whether I liked it.

Lunch

What is your favorite ice cream flavor? I like anything that has coffee, mocha, cappuccino in it. By me there is a place that has a cappuccino, mocha crunch ice cream. It is divine.

Dinner

What is one goal you want to achieve this summer? To spend more time doing active things outdoors. We do a lot of sitting on the deck while the kids play and heading to the beach to play in the lake but I want to do more things. Bike riding, miniature golf, walking.

Midnight Snack

What do you do to pamper yourself? I pee or shower alone. I would never have imagined that this would be considered pampering 6 years ago but it is the best I can do now.

Recipe of the Week (instead of your recipe for life, what is it just for this week?) The summer is in full affect and the weather has been less the great but, enjoy every moment, because it goes so quick.

Thursday Memes are All Photos.

The Thursday Challenge this week is Summer! My son and husband enjoying the beach says summer to me. This is one of my all time favorite pictures.

This weeks Thematic Photographic takes to the sky. Carmi asked for "Aviation" pictures. I don't have many but this is a photo I took last year at a local airport. The plane is grounded and serves as part of the airports restaurant.

I love this shot of my daughter and my niece. My niece has always had a very special place in my heart. I have five nieces and they all are special but Sammy has always been like my daughter. Watching my daughter love her makes my heart smile. They only see each other about 3 times a year but Goddess adores her.

This squirrel had no fear. He came on our picnic table at least 20 times in the hour we were at the park. He must be used to people feeding him table food.

Wordless Wednesday - Flying through the air

Sports Are Good For Kids

It is a proven fact that kids who participate in sports are less likely to sub come to peer pressure, use drugs, drink or drop out of school. This is just one of the reasons I have been signing my son up for soccer. I have yet to be successful on getting him to participate but I keep trying. Now, that he is older I am going to see if maybe t-ball is his thing. I will find "his" sport eventually.

We start off going to soccer in September, talking about it through the whole summer. Last year my daughter convinced us she was going to play, then we get to the field and both kids refused to leave. Arrrgggh...we keep going through the end of October, with the kids just staying by our side. We continue to cheer lead and show our kids how exciting it can be and how happy we are to watch their friends play. We try a few times to get them onto the field but never push because I wouldn't want them to end up "hating" sports. I am confident that eventually they will want to play.

Last year we got Handsome involved in martial arts, gymnastics and he really wanted to dance with his sister's dance class but all of these cost mucho buckaroos. Soccer thankfully is only $50.00 for the very looooong season. It is oh so long, from September to June but your child remains active which is good for their heart and great for their social skills. Usually after a game the kids stay and play at the park or make play dates.

Organized sports are great for so many reasons.

Usually I let my kids know that if they want to be big and strong they have to keep trying until they are the best they can be. We practice at home with a soccer ball mostly passing and stopping (I don't know the technical terms).

Wish me luck for this coming September when I sign them both up again.

One of the hardest parts about being on the field and watching the kids is how enthusiastic some parents get when their kids are playing. Enthusiasm in a cheer leading sense is good. Enthusiasm where you are embarrassing your child by yelling at them or bad mouthing another child, isn't good sportsmanship and parents like this, take the pleasure out of attending a game for everyone involved. If you want your child to remain confident and happy to attend you have to be responsible in your parent/coaching technique.