Dance 2011!

Annie clogged in this years dance recital, and of course did a WONDERFUL job!

The cousins danced and did great too! 

G-ma!

We celebrated my Grandma Ellie's (lovingly called G-ma!) birthday with a picnic at the park!

We love you G-ma!

A Boy of Many Questions

Austin didn't say much for the first 3 years of his life. With moderate hearing loss, he was slow to learn to speak. With ear tubes improving his hearing, and speech and language therapy, he finally began talking. After a year we saw great improvement, and in the last year he's amazed me with huge jumps in his speech. And now...he talks non stop.

If we're in Target, you'll know it. His voice carries well, and his running commentary is hard to miss. But he's not just talking, he's asking question after question. And he wants answers.

"Mama! Why is that sign there?"

"Mama! What does that man have?"

"Mama! Where did that pumpkin go that used to be here?"

And on and on, aisle after aisle. Of course I love it. I love that he finally found his words. Sometimes I wish he were a bit quieter, or at least more patient, but I still love it.

This Spring has been a rough season for our area. We've had floods, and now it's flooding again. A town (Joplin) nearby just experienced the worst tornado to hit the USA is over 50 years. And Austin has taken it all in. These are the questions that are harder to answer...

"Mama! Why did it flood?"

"Mama! Is it flooded again?"

"Mama! Why did we go to the basement?"

" Mama! Where did the 'toenado' go?"

" Mama! Why did the 'toenado' come?"

I just don't know the answers to these questions. So we talk, and we pray, and we donate, and we help. It's all I know to do.

Austin has a plan though. In his words...

"When I grow up, I'm gonna drive a monster truck and push the toenado away!"

I just love this boy.

Spring at SDC

We had an awesomely fun day at SDC with the cousins, aunt, and uncle. We hung out at the farm, checked out the old school house, sat in the giant rocking chair, and of course rode some rides! It was a wonderful spring day!

Tea cups

How do you spell fun?

TEA CUPS!




And a day with our cousins and aunt and uncle at Silver Dollar City!

Favorite Photo...

(1/40, f5, iso 200)

My two girls.

I picked this as my favorite photo for the last day of the Opposites Photo Class. As I looked back, I had lots of pictures of Austin, but not as many of the girls. I don't intend to play favorites, but since the girls are in school all day, Austin tends to get my attention a little more right now. So for this assignment, I wanted my girls!

I just bought them these matching shirts, and they both wore them today. They looked so cute! Sweet sisters. As an only child, I always wanted a sister. These two girls are night and day. Opposites, if you will, in every way. Ellie is fair skinned, strong willed, prefers cold over hot, and meat over veggies. Annie is always tan, easy going, hates to be cold, and eats salad like it's ice cream. How can two girls from the same two parents be so different?! They fight like cats and dogs, and are very competitive, but underneath all that, I know they love each other. I pray that one day they grow up to be the best of friends!

I used all my lessons from the photo class for this picture. No flash, natural light, balancing the light, tilting the camera...YAY! I am so happy I understand all of this now! Thanks so much beth!

Black and White

I love black and white photos. Ever since I can remember, I've felt pulled in by the pictures of the past. I remember sitting with my mom, my grandma, my great grandma, and looking at the old pictures, loving the history behind them.

Day 14 of the Opposites Photo Class is Black and White. I love how this picture of my littlest soccer player looks in black and white.

(1/2000, f7.1, iso 400)