July/August

Since 95% of you reading this are not actually reading this, but simply scrolling down to glance at the photos, I figured I can ramble for a bit and no one will mind.

July was crazy hot and kind of boring after Hilton Head. Both kids were ready to go back to school, and thankfully we entered the new year with happy news- the kids love their new teachers!! This is always a huge blessing because a year with teacher issues can feel like 10.

I haven't yet found a word that can describe how much I love working from home as a feauxtographer, but if I could, it might be something like fantabulosica! You know when you are somewhere, and you have that weird feeling that that particular place or time is exactly where you are suppose to be? That's how I feel every day (unless I am at the grocery store). And when I look back on my life, I can easily say this is the happiest I have ever been. My early childhood was great, but things got pretty hard when I turned 12 with the divorce and the move, and honestly, they didn't get any easier until a couple of years ago. So I am enjoying this extended moment in time. And in this crazy hard and incredibly depressing and challenging fallen world, being able to utter those words is something I am thankful for. Life is cyclical, and the awareness that 85% of my life has been a daily challenge and struggle for peace and simplicity keeps me focused on the now....because it's good.

Everyone is healthy. Eric had a positive job change recently and loves his new location and boss. We have plans to move and take some financial pressure off our shoulders, and I am praying that we see those plans come to fruition soon. I am LoViNg working from home and the promise I feel in this new career of mine. I have so much to learn, but it's happening, and it's fun. It doesn't feel like work. It feels like play. And that's how I know it's right.

We went hiking one day at Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield Park. That place is beautiful, and it's a great workout if you hike the whole mountain. Jack loves it so much he has asked to go back again and again. We plan to go again some time in October when the leaves change.

If you squint you can see ATL over the horizon.

Jack Dawg challenged himself to a climb up this hill....look how proud he is after he made it to the top!

This is what horrible heat and high humidity will make you do.
I LOATHE AUGUST in GA.

Kaitlin and I have been pondering Christmas card ideas. We have laughed harder coming up withideas than anyone probobly will at the card we send out. She thought of dressing like Jersey Shore characters. I saw the show once and couldn't believe it. We won't be Jersey Shore people, but Kailtin sure does rock a mean Snookie poof.

This is her pageant girl look. You should see her do the Toddlers in Tiara's walk. She nails it. Cracks me up. I love her sense of humor.

Pool day with the Carley family. I still can't believe Silas and his dance moves. He rocked out several songs on Just Dance (Wii) with Megan. The boy can move!

Eric stated this awesome idea of having a breath holding contest. He won. Pretty sure that's why he wanted to do it. He'd been practicing. So random, and so Eric.

Jack wanted to have a nerf war in the woods the Jenkins and Carsy Milarsy. I had just received my new lenses in the mail and wanted to play, so I was all over the idea. I asked him to put his tennis shoes on as we were walking out the door and he refused. We argued for a minute, I made my point, and he didn't listen. I've learned that Jack is like Eric (and most men), and doesn't want to hear you tell him what is going to happen if he makes a certain choice. He likes to go through with making the mistake and THEN learn the lesson. I, along with 95% of all women, like to learn from other people's stupidity....but that's not how most boys work. So we left with Jack wearing crocks to go on a hike, and I knew how it was all going to end. I was excited to photograph the nerf war on our beautiful hiking trails that I just hoped I was wrong, but I knew. Adn sure enough.....Jack's crocks failed him 7 minutes into our hiking/nerf war adventure (exactly as I had warned him) and he got hurt, so we all had to go home to doctor him up. Lesson learned. If only he had listened to his mother!

Pick a winner Carsy!

We ended our summer on a good note, but we were all ready for school to start by the end of July. I love 8 week summers. Perfect amount of time before everyone starts to lose it.

I tried bangs for a minute but it felt like I was wearing a wool blanket on my forehead, so they didn't work for me. Maybe this winter.

I ♥ my new camera, a Nikon D700, but it's true that a good camera in the hands of someone who doesn't know how to use it is worthless. I'm slowly learning how to use it......and I see some real potential in the above photo!

Bella. Oh Bella Schmella Flella. She is such a pain in my buttonka, but I love her. She has become a spoiled rotten princess now that she is the center of my universe all day, and I realize that I've created a monster. Jack loves her so much. He abuses the heck out of her but that's how he shows loves. They are a sweet pair. I wish he could walk her. I am the only one who walks her and it gets old doing it every day. I'd love some help, but she's a spaz and she pulls me down the road and yanks me all over the place. I swear she could pull a train. I've faceplanted twice on the grass while being pulled by her. She also FLIPS every time she sees a dog and that can be painful on my shoulders. We should have named her Kramer.

Bella has become a regular in the carpool line. We've tried to stop taking her with us because she freaks out every time she sees this same tiny sideways walking dog every morning and practically jumps out the window....barking viciously. I think she's trying to tell the dog to walk in a straight line. But she won't let us leave her in the morning without a fight. She mauls over all 3 of us when we open the door to leave and runs to the car, begging to come with us. I fall for it every time. She's rotten.

