Laundry Pile

After a busy week-end of company and lots of running around, this is about as exciting as it gets on Sunday evening, catching up on laundry.

Maesyn in Grandpas Hat

We went out to Caleb and Amy's and Grandpa and Maesyn were having a good time. I'm sure it kills Caleb and Amy to see that Longhorns hat on their baby. Its better than the Jayhawk hat that they would put on her.

Good Looking Granny

We sat out on the deck to watch the kids play in the yard and jump on the tramopline. This is one of the best pictures I have ever taken of Granny.

Granny and Grace

Pops and Granny came up to watch the kids play soccer. Grace is really really excited about reading this book to Granny. I just hope Granny can stay awake to listen.

Cloudy Colorful Sky

 On my way to the mailbox I noticed how neat the clouds looked and decided that would be my picture for the day. The difference in the colors don't show up quite as well in the picture as they did in the sky. Oh well, I tried.

Poor Sick Brooklynne

Brooklynne has been running a temp and has a sore throat.  She stayed home from school yesterday and then came here today with Jentry.  You can tell she doesn't feel good just by looking at her eyes.  She has laid on the couch since she got here this morning.  She is now sleeping.

Bookshelves

Just looking around for something to take a picture of and try to be creative. Just one shelf of my 8 shelves of books.

Happy 30th Amy

Caleb had a surprise birthday party for Amy to help her celebrate number 30.

Looks like I'm going backwards in my photography. I know this picture is blurry but its the only one I had of her and the cake.

Seems like the more I practice the less I like my pictures.

The Last Block

The fabric laid out ready to cut the LAST block out.  The bright colored fabric below it is for pillow cases, not the blocks.

Another Finished Block

Another block finished for the KC Star quilt.

Cross Stitched Quilt Top Finished

The cross stitch quilt is done and ready for the quilter.

"Pirate Night" at Krispie Kreme Donuts

Today was "Talk like a Pirate" day. Blake called me at work this morning and asked if we could take him to Krispie Kreme because you could get free donuts. I told him we would go after supper.

If you came in to KK and talked like a pirate, you got a free donut. But if you came in dressed like a pirate, you got a free dozen donuts.

When we got there to pick the kids up they had their pirate stuff on so we headed to KK. When we walked in, Grandpa told Gage what to say and of course he repeated it. He had a a sword and a telescope so they handed him a free dozen. Then, Blake and Grace walked up to the counter and they handed them both a free dozen.

We sat at a table and proceeded to devour one whole dozen. Blake and Grace went to town on the hot donuts. We spent quite a bit of time watching the donuts being made. All in all, it was a very successful "pirate night" at Krispie Kreme.

Sewing

 Making progress but still a long ways to go.

Photography Class

I signed up for a free class at the library. It was two hours and it was to help you take better vacation pictures. Molly also took the class, and that is her back on the far right.

The printed material he passed out was helpful and I did learn a couple of good tips. However, I have to say that he really busted my bubble on shooting on manual and I haven't really been able to get past that. Thats pretty much all I have thought about since the class. I could write a whole post on how I'm feeling about that and my photography and where to go from here but I won't bore you with that.

Olive Garden

Brian and I haven't been to Olive Garden in a really long time. We have been seeing the advertisement for endless pasta bowls we we splurged and went there for dinner. It was really good.

There really was a reason behind this picture. I had taken a photography class on Saturday for 4 hours. The thing I was most excited about learning was setting custom white balance. Because Olive Garden is so dark and has the golden glow of lights, the pictures come out really gold. I played around and set my own custom white balance and couldn't believe the difference. It isn't perfect but a whole lot better than the first picture taken on auto white balance.

I'm excited about playing with this setting and really getting to understand it.

Grandkids Photo Shoot

It has been tradition that I have taken all the grankids to have their picture taken in their 4th of July Old Navy shirts. Since our family has grown so much, it really is hard to get everyone together and get them to the studio.

Everyone thought this year that I should take the pictures myself. I really balked at the idea and I wanted the pictures to match all the other years. But I finally gave in and we took the kids to a subdivision entrance close to our house and got some pretty good shots.

