The "Goods" have arrived! ...

I got back from my Florida vacation and returned to work and found that my 5 year "goods" had arrived! I received a fairly nice watch, a pin to put on my name badge and a magnetic clear block frame. I don't know a lot about watches but I hear the one I received is quite expensive:-) Almost afraid to wear it. It even is engraved Gap. Inc. on the buckle part of the watch. Well maybe you'll catch me wearing my "bling" one of these days:-)

Florida Vacation 2007

Okay, sorry it took a while to post for those who were waiting. Just a few snipets of our time in Florida! We had a great time and avoided rain on the important days. Maybe because I left my umbrella in Va.! Well it helped! The kids enjoyed the beach for the first time and just loved it! Enjoy...

Kindergarten Graduation...

Nick receiving one of the numerous awards that day.

Nick getting his Kindergarten Diploma! Yeah Nick! Also

with his teacher, Ms. Deppensmith.

Chad received Most Improved Spelling award!

So now we have a 4th grader ! and a 1st grader!

Another Year, another Birthday...

A Fieldtrip Mom...

Last month I went on a field trip with Nick's class to the Explorer Park that is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mts. It showcased how the city of Roanoke was back in the 18th century. Oh and along the way Nick was quite smitten with his classmate, Abby.

Just today, I went along on another fieldtrip to Johnson's Farm(/Orchards/Winery). It was quite warm but we managed to dodge the showers! Nick finally decided to feed the goats...he seemed scared at first UNTIL he saw ABBY doing it.Hmmm?

You can't tell but this goat only has 3 legs! He moved so fast I didn't get a good shot of it. The farm also has a cat with only 3 legs...his name, TRIPOD! Cute huh.

And of course a horse(miniture).

Nick and Abby. He stuck to her like a magnet! I think he forgot I was there during some parts of the day:-) So cute aren't they.

I've Hit A Milestone ...

Yes, I've made it to the Big 5 Year mark at Old Navy,Gap Inc. I get to order really nice watch and I get a plaque! I can't believe I made it...that's the longest I've ever worked for a company! I think the next business I want to work for is studioKathome ...I hear she's really creative!:-)

If I only got paid $85,939 - $138,095 for being a MOM

Check this out!
A MOM's SALARY.
Maybe if I got paid ,my house would be cleaner!?!?!?

Guess what I'm getting...

an early Mother's Day gift!

A 50 mm f/1.8D AF for my Nikon D50. I'm quite excited! A fair amount of people say you get a lot of "bang" for your buck! I cant wait to see the difference in sharpness! It will be a while till I get it (like a week a least!) UGG! I'll be sure to post some pictures to see if you can tell the difference:-) It will be challenging using a "fixed" lens and having to move my body in and out instead of the lens! Till then, happy picture taking:-)

INSPIRE ME THURSDAY( A WEEK LATE )

WEEKLY CHALLENGE: ECO ART
This week the focus is on Eco Art. Think green. Reduce, reuse, recycle. Honor our planet. Turn some trash into treasure.

Okay Im a week late on this challenge and a challenge it was just trying to find time to do it! There are things I collect that I mean to use for something artsy and I finally got to use them!

So I had some bottle caps, one of my photos hangin' around , and a wood stained IKEA frame...

The bottle caps added more demention to my typical 2-D photos that I'm always posting... it was fun adding another element into the mix!

Go Fly A Kite !

Beautiful weekend, in the upper 70's, Cloudless day and a Kite Festival at Green Hill Park! I wanted the boys to get a Free kite and t-shirt, so we hurried to get there and beat the traffic...we made it, but still outragous traffic! The free kite kit was just that...no frills! When put together, it looks like a Kroger bag flying in the sky! But the boys managed to get them flying with "variable winds". Lots of running back and forth ! It was great to get out and about instead of watching "news" on Va.Tech...You could see a lot more smiling on people's faces today .

ONLY 45 MINUTES AWAY...

A day later

45 minutes away

A campus

A tragedy

A hopeful community

Reach out to those who hurt

Life is short

Savor those precious moments

HUG YOUR KIDS

Connect with loved ones

Have family time.

After yesterday's events at VT University, I realized how dumb it is for me to get frustrated over being late for work because my kids are literally hanging on me as I go our the door and they're demanding hugs. I truly WILL NOT take this for grand it.(sp) I will hug as long as it takes:-)(OH, and kiss your spouse like it's the first:-) Life is short.

Silly picture, I know, But we had fun doing it!

Nor'easter = W I N D Y D A Y !!!

Just a bit wind blown, wouldn't ya say! It's so windy that once I step out of the car my hair instantly stands on end!

Silly Socks

Thanks Grandma! (Easter came through the Mail) These socks are so cute! Here are the boys showing them off...

