just miss kim

coming to an end

Had to climb the big hill to check the status of our bank accounts, so I thought I'd post. We have had an amazing week at our cabin in the woods. In fact, we've pretty much spent the last 24 hours outside. Except to sleep. We've been sleeping late, going to bed late, eating all kinds of yummy food and enjoying some fun shows. Riding a ton of rides, sliding down a bunch of slides, and I just finished my 4th book.

Yeah, a pretty great trip. We've got a couple of Stinky Pitts videos for you, and I've filled 3 gigs of memory cards for the new fancy camera.

Tonight, the girls and I are off to see the Haygoods for the last time until July. I plan to try to get a photo of their new theater for posting next week. I have no idea what we're doing tomorrow and I'm pretty happy about that. Maybe I can talk Dan into seeing another show or two....

I'll be back to regular blogging on Monday. See ya then!

yesterday

I was sitting on the back porch of our cabin.

Looking at the woods.

In a rocking chair, feet propped on the deck. Can of Pepsi One beside me, slice of my famous peanut butter crunch cake in my tummy.

Latest John Sanford book on my lap.

I look at Dan and said, "I know you can't tell, but I'm the happiest I've been in months right now."

Truer words never spoken.

It's a huge pain in the rear to access the internet here, so I'm going to sign off and go stick the laptop under the bed and forget it exists. If you need to get in touch with me, hopefully you have my cell number. I'm going cold turkey... no internet for a week. I think I'll be just fine.

The Adventures of Stinky Pitts, Pt 1

Howdy, y'all! This 'ere blog has been taken over by Stinky Pitts and his sidekicks. Watch for our video blogs each day next week (providin' we can find that new fangled internet access out thar' in them woods).

check this out

New kit from Digital Design Essentials, $2.99 today only. Grab it here.

summer's coming

Last Friday, I had the Today show on while I was getting ready for work. They were counting down until the Summer Olympics and said, "Only 84 more days until the Olympics, here on August 8." I about dropped my hairbrush. You see, the date August 8 sticks out to me because that's the day I go BACK to work for the 08-09 school year. So that announcer was basically telling me that I had 84 days until the new school year.

That just doesn't seem like very much from my end.

To Dan, it seems like a lifetime.

I spent the last few days wrapping up this school year. Monday was our prekindergarten graduation. Not sure I'll ever get "The World Is A Rainbow" out of my head. Tuesday was conferences all day. Tuesday night, Brady's 8th grade recognition. Wednesday, paperwork. Today, conferences and more paperwork. Tomorrow, work day, sign out, see ya in August.

And then... summer begins.

we're so proud of all yer book-learnin'

My son, the future high school student:

His 8th grade recognition was last night. He told me it would be lame (which it was) and begged me not to make him go (but he did). A new chapter in his life is just beginning.

*sniff*

I love this kid right now.

more from the zoo

Photos of animals/landscaping:

a day at the zoo

Some photos of people:

Excuse the hat hair. I wanted a photo of Kiah and I because we unintentionally wore almost identical shirts. But I wear a hat everywhere when I'm outside, and you can definitely tell...

wax museum

For a big part of his final grades in 8th grade, Brady had to participate in a "wax museum" night. Each 8th grader had to choose a mathematician, a scientist, a historical figure, or someone from music/art/literature. They worked on posters and speeches for quite a bit, then it all came together on one night where they dressed as their character and struck a pose. The public wandered the school, pushing a "button" for each wax figure to hear the speech. This was a big, super huge deal for these kids.

I have to say, when I sat at Brady's 8th grade orientation and heard about it, I started dreading it. This seemed like exactly the sort of thing my son would hate. I could see the drama ahead.

He proved me wrong. He got a sports figure, so that helped, but he seemed to enjoy the project, and he really did a great job. His eye contact wasn't always the best, and his expression could have been better, but he had the speech down cold, and he did what he needed to do.

Here he is as Hank Aaron:

And if you'd like to hear his speech, click below:

more photos

Tuesday evening we had a good hour on our hands, so we took the girls to the park. I had been reading a couple of photography magazines I have on hand and wanted to try a few things.

If you're wondering, my new camera is a Fuji FinePix S8100fd. Not the fanciest camera out there, and the reviews are mixed, but I love my Fujis and it's definitely a huge step up for me.

First, the girl responsible for every gray hair I have, and will get in the future:

Then, playing a bit with composition:

I said to Chesney, "show me joy":

I figured out how to focus on Ches, then move the camera to move her to the side and still blur the background (if that makes any sense):

I really think I'm going to love this camera. At least I hope. Because if not, Dan's going to be mad. So far, so good, though.