stop to shoot the flowers

I just got a new portrait lens today, but when I got home no one was up for a photo shoot... so I tested it out on this flower in the front yard. I liked how it turned out with no touch-ups, so I thought I'd share.

A few photos...

Our hard drive crashed recently (yes, I had a backup), and it took me awhile to get all the software loaded and all back into the groove of posting pics.

Ok, so here are some of my favorite recent photos.  But, the reality is, there are just so many more that I love!  Anyway, feel free to visit our website to see them all.

BTW, videos have also been put on hold because our video camera broke!

From Braden's First Smiles September 2008

Wow, can I just say, we needed him to start smiling?  He has been tough in the evenings (the last few days have been way better).  Aren't these smiles great?!

From Photo Shoot September 2008

This is me being artistic.  I don't know what I would ever do with this, but it was fun to put together regardless.

From Photo Shoot September 2008

He is getting stronger.

From Mom and Amy's Visit September 2008

I am sort of biased, but I can't get over how cute this girl is.

From Mom and Amy's Visit September 2008

Drew just started jumping off the spa into our arms!  He also now jumps off the side of the pool into the water all by himself.  This is an amazing step for our timid little boy.

From Mom and Amy's Visit September 2008

I love my kids!

Big Week!

Wow, what a week we've just completed! Last weekend was "Day Out With Thomas". It was Chase's third year there and Zach's first. Although we were dodging the remnants of a hurricane (thanks, Rob & Becky), it turned out to be a gorgeous day! The boys had such a good time... and so did we!

On Monday, Chase had his first day of pre-school. I stayed home from work in the morning to take part in the event... such a special memory! He goes to Star of Bethlehem Christian School just 2 miles down the road. Although it's a Christian school, the students are predominantly Indian and Hindu. Apparently the school does no advertising other than word of mouth and the Indian community is very tight and spreads the word that this is a good school to attend. Chase is a minority in the school, but we figure it's probably good for him... and for us! Chase goes 3 days a week from 9 to noon. And he loves it!

Thursday, Chase started swimming lessons. Although he's signed up for a class at the Boys & Girls club, there are so many time options, no one else signed up for this class... so he gets a private lesson! If you saw Chase swim this summer, you'll understand just how much he loves swimming. The being told how to swim, though, was new... and he's still getting used to the idea that being in the pool isn't just about having fun doing you're own thing!

Big Day

Today was a big day for our family! Late this afternoon, Karen and I went for our 2nd Dr's visit. Everthing looks good and the baby has grown tremendously. We had an ultrasound (now 12 weeks) and got to see the heartbeat again. Now before you look too closely at the picture (if you haven't already), don't freak out. It looks a bit skeletal, but that's normal. On the left side of the pic you can see its head with two eye sockets looking at you. The light area is its smile (ok, just a jaw at this point). Just to the right, you'll see a hand waving! What a friendly child already!

After the appointment, we headed home for dinner. Following dinner, Karen and I took Chase to an Open House for his pre-school. He'll start at Star of Bethlehem Christian School on Monday, attending Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays from 9 - 12. This will be his first year.

So on the same day, we saw our new baby's face and took our oldest to his first night at school! It really makes us think about how fast the time goes by!

Big "Thank You"!

You know that feeling when someone has done something for you that you have no way to repay? Not just a note or some flowers, but something truly sacrificial!

Mom beat me to the punch with the blog post, but I just gotta add to it. They drove up to MA on Thursday evening after work... 8 hours! For mom it was the last weekend of the summer before students showed up. Dad had been out of work for several days in the last 2 weeks due to a really bad back. And still, they made the drive up. Why drive, why not fly? Because Dad was bringing up a carload of tools for helping me replace the kitchen & bathroom floors, replace the kitchen counters, fix some broken siding, and spackle some walls! Mom spent the days with Karen keeping the boys occupied while Dad and I got work done in the house.

The bad back notwithstanding, Dad probably saved us a couple thousand $ and I know he saved us months of weekends of me trying to do it! We still have lots to do... the kitchen walls still need some more spackle, then paint. The chair rail still needs to go up. And the tile behind the counter needs to be installed. But evenstill, at the end of the weekend when Dad was then packing up to make the long drive home just in time to start his week of work... I almost cried, thinking of how huge a gift this was! Not to mention how great it was to work side by side with one of my greatest heroes!

Thanks, Dad! I love you!

The old floor...

Dad hard at work...

The finished product: floor & countertop....

Labor Day Weekend--Name fits!

Dad and I went to Chip's this weekend. Promise to help with new floor and counter top. Men worked, the women kept kids busy.
Zoo and apple picking were on our agenda. The men were rewarded at nite with ice cream from Sully's. Well I have no pics of the finished job, so Chip will have to provide them. We took 8 hrs. going up but 5 3/4 coming home! Zach has a very sore left foot. Second set of xrays show nothing but he still limps. Pray for speedy healing! How did I get this underlining to stop?