Slip-N-Slide {Sunday Snapshot}

Nikon D90  50mm prime
ISO 100,  F2.5,  SS 1/2500

I know most of the country is experiencing the same weather, but can I just say 

Holy HOT-NESS Batman!!??

WOW!!!

It was well over 100* here on Friday & Saturday (& expected to continue the next few days).

We kept the kids in the house as long as we could... but frankly, we just had to let them out for a bit.

So I grabbed the slip-n-slide & they had a ball!

We didn't stay outside long.
It was just too dang hot.
In fact, I started feeling a little dizzy a few minutes after these pictures.
But after sitting down for a while inside, I was fine.

The kids were supposed to start swim lessons Saturday morning..
but Milo mysteriously started throwing up just after breakfast.
This is the very first time he has been sick since we met him (other than sniffles).
However, because Milo is apparently super-human, he only got sick twice.
And then he was absolutely fine.
We decided not to take any chances, though.
So only Xandra got to go to swim lessons (I won't even go into the massive tantrum Milo threw as we left).
Hopefully, we'll get back on track with the whole family attending lessons next week!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!!

Beautiful Characteristics {Fav Foto Friday}

Those eyes! So full of emotion!
I love looking into those dark marbles!

Speaking of eyes...
Wow.
Blue/Gray beauties!

One of my favorite pictures ever!
I love seeing his sensitive side develop -
with a little push help from sister!

Reading to his baby doll.
He also laid her down, covered her up, & kissed her goodnight.
{love!}

This girl is killing me with how beautiful she is!
She makes friends everywhere we go, with ease.
Love her confidence!

Water Play {Almost Wordless Wednesday}

Can't complete a day without a good pout!

Random {Sunday Snapshot}

Nikon D90, 50mm prime
ISO 800,  f1.4,  SS 1/125

This one would have been my fav shot of the day, hands down,
except for my wonky focus.
Darn it! He moves too fast for my AF!!

I haven't had my camera out in a number of days. I just haven't been in the mood. These were taken right at bedtime last night (while the kiddos were resisting my pleas to get their pj's on). 

I love that my fav lens (50 mm prime) can open all the way up to f1.4... but for the life of me, I can not seem to get my focus to work with me!! Grrr!! I guess I need more practice!

As for daily life around here... well, Matt is working on adding a 3rd-car garage to the house. He was out all day yesterday with a friend digging trenches so he can move the electric & gas lines. 

So that left me with the kiddos all day. We went to the store & swam a couple times. Nothing fancy, but enough to keep us occupied. 

My summer semester will be finishing up in the next couple weeks (yea!!). I just got notice that I made the dean's list for winter semester (yea!!). 

That's about it for us right now. Hope everyone has a great weekend!!!

New Tricks {Fav Foto Friday}

Guess what Milo learned how to do??!!

Hello tan lines!

Yeah.. mid-air.
This boy has no fear.

I was the privileged one to discover this new trick on Monday, when Matt was at a city council meeting.

About 10 minutes after I said the last goodnight to the kiddos, I heard a whimper.

I immediately thought Xandra got up (which is very unusual for her- she all but refuses to get out of bed, even if she needs to go to the restroom... we're working on that).

But I found Milo standing at the top of the steps.

As soon as I picked him up, he began crying.

Sobbing.

He couldn't calm down for 15 minutes.

Then he zoned out/shut down for another 15 minutes.

I think he scared himself.

So we had a good half hour of bonding time, while I assured him he was not in trouble.

However, he has been showing off practicing his new trick torture-technique skill for the past few days.

And our bedtime routine now includes a stern warning request begging him to remain in bed all night.

So far, so good... 

Since that first night, he's only practiced his climbing during daylight hours
(as Xandra watches & happily screeches "Do it again Milo! Do it again!").

We'll be shopping for a big-boy bed in the next few weeks.

My Brothers {(Almost) Wordless Wednesday}

Tommy (next oldest- after me), Mike (youngest), Nick (middle)

This picture means so much to me.

My 3 brothers sitting together on our deck.

The day after our mom passed away.

I think the worst part of my mom's viewing was seeing the 3 of them cry.

Because I'm 7-11 years older than them, I've always felt like a 2nd mom to them.

So it ripped my heart out (even more than I was already hurting) when I saw them break down.

I hate the circumstances that brought them to our house that day, but I love these boys.

(yes, they're still "boys"- always will be)