May Photo Challenge

Just a quick post for Rock the Shot's May photo Challenge.  When I heard their subject for the challenge was silhouettes, I just had to throw my sweet loves into the mix!

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Rock Tasting and Other Sunny Day Activities

***A little disclaimer*** I know the pictures are too big, but I just really wanted them big. I'll mess with my layout later. :D


SPRING!!!!  I cannot tell you all how Spring makes me feel.  

You probably feel it too, right?  

That fresh, new, every little thing is just wonderful with world, opportunities abound, sun-soaking feeling?  

Ahh, yes, that's the one.  It doesn't matter what is going on in my world at the time of the first truly sunny and warm day.  I'm totally happy just because. 

So far, this boy feels the same way about this inviting season.  All my boys love outside, but this one is just starting to realize everything that outside has to offer.  This is Henry's first Spring to really enjoy the outdoors on his own two feet.  And he’s entranced. 

We've been playing soccer, well sort of.

Taste testing rocks (that didn't go over so well).  I've never experienced it myself, but I'm guessing it's a lot like wine-tasting, except not as tasty.

First you simply select a rock, 

Then just give it a taste.  

This face tells me he won't be going back for seconds!  Or maybe he's saying, "I cannot believe you just let me put that in my mouth."

We've been playing more with the dogs.  Ethan and Skye have that special bond.

She beat him to it.

Skye dropped the ball at Henry's feet, but he wasn't too sure about this fetch thing.

I'm not picking that up!

You pick it up!

After a while we moved on to smashing things with rocks. 

Henry decided he'd have some fun in the dog's water bowl.  I decided to pick my battles. Don't judge me. 

My favorite part was the sand.  I love watching them explore and learn.  Sometimes you can just see the wheels turning in their minds. 

Bonus!  Riley and Henry played amiably together!  This is HUGE. 

Some trampoline static electricity fun!

And then Henry practiced his Jack Nicholson impression.... pretty good, huh?  

 Heeeeere's Johnny!

Unexpected Observations

I've been guilty of using technology as entertainment or distraction for my kids once or twice.  Ok, maybe 3 times, but who's counting?  We've all done it, right?

Well, I didn't realize just how much my boys like taking pictures with my phone until I went to sync it this morning.  It was so unexpected to see so many pictures of how they see the world, each other, and themselves.

These were all taken by either Ethan or Riley.  They both really like that distortion effect!

 Sweet self portrait

 Caught the early morning sun 

Distortion!!!  I'm definitely not that skinny.  Plus, I'd never wear bell bottoms that wide.

                              

Abstract self portrait of Riley

Why does this make me think of the Goonies?

 Lego weenie dog!  

 Uh, wow.

 Ethan made his own Captain America helmet.

Riley's Star Wars scene made of Legos

Looks like a baby doll!

Looks like a Garbage Pail Kid!

Looks like Mom's paying for her hair cut

One little monkey jumping on the bed.... 

Boing!  Boing!

Not sure.... something abstract.... a shoe and a ball...

 Love this!  Ethan used the camera flash (reflected off a metal file cabinet) 

to make a sun for his Death Star.

Riley's been made into a video game. 

I just love this one too.  The light, his lashes, the marker on his face, even the wagon in the background.  Perfect!

That's all my randomness for tonight!  I'm almost done with our family pictures!  Hope to share those next week!  

Spontaneity: My Best Plan Yet!

This little perfectionist has a new attitude! A secret weapon, if you will.  Lately, I've embraced spontaneity.  It's crazy.  It's changed my life.  And still changing, little by little.

*This picture really has nothing to do with my life changing.  This is in fact a wonderful constant I have in my life.

It all started mid September when I was faced with the fact that in less than 6 weeks, I had to be seen in public in a short, strapless dress for my sister's wedding.  I panicked.  I had been believing the lie that I didn't have time to exercise for so long that I had just put in out of my mind.  I'd hear that little voice of guilt once in while reminding me I should be taking better care of myself.   But she was easy enough to shut up with a few cookies.

