Quick Peak + Senior

She thinks I'm crazy......

she might be right!!

A few more

With all this rain a bride must have her water boots when getting married by the river.

Sneak Peak

Whew it's been quite a week so far..... I can't possibly go back and make up the days I missed so we're starting again from here. 

The wedding this weekend was beautiful and oh so cute.  The bride and groom have 4 boys and they were in the wedding.  They all had jobs to do and they did them all fantastic.  The worst part was staying clean before the ceremony by all that water and fresh rain and mud but they did it. 

The bride and groom told me the day was all about the kids, and it was.  They were excellent boys right up until the DJ played them one last song before they had to leave.  Slide to the back, left two stomp, right two stomp, criss cross.....   Good night boys!

They are so gosh darn cute

That's all I have time for right now but I'll try to get some more up tomorrow.

Puppy Love

Gotta love a little girl in a dress with her puppy

This is the neighbors dog and on my way to the gym, very early in the morning, this dog is lying on the road, taking a nap.  He doesn't move and he lays right in the center of the road so you have to chose which side you want to drive around him and hope that he doesn't move.  Then he looks up at you like "what's your problem".... crazy dog. 

If I didn't know you had about 6 kids at home that love you very much I wouldn't think you're cute.

Last Soccer Game

Last game of soccer was tonight.  Let's see, who got picked to do something really, really fun? 

Number 3...... I'm not sure what she got to do but it was super fun.  El had a great season, the same as last year, she's finally starting to get a little brave and kick the ball without worring about kicking anyone and then the season is over.  She's a very chatty girl during the game, she has social hour while playing soccer.  As long as the snacks aren't fruit or vegtables she is one happy girl.

Tonight she did a faceplant into the grass and didn't even cry.  Oh wait...... 10 minutes later the ball hit her arm and the coach had to dry the tears.  She did come back into the game as goalie...... does that coach know what he's doing?  

Elly had a really fun season and her coach did a very good job teaching them the game and good sportsmanship. 

Rain rain go away

Another day of rain showers and they always happen right when we get out of work.  The ground is so wet that you can't walk without hip boots on, the skeeters are the size of small birds and when you slap them you have to wash off the blood before CSI starts an investigation.

Look at the size of those rain drops!!!!

Step Back Monday

How about some sun flare?  

Mud Soup Berries

A long time ago Mom and Dad had Lilac Bushes they were growing in the garden.  When John and I bought our house we got 3 of those bushes and planted them at the house.  2 of the bushes didn't make it and 1 of them did but it wasn't a Lilac bush, it was a bird berry bush.  That bush is huge now and has tons of berries on it.  We used these berries to make our mud soup when we were kids, it's a great mistake to have growing in my yard.  The memories these berries have is worth the millions of little bushes that I have to pull out of the gardens.

Keep your eye on the sky

4:45 - Storm is rolling in from the west, so far it's been 2" of rain today and lots of lawn chairs scattered around the yard.

7:40 I noticed the sun I love lighting up the barn to the east after the rain is done.

7:43 the view from the west..... sunshine but really soggy, thank goodness for flip flops

8:54 the sun is setting in the west

8:57 sun is almost gone

10:00 and we're starting to rain once again.

Don't be afraid

Another thing I don't do very often is up the aperture.  I upped the aperture to f13 (which really means making the opening in the lens smaller) for this photo so then I had to increase my ISO to 800 to get more light into the lens, in the bright sunlight!?!?!!? 

I read many times that you shouldn't be afraid to increase your ISO.  ISO is your friend...... but I am a perfect example of trying to keep it as low as I can. 

I got outside my box and created this image.  I'm no longer afriad....I actually might like it..... thank you for helping me :)

What???????

The flowers are in focus from the front to the back of the photo, there is no blurring.

Step Back Monday - Daylilies

It's been a few weeks since I did my step back Monday.   I actually really like the painted look of the background, and the crisp focus of the Daylilies.  I never would have taken this photo (I lean toward the close ups) had it not been for Step Back Monday.  I need to do this more often!!

My favorite..... but don't tell the others

Shannon comes over yesterday with the kids and was about an hour or so earlier than Lynn and Adam.  She wants me to sit down and enjoy the day, her company and the kids.  I did for 2 seconds, then I helped Garrett and Elly write on the chalkboard, then I sat down.  Two more seconds and I had to get a table to eat outside that we would all fit on...... then I sat down.  Two more seconds later I thought of a centerpiece I should have on the table...... then Elly wanted something from the garage.... then I should have red, white and blue flowers to go with the flag on the table..... then I took Garrett to the pond, then I sat down.  Then I needed to find the chairs, and the highchair for Mally, then I had to........   I didn't know this at the time but Shannon says to her father "if she sits down for more than 2 seconds when Lynn and Adam get here I'll know who's her favorite". 

Lynn and Adam get there and thank goodness I didn't sit down until we ate.  Lesson learned "sit down and enjoy your childrens company, they don't care about the food, the decorations, if the floor is sweep.... all they want is you and no favorites"

Shannon you are my favorite but don't tell the others :)

Lynn you're my favorite but don't tell the others  :)

Ohhhhh but Adam you are my favorite....... but don't tell your sisters   :)

Post 4th of July Party

False Sunflower

Summertime

How does your garden grow?

Like freaking crazy with all this rain....

Are you kidding me?

So John and I were working around the house today, trying to find jobs to do in the rain..... so we hung my curtains.  I was ironing them and said "whomever bought us this iron for a wedding present really bought a good one, it's still working just like the first day".  He says "since we're getting along so well today I won't say what I was thinking".   Now can you leave that alone, I can't.

Me - "so what were you going to say"

John - "nothing"

Me - "come on I won't get made"

Me thinking - {he's probably going to say something about how old the iron is.... been married forever}

Me - "Okay you have to tell me"

John - "I was just gonna say......"

Me - "say what"

John - "I was just gonna say..... it hasn't been used much"

Me - "WHAT"  "Are you kidding me!!!!"

So I don't iron much, but I iron more than he thinks, who needs an iron when they have a fluff cycle on the dryer?

Good thing we took this photo the day before.

Happy 4th of July

God Bless America

Daylilies are here

This one I bought for Adam many years ago..... it's name is "So Behave"

Senior Pics

This girl loves her soccer so we took a few senior photos of her on the soccer field.

Okay pretty girl, cut that hair and let's have some more fun!!