Photo - Op at a Local Park

I dressed my boys in fun matching clothes.

I bribed them.

I begged them.

I even had to yell "please just smile and cooperate".

I promised we could feed the fish.

I promised we could play in the playground.

I pinky swore we would chase the ducks.

And I most definately gave my word I would push them on the swings.

In the end I got the shots and I LOVE them! Who need to hire a photographer. Momma did it. I photo edited and printed what I like and my frames are filled with new pics that look as food as professional. I am proud!

Quick Update ~ In a nutshell!

I haven't blogged much lately, though I am still reading and enjoying the blogs I follow. For some reason spring/early summer is a really busy time for our family.

Some quick updates include:

Ray - looking forward to the end of the school year and trying to get the seniors graduated. He is helping to coach Nick's baseball team this year and trying to keep up with all of the spring s=chores around the house. We are thrilled to be accompanying him on a week long conference in Philly the last week of June. I never realized all there is to do in philly until I started planning our trip. Too bad the kids and I will ahve to tell him about our adventures when he returns each day from the conferance.

Nick - Finishing up first grade and enjoying his first season of baseball. We are finding out t-ball was much less competitive. He is exploring his boundries, making new friends, and enjoying life! He has discovered a new best friend via our new neighbor's. The lord works in mysterious ways! They moved in with 2 little boys exactly the same age as mine and the oldest is in Nicks class and the youngest attend preschool with Adam. Such a blessing!!!

Adam - He is attending preschool one day per week. Next year he will go to the pre-k program (so hard to believe). He is loving being home with me on the other days and we have a great daily routine. He is still not old enough to play sports in our area yet, but he has enjoyed making new friends as we cheer his brother on at games. He is so animated and full of life. He definately fills my day with laughter!

Me - I am officially a Stay at Home Mom. An unexpected opportunity arose (very long story!) and I embraced it! Though it's temporary, it could not have come at a better time ~ spring cleaning, flower planting, end of school eyar activities, etc :). I have a great routine and must admit I will not be happy when I re-enter the work force.
I am very much looking forward to summer vacations such as Raystown Lake, Philadelphia, and our annual week at our beach condo in July.

I promise to be a better blogger! I enjoy reading everyone's blog and I hope my bloggy friends will continue to support mine.

Paying It Forward!

Today Nick participated in Relay For Life with the Primary School he attends and his first grade class. I gave a donation and I also made him donate his $2.00 allowance for the week. He moaned and groaned about it but, reluctantly, knew in his heart it was the right thing to do so he did it. My Grandfather and my Dad's brother both died of cancer so I explained to him exactly how important what he was doing was.

Tonight, as we were leaving a store, a lady was waiting for us at the door. She told me my young boys appeared to be the same age as her young grandsons that live across county. She stated she only gets to see them twice a year. She had a 2 small toys that she purchased in that store and wanted my boys to have them.

The lesson is: in life it's not about what's in it for you, but what you give to others. A total stranger gave my boys a gift, Nick gave a give that could potential help total strangers. Kindness is often unrecognized, gratitude and selflessness is priceless and teaching my boys to think of others before themselves is a life lesson!!

My Valentine Suprises!

Roses, lobster, a small vacation without kids in 2 weeks, and my 3 favorite guys equals a SUPER Valentines Day!!

Friday Flashbacks - Superbowl Style!

Since it's SUPERBOWL weekend and our favorite STEELERS are going to win, I thought this picture would eb absolutely appropriate for my flashback!

Nick is 4 and Adam is 9 months old.

Visit more flashbacks at http://minyards7.blogspot.com

Go Steelers!!

Friday Flashbacks!

Visit more flashbacks at http://minyards7.blogspot.com

Have a great weekend everyone!!

Costumes!

Just wanted to share our 2010 costumes with my blogger friends/family. Link up and tell me what you dressed as this year!

Friday Photo Flashbacks

Visit more flashbacks at http://minyards7.blogspot.com/

Week 3 of 52

This challenge pulls Mom out from behind the camera and gets her in the shots!

I've had a very, very busy month but I'm trying to get back on track with blogging. Here's a quick start. The boys and I were sitting ont he deck enjoying a warm evening and playing with the camera!

Visit the Photo Challenge at:

http://www.wyomingbarnetts.blogspot.com/

Wordful Wednesday

Since Ray had taken Nick on a "big boys" vacation and Adam stayed home with me, he bought Adam a bike (that he really wanted) as treat for him before they left. These pictures capture his excitement and pure joy of receiving his gift.

Picking out the right one - A Buzz Lightyear bike!

Taking it for a test drive - so serious!


Getting suited up! Protection is important.


and he's off!!! That was such a fun evening!

Pap and Mimi had to come and watch (my parents).

Now the boys can ride bikes together.

Visit more Wordful Wednesdays!!

Shoot Me, 1 of 52

http://www.wyomingbarnetts.blogspot.com/

I've seen this challenge on many blogs that I read and I always wanted to participate, but never commited myself to the project. Here is goes - keep me motivated folks to be in some pictures!!

This challenge is an effort to get Mom out from behind the camera for a change and actually be in a picture. I thought it was a wonderful idea because, looking at pictures of events and vacations, I wonder if I was really there - there's no proof! Just proof that a picture was taken by me, but I was never in any. Anyway, here's my first entry.

We are big Dr. Suess fans at my house, so when I found these shirts, I had to have them.

I also discovered, that dressing my kids alike makes it easy to spot them and keep an eye on them in crowded situation, like at Ocean City last week.

Suprise Vacation!

Last Thursday I worked a half day and got off at 12 and off on Friday. I received a cell phone call at 12:10 and was told to come straight home for a surprise. I could hear the kids giggling and being excited in the background. When I got home Ray told me I had 1/2 hour to pack for a trip and to pack swiming stuff, the kids were already packed. We got in the car and I was kidnapped to an unknown destination. Little did I know, we were going to one of the most wonderful vacation I ever had. We went to Raytown Lake. It's a lake resort full of activities, boats, gorgeous scenary, and a peacefulness of the outdoors, without any commercialism. He had this planned for weeks and I was so proud of him for doing something like this. In 15 years of knowing him he has never planned a real vacation, I am always to vacation planner/coordinator!

Below are the highlights of our trip. I will warn you, it's a long post, but I just couldn't narrow down the pictures any more than I did to capture our 2 wonderful days - away from it all!

We just got out of the car and the kids were patiently waiting to go to the pool and waterpark!

Nick, my little fish, loved the pool and doing cannonballs !!

Adam was more cautious in the pool, but had fun playing on the steps and hanging on to the side.


This water park or, "sprinkler park" as Adam called it, was more his speed and everyone had fun playing between here and teh pool. In this pic they are getting wet from the big water bucket that fills up and then dumps the water out.

The awesome sprinklers and sprayers!!

Running throuhg the spraying frog - all 3 of my boys!

The outside of our room. It was nestled in the mountains and overlooked the lake. The view was breathtaking.

Pure Beauty!

My men at the boat marina.

This is the view from the balcony of our room. It was Ray and I's favorite place to be at night after the boys went to sleep. We just talked, had a few drinks, enjoyed the view, got some bugs bites, and loved each others company.

Me and Nick

What?! I'm ready, let's go to the beach.

The beautiful walk to the beach area.

Enjoying the beach water.

Huddling around the portable DVD player to watch a movie before bedtime. They were 2 very tired little boys and fell asleep very fast.


We had a great time. We still have a few more trips to enjoy before the summer fly's by! Next weekend we head out to Lancaster and Dutch Wonderland to stay adn play for a few days. I promise to share all of our summer fun with my blogs friends - it's looking to be a great summer!