Top 5

A couple blogs that I follow, are doing a 'Quarterly Top 5 Pictures of Your Kids' thing...so I thought I might do it too.  Here are my top 5 choices for the first quarter.

day 90

Betcha thought I forgot....okay, maybe I did.  I had challenged myself to take a picture of the word 'believe' once a month....and I just made it!  Phew!

day 89

day 88

Rest in peace, Kit Kat.

day 87

Today, Richie surprised me by taking another day off.  This one was actually a surprise, I didn't suspect a thing (or suggest it, either).  We had a pretty low-key day, but we were treated to slurpees this afternoon.  I don't usually have them, but today my throat was especially scratchy, and it felt good! 

On a side note, my son totally cracked me up this morning (I apologize to anyone who is friends with me on facebook, as they have already read this story).  So, the boy says to me this morning... "Mommy, the inside of my cheek hurts."  "Oh"  I said, "it must be a little canker sore".  ...His eyes grow very large... "I have never heard of THAT type of dinosaur".  Gotta love 5 year old boys and their dionsaur-lovin' brains...

day 86

Look what welcomed us when we came home - my dafodils were open!  ...and my primulas didn't wan't to be left out...

day 85

My friend's Big Day :)  It was such a beautiful ceremony and reception.  I can't quite express how happy I am for her and her husband   Congratulations to the newly weds!! 

day 84

Today, my husband and I travelled to go to my friends wedding... with a little shopping on the way.  Most of the pictures, well all of the pictures from today were from inside my car....not very inspired, but got the job done.  And we stopped for lunch at one of our favourite restaraunts in Seattle... The Five Spot - very yummy!

day 83

My husband 'surprised' us by taking today off.  He and I are going away this weekend, and he wanted to spend a bit of extra time with our boy, as he is on Spring Break.  I can't think of a better surprise or gift than his time.  The weather was lovely today, so we went to the beach.   I love being by the ocean, it is so soothing.  

As I was typing this, I thought - if God has blessed us with this natural beauty all around us on earth, I can't even fathom what heaven will be like.   Something I haven't really pondered before..

I am learning so much with my camera.  I had another 'a-ha' moment today.  Since I started shooting in manual, I had been shooting with my apeture wide open...mainly, I guess...because I could.  Today, I closed it a bit and loved how much crisper everything was.  These things might come second nature to some, but for me, photography is turning out to be somewhat of a balancing act.  There are so many factors, that affect the light, the sharpness and the clarity.   Slowly, but surely I am beginning to understand :)

day 82

Before and after. Today was absolutely beautiful!  The boy and I were playing at the park behind our house late this afternoon, when he crawled through the tunnel - a memory clicked... I remembered a photo I had of him from when we first moved to this house.  Same tunnel - same boy.  I think almost 4 years difference. 

day 81

On Tuesdays, I sometimes babysit for friends of ours.  Today's picture is of three little pairs of boots, resting from a strenuous morning at the park....

day 80

Today, we met some friends at the zoo.   It wasn't the best day for taking pictures, it was wet and drizzly, but we had fun all the same.  The first photo makes me smile, although it's composition leaves something to be desired...it makes me smile watching these three boys interact.  To think, their Mom's and I were all around the same age when we met at school.  The next photo makes me smile, too..but in a different way.  Is it just me, and my sense of humour...or is this bird secretly flipping me the bird?  (sorry if that is offensive, but that's what I think everytime I look).

day 79

Last night, I kept seeing friends posting pictures of the moon on Facebook and their blogs.  What? There is a Supermoon? Tonight?  *sigh*  Why didn't anyone tell me!  I often laugh at my thought processes...last night was no exception. .  However, I didn't miss it.  I ripped open the blinds and window in my sleeping son's room and "hung" out his window to get a good shot.  It surprised me how quickly it rose.  So beautiful. 

day 78

And with one final look at the pitch, soccer season has come to an end...  Well, until next season, at least.  Go Falcons! :)

day 77

I went outside hoping to see some sign of Spring.  I went immediately to my forsythia, and was happy to find these little yellow buds.  Although today was cloudy, it was milder than it has been and it was so nice to go for a walk this morning.  It's coming, Spring is almost here! 

