Weekend Photography

I had an all day (10-5) photography class on Saturday.  It was long and I learned some new techniques.  Josh took the older two kids to see Toy Story 3 in 3D.  Josh liked it...the kids not so much.  I think this one is just darker and the kids didn't care for it.

This morning it was really nice outside so I hurried everyone out to play before the storms rolled in.  While getting ready to go outside Marshall climbed on the kitchen chair and found Audrey's yogurt on the table.  He found the abandoned spoon and went to TOWN!  I had to get the camera while he finished up.


We got the hillbilly pool out again yesterday.  Audrey decided to fill the front of the John Deer tractor up with water.  She also floated Hudson's sandals in it.


Can you guess which kid needs a nap?



Hudson is all smiles unless he knows you are taking a picture of him.  Hence all of the sneaky profile shots!


Marshall was waiting for Audrey to come back outside.  I love that he shares his kisses with his reflection on the dirty back door.


Hope you have a great week!

End of School

So, Hudson's last day of school was Monday.  It was a 1/2 day.  Don't ask me why Troy insists on making the kids go so long in June.

Here is Hudson on his way home from the bus stop.  The last time he'll be making this trek as a 1st grader...*sniff sniff*.

Moving on...please note the silly bands that he has accumulated.  He loves those stupid plastic things and hates me taking his picture in "public".  He is also wearing the St. Jude T-shirt that he got for gathering over $100 in donations!


The kids have been begging for a pool.  Josh rigged one up with landscape timbers and a tarp.  We call it the hillbilly pool and it was disassembled before heading inside for the night.  The kids still had a great time playing in it.  I think I'll get one of those little plastic pools for the patio that the kids can just splash around in or we'll just assemble the hillbilly pool whenever needed.

Hudson decided to be really funny and jump in front of my camera.  I like this picture of him.


My photography class is almost done and I've had homework assignments every week.  Here are some of my favorite pics I've taken for different assignments. The flowers are my Mother-in-law's. She has a wonderful garden. The strawberry was in our garden!  The car was parked outside of a body shop near our house.






Nothing else is really planned here for the next few weeks so I might not have a lot of pictures to share.  I know...I know...you are all really sad, but we'll get through this boring time together.

Have a great weekend!!

Good Times!

Hudson's first grade teacher had the parents do a great project for their children.  We had to create a book including a story with Hudson as the main character.  We also had to do the illustrations.  I came up with a story and Josh painted the pictures in the book.  We came to the school last week to present Hudson with the book.  He loved the story and the pictures.  

My brother and nephew came to visit us this past weekend.  Nicole stayed home with Owen, who was sick.  We had a great time visiting, riding bikes, playing guitar hero, cutting the neighbor's tree of their car, going to the zoo, and riding the zoo train.

Josh and I really know how to show visitors a good time!

Jill & Orlando

Jill and Orlando are expecting their first baby in about a month.  They allowed me to take some pictures of them to practice my "mad camera skills".  Here are some of their and my favorite.  I hope only to improve as time goes on.  I would love to actually make a tiny living doing this.

We can't wait to meet this little baby.  I think it's going to be a boy, but I have no medical info to back my guess up.

Great Day

What a beautiful day today!  It is cool and windy.  A great day to throw open the windows and doors, get out the play tent, fold some laundry, and dance.




Please disregard the toy mess in the corner at the end of the video.

I hope your day is as fun as ours!!

Wedding

We went to a beautiful wedding this past weekend.  Josh's youngest cousin tied the knot in a wonderful outdoor ceremony.  It was great to see all of the family together, including Josh's sister & brother in-law who live in Oklahoma.  They are due with their first baby in 6 weeks.  I'm so jealous of Jill's only growing belly...no kankles for Jill.

Here are some pictures of our weekend of fun:

This is at Eugene's new house.  We hung out in the high humidity for a while Saturday morning.

The kids did really well during the wedding. Marshall ate goldfish and enjoyed the music.




The wedding was great! The kids ran around after the ceremony and really wore themselves out. The desserts were great and I often caught Hudson & Audrey back at the treat table.

Field Day

It was so beautiful this week that we busted out the sprinkler and hammock.  The neighbor little girl came over to play with us.  The kids had a great time and Marshall still LOVES the sprinkler.  We just strip him down to his diaper & let him go.

Why can't I get Hudson to smile like a normal kid?


Look at Marshall's hair. It is starting to get a little curl to it.


Hudson had his field day yesterday.  Josh took a few hours off of work to help run some outdoor games.  Hudson was so excited to have all of us there...even if he didn't show it too much.



Marshall and Audrey had a good time watching and snacking.  Marshall is waiting for more snacks in the below picture.


We have a wonderful wedding tomorrow that I'll post pictures of next week. Have a great weekend everyone!!

Visit with Family

The kids and I went on a whirlwind trip this past weekend.  We went to Schoolcraft to visit my Dad & Stepmom.  While there we tried to see Jack play t-ball in South Haven.  Unfortunately, he got rained out, but the storm passed so quickly that we were able to get to the beach after dinner.  My brother is the t-ball coach and he really looks the part.  Too bad he didn't have a whistle hanging out of his mouth...that would have been perfect!

Owen was getting sprinkled on in the middle picture.  He didn't want to get under the umbrella, but didn't like the rain on him!

We got through the National Anthem before it started to downpour.  Coach Burleson told us to pack it up!

By the time we packed everything up and got back to Jeremy & Nicole's house the sky cleared up and we played outside before dinner.


Oh how I love the beach.  It was a little windy so Owen didn't come out with us.  He stayed home with his "Mimi" (Nicole's mother) as he had a double ear infection!  Poor guy.





We then traveled to Quincy to see my Grandmother Burleson then onto Coldwater to see my Mom.  It was great seeing everybody in one weekend, but I wish we were able to stay longer in each place.

Graduation

Audrey graduated from Pre-School last week.  I made seven teacher appreciation gifts of tote bags.  Each one had the teacher's last name initial on it.  Audrey drew pictures for each of her teachers and wrote their names on the notes.


I wanted to make Audrey a dress for graduation so we went to Salvation Army and she picked out two t-shirts that she liked (purple & yellow Michigan).  I found a stripped shirt that combined the two colors.  I came up with a pattern from a dress I had seen on-line.  I think the dress came out adorable and Audrey loved it.



The graduation was wonderful and the kids did great singing their songs.  My Aunt Jeanette & Uncle Jim came to the graduation.