A Camera

My New Camera ....

I am so excited I can't believe it. I have saved and saved anniversary money, birthday money, market research money, change from my jar ... it finally added up. I have been wanting a camera for a while now and I finally had saved enough to order one last week. It arrived today ... I have already begun reading the manual, I have attached my one of kind camera strap to it (Thanks Heather I love it) and now I have to wait. Did you know when first charge the battery it takes all day. I can wait.. My new toy has arrived just in time...... volleyball just started, soccer is soon ... Oh I look forward to the hours of fun I am going to have capturing my life with my kids, husband, family and friends...

Labor Day

The big kids .....
( acting like little kids, love it though they really do have fun together)

The really big kids playing beatle tennis

A great summer has come and gone and ended on high with a BBQ at the Kilcullens !!! Not quite sure where it went, but it will be here again sooner then we THINK....

Little gifts ... that become a treasure

I stopped by my grandma's the other day and we had a great visit as usual. She is such an amazing strong woman. At 91 years old I think she can out do me in just about everything still. While we were visiting she mentioned she used grandpa's camera to take a picture of the new plants that she had planted ( picked out and over saw as the gardner put it, I'm sure he loved all her imput) and wanted to know how to develop it. I took the camera home and assured her I would print it. To my SURPRISE when I got home the sd card was full of 88 pictures that granpda had taken in the last few years. (don't think he ever knew how to get them out of the camera) What an amazing gift, a fabulous picture of Nicole and Great Grandpa at her 11th birthday, lots of his last Mother's Day with the family, a few from here and there and some of him and grandma at the awards ceremony, when he received the life long volunteer award at the Dorothy Chandler Pavillion just before he passed away. You never know when a gift will land in your hands. These pictures will be treasured forever as we enjoy them. Grandma has had no need to take pictures all year, thank goodness she really wanted to document that new garden. I love you Grandpa and Grandma, you have blessed my life!!!

clean ... clean ... clean

Today I got a crazy bee in my bonet and decided the garage had to get cleaned. So 5 hours, 4 stores and great quality time with Nicole and it's not quite done, but WOW it looks so much better and we are on the road to being organized. Organized .. it's a foreign concept to me, but I am realizing that it really does make life easier and as life is getting crazy we need to take what ever help we can find.

Back to school ......

Well... it's official school is back in session. Today both kids headed back to school Nicole to 8th grade and Ryan to 5th. For both of the kids its a big year and they enjoy their last year at each of their schools. Both kids were very excited. Nicole loves all her teachers and it crazy happy that she and Lauren have 4 classes together and they sit next to each other ( A perk of picking a BFF with a simular last name ~ Blackburn and Bliss). Ryan also was excited, though he was slow to admit it. The morning started with our normal 1 day of school picture taking in the front yard and that's where it ended for Nicole. However, for Ryan the fun continued all the way to his new classroom door. As much as he hated that his mommy was taking pictures, he was a great sport and even posed in front of the door that said 5th grade, Mrs. Hellesen. ( Just so you know I was not the only 5th grade parent with a camera, there were not a lot of us, but not just me). Then after school, so excited to check on how their day went, I was one of the first parents out front to pick them up and hear all about everything. Ryan runs up to me and says oh hi mom, can I walk home. My big 5th grader doesn't need his mom to pick him up. Off we go new chapter, tighter rules and a great year !!!

LIfe is a journey ... hold on !!!

As I sit here tonight i'm shocked and amazed that my kids are starting school in 2 days and they are really growing up.  In less then 48 hours Nicole will be starting 8th grade, her last year of middle school and Ryan will be starting 5th grade, his last year of elementary school. I remember the day they each started kindergarden and the scarry thing is it doesn't seem like that long ago. Time flies and it reminds me how precious it is. This year I hope to enjoy my kids, my life, my friends and family. I want to make a difference in the lives of people I love and care about. I want my kids to continue to grow and learn to be nice productive students. I love where we are and as much as i'm scarred where we are at ... I can't wait to see what is waiting for our family. LIFE ....
bring it on and let's face it with a big smile and open heart...

Volleyball has begun !!!!

A new season .... Nicole has started a new season of volleyball and is off to a great start.

The Buccaneers took all 3 games this weekend. Nicole was awesome, hits, serves, digs and slides... Great Job ....