But one day, Baby was taking his morning nap and I thought, now's the time.  Do it.  Do it now.  So I grabbed some hand weights, searched a beginner's arm workout on YouTube, and BAM!  Then, because I was feeling so good (and baby was still asleep) I went out and ran my driveway for another half hour.

I was on cloud 9!!  Totally ecstatic over what I'd just accomplished with no planning whatsoever!!

Unless I count months and months of wishful thinking as planning.  Maybe I should.

I didn't lose a ton of weight before the wedding, but after a few weeks of spontaneously exercising whenever I could fit it in and eating a little more mindfully, I felt a ton better about myself.  It's really amazing.  I didn't have to have a plan for it to work.

Shock and awe, people, shock and awe.  You know what I mean?

Of course, just a few days of being out of my new groove and I was back to old habits.  After the wedding, we all decided to get congested and feverish.  And why not throw in some sore throats, and crippling fatigue?  It was serious.  I even got sick.  I don't get sick.  Riley started it, then Henry, then me, and finally poor Ethan.  My man was the only one to escape it.

So after moping around for a few weeks and starting to recuperate.  I finally put together the whole "exercise and eating right make you feel good" thing that's been going around the Internet for years.  Haven't you heard?  Apparently it's true.

I speak from experience.

But knowing and doing are two different things.

Thankfully, the spontaneity thing has caught on!  My middlest boy, Riley, has been asking me for months to make some play-dough.  I always had an excuse not to do it.  The table wasn't clear, I needed to edit some pictures, Henry needs a nap, I have a hangnail.  He was always so good to just say okay, maybe later.  Well, later came, and he asked again.  It was a Sunday afternoon, we were all dripping snot and coughing and I said why not!  Let's do it.

So we made play dough.  We didn't have enough salt, so we spontaneously used baking soda.  We didn't have enough all-purpose flour, so we spontaneously used unbleached.  It worked just fine!

The dough was a little brown, but the boys didn't care.  They had a blast with that stuff!  I cooked it as I was cooking lunch.  We all squished and molded it for an hour or so.

 Riley made an AT-AT from Star Wars of course.

 Jason and Henry collaborated on some creepy shrunken heads.

 Riley's snowman and friend.

 Ethan made a monkey, or ape, or some sort of primate.

Riley played with the home made dough for days afterwards.  Then it started smelling a little funky and mysteriously made it's way to the trash.  Does that happen at your house?


For my next amazing feat of spontaneity I decided we needed family pictures!  I could photoshop the dripping noses later.

Here's a few from our impromptu shoot.

 Ethan is so good with Henry.  They both are, but I depend on Ethan for a lot.  He's awesome.

 This one..... Oh, what can I say?  He's a hoot.

 This is how Riley helps with Henry.  He just begged and begged to hold him.  Henry doesn't seem to mind though.

 Rizzo the Photo Bomber!

Isn't it strange to have your heart(s) walking around outside your body?  Love them so, so much.

 Ethan, who's almost 10, took this.  It's not too bad!  I'll have to give him a few pointers later on angling your subjects as to not add so many chins.  I'm sure I didn't have those extras when I looked in the bathroom mirror. =)

My favorite.  

 My sweet, little Henry..... He loves to figure out how things work!

I had this image in my head.... well, not exactly this image, but they never come out exactly like I'd planned.  I think it's perfect. 

Did you know that photographers often have to "head swap" to get a family picture to look "picture perfect"?  This will be one of those times.  I'll share the final picture later, but for now I just love their faces.

My booty, the Photo Bomber.  Sorry!  It's not easy to press the shutter button and get in place in 10 seconds. 

 Yes, Gramma, he really threw him that high.  It's not that high!!  Just looks that way.

My awesome family.  They clean up pretty good, huh?  

I'm so grateful for them!  There's so much to be thankful for right now.  I hope everyone of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving week!  Do something spontaneous!!  You won't regret it!