On a side note, Maesyn had her own Old Navy shirt but after Amy got her dressed, she proceeded to throw up all over it, so we made do with another red shirt.

Quilting Again

The last time Pops and Granny were here, they took two of my finished quilts home with them to have them quilted at the senior center. Pops called the first of the week and said they were both done and they ended up being cheaper than he thought. I was very excited about getting them done.

Now the deal was, he would have them quilted and then when I got the KC Star quilt done he would have it quilted and keep it. That was okay with me. Well, since he took two of my quilts and had them done, he now wants two quilts for himself.

Actually he wants the KC Star quilt and Mom wants the cross stitch quilt that we made several years ago. Mom, myself, Debbie my sister-in-law and a friend from work all cross stitched big blocks of pictures of quilts. I put the blocks together but never got it finished. She really wants this quilt finished.

I went and bought some more border material and came home and got it all cut out. Now I have to get busy and work on it.

Pops and Granny will be coming up in two weeks and I have to finish putting the border on this quilt and making the last 2 blocks for the KC Star quilt and put the blocks together. I work better under pressure.

Fall Is In the Air

 I think fall is really coming. When I went to work it was 70 degrees, when I met Molly for lunch it was 63 and on the way home from Archivers it was 55. Yeah!!!!!

New Fall Scentsy

We use to get a little tiny sample of the flavor of the month from the lady that sells Scentsy at Brian's work. The last couple of months she has given us a whole package which is really nice. I really like this new fall flavor.

Noah at Orange Leaf

 For Noah's birthday way back in April he wanted us to take him to Orange Leaf. Well, his schedule and our schedules were so busy and we didn't get it done. He doesn't forget anything, so ever once in a while he would mention that we still needed to take him to Orange Leaf. Finally we had an evening to take him. While he was eating the ice cream, he said that it ended up almost being his half birthday. So I guess we celebrated belated birthday and half birthday.

Another New Book

I picked up a new book last Friday night while we were at Barnes and Noble. I have read Mitch Alboms other books and enjoyed all of them but one. Well, this will join the other one that I didn't like. As a matter of fact, when I got done with it I felt like it had been a big waste of time.

See, this is one advantage of posting to the blog several days after taking the pictures, I can give updates on the pictures. :)

Blackeyed Susans

This week-end while we were out and about I noticed how the blackeyed susans have bloomed everywhere. Today when we hauled off the tree I stopped and got a few shots. This one and a close up were my favorite.

The Broken Tree

We had a brief storm blow through yesterday late afternoon with lots of wind and rain. We lost a bradford pear tree in the front year. Brian got it cut up this morning. You can tell how dry it has been from the dead yard.

Jentry Playing

Jentry spending another day at Grandma's without anyone to play with. She does a good job of entertaining herself tho. She loves the Diego play set and the smurfs.

I'm trying to learn to capture ordinary days of life happening.

Carter's New Roller Blades

Carter couldn't really decide what he wanted Grandpa and me to get him for his birthday so he just wanted us to take him shopping. After an extended amount of time in Toys R Us, looking up and down all the boy aisles, he picked new roller blades.

Are You Ready For Some Football?

Another indication that its almost fall, football has started. The NFL regular season started tonight with New York and Dallas. I really like football season and enjoy watching the games. Dallas won.

Fall Scents

Jentry and I went shopping today and bought new fall candles and hand soap. I love the new smells and I'm so ready for fall weather.

Gage & Andrew Enjoying Breakfast

The breakfast of champions. Andrew had already told Bev what he wanted for breakfast and then Gage decided he wanted the very same thing. A good nutrional breakfast of cheetos, bread and a giant marshmallow. See Amy, this is what happens when you don't come camping with us.

Group Picture

Time for family pictures with our family camp shirts on. We were missing Amy and Maesyn this year. Amy thought it was best to stay home with a 2 1/2 month old.

Baby Grace and Uncle Brad

Just as it was getting dark Kelley gave all the kids glow sticks and glow glasses. The boys even got flashing glow cars. It was a big hit and even Bess and Lonnie's baby, Grace got in on the action. I don't think she really cared that it glowed, she just wanted to chew on it.