Something I've Been Wanting To Do.

As someone who loves, loves, loves taking pictures, I'm always on the lookout for a potential shooting spot.  I found this field with this old beater truck and it turned out to be perfect.  My subject was a little apprehensive at first (she thought it looked scary), but after playing around the old beater truck for a little while, it turned out not to be so scary after all.  She even let me put her on the bed of the old beater truck.  

 

And of course if there are good rocks around, you can always find Callie digging in them.  Love you Callie <3

Me and My Shadow.

I caught Callie staring and playing with her shadow on our living room wall.  The cutest thing ever. 

 

I found another quote that I really like and here it is:

 

"The happiness of life is made up of minute fractions- the little, soon forgotten charities of a kiss or a smile, a kind look or heartfelt complitment."... Samuel Taylor Coleridge

 

 

1 Year of Blogging Already.

I've been an official blogger now for 1 year today. I'm so glad I started this journey. This gives me the perfect opportunity to document my families life and it has brought so much joy and pleasure you can't even imagine. I was looking back 1 year and this little girl has grown up so much. She is so independent and has to do everything by herself... and I mean absolutely everything (like making her own pb and j sandwiches).

On my way to work, I"ve been passing this orchard, and I have told myself every year I am going to stop and take pictures in it and every year I don't... but not today. It had everything I wanted... flowering pear trees, somewhat tall grass, dandelions and these yummy yellow flowers you can see in the background. I love these yellow flowers, like I love them so much my soul drinks them in with every glance I get. I catch myself driving down streets surrounded by them and I can't stop looking at them and taking in their beauty and serenity of them. They bring me peace. The beauty of them washes over me everyday from March thru May. So to have this shot is seriously a big deal for me. My little love, I thank you so very much for letting me take your picture today in the gorgeous orchard on my one year blogging anniversary.

Ok, so gota go get a 9 year old ready for soccer practive at 3:30 today.

update: soccer practice went great. Callie played in the giant volleyball sandpit, while I watched McKenzie's practice. I brought along some kitchen utensils that made for excellent sand toys. horray! making mac-n-cheese for the girls dinner and Matt is trying to get our new t.v. working. Yikes!!!

Playtime Outside.

Just beautiful weather we have had the last couple of days. I decided to give the guinea pig cage a real good scrubbing outside and let the pigs have some playtime outside as well. Callie loved pulling grass from the yard and hand feeding the pigs. She was laughing so hard when they would take the yummies from her hand.

When McKenzie got home from school, she saw that I had moved the guinea pig cage from her room to the dining room. With summer approaching it is starting to get warm in her small room and with the pigs in there, well you can image it can get rather stinky. Callie loves having them in her site at all times and loves talking to them. I think they enjoy being in a much larger space.

The Carnival.

McKenzie new there was a huge surprise waiting for her after school on Friday.  She had no idea what it was.  When we pulled into the mall parking lot, a very loud "whooo hoooo!!!" was screamed from inside my car.  They had so much fun. (even Scrappy Doo, Callie's stuffed black lab puppy who came along for the rides) When it came to leave, Callie thru a huge tantrum.  Took me a few minutes to strap her into her car seat.  Finally, we were on the road when Callie said "where's my puppy?"  So back we went to the carnival to locate a lost puppy.  Luckily, it was on the last ride she took waiting happily for her owner.  It was love at first site for a verry happy little girl.  If you could only see all the kisses that puppy got.

 

 

 

She's Almost 4!

I decided to pack up my camera and take Callie to this little field across the street from her sister's school.  I'm not really much of a 'prop' kind of girl but I did happen to have this really cute rocking chair, which used to be my old chair when I was her age.  My mom re-painted it when McKenzie was born.  Callie decided she wanted to bring along her own 'prop', which happens to be "Scrappy Doo," a black lab puppy.

More Easter Photos.

 

Easter Blessings.

The Easter Bunny left surprises for the girls when they awoke this moring. They each got an outfit, a movie on DVD ("Bolt" for McKenzie and "Pinocchio" for Callie), some books and Easter wouldn't be complete without a chocolate bunny. The Easter Bunny also left a yard full of eggs to be collected. Went to Lithia Park for another egg hunt in the afternoon and McKenzie was pretty dissapointed when she learned there was no hunt for her age group. Dad cheered her up when he told her he'd do another egg hunt for her when we got home. We had lunch at our favorite chinese restaurant, The Golden Dynasty in Ashland then a quick stop to the grocery store to buy some hershey kisses to stuff some plastic eggs. The day wrapped up with a third egg hunt in our yard. They are watching their movies right now and I have two very happy girls.

The Vintage Horse.

Matt's mom new I was going into Costco today, so she asked me to pick her up some very yummy mango salsa.  After I dropped it off, there was this new vintage shop that just opened in Talent.  Callie and I went inside and this became her new best friend.  I would have got it for her as an Easter gift, but it had a not-so-lovely price tag of $70.  Sorry Callie but these photos will just have to do for now. 

Egg Coloring.

Colored eggs yesterday.  McKenzie was so excited to do this project minus her sister, who was at the great-grandparents house.  I love the way they all turned out.  She did a fantastic job and I had the opportunitiy to color and egg. So much fun.  Did you notice that one egg is missing?   Well, a small accident happened when I was putting the eggs in water to be boiled.  One slipped out of my hand and it fell between my legs and I tried to catch it with my knees.  In the process, the egg cracked and I had yolk running down my legs.  Yuck! 

Take Time to Smell the Flowers.

The weather was pretty nice today with the exception of an overcast.  I think it is supposed to shower tonight and possibly tomorrow, so I wanted to take some pictures of McKenzie.  I decided the perfect location was at Garfield Park where there are some oh so lovely plumb trees that would make a perfect background for some shots.

Brother and Sister.

Here's the living proof that I actually do get to see and converse with my brother from time-to-time.  Even if it's only when he's on his delivery route in Ashland and I get a chance to catch up with his truck.  I was just coming out of the Ashland Information Center (I was checking on times of our local Easter Egg Hunt this Sunday at Lithia Park) and there he was... this very handsom guy coming out of his work truck.  I am so very happy that I keep my camera in my car because you never know what moments need to be captured.  I am so very grateful for the total stranger who passed by when I asked "will you please take a picture of us?  I need to give our parents proof that my brother and I really do get to see each other."  I love you Dan <3

Sisters.

sis.ter (sis'ter), n. 1. a female offspring having both parents in common with another offspring; female sibling.

 

took this photo with my blackberry phone today and I just absolutely love the smiles on their faces.