I've stayed busy with photography opportunities by the grace of God. I've even had the chance to do things I never thought I would want to do, or could do. I helped my brother's company "shoot" cheerleaders and football players at Lassiter, where I learned how wonderful it is to work with LIGHTS. And I got to take photos for Jack's school's grandparents day. It's been challenging, but fun, and I've learned a lot.

So Kaitlin is a cheerleader. I finally gave in, and she loves it. They have a really tough coach, but they are good because of it! She has 5 good friends on her squad so that makes it all the more fun for her.

Kristin's puppy caused quite a happy stir around here.

I don't care how cute she is or how much they beg....we are NOT getting another dog.

Bella Schmella Flella Cordelia Consuela Booshka's doggie portrait

Don't get me started on P90x. I finally had to join Eric out of necessity because I realized that if I didn't join him I might have to move out. He was so annoying about it....judging how many carbs I was eating and showing off his muscles constantly. I had to show him up. I still can't believe we do Yoga together. Something I never imagined I would see him do...he's determined to be buff.

Dear God, please give us an early fall in GA.

The fact that I am posting photos from our family vacation in July makes me sad. I miss camera stalking my family and writing about our lives. In the big scheme of life I realize how small, irrelevant, petty, and insignificant this blog is....but for me and my sanity this blog means something to me. It is the secondary resisdence of my happy place, 2nd only to sleeping with my entire family in one bed, which is no longer allowed becasue my sweet husband is allergic to children. Blogging to me is like marathon running is for some people, and watching TV is for others. Taking pictures and writing are my TV and my running combined.....only my new personal trainer and P90X enthusiast, Eric Muscle-Man, now pushes me to do all of it. You know, I can do it all....now that I am "retired teacher" (I'd rather say "recovering teacher"-a phrase recently given to me by a still-working teacher in need of a recovery program.

So here it is. A snapshot of my favorite week of the year, our family trip to HHI.

The most crowded I have ever seen this beach. Crazy.

Yes.....that is a rather large stingray.

These photos can't be posted the background story. It started with a great idea. The kids had been wanting to go on the Pirate Ship exploration for years, so we finally booked it. We got the the ship and the sky had slowly darkened to a not so friendly blue-gray color. A storm was clearly approaching, and since both of the kids are extremely afraid of storms we all secretly prayed they would call off the voyage. Clearly they didn't, so Jack was left having to make a choice. To go or not to go? Carsyn, his 3 year old cousin, was all about going- storm or not, but Jack said he wasn't going. I realized in this moment that this was a great opportuniy to teach both my kids a lesson about facing your fears. Jack was not happy when I told him we were going regardless of the storm, but I was willing to drag him on kicking and screaming to toughen him up and prove my point. And my point? You can't let fear keep you from living and adventurous life. So we prayed together by the boat, and he seemed to calm down a little, but he was still so nervous that he wouldn't dress up or talk about it. Kaitlin wasn't happy to go either. I was thinking of how much fun a storm would be on a boat and what an adventure it would make ou little pirate ship experience, but Icouldn't help but feel bad for Jack. It is moments like these that brought out the not-so-brave side of my little man. And I know he wishes he was more brave than he is. We are working on it. But not too hard. I want him to be brave, but Ilike how cautious he is. He isn;t that boy who will jump off the roof because his friends think it would be funny. Cautious can be good. Especially with boys.

Clearly Carson the Courageous wasn't afraid one little bit.

A few pep talks and prayers later, Jack cheered up and enjoyed the voyage. I swear he left that experience feeling more confident than he was before. I hope. He seemed to have a great time.

And so did the girls....

Stinky Pete was the best part of the trip. The whole point of the trip was to get rid of stinky pete so he wouldn't steal the treasure (I think- I was more focused on taking pictures than listening). The loved spraying Stinky Pete with water and watching him try to get on the boat.

I love the pictures below. Jack was so proud of himself for not bailing out on the trip. He felt tough.

The picure above captures the moment before the dreaded Bike-a-thon battle. It's worth an entire post of it's own, but honestly, I am too embarrased to write it all down. Long story short-

Jack hates bikes. Jack wanted to go to Harbor Town on his bike. Jack didn't make it out of the parking lot. Jack threw his bike at me. Jack repeatedly screamed profanity at me on the side of the road. Jack got a public spanking. People pointed and judged. I carried 2 bikes and one screaming child home. Jack now hates bikes even more.

Beth captured this wipe out with her iphone. Awesome shot B!

These photos are also a whole post story. Let me shorten this one too.

Kids in the car on the way home from the beach for way too long. Windows up. People losing oxygen to their brain. Children going crazy. Daddy getting angry. Aspen happy she is not in our family. Everyone laughing from delerium. Jack holding his head out the window hoping to obtain oxygen and sanity.

Happy times.