Summer in Fall

We had some wonderful weather a few weeks ago.  It was hot and we decided to make the  most of our weekend at home!


We went to a Civil War reinactment at a mill north of us.  It was an interesting experience.  There were at least around 100 people that camp all weekend long.  They dress in period pieces and reinact how people lived around 1860.  Yes, I had to Google what year the Civil War started...don't judge me. 


Audrey made a wax candle, we toured the campsites, and then we went to find a seat for the reinactment.



The medic and the calvary.



The cannon was very close to us...hence...



The next morning we met my friend and her son at a huge park here. I took his pictures last year. He is warming up to me...although he didn't want to leave the safety of his mother!


I ended up with some really cute shots of him. It is not hard to do because he is so darn adorable!

I loved his mad karate skills! It makes me want to sing, "Everyone was kung fu fightining!"


For those who are wondering I am done with two out of three Halloween costumes!  Yeah me!!!


Hope you have a great rest of the week!!

Trees

When it was warm and the trees were in the height of their color change we went on a few bike rides after dinner. The whole family pedaling around our neighborhood. Always a delight.

I wanted to try out one of my lenses that I don't use a lot.  The trees were beautiful near our Middle School. I halted the bike procession and requested that the kids run around near the trees. I let them do their "thing". This is what I came up with....




Audrey looks a little scared in the first picture, but she tends to get the "zombie" eyes when I ask her to smile. To get a good picture of her I have her look at someone else...who hopefully is doing something funny...and then look back at me.

Full disclosure...I had to photoshop globs of ketchup off of Audrey's face.  Remnents of dinner.  It was a pretty gross sight, so you are welcome!

I used this lens when taking pictures of my girlfriend's son.  I just have to finish processing them and then I'll show a few on here.

I'm using my "free" time right now to finish the Halloween costumes.  I'm making two from scratch and altering one purchased from Costco.

Hope you have a great weekend!

Hair cut and Park Fun

Thank you to all that donated to St. Jude Children's Hospital.  Audrey and Hudson raised $270 together for this wonderful institution!

My cousin Bette cut the boys hair a few weeks ago.  They both look so much better.  Here is Hudson's before and after.


It was sad to see Marshall's curls go, but he looks like such a little man now.


We ended up at the local park later that evening. I took this picture of Hudson and Audrey and it reminded me of when they were little. Same park many years later.


What is it with boys and finding big sticks?



Audrey was not in the mood for pictures.


Look at this big guy. He is growing up so fast!


Easter pics will be coming later this week.

Have a great one!!

Spring Break

The kids were on Spring Break a week back.  We went to the zoo, went to an open gymnastics place, and Marshall had a raging double ear infection that I didn't know about.


The first picture should have been an indication on how sick he felt.  He rarely cuddles up to anyone anymore, let alone Hudson...even to watch him play his DS.  I win the "Mom of the Year Award"...you can mail it to me.....



The day we went to the zoo was the only day of the week that it didn't rain. It was still chilly, but the sun did shine after lunch time.



I wish this kid could say, "For the love of God, Mom...my ears are ready to burst out of my skull. Can you help me out?" Instead he just looks at me like this and I think he is just being a normal two year old. 


My mailing address is listed for the "Mom of the Year Award"....



A few days later the weather warmed up and Josh started cleaning out the shed. Look what he and Hudson found (up high so little kids couldn't have found it). We only keep the dangerous chemicals down low within the small children's reach. (kidding)



I do want to note that I do not stage these photographs. Hudson hollered for me when he found the sword. He wanted his picture taken. I, of course, oblige all picture requests. Even when the props are rusty swords that will hack a limb off or at least give you lock jaw.



I took Marshall to the doctor earlier this week following a painful night of sleeplessness. She took one look in his ears and said..."Oh my. This is a really really bad ear infection. In both ears!"  I let her know that I had failed knowing he was sick.  He had no fever, no tugging at the ears, no indication that he was sick except for the crankiness, sleeplessness, and general two year old behavior.  


He's been on antibiotics for five days and is back to "normal".  Two year olds are rarely "normal", but he is no longer cuddling and has resumed running every where he goes.  


I hope you are having a illness free spring!

Memo

Did you get the memo that today was crazy hair day?


No?


It must have only been delivered to my house.







Do you think the little guy gets enough hugs around this house?



Hair cuts are in the boys immediate future even though the older one will resist.  


Have a great rest of the week!

Little Things are New Here

Nothing HUGE is new here...just little things such as:

Josh's sister, Jill, had her baby last week. She had a big baby boy, Levi. He weighed 9 lbs 3 oz! So he was a few ounces bigger than Audrey and a few ounces smaller than Marshall. He is adorable and if you are her friend on FB then you've seen some really cute pictures so far. They are supposed to make a trip out here in Sept or October so we can throw her a baby shower in Coleman. So I'll post lots of pictures of our new nephew/cousin Levi then!!

Josh's birthday was last week.  We made cupcakes.  They were supposed to be really cool, but I realized I am not good at decorating cupcakes.  We settled for just sprinkling M&Ms on them and calling it a day.  This was Audrey's first turn at the mixer by herself.  She was a pro and kept the beaters in the bowl while they were on.  No splattering of the cake mix on the walls!



Hudson's last baseball game was last week. He had a great time this season. If he wants to play next year then he'll play machine pitch.


There is a water park here in town. The kids love it and we've visited two times this summer. I wish it opened earlier in the morning, but it opens at 11:00 am. We pack our lunches and head over there when the gates open. The first time we came to the park Marshall wouldn't nap and we had to leave around 2:30 because he was losing his MIND! So we packed up our stuff and we weren't even out of the parking lot by the time Marshall fell asleep. I formulated a different plan in my mind for our visit last week. I vowed that my "baby" would take a nap at the water park so the older two could swim a little longer. I walked Marshall around in his stroller while he cuddled with his blanket. Sure he only slept for an hour, sure he sweat THROUGH his stroller, sure he was in a sore mood when he woke up, but we got to stay a few extra hours!


We have a new friend visiting our backyard. I saw a small tear in one chair cushion. I thought it was made by a raccoon that smelled something that spilled on the cushion. Josh called me outside and I found this:


Mind you that Audrey was in the sandbox right next to this chair and Hudson was sitting beside this chair.  The squirrel could have cared less as long as he got his cushion filling. It must be like crack to that guy because nothing scared him away. Even my ferocious dog in the window didn't chase him out of the chair!  I've hidden my other cushions away and I think Mr. Squirrel has finished padding his nest with his cushion stuffing because I haven't seen him back lately.


Not much is happening this week or next, but I'm sure I'll find something to blog about. Don't I always? Aren't you glad?