day 76

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face;

the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,

may God hold you in the palm of His hand

Irish Blessing

 

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

day 75

Crazy hair day. 

day 74

Isn't this the most beautiful thing? :)  He told his teacher last week, that he would do all my chores for me...I guess he meant it!  Such a thoughtful boy...he also ran the garbage to the dumpster today for me.  I am not complaining! 

day 73

My Grandma is over for a visit this week, and mentioned that she didn't have any recent pictures of the great-grandchildren to show off...so I (willingly) took some shots today of my niece and nephew...my son wasn't as co-operative, but that's okay because if anything this 365 project has given me lots of photos of him!  I tried so hard to shoot without a flash, but they came so out dark.  I tried tweaking, but would love some input on what I could have done better.  Aren't these two cute?

ETA: I re-edited the second colour one - it was looking a bit gray and grainy.  I am much happier with it now :)

day 72

Barbecuing in the rain - gotta love it!

day 71

Soccer season is winding down.  It was so good for the boy to do this, and I really loved watching him play.  Although we can't wait for next season, the break will be nice.  I was mentioning to whoever would listen on the way to the game, that the timing of the soccer season is nice...it ends just in time for garage sale season to start, ha! 
Oh, and yes, the tongue does help. 

day 70

I had a hard time knowing what to post today.  With all the loss and saddness happening, whatever I chose to post would seem trivial.  I have been thinking about and praying for the people affected by the earthquake and tsunami.  Scary and heart-breaking.  

This is today in our house. 

Blank TV stare.  Despite the glazed over appearance of the boy, he brought home an excellent report card today.  Makes my heart swell with pride.  He recieved 3's (meets expectations) in everything except for listening, and two different math categories, in which he got 4's (exceeds expectations). 

Finished my taxes!

Year end filing, which I always seem to do in March.  We'll just consider this our Fiscal Year End.

day 69

*sigh* I think one of the hardest things about being a parent is knowing when to say yes and when to say no.  Today wasn't the first time I heard, "I feel sick" right before we left for school, and I am sure it won't be the last.  We made it out the door, without a fight and with the reassurance that if he still feels sick after class photo's, to get the school to call me and I will come get him.  Usually, he forgets about it as soon as he walks through the door.  Today, he didn't.  He made it through class photos and then, I got the call.  Within an hour of being home, he felt better..   I remember, as a kid, not wanting to go to school, just to stay home and be with my mom.  I get it, really I do.  I am also sure about the fact that he'll be ready for school tomorrow, because - today was boring (and I made sure of that)!!  I think we'll just call today a 'mental health day'. 

day 68

Soccer practice was cancelled for tonight, and although he had swimming lessons earlier, I thought some fresh air and exercise would be good.  So, we went for a walk.  Unfortunately, it has become a game to run away from the camera.  I don't mind this picture though - you kind of have to work with what your given.   Having said that, I don't want to accumulate too many shots of the back of the boy's head.

day 67

Tuesdays have a way of getting away from me.  Sooo... this photo is from 5 years ago...gasp!  I love this photo, but have never been able to edit it to my liking, I keep re-visiting it, and I am getting closer :) 

My little family of three were out for a drive (I am sure it was to get baby boy to have a nap), and we saw this hot air balloon land in a field.  What made me laugh was how the cows surrounded it, you'd think they'd be scared and run away.  So, here it is -  for now. 

This photo is pre-DSLR, and was taken with my little Olympus point and shoot. 

day 66

I bet you didn't know that duplo was a full contact sport.  Well, I've come to find out that everything with a little  boy is a full contact sport.  We shall see if I have a black eye in the morning...maybe that will be my picture for tomorrow, ha!  My mom and the boy are playing what I can only call...Flight of the Bumblebees...

day 65

We have been looking after our neighbour's dog this week.  It was so nice to go to the park and enjoy the mild weather.

day 64

Took a trip to the local gardening store to pick up some flowers for a friend.  I love the colours of these primulas.  And I was able to get a free pot of planted daffodils, which I am sure will make an appearance on this blog as soon as they bloom!