CHEESY BOOTS

I told him to say... "CHEEEEESE"!! Not sure why he closed his eyes and put his hand up to his shoulder.

You should have seen him trying to walk. Also, they're on the wrong feet.

I NEED YOUR INPUT

I'm thinking about starting another blog.

This blog would remain as it is, capturing the moments of my boys and family.

The new blog would be a place for me to share anything and everything creative... photography, crafts, recipes, etc.

I've added a poll at the top of the left column, so please cast your vote on whether I should start another blog, or keep it all as one.

I'm going to leave the poll open until next Friday.

Thanks for your help!!

MY MEN

SWEET SHOT TUESDAY

I took these pictures Saturday evening after we returned home from a friend's Birthday party (about which I still need to post).

This is some SERIOUS tube watching...

... and no, they weren't watching "Happy Days".

Not sure what they're giving the Thumbs-Up to.

Check out Sweet Shot Tuesdays

for all the other "Sweet Shots".

FAREWELL BOAT

As some of you may already know, we recently sold our boat. We weren't planning on selling, but some lady driving by, saw it in our yard and made an offer, which we accepted.

We originally purchased the pontoon in 2006, and it gave us four summers of wonderful water play. That first summer, we had many good times on it as a newly married couple (no, that's not what I meant... get your mind out of the gutter. This is a "G" rated blog.). The second summer, due to me being VERY pregnant, we didn't get to go out on it as much, but still had a few fun days. The third summer, with a soon to be 1year old in tow, we used it quite often. Then last summer, with a soon to be 2year old AND a newborn in tow, we got out on the water and enjoyed many a summer afternoon, and some evenings, as a family of four.

On September 12th, the day after Luke turned 2, we took the boat out for the last time of the season. Little did we know, it would be the last time ever. Glad I took these pics.

Thank You, to our Bennington Pontoon, for many wonderful summer memories. You will be missed.

COMMENTS PLEASE

I don't know if any of you noticed, but at the top of the left-hand column, I now have a counter so I can see how many times my blog is visited. I only added it this past Wednesday, and there have already been quite a few hits. I would LOVE if when you visited, you would leave me comments. And, if you're a new follower, and not a friend or family, please introduce yourself, so I now who you are.

Speaking of comments... check out this comment that Vicki left for me regarding my last "Fix-it-Friday" post.

WOOOOOOWWWWW!!! And she's even a professional photographer. Her comment really made my day and definitely boosted my confidence.

So, thank you for stopping by, and please, let me know you were here.

NEW PROJECT

What are these three, absolutely gorgeous fabrics going to be used for you ask?

Inspired by my Mom, I will be tackling a project that I hope is not over my head.

Check back soon for pics of the finished project.

PEEK AT MY PAPER

My good friend Brenda Reed is hosting a giveaway on her Blog. Go Here to check it out. Follow the simple instructions and maybe you'll win. She'll pick a winner next Friday.

FIX-IT-FRIDAY

Before

After

Using Picnik:

1. Cropped

2. Adjusted Exposure

3. Adjusted Contrast

4. Applied "Boost"

5. Applied "Posterize"

5a. adjusted number of colors and detail

5b. then faded slightly back to original

6. Applied "Focal Soften"

MY NEW APRON

It's not really new. I got it a few weeks ago. Don't you just love it?

I first saw it in the March issue of Country Living. The blurb about it, said it would be available March 8th at Kmart (of all places), and it was only $12.99. After we returned from our trip to New Orleans at the beginning of March, I went to the Kmart website to complete my purchase, but they were already sold out. So, I signed up to be e-mailed when they became available again.

I never got an e-mail, but I would check back periodically. Finally, a few weeks ago, I hit the jack-pot. It was available, and it was on SALE. One for me please!!

I absolutely adore the little crocheted flower accessory that came with it...

and I love the mix of patterns and the mini ruffle detailing.

(yes, I have my foot on the wall [for balance]. Don't you just love my shoe? That's a whole other story I'll fill you all in on some other day).

So now, for only $9.00, I can look stylish and adorable while fixing dinner. Marc thinks I look pretty cute in it.

BTW, I went to the Kmart site to try to add a link for y'all to use to get one of your own, but couldn't find it. They must not carry it anymore... sorry.

...AND NOW HE CLIMBS

I just captured this moment... and yes, I know it's 2:00pm, and Porkchop's still in his pajamas (sans bottoms). What kind of mother am I?

