August 1, 2010

Starting today, I will be integrating my daily photo blog into my  main blog.  Things will be a little different for awhile, as I adjust, but I hope you will bear with me throughout all the changes.

Thanks so much for visiting and leaving such wonderful comments these past two years.  Your comments and kind words have kept me going and given me hope.    I hope you will follow me over during my move.

Love you all!

July 31, 2010

Today I'm thankful for good friends and good times.

Dave and I had a great time today at Walker's Benefit Shootout for Autism.  (Thanks for having us out Barry and Madonna!  Hope the benefit was a success!)

I can't think of a better way to raise money for a good cause.  Visiting with old friends, making new friends and throwing some lead down range.

After I downloaded my pictures this evening . . .

I found this one.  Hubby must have snagged my camera while I was attempting to hit what I was aiming at.  I'm pretty rusty, but DID manage to (mostly) hit what I was aiming for.

Dave and I both ended up bringing home some super cool prizes.  Can't wait to try out my walking weights with the MACE (and pray to God that I don't mace MYSELF)!  I'll let you know how THAT works for me.

I believe I'm going to try to crawl to bed now.  I'm BEAT.

July 30, 2010

Today I'm thankful for big puffy white clouds and sleeping in. 

Today was an extremely busy day.  I had to get everyone up and ready to run errands this morning.  A trip to the gun shop for primers, stopping by the bank for my mom, and a trip to Springfield to pick up my new glasses, before swimming lessons.

On the way back from Springfield, mom and I decided to stop by Fair Grove to check out a local flea market, since we had an hour to spare before swimming lessons.

This place was PACKED with treasures and I wish we'd have had more time to browse (without small children).  Can you spot me in my new glasses in the above photo?

They're taking a little getting used to, since I decided to take a bit of a walk on the wild side.

I tried them on at the store several times.  The first time I laughed out loud.  But I liked the color, so I kept coming back to them.

Totally nerdy and not my style . . . but I think I like them.

They're growing on me.

My second pair is much more tame.  I'm sad to say I have to buy little kid's frames to fit my face . . . but sometimes it DOES have it's perks.

Eli doesn't like my nerdy glasses, but I'm sure he'll get used to them soon.

Both kids passed their levels at swimming lessons, so they can move up next year.  I'll be holding Eli back to level 2 again, just so he has another year to build up some strength.  He was the "little kid" in class this Summer, but next year I see him really taking off!

After we got home I threw a little lead down range in an effort to practise for tomorrow's big benefit shoot.  Hope I can hit what I'm aiming at tomorrow!

July 29, 2010

Today, I'm thankful that I got a load of laundry and my run in, before Dave decided that I needed to go trout fishing with him and the kids.

Mom called right after I threw in the first load of laundry; wondering if I could come over and take some pictures of her flowers.  So I ran over and got several nice shots.  This little butterfly seemed to want it's picture taken too . . . so I obliged.

As soon as I got back home, we all had breakfast, and I jumped on the treadmill for a 20 minute random interval training, then ran a mile in 9 minutes and 45 seconds.  I shaved 15 seconds off of my 10 minute mile!  I'm starting to see where interval training is beneficial . . . I just HATE slowing down, once I get up to speed.  All that stopping and starting wears me out.

After my run, I got everything packed up for swimming lessons later in the afternoon; got everyone showered and dressed to go fishing; and loaded up the Jeep with snacks and fishing gear.

Bayleigh really had a good time.

Eli got bored after about 2 minutes.  So I casted and reeled for him, while he looked for bugs and splashed in the water at my feet.

I finally gave up on the trout, so I could take Eli exploring.  (Doesn't he look enthusiastic about the whole process?!)

He was fascinated by the guy mowing the grass (just because he was riding on a tractor) . . . but even more so with the spider he found in the pavilion.

We'd just went back down to the river, when it started raining.  So we came back to the pavilion and had a picnic lunch, while we watched it rain.

We all had to have little permits pinned to us, and as soon as we were finished fishing, that was the FIRST thing Eli wanted taken off.

And I'm sad to say that he's going through the above phase, of "NO MORE PICTURES, MOM!".

But I still managed to sneak a few.

I walked around taking some random photos of all the friendly fishermen/fisherwomen;

while Dave took the kids to see the baby trout.

It's always so pretty here.

And it was even prettier with the steam coming off the water after the rains.

We headed straight for swimming lessons after we left, and we managed to make it almost all the way through before it started to thunder.

If I can just make it through one more day of appointments and swimming lessons, a benefit shoot, and Sunday School class; next week's load is starting to look a little lighter.  Will all the running ever end?!

July 28, 2010

Today I'm thankful for the lazy days of Summer, but I know they are quickly coming to a close!

As much as I like the spontaneous and relaxed schedule we've been keeping, I'm longing for my routines. 

This has been a Summer of wet towels, bathing suits, sunscreen and water; and Dave thinks we have to be going somewhere non-stop with the kids.  It seems like I haven't been home at all this Summer and the house is TRASHED from our comings and goings.

The rest of the week is packed with activities, too.  And here I am, longing to get things back in order before school starts in THREE WEEKS. 

I'm not even sure it can be done, but I'm going to give it my best effort!  Wish me luck!

July 27, 2010

Today I'm thankful for accomplishments . . . small though they might be.

Another day of rushing around, trying to get laundry, dishes and housework caught up before hitting the road for swimming lessons again.  It's a vicious cycle, but we've only got three more days of swimming lessons after today.  Eli is going to be a FISH . . . if only he could grow gills.  He wants to be under the water ALL the time and doesn't like to come up for air.  I think he's starting to figure that part out, though.  And Bayleigh jumped off the diving board and swam all the way back to the wall by herself.  Little by little the kids are grasping swimming.  I'm so proud of them both!

July 26, 2010

Today I'm thankful for acts of nature.

I had to do a lot of hurrying this morning, so I could get everyone where they needed to be, on time.  Laundry, dishes . . . and my 30 minute run were squeezed in first.  And then it was off to my mom's appointment.  She had to go back in for a redo - on her yearly mammogram.  Just down the road from our house there has been a momma deer with twins.  I never seem to have the right lens on me, but today, when I saw them, I turned the Jeep around and went back for a few shots anyhow.  The two little ones are standing right at the tree line, and they're just adorable.

After we got done with mom's appointment, we went to visit Dave at the Urgent Care Clinic (where the Jeep over-heated a bit); and then we headed off to swimming lessons (which got rained out).  It looks like we'll be coming back on Friday for a make-up day. 

After we got back home and had supper, we all went outside to pick up some rocks in the front yard.  As we were working away . . . the B2 flew over.  (I didn't have my zoom lens on this time either.)

We picked up rocks until the sun started going down, and then we picked some tomatoes from the garden for a little snack.

They were really yummy!  I just wish there were some way to eat as many as the vine is producing!  I guess the birds and wildlife will get their fair share, too.