Since I haven't blogged everyday like I planned, I have tons of pictures of random stuff that we have done this summer.  So I am just going to post some pictures of this and that.

Since the weather has been so beautiful this summer, we have been hanging out at Nana's pool. Oliver always has a blast with his Uncle Greg.

Uncle Greg is always a hit with the kids.  Claire did get a little scared after Uncle Greg threw him in the air.  But I am sure she will try it again :)

Claire LOVES to take a nap at Nana and Papa's.  

I think it is because Papa LOVES to take a nap with Claire. Those two go upstairs and play Monkey In The Courthouse (which he used to play with us when we were kids).  Basically you just have to be quiet or you lose.  Before you know it...you are asleep!!

On another note, Claire found this Halloween mask in her dress up clothes.  She thought it would be funny to put it on and scare her brother.

Problem was Oliver was not scared one bit! 

In fact he wanted to try on the mask too!!

He thought he was so funny with the mask on.  He just kept laughing with it on!!!

Amazing

Did you ever just have one of those days where you look around and think how lucky you are?  Well, today is one of those days.  The last day and a half I have just stayed in my comfy clothes and played with the kids only breaking to make meals and clean them up.  I love to watch the kids play.  Alone and together.   Claire is becoming so imaginative.  She loves to play with her dolls and make them talk and sing to each other.  It is hilarious.  Oliver is now super interested in how everything works.  I love to watch him explore the house and find different things and examine them.  He is also starting to take a few steps on his own (thank God because big daddy is killing me). Claire and Oliver also adore each other!  I love to listen to them play and laugh, it is by far the best sound in the world.  I am so lucky to have two beautiful and amazing children (and one pretty good husband too).  Life is good.

35 Is The New 50

When I started getting into photography 2 years ago there was just one thing I wanted.  I just wanted to take nice pictures with a nice blurred background.  As time went on I learned so much and now I want soooo much more from my pictures.  I think that any of you that are into photography will agree that for every step forward you take you WANT to take 10 more!  

That being said, from the beginning I wanted a 50mm lens because that gives you great bokeh (blurred background).  But when I finally got around to selling my old camera so I could buy new camera toys, I discovered the 35mm.  Now I was stuck. Did I want the 50mm that I have loved for soooo long???  Or did I want the 35mm that seems to be so great???  Am I a good enough photographer to work a 35mm successfully???  Or do I want to scrap it all and just get an external flash???  AUUUGGGHHHH!!!

So Mark and I went to the camera store and just checked all of these things out.  I was going to go slow and get what felt right.  Well the 35mm felt more than right, it felt AMAZING!!!!!!!!!  The 50 was great!  Very great, but the 35 and me...we just clicked! Ok, enough chat...let me show some examples!!

Here are some of the pictures that I have played around with.  Mark took Mackie and got him fixed so I am back in business to play with editing my photos more!!

Here is Giada just looking around.  I could take pictures of Giada all day.  Those eyes are sooooo beautiful!!!  So I snapped this one of her just hanging out.  

Then I just edited a few things.  Done!  Soooo easy with my 35!!

My Hannah.  Just standing around in the backyard.  Hannah is another one that I could snap pictures of all day long!!  Look at how gorgeous she is!!!

A little black and white never hurts!  I love them both!  I can't decide if I like the summer colors or the black and white better!  And once I start working with photoshop more....WATCH OUT!!!!  

35mm + photoshop = AMAZING PICTURES!!!!

Ok enough serious business, here are just some fun pictures from the other night.

The other night we went to our local street dance.  My kids love characters!!

She had to hug the chicken wing!!!

Claire and Giada checking things out!  Check out that background!!

The girls eating ice cream. Leave it to Uncle Nick to come back with one of EVERY kind of ice cream for his girls.

I love the way the lights look in the background.

The lighting was awesome to take pictures!!

I didn't edit a thing in this picture!  I love this shot! 

I love the colors in the background and all of the effects.

Even Mark is getting the hang of this camera stuff.

