Ribbonless Praises...

Praises...

I learned so much from going to the photography critique. Just walking around as the judge talked about other's work, even before I asked her about my own was so rich. Once we got to mine I could have almost critiqued them myself! You may have noticed I've "fixed" the header picture. Critique was, great picture but it's flat, it needs to be bumped in contrast so that there are true blacks and almost whites, so that the eye is drawn to a focal point. Funny, one little tweak and it makes a huge difference. Her favorite of mine was the city street. She said there were two things separating it from being a great shot to an amazing shot. A little cropping to move the lamp post to a different place and if I had had just enough difference in angle (bent down more) to make the lamp post with the flag on it pop up above the building line. Now have you learned something? I also learned that maybe I should have entered more unique things. There were some incredibly gorgeous photographs, but the ones that one, would not have really been the ones I'd have picked, they were much more artsy. I think I would have had a better chance if I'd have entered this one I took of the Hobby Lobby Ceiling!

I didn't get one of the three ribbons, but that really wasn't my quest. Not to say that each time they pulled up a print my heart didn't beat so loudly I surely thought that the people around me must hear it! I'm not sure if this was excitement or fear of having to stand up and be recognized if I did get a ribbon! The judge turned out to be a woman I had just read a little about online the night before when looking for area classes. Hmmm...maybe that was a clue that I need lessons!

I spent sometime with my camera manual this afternoon and learned a few new tricks. It'll be a long time before I get all the way through that thing! I'm a visual learned. Manuals are almost torture for me!

My neighbors did not call DCFS when my boys shed all their clothes after getting them wet and instead of rushing them inside I just started taking pictures.

I have one baby who is continuing to listen to me. I asked Finn if he was ready to snuggle for nap, he shook his little head no while he played. I told him he had one more minute and then I walked out of the room. Sure enough that guy was climbing on my lap not two minutes later all ready for nap! I'm loving this...but I slightly afraid of how long it may or may not last!

My favorite moment of today... We slept in, all of us, so I guess my second favorite moment was waking up at 8 am and not hearing any noise. So, we didn't make it to church. I was slightly bummed about this, only because a friend was singing and I like hearing her. I figured if everyone was sleeping and it was one of the last Sundays before our Sunday morning commitments kick in for the year that we should take advantage of it. The kids finally got up and started rambling around, climbing in and out of our bed. Then the day really started when Lily and Dax started arguing. Dax went running to his room and laid on the floor under a blanket. Finn took off running out of our room. He rushed in beside Dax, laid down, and wrapped his arms around his neck. He laid there and hugged him until Dax stopped crying. He even put his two fingers together and put them in Dax's mouth, which is what he does when he's upset and can't find his binky. It was so sweet!

To keep me from getting a big head about the extreme listening and empathetic behavior of my youngest, he got really ticked off about something in his dinner and slapped the food bowl right out of my hand in a rage. Lets just say, this didn't make me a happy momma. It did make the Dog a happy dog, though.

Rocketships, Sunsets, and Praises...

It's amazing what little boys can do with a toy kitchen! Logically, you'd think, cook! Maybe even use it as a tool bench or something creative like that, right? Not my guys! I walked into the family room this morning to find Ole Chef Tony and his kitchen looking like this...

Dax looks at me and says "Our wheels are stuck on our rocket ship and they have holes in them" Hmmm...so the kitchen has now become a "rocket ship?" I asked for a demonstration, and this is what they showed me...

Ingenious I say! You notice Finn's extreme agitation? That is cause he wanted to be captain.

That lasted for about three minutes followed by some sort of unexplained tantrum. Who took my sweet baby and brought me this toddler??



Praises...

Dax went to school Thursday even though he told us he would not on Wednesday night. As we walked down the stairs to his classroom he looked at me a with a puzzled look and said, "I told you, I'm not going to play at school today." I left him with a smile, a kiss, and an I love you. He fell to the floor crying saying he was not going to stay. Sigh...I thought it was all going so well!
I returned to a happy guy who seemed to have a good day, and so far, he's going back Tuesday.

A husband who picked up pictures for me tonight on his way home and then willingly took us all to Hobby Lobby and dinner, even stopping the vehicle to allow me to take some pictures along the way!

The sunset tonight! It was incredible!

Simple Grace. This morning started out with me all frazzled, yelling at my peeps. About 9:30 I sat down with my Chai Tea, my Bible, and Him. His grace and peace alone let me get off that couch with a softer, kinder attitude and continue the day with patience and joy.

My little Finn who hears me even when the others don't or tune me out. I asked Dax three times to go grab the new bag of Diapers. Next thing I know here comes Finn with the diapers and a smile. I asked Dax to pick up his trash and toss it in the trash. I hear the lid banging around and see Finn trying to throw it away. H is always tuned in. Lily argues everything, Dax pretends he's completely deaf. Does this mean, maybe, just maybe I have one that can not only hear my voice but even comprehend the words I say?? If this continues it would only be a bit of a miracle! I know, it's probably just a stage, but I'm grateful for it while it lasts!

The adventures of Dax & Finn and Praises...

At about 10 till 8 this morning while I ran to the basement to get clean laundry I left these darlings playing happily together on the family room floor. When I came upstairs, I heard no noise. I came up and peeked in, they were gone. I ran through the house calling for them, thinking maybe they were playing a game.

No noise.

We've been trying to keep the doors