Photo 365 #326

June 29, 2015Leave a comment

We had a big weekend. Saturday I did some garage saling while the older kids worked at a 5k and the younger ones had a play date, then we prepped for Cricket’s birthday party. We prepped more yesterday morning and had a heck of a good time at the party yesterday afternoon. Cricket’s godparents (and their spouses and new babies) both came, as did my aunt and uncle, my step-grandma, and my mother-in-law. It was a houseful, but it was fun. 🙂

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Of course, all that fun can make for some tired little boys (okay, it makes for a tired mommy, too), and as five o’clock approached, Thumper finally lost the will to stay awake. After announcing that he was going to get a book, he made a beeline for his room, returned with said book, then passed out on the couch (on top of said book).

I love that I’m raising readers. Falling asleep with a book is a not-uncommon occurrence in my house, and it makes me smile every time I stumble upon a scene like this one. 🙂

Do your kids love to read? What are some of their favorite books?

Photo 365 #325

June 28, 2015June 27, 20157 Comments

More fun with my macro lens.

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I just love the way this turned out. I had a little more luck this time since the wind wasn’t blowing. 🙂

Photo 365 #324

June 27, 2015Leave a comment

Last night was the Corn Carnival parade, which is always a lot of fun. We took the kids and had a great time, although hopefully the boys acquire some patience in time for next weekend’s Fourth of July parade.

In this picture, Cricket was unhappy that they weren’t throwing candy to him. He spent a good couple of minutes telling me how if he waved to the people in the parade, then they would throw candy at him. He made sure that he waved at every single float, but not all of them were giving out candy, and he finally got upset about it.

In the end, both boys came home with sacks full of candy. Now to make sure they don’t eat it all in one sitting… 😀

Photo 365 #323

June 26, 201510 Comments

Yesterday was Cricket’s fifth birthday. I can’t believe he’s five years old already! I swear he was just born a week ago.

I posted a picture of him with his last-minute gift (he gets the real ones at his party on Sunday) on Facebook last night, but he wouldn’t hold still, so it came out kind of blurry. I took a couple of the two of us snuggled up on the couch after that, but he wouldn’t sit still for those, either.

Happy Thumper is happy. 🙂

Thumper, on the other hand, sat still and smiled for his. It was an odd reversal of personalities.

Still, it’s nice to have a picture of Thumper that isn’t blurry. Usually I can’t get him to sit still for anything without holding him in place, and even that doesn’t usually work. Maybe tonight, though, he’ll sit still long enough to catch some candy at the Corn Carnival parade, assuming it stops raining long enough for the parade to go on…

Photo 365 #320

June 23, 2015Leave a comment

I spent a little time this morning shooting various things in my yard. I started with the thistles near the mouth of my driveway before moving on to the daisies and clover further back. The daisies have seen better days, it’s true, but I was messing about with my macro lens again, so it didn’t really matter.

And then I found a surprise.

This little guy blended in so well that I didn’t even see him till I got the flower focused. Naturally, I had a heck of a time catching him – the little guy wouldn’t sit still for longer than a second. I’m good, but I’m not that good.

At least, not yet. 🙂

Photo 365 #311

June 14, 2015June 3, 20152 Comments

I love strawberries. I especially love finding them on sale, because growing them is a pain.

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But what I love even more than finding strawberries on sale (and combining them with rhubarb) is chopping them up, mixing them with a little sugar, and then pouring them over a big bowl of vanilla ice cream.

It’s summer in a bowl!

Do you like strawberries? What’s your favorite way to eat them?

Photo 365 #305

June 8, 2015June 3, 20154 Comments

It’s vacation time! Woo!

I’ve got posts scheduled for the next two weeks, but I don’t know that I’ll be able to reply to comments till vacation’s over with. Our vacations are typically electronics-free, and it’s nice to unplug and spend time together as a family without seeing noses buried in screens.

That said, you can bet I’ll be replying when I get back. In the meantime, pull up a chair and chat with everyone else who drops by!

Now that the housekeeping’s out of the way, how about a picture?

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I’m still having fun with my new photo accessories, as you can see. This is a detail shot of that pie crust I shared last week. Yummy!

Do you do family vacations? What does your family like to do?

Photo 365 #302

June 5, 2015June 3, 20152 Comments

Selfie queen, I am not. When it comes to using my phone’s front-facing camera, the results are iffy at best. But occasionally the boys demand to be in a picture with me.

: Smile, Thumper!

: Hold still, missy! Everybody smile!

This was one such incident. Naturally, in trying to make sure I got Thumper before he had a chance to touch the screen and mess up the shot, I cut off my face. Miss Tadpole, however, managed a pretty excellent photo bomb, and a minute later, Bubbles joined her.

I love it when they get excited about things. 🙂

What do your kids get excited about?

Photo 365 #299

June 2, 20154 Comments

Today was an absolutely wonderful day to spend at the park. After running a few errands, we did just that.

The boys had a blast playing on the swings and the slides and the horsies. It wasn’t too hot, it wasn’t too cold, the sun was shining – it was just right.

But then we had to come home, and there were two very upset little boys. Luckily they were easily pacified with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (the original cartoon version) when we got home, which made me happy because I had supper to fix, pie to bake, and a house to clean before a guest arrived.

Whew!

How do you like to spend beautiful days with your kids?

Photo 365 #297

May 31, 2015May 31, 20159 Comments

Cricket’s godmother and her family were here for a visit yesterday, and I was very impressed with my guy. He shared his bunny with his little cousin, he held him, he helped feed him; he even watched him while he slept. He was quiet and gentle and it was amazing to watch.

He loves his little godbrother.

Naturally, Thumper had to have a turn, too:

Thumper took a bit more convincing, but he managed to sit still and be quieter than normal for much longer than normal. I was very proud of him, too.

It’s hard to believe they were ever so little and still, especially now that they’re both back to running around the house at mach 10 again this morning.