Sunday Snapshot-Fishing

I chose this photo as my Sunday Snapshot because I love this sweet moment between my Dad and Katie. I don't know what they were talking about but I love this moment in time for them.

We went fishing with our cousins and some dress up for the occasion. I loved seeing Abby in her "heels" for the trip!

Of course a fishing trip involves some food.  It was carried in a basket that my Grandma took on many picnics.

Riley loves to fish and prefers his space with peace and quite. It didn't take him long to move away from the rest of us.

I think the jury is still out on rather Andy has the patience for this sport. He may be like me and be looking for a little more activity in his sports!

It was super hot on this Sunday but Railyn was happy with her rock to sit on.

The first photo was taken with my Canon D60 lens

ISO 360, f 3.4, Shutter 1/2040. 

I just took a class on Photoshop with Lisa this past week so that is the first photo I edited in CS5 and posted on my blog.  What a fun world that has opened for me:)

Linking up with Sunday Snapshot

It has been a very hot last two weeks in our state. There are fires and heartache all over the state.   Many people and firemen are in our prayers nightly.  So much of the garden is struggling or slow to produce.  However last night I did find some peas in the garden ready to pick.

The zucchini is almost ready.  We have different opinions on this vegetable in this family but as the main gardener I can't wait!

Okra is our newest plant to try this year.  We will see how that turns out.

It is the start of canning season here.  We started with the cherries from last week to make a little jam!

They say corn should be knee high by the forth of July. All I can say it is a good thing I am short:)

Linking up with Ginny for Saturday Garden Journal

Favorite Friday Photo-Sew Fun

One of the new adventures this summer was sewing.  I have not sewed since I was in middle school and I believe that project was the 80's popular balloon pants.  This summer though I really wanted to make my own camera strap so we picked up a sewing machine at a thrift store.

Once I started everyone came up with their own little projects. I didn't really think Riley would want to join us but aparently clone troopers need sleeping bags. 

Katie wanted a little quilt so we found some of my Grandma's material for her to work with.

Brianna seemed to have a lot of patience on her little project.  When we bought the sewing machine she was the one who asked daily to start to learn to sew.

At the end of the afternoon we all had our projects done.  I did actually get my camera strap done but I never got a photo of it as I was always watching and making sure everyone was on track. 

On a side note Andy thinks it is hilarious to cross his eyes and no matter what I said he did his own thing:)

Following along with Favorite Friday Photo

Hop over to Lisa's blog to see all the fabulous photos there!

After a very hot afternoon of fishing these sprinklers were calling our name. I could not resist.  In a state that is literally burning up it felt so good.  My sister was very sweet to let me run while she took some shots of us.

Even Papa thought it felt really good.

This may have just been my favorite activity so far this summer.

Sunday Snapshot- Swim

Summer brings swim lessons for the kids.  They are all turning out to be little fish. 

Some are much braver fish than others.  Andrew has little fear of much in life and swimming is no exception.

Riley has swam is his heart out this week. I can tell as his consumption of calories has increased in this week. 

If there was an award for most improved it would be for Katie.  She was so very scared the beginning of the week, but with a very sweet hearted teacher she has made great improvements in just a week.

The first photo was taken with my Canon 60d, 35 mm lens.

ISO 100, Shutter 1/320, and f 2.8. 

Linking up with Sunday Snapshot.

Favorite Friday Photo-Pickin' Cherries

A friend was very sweet to let us pick some very beautiful cherries this week.  I always have these events built up in my mind about a family happily picking cherries all in peace.  Of course then real life takes over.  In the end we have these beautiful cherries and they will be put away for when the snow flies again.

Riley as our tallest was informed to pick high to keep the shorter half busy on low branches.

At this point in the day the tree was full only to be subjected to a fair amount of hail later on.

Everyone had their hands busy and I am thinking with all those hands we need some of our own cherry trees!

Linking up with Favorite Friday Photo

Father's Day Golf

Father's Day was a good day around here. Brian is crazy about his kids and known as the fun parent.  He loves to be a kid with them.  So when asked what we were going to do with Daddy for Father's Day the answer was golf.  As a disclaimer none of us golf except him so we made sure to find a place on the course that was not popular.

Of course golfing is not really the fun part it is the driving that inspires the kids  and scares the parents. 

Of course the kids spent all week figuring out who was going to ride with whom.  

This was my designated cart...it was the little calmer one.

And then there was plenty of time for instruction. Not sure they were all listening but oh well.  I have to say this was the first set of golfers I have seen in crocs:) 

Sunday Snapshot- Day Camp

 This week would start with a search for "old" Girl Scout camping gear. Brianna took a lot of what I had used when I went to day camp. She would spend three days hiking, flag ceremonies, crafts, and many Girl Scout activities.  She loved it all and it has only been today that she has shown how tired she really is.  Her stories brought back so many memories for me.  In a world that changes in a second it was fun to see that there are still activities that are the same. Just good old plain simple fun.

They would keep a journal each night about all they did in the day.  How fun was that to read.  I understand that in the future years photographing a journal will be plain and simply wrong but for now who could resist!

This first photo was taken with my Canon d60. I just received a new 35mm lens and couldn't wait to try it out:)
ISO 100
1/780 shutter
f 2.0

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Saturday Garden Journal

It seems the plants in my garden are starting to grow more each day.  This is the first year my lavender has been so full and beautiful.  My to do list includes making lavender shortbread cookies. 

My peas have just started to have flowers on them.  However, I am hoping the heat will not prevent them from producing at least some.  We are so very dry here and praying for rain daily.

Blackberries anyone? I can't wait! The plants are full of flowers and I can't wait to go and pick them. Just need to make sure I beat the bears to them.

Of course I had to post one of my flowers. 

Very soon we will be eating tomatoes.  I don't have a lot of flowers on my plants so hoping some set on soon.

I am joining Ginny at Saturday Garden Journal

Gotcha Day for Mr Andrew

Look who has been home four years?

Andrew is now a five year old who is full of life.

When I think of the last four years so much has changed. Andy has blessed us in so many ways.  He has also pushed our creativity with parenting and given us new skills to work with.  There is never a dull moment when this boy is around.

Andy has been so excited for his Gotcha Day and has been counting down the days this week. When I suggested some photos to mark this point in time he was all on board!

This makes me laugh as he looks so serious...wonder what he is thinking about?  Maybe about his birth mother who my heart aches for daily, or a question about adoption which there are more of these days.

He is truly not serious...that was just a moment...here is my little China man that I love so much!!

Linking up with Favorite Friday Photo with Lisa.  Lisa has taught me all I know about photography so head on over!