Anyway, now that he's pretty much got the walking thing under his belt, he's now moved on to climbing.

Very ingenious that he used the dumbells as his stepping stone. So smart my little Porkchop.

PLAY

WALKING

In the three weeks since I originally posted about Grey taking his first steps, he has mastered the skill quite well. He still falls down a lot, but his choice of movement is now almost always walking in lieu of crawling.

This video is a collection from a couple of different days starting with a day from last week, and ending with what I shot today.

Grey is definitely on the move... there's no looking back now.

A MORNING AT THE PARK

Yesterday, I took the boys to a nearby park that I've driven past a hundred times, but had never been to before. It's really nice with two play areas, a pavillon with picnic tables, a small pond, and a large grassy area with lots of shade trees. Today, along with our friend Lilly, I took the boys back. It was a lot hotter today, but still really nice in the shade.

Since Lilly was there with me, I was able to take all kinds of pictures.

Luke and I wandered off so I could take some pictures of the flowers and scenery. I love these two shots I got of him.

I loved all the flowers I could take pictures of.

This farm is behind the park.

The boys and I will be visiting this park often.

SWEET SHOT TUESDAY

Another blog I follow (again, found through my ever-so-inspiring friend Brenda) has a photo sharing challenge every Tuesday. Basically, you link to her website, your favorite picture you took within the last week. It's a way to get the participants out there and shooting.

This is my favorite, which I actually took today, at a nearby park.

Go visit this site and see all the other "Sweet Shots".

To see the other pictures I took today, go here

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!

Marc and the two little men who make this day possible.

"CELEBRATING TEENS" - PHOTO CHALLENGE

If you visited my blog last Friday, you saw where I participated in a photo challenge called "Fix-it-Friday" at I Heart Faces. Now, I am entering a photo in their weekly photo contest. This weeks theme is "Teens".

I took this photo last October of one of the neighbor kids, Taylor Myers. I had just gotten my camera a few months earlier, and I wanted to practice taking pictures of people, so Taylor happily volunteered.

Go to I Heart Faces and see all the other entries in this weeks contest.

GRANDPARENTS VISIT... FINALLY

FINALLY, I am blogging about my parent's visit, which was two months ago. They were here the last weekend in April, which meant they were here for mine and Marc's birthday. We were blessed to have them with us for four days, and boy, did we keep them BUSY.

The first day after they arrived, we went to the Richmond Zoo. I started working on that post a couple of weeks ago, so click here to see all about that day.

On Saturday, we ventured into Fredericksburg to do some shopping. We hit Costco and then had lunch at the Fredericksburg Pub, which is located in the new "Outdoor" shopping area of the Spotsylvania Mall. I don't think I would recommend this restaurant to anyone, due to the experience we had there. The service took FOREVER... you would think, when you see a customer has two small children, you would want to move things along for them. And to top that, the food wasn't that great.

The only good thing about the "Pub", is that it is directly across from one of the Greatest new stores EVER... Charming Charlie's. This is a Jewelry and Accessories store on Crack. In my mind, the equivalent would be... this store is to women, what Bass Pro Shop is to men. If you haven't been, I highly recommend you go, but make sure you have a least one hour to spend there. After sending the boys home with Marc and Dad, Mom and I spent the afternoon shopping at the mall.

On Sunday, we took them to Church and then laid pretty low the rest of the day.

That evening, Dad wanted to take Luke fishing, so we headed down to the 'ole fishin' hole.

Luke was more interested in fishing with his hands than with his pole.

But once he got on the pole... he and Marc pulled in a whopper.

Once fishing grew tiring, we all headed over to the playground. Luke was all over the jungle gym, showing Grandpa is climbing skills on the tires.

Grey, along with me, headed to the swings. Can you believe, I'm actually in a picture?

On Monday we headed to Richmond to do MORE shopping. After first visiting Wal-mart we went to Short Pump. While there, a huge thunderstorm blew through, so we waited it out in the food court where there was a play area for the boys. They had a blast.

After shopping all day, we met up with Marc at the Cheesecake Factory and had a delicious birthday dinner.

The next day, Grandma and Grandpa had to leave us and head back home to New Mexico. We tried to get a picture of them with the boys, which was like pulling teeth. This is the best one out of about ten... and it's still not that great... oh well.

We all look forward to them coming to visit again... sooner better than later.