RAINgutter Regatta

So, it was the Cub Scouts' Annual Raingutter Regatta on Thursday....Our second year participating- Alex was very excited, since last year his boat didn't do too well- so he was hoping this year would be more favorable for him....

It was interesting, that's for sure...the weather seemed to be the UN-favorable part, with it raining the ENTIRE time of the races! We were soaked: translation- I was semi-soaked, since I stood under cover for most of it, while the Scouts and all the children and other not-so-smart parents were entirely soaked!! I would creep out to take a few photos when Alex was racing, but stayed somewhat dry besides that!

Alex's boat took 3rd place! He was ecstatic about that! Here are some pics of the drenched night of boat racing:

It wasn't just raining...it was POURING!!

When it was over, this was what my children looked like:

Oh well, at least they had fun! I am happy Alex loves Scouts- he has great leaders and great friends in the program...they serve so wonderfully! I hope he continues with fun and success!

BTS 2009

Tomorrow is back to school for Alex and Leah! Wahooo!! I am soooo excited for this school year to begin! It has been a terrific summer in so many ways, but it is always fun when school starts again- at least when the kids are in Elementary School! I know the dreaded day will come when they will not look forward to beginning a new year, so for now, we are treasuring it as one special day!!

Alex begins 4th grade- yeah, 4th...honestly, it makes me a little ill to think about...I student taught 4th grade in 1995- I know, that long ago...but I could never see having a 4th grader of my own! They are so much bigger than the 3rd graders, really, they are...trust me!

Leah starts 2nd...really?! How can that be?! She is the size of many of the Kindergartners- honestly, she is- but she pulls off her height challenge by being her...that is great!

Celeste just wants to go somewhere- poor thing- she is stuck with me! Another year or so- perhaps then she can go too...

Today we took a dry run at the first day and took pics of what they will actually wear on the real day...It takes me a while to take pictures, so I did it early- smart, huh? Plus, school starts earlier this year, so I must get up and get ready earlier, and that is not fun for me, so today, after sleeping in, I got up, got them dressed and shot these:

He is so cool, huh?! Well, I am off to make sure their bags are packed full of the hundreds of supplies I purchased for their big year...and to get their lunch items ready for tomorrow too! Wish us luck!!

Camera Coveting Part 2

JUMP, JUMP!!

I just loved the way these came out- granted they are my first shots with rapid fire shutter, but they were so fun to take!

More jumping, and she never tired of it, either!

Lish has a way with my girls...she got them to sit perfectly (well, almost) and did their hair in these amazing up-do's that I could never attempt or redo! The girls just love her and her talents- she even taught Leah to braid and now she does it non-stop! I couldn't resist taking so many of them with their fancy hair!
Someday I will learn more about posing and angles, but for now, these were random and fun and super easy- gotta love when you have cute girls to photograph!

34

This goes down as a really fantastic birthday- truly a wonderful day- filled with the people I care most about- my husband, children, parents, brother, sister and neices- great food, great cake, great gifts- a dream day- thank you for all the love! Here's to making 34 fantastic!

Like A Professional...

So, my great friend Alicia came to visit this weekend...she brought with her something very special...a new Sony A350 camera- the sweetest little thing- with all the bells and whistles and lenses and fun stuff- AND she let me play with it for hours and hours...I loved every picture I took, everytime I adjusted the lens I got a chill- my oh my was it wonderful! I have long wanted to learn photography- I just haven't had time or money- two very important things for this hobby! So when she told me of the deal she got (you would hardly believe it), I was dying to see it in person and play with it- it was not a let down, let me tell ya- it was super duper fantastic! 14 megapixels for one, (got me all giddy) and such zoom and clarity was even better. Here are just a few snipits of my fun time with a sweet gem:

I took a ton more, and have been trying for 3 days to get the on here, but to no avail...I have to keep trying other ways, I guess...my point in posting these, is that I am trying to get Dana to see that this camera purchase would be an investment- one day I want to learn photography and then can use it for real money- but right now is not the time, I get that- I don't have time to take a class to learn new techniques, nor do I have any clients lined up- BUT, someday, yes, someday I will...

Until then, I will just keep playing like a pro!

300 and Counting...

As I began this post, I realized that it is my 300th one! Honestly, I am glad blogger keeps track, because I had no idea I had written that much in the last year and a half, nearly 2 years, actually! I am working on completing my 2008-2009 book- it is coming along, but 300 posts, well, WOW- that is a lot of writing...I didn't think I had that much to say...ha ha...you are laughing because you know me and I am hardly ever without much to say!!

I told you last post that we have been busy...just normal summer stuff, but we have had a little time to hang out with people we like- so meet Carmen and Steve:
Dana met Carmen during his interview 7 years ago- she is a math teacher at his school...he instantly liked her- she is wonderful, fun, fit, and a gem of a friend....Steve we met a couple years later, as he became a security guy at their school...a year later, Carmen and Steve get married- and we hang out with them often- not as often as we would like, because they live 40 minutes away, but as often as we can...they don't have children, so they adore ours, naturally!! Our kids truly love them- they are an amazing couple, who treat our children as their own- our kids even stay the night there- all 3 of them! Lucky them, you are thinking, right?! They are two of the the nicest people we know- they are like family. We spent last Friday night playing cornhole with them, (we played girls vs guys - the guys won, but when Steve and I were on a team, we killed Dana and Carmen- go figure) eating guacamole and pizza and hanging out- plain, pure, simple fun...

They are hoping to move closer to here- closer to their jobs, but secretely, I think it is because of us, because we are so great! Honestly, we are ecstatic- we hope they do..that means more sleepovers for the kids with them and a house to ourselves!!