Redefining Perfect

It’s my turn to show off pictures from the nature walk.  I’m ashamed to say, I think his might be better.  But, my pictures were all manually set and focused where his were all auto. Is that a valid defense?

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P.S. I know the bat is out of focus, but even the pro’s that were there were having trouble because of where the sucker was located - and we weren’t allowed flash to snap him for obvious reasons…but between Brandon and I that’s the best we got.

This weekend Brandon and I went on a dusk photography nature walk with a couple of photographers at the local nature park.  They praised him (as do I) for his attempts to capture everything without a hint of hesitation.  The results of his attempts are astounding…and shown below-I’m impressed…are you? (P.S. My pics coming in the next day or two)

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Shades of the past linger here
Through time and distance and space

Our ‘pool’ was bigger,
A lake, a pool, a far distant place

The joy is the same,
The splashing,  the laughter, the fun

Soaking up the days
Enjoying every moment in the sun

Tomorrow comes too fast
Yesterday becomes just a dream

Until you see it in your own
And a new yesterday begins to gleam

Six months ago I spoke of a chance
A chance that I was afraid to take.
Afraid of another disappointment,
Afraid to come up empty again.

It took me six months, but I took the leap at one more chance for answers. When we met with the pediatrician last week I asked her to make the appointment.  One last specialist, one last chance.

If this one doesn’t have the answers, I’ll have nothing left to grasp for.  The only other option is one we must discuss thoroughly because following that path could destroy the strong foundation we have created for her care.

In a few months we’ll go and see and hold our breath and pray for answers. Pray that this doctor has the key to our Angel’s past and future.

I was heading out to get my pop tonight and caught just a glimpse of the sky.  I rushed back to grab my camera, knowing that a better view was to be had up the road just a wee bit.  So I headed out and snapped away.  I have TONS of pictures, but this is the one I’m going to make a print of…it’s so gorgeous all the way! 

Weekly Winners is the brainchild of the wonderfully Sarcastic Mom, Lotus

All of these pictures were taken on 6/19/09.  Indiana had a severe storm and I hunkered down with my camera and took quite a few.  I used my Canon Rebel XTi.  Some of them seem blurry because the wind was so strong it was impossible to stay perfectly still - and with it being so dark, the shutter speed was slow.

All of these pictures were taken at 9ish, so it was dark…all of the light comes from the lightning that was constantly flashing!!

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I went to WalMart to pick up a few odds and ends.

Indiana was under a severe storm alert.

When I got to the parking lot I sat there watching the storm roll in, trying to get some lightning pictures with my camera (only one relatively successful one. Need to remember my tripod next time). 

By the time I finally headed inside the tornado sirens were going off and the wind was kicking up something fierce.  I headed inside as two guys walked up with a hard-top from a truck bed between them - cracked and ripped off the truck it had been on.

I heard the manager on the radio telling other employees to make sure no one else left the store by any door and to get everyone to the middle of the store.

Everyone in the store - full carts, empty carts, paid for bagged up products, and employees alike gathered in the middle of the store.  Some people were freaking out crying, others  just leaning on clothes racks bored…and just about everyone on cell phones.

Twenty minutes later we got the all-clear and the manager called off the “code black.” 

A tornado had touched down a little north of us and was heading right toward us (according to NWS)…but we didn’t get hit. 

When I left WM about 30 minutes later there were cars lined up in the no parking zone, people on phones with their insurance agents.  One car with the rear windshield blown out, the truck that had lost the bed top, and a couple others. 

So tonight was not my average trip to WM.  It was far different…

Two weeks ago, school was over.  The last day was a Thursday - and it was all over.  Brandon finished fifth grade (next year he’ll be in middle school!). 

The past few years I’ve dreaded the last day of school.  For Brandon it was like a punishment to be told to play outside. He sat around the house and moped.  He would go and spend days and weeks with the in-laws just to escape the boredom that was being home.

But in the past year the neighborhood that I’ve always loved has gotten even better.  There’s been an influx of kids (and dogs - everyone got puppies this year) and I can’t get Brandon to come home to eat any of his meals!

There is nothing I like more than a neighborhood full of kids my son’s age on a street with no free traffic (very little traffic at all)!!  It’s so wonderful that he has so many friends to play with!

Nowhere.

Up until now bribery has had no effect in our massive attempst to potty train.  They are not interested.  Well, they ARE interested in the prize. Riley asks me at least once a week about the tinkerbell hats.

But they aren’t interested in what it takes to GET those hats.

Today I threw in the towel.

I know they’re old enough.

I know that THEY know EXACTLY what they’re doing - they are just being stubborn.

I refuse to put diapers on them.  I’m done.

I’m going to be doing a LOT more laundry during this battle of wills.

I’m hoping that treating them like big girls will make them act as such.

Either that or I’ll end up in the funny farm.

Excuse me while I go have an aneurysm.

For the week of 6/1-6/7/09
Weekly Winners is the brainchild of the wonderfully Sarcastic Mom, Lotus

I had a photo shoot with the girls, got some new pictures of the dog, and finally figured out how to take a good moon shot. A couple other random pictures thrown in…

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And we had a recent bout of storms. I started to worry when I saw this forming - but it dissipated just as fast. I have it set to a slide show so you can watch the progression!

And that’s it! It’s good to be back. Took me long enough Hopefully I’ll keep with it this time!