L.E.N.S. Photo Challenge~Listen

The theme for this week’s L.E.N.S. Photo Challenge is listen.   I was having a hard time thinking of what I wanted to do for this one.  I thought about maybe using one of my MANY photos of my toddler screaming.  I do listen to that a lot. LOL

However, we did some shopping today and that inspired me to go in a different direction.  So here’s my entry.

My budding piano player was a tad disappointed that you couldn’t see that it was her playing our new digital piano. So I’m posting this picture too, as proof that it is, indeed, Mackenzie playing. LOL  It’s not my entry though.

Hopefully, with a few lessons under her built, this will become something that we enjoy listening to frequently.  For now we might need to get some head phones for that thing. LOL

L.E.N.S. Challenge: Sunlight

This week's L.E.N.S. Challenge was sunlight. I had trouble choosing so I narrowed it down to two. =o)

This is taken in the Phillipine Sea just before sunset. We were stranded in the boat that we had just boat and I was bored. (And I do mean literally just bought. We were taking the boat from the seller to our marina. But that's another story. LOL)

This is also of the Phillipine Sea, right at sunset, from land. I love the silouette of the plants. I never noticed the four spider silouettes until after the fact. Good thing, cuz I'd have probably freaked. It could've been worse, I guess, this was in Guam so it very well could've been a silouette of a brown tree snake. Ack!

I miss all the beautiful scenery on that tiny, little island.

Win a Sunny Patch Gift Pack

from Melissa and Doug.




If your tot is a Sunny Patch fan be sure to enter. Lots of neat stuff just perfect for spring and summer play.

Melissa and Doug See and Spell Give Away

Home Grown Hearts is giving away a Melissa & Doug See & Spell. Melissa and Doug make awesome learning toys and this one is no exception. I've been eyeing it for a while now. Pop on over to Home Grown Hearts to enter.

Win Pom-Pom magnets

for your tot.


Home Grown Hearts is giving away a cool set of pom pom magnets.


Look at how much fun they are. And the ones that you win will be waaaay better then the ones I made. Be sure to enter.

I'm a winner!!!

Yay, I've won the drawing over at Everything Except the Grill.

I'd like to thank God for giving me the ability to point my camera, Zoe for being mean to her sister, Clara for reacting to Zoe's meanness so perfectly, Christina for birthing those two lovely girls and allowing me to photograph their finer moments, my husband for buying me the pricey camera and, of course, the academy. =o)

This blog sure is lucky for me. This is the third thing I've won since I've started it. Woot!!

Chasing Picture Perfection Assignment

It's time for another photo challenge over at Chasing Picture Perfection.


Our assignment this time is to take a stop action photo. I was excited about this assignment because I've been working on that skill all summer long. Between my daughter's soccer games and my friend's field hockey I'm slowly, but surely, getting better at this.


I like shooting action shots, particularly kids sports, because when you look back at the pictures you can see all the funny expressions the players make. That's hours of good, cheap entertainment. After my daughter's first soccer game we spent over an hour going through the 600+ pictures I took and made up a story based on the kids facial expressions. We laughed until our sides hurt.


Here are my two favorite shots of the summer. The second shot is a bonus because my daughter really wanted me to use a shot of her this time. Apparently she keeps track of this stuff. LOL So you get a 2-4-1 this time.



Those are some hard-working girls on that field hockey field.




I like this soccer picture because the kids remind me of a dog chasing it's tail. They just keep running after that ball. LOL My daughter's the one with the ribbons in her hair. She likes to be sporty and girly.

My Life. In Pictures. Session 3/Day 4

Today's assignment involves the sense of taste. I had a great idea involving my mom's new teeth and an orange but she wouldn't cooperate. She said I could have them when she kicked the bucket. LOL I said thanks but no thanks cuz I needed them for Thursday.

So I choose a picture of my husband enjoying his first taste of 'Sand-Free" food for the first time in a very long time.

Probably a picture of him eating the giant steak he plans to have later would have made for a more interesting shot. But I don't have time for that today cuz, Hooray, my honey's finally home!

My Life. In Pictures. Session 3/Day 3

The five senses challenge continues. Today Amber has challenged us to photograph something that represents the sense of "touch".

I chose a cuddly baby for my subject. Who wouldn't want to stroke those silky curls or cuddly that warm little body in her fuzzy jammies?

Win a free stroller from Zooper and J.Leigh Designz

Enter to win a Waltz stroller from Zooper over at J. Leigh Designz.

Of course, I hope to win it myself because the stroller is just what I need.

My favorite things about it...

A 5 pt. harness to keep my escape artist in place.

Has a 55# weight limit. I have big babies and I'd like to keep them contained for as long as possible.

Has a ton of fabulous accessories, including a sleeping bag for wee ones, rain cover, snack tray, cup holder for mom, and an oversized sunshade. Awesome!

It is only 17#s. Much lighter than the beast I'm currently pushing.

It comes in 6 fabulous colors. I like the plum

Win a Tag Junior

plus two books over at Go Graham Go.

I'm a huge fan of Leap Frog products for reading. My oldest taught herself to read with the help of the Leap Frog DVD's and her Leap Pad. All I did was pay for them. Now that was money well spent. =o)

But if you could get it for free...that's even better!

I'm a winner AGAIN!

I won a drawing for Nature Circle Cards sponsored by Growing and Learning by Leaps and Bounds .

Not only will they be useful to use with my own kids, I think they will be great to use with Mackenzie's brownie troop.

If you haven't checked out the Leaps and Bounds blog you should. She has lots of great open-ended art activities as well as tons about nature. Fun, fun!