1st Day of School 2008

The first day of school was a flurry of excitement in our house. Surprisingly, Carter was the most excited of all, counting down the days until he got to go back to school. Emily was more uncertain, thinking that 4th grade was going to be hard. Casey just wanted to stay home with mama.

I got up early and made a "real" breakfast of eggs and bacon for the kids and we took our traditional 1st day pictures. Al called before we left to wish the kids a great first day and to tell me not to cry...

We actually made it to the school early and the kids got to stand in line with their friends. And when they got home, all was well, Emily loves 4th grade, Carter thought his room and teacher were cool and Casey had fun playing at La-Las (aka: the babysitter) with his little friends.

So, ends one more first day of school. Exciting and bittersweet at the same time. No, I did not cry, but I think it will be a very different story when my last one has his very first day of school...

(Side note: That excitement lasted all of 2 whole days. Count them: 2. This morning was back to , "I hate school. School is no fun! I don't want to go! I can't even get a drink or go to the bathroom if I want to!)

I spy Saturday

Okay. So I was browsing some blogs the other day... you know how it happens. You read your friend, cousins, whomever's blog and then you read their comments and start clicking around checking other people's blogs out and pretty soon you are three or four blogs away from the original one you were reading in the first place. Anyway, I stopped on this one that had a "photo hunt", in fact, that may have been its name. I'm sorry I don't remember. But the concept stuck with me. The idea was that on a certain day each week visitors are on a hunt for a particular type of a photo opportunity and then to join in the fun they can post their photos on their own blogs.

So I thought...

I spy Saturday...

This Saturday I want you all to look for an "Iowa" picture. What is truly "Iowa" to you? For me, it's all about agriculture. I've been "spying" this particular view of tractors by the local ethanol plant for weeks now and am just amazed by the endless row of John Deere tractors left to rest on this particular stretch of train track.


There's just something about that green and yellow all shiny and new....


So, to join in my game, go on an "I spy Saturday" photo hunt today. Whether you have time to actually go and shoot some "Iowa" pictures or you "hunt" through your files on your computer, it doesn't matter. Leave me a comment (Please leave me a comment) and post your pics on your own blog!! If you don't have a blog, just leave me a comment. If you do have a blog, do BOTH.

No matter what, have fun and find out what Iowa truly means to you!!!

My little girl...

In some ways Emily is still my sweet little girl that I can't imagine life without. Then, there are moments, like these, where the "big" girl she is becoming peeks out.

Her friend spent the day with us Wednesday this week and they decided they wanted to ride their bikes to the park by themselves and then have me and the boys meet them later.

This is how Emily "dressed" to go to the park. Pretty ribbon hanging in her hair and a new purse from Aunt Amy slung over her shoulder...


Makes me smile just to see it....I love that girl!

Happy Weekend Bloggy Friends!!!

CHASING FIRE

I decided to try and "chase" a sunset last night....To take pictures of course! I had to "chase" it because I live in town and you don't see much in the way of sunsets with all of the houses surrounding you.

Here's what I saw....






When Casey and I got home from our "chase" Al and Emily had a campfire going...of course, we all took turns practicing with the new camera!!!

The elusive flames...



Al creating Art and trying different things...

This is the night setting on my camera. Turned out kinda cool I think.
My beautiful daughter.

Carter was playing around with a flashlight so I thought I'd see what would happen. Cool Light Saber effect.
This picture was also taken in the night setting by Emily.

Disclaimer: All of my pictures are straight out of the camera. I am excited by photoshopping effects but don't always have the time to practice with the program. So in order to post more, I am opting to just put pictures up for now and work on improving editing techniques later! Hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Summer Suppers

Shish - K - Bobs...


And Grilled Sweet Corn.
Yum Yum!

Take me out to the ballgame,

Take me out to the ballgame,Take me out to the crowd
Buy me some peanuts and cracker jacks,
I don't care if I ever get back.

We'll just root, root, root for the home team!
If they don't win, it's a shame.


Cuz it's one, two,

three strikes you're out
at the old
Ball game!!!!