Oh so much more to come!!!!!!!

Claire's Friend Birthday Party

As I have said before, birthdays are a big deal around here.  A true reason to celebrate!  And celebrate we do!!!!  As much as we possibly can!!!!!!

That being said, Sunday was Claire's second birthday party.  Her "friend" party.  We had it at the YMCA and it was a swimming party.  The guest list was completely chosen by Claire.  It was really cute to see who from school she wanted to invite.  And I thought it was adorable when she said "We have to invite Owen because he is not just my cousin, he is my friend too." 

This was the best picture I could get of the whole gang in the pool.

Oliver loves the water too!!!  He can't get enough of the sprayers.

The Y did a great job serving all the food!  And we had some hungry kids after all that swimming!!

I think that everyone really enjoyed themselves.

Claire was so excited to have all of her friends in the same room!

Oliver hung with Nana most of the time.  And had a blast!

Claire's favorite part!  Time to sing HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

A serious smooch from the birthday girl.

Then it was time for PRESENTS!!!!!!!

Even Mommy got to hang out with some of her friends.

Overall, it was another great birthday party!!  Claire has so much fun and loved having all of her friends together!!  Thank you to everyone for coming and sharing Claire's special day with her!!!

Picnic and Sunset

On Saturday we decided to take a little family picnic at 

our local park. 

Mark grilled up some great food and the kids had a blast playing.

Claire had a blast playing on the playground while the Boy Team stayed by our table and grilled up our food.

Oliver chilled out and chewed on Claire's "Sunshine Ball".

While we cleaned up Claire drew some beautiful pictures with her sidewalk chalk.

Then we all headed to the playground!

 And had some fun on the slide!

After dinner we headed over to our other local park to watch the sunset.  It was a little too cloudy to see anything but had a blast anyway.  Claire and I had fun rolling down the hill (which I will tell you, as an adult THAT REALLY HURTS). We were there for about 20 minutes when Claire yelled out "Hey!  I know!  This is the place with all the snow!"  This is the same park that we go sledding at in the winter.  This was a great family day!  And we will definitely do this again!!!

A Special Shower

Last week Amy and I threw a special shower for Jacqie.  It was so nice to celebrate Jacqie's wedding and hang out with my friends from work.

Even though it was ridiculously hot outside we all had fun chatting and catching up on our summers.

Hot Mamas.

After Jacqie's delicious Butterwood cake.....

It was time for some presents!!!!!!

And more presents!!

And Tony's requested pillow fight (because as all women know, this happens at EVERY shower).

 Then the sun finally went down and it cooled down a little bit.

So we were all able to relax a little bit more.

And discuss the Flip Flop family of North Dakota.

I am so happy for Jacqie and Nick!!  

I can't wait until MEXICO!!!!

It was so nice when Nick stopped by to have a drink using his new coozy :)

CONGRATULATIONS JACQIE AND NICK!!!!!!

Family Day At The Zoo

One of our favorite things to do in the summer is to go to the zoo.  And we LOVE when Auntie Erin, Owen, and Grandma come with us.

The kids are all getting so big now!  They all enjoyed seeing all the animals.  Well, except the bears which I am pretty sure are dead.  I don't care what anyone says, those bears have not been out in months!  No matter day or time you go to the zoo!  The polar bear is still kicking but that is about it.

Claire and Owen are the best of friends.  They are hilarious.  They usually get pretty wild when they are together but at the zoo they were really calm and had a blast.

Gee, can you tell they are related?

Love them.

Oliver had a blast at the zoo too.  In no time at all he will 

be running around that zoo.

Right now he still needs a little help to get around the zoo.

The bats are always a big hit.

Oliver went on the merry-go-round this time.  He started out happy as a clam.

Then it started to move and he was still pretty happy.

Then it sped up.  He didn't cry and I think he really did enjoy it but every now and then he made this face.

Then of course we wrapped up the zoo with our usual train ride trip.  

I am sure we will be back at the zoo soon and hopefully we will see some bears :)