First I thought the animals went on the bottom( I guess so I could photograph them better) but obviously are meant to be seen on top:-)

These socks started out the size of my kids fist and then you put them in water for a bit and they unravel(sp?) ...then you can put them in the dryer.

I kinda adopted the alligator socks from Nick...He said he didn't want to wear them but Im sure he will in time:-)

Easter Recap...

All dressed in blues! You can't see it but Chad is wearing Khakis!! Something he rarely does! And Lil'Chad wore his shirt with buttons with much to his dismay! And Nick wanted to add a pen to his shirt pocket(like his T.A.at school,Mr.Delcato) And well I just threw something together...Easter for me is more that just the glittzy attire, but it is nice to get dressed up.

We ate Easter dinner at my parents home and had a Egg Hunt for the kids! I had to make sure my kids didn't become the EGG hogs! It was so nice to be here in Va. for Easter this year.(don't worry Michigan family were be up there soon!)





And the "Easter Bunny" made an appearance and a quick escape...
Lil' Chad chased him around the house!

No training wheels for Nick and Friends in the Park...

Well, Nick finally gave it a shot and took off the ONE training wheel that was on his bike! It was like he just knew what to do! Take a look!

Video of Nick in action!

We also got to go to the park yesterday with my friends from highschool and their kids! One is moving back to California so I don't know the next time I will see her. It was good catching up and talking ! (L to R: Mandy, Crystal,& me)

I know we look silly, but Lil' Chad was taking the picture and was taking quite a bit of time pushing the button! And of course the kid picture on the turtle! Hopefully next spring we will get a visit from Crystal and meet again!

For a Good Cause...For Our Future Generation...

Ever heard of sixdegrees.org? Well if you haven't Check it out! It's nearing the end of the "contest" and if you could donate to this cause. The picture is not my son, but is the son of Ali Edwards, An awesome and creative "life artist"(a.k.a scrapbooker). I connect with her is a way, my son has had learning delays and challenges in learning but never diagnosed with AUTISM. Being around Nick's class 3 years ago I'm sure I came in contact with those who were diagnosed. WE need to find out what's going on and how we can stop the rise of this epidemic! 1 out of 150 kids will be diagnosed...and these kids are our future generation. Visit Ali's blog, even if your not the artsy type she has a way of inspiring you.

Com'on if you've ever wanted to give to a Charity,this would be the one,NOW is the time, do something good...I did:-)

Skidding tires + "busted" tire = NEW BIKE!

Well a typical day for us is riding bikes after school! As boys do... they see how far the "skid" will go and if it leaves a mark behind. Well , Chad has accomplished this and then some. Riding down the street he comes back with tears and pushing his bike to show me this . . .

Chad has gotten to big for his little bike which prompted Daddy to suggest getting a new one! I have never seen tears wipe away so fast in my life and replaced with a smile! Seriously in less than 30 min they were back from the store . . .

Well Nick on the other hand is just happy with his one-wheel training wheel( the other one fell off and we lost the bolt,but we found it again,but HE decided to have just one training wheel on) But this has increased his awareness for keeping in balance! He keeps falling on occasion but picks himself up usually w/o tears!

Sorry Ive been bad about not blogging...it's just so BEAUTIFUL and 80 DEGREE weather with a gentle BREEZE , who wants to sit infront of a computer?...(well maybe my hubby:-) I'll try to blog more and hopefully I'll be getting a new lens and testing it out and getting use to it before I shoot for a WEDDING in the future!!!! Stayed tuned.

Photo Thursday: WATER

A view from underneath

Nick's Pledge To The Flag..

I gave in ... I bought new markers for the boys, well Chad bought erasable markers with his own money. They are pretty cool in fact. Nick's were a buck and change. It was such a beautiful day on Sunday after church and the boys usually beg to get on their bikes! Well, with new markers in hand they chilled inside for a while. So I found this drawing by Nick. I remind you he's a 6 year old Kindergardener and is doing his best with everything. I thought it was so cute. Maybe a few words are mispelled(well like almost all of them), letters turned the wrong way, words/phrases missing but that's just Nick, he puts everything he has within him into his work(or atleast his artwork) . Such a special kid!

Lunar Eclipse

This is basically what we saw last night. I didn't take these pictures...night photography is tricky for me. We headed up to our church's parking lot to get a closer , unobstructed view. It was kinda cloudy and thought it was behind clouds...We couldnt even find the moon! We decided to go ahead and leave and I turned around to see if I could see anything and I noticed a faint, orangy image just cresting over the mountain! (I think one of the parking lot lights was in our way before) So we got out Lil' Chad's telescope and set it up. By the time we noticed it, it was in it's totallity and moving out of its eclipse. Still, it was so cool to see and experience with the little fam. and Chad especially! By the time we got home and settled we looked again and Nicholas said it looks like someone took a bite out of a moon cookie! Well, maybe I'll have my own picture next time when it happens again in August.

Photo Thursday Challenge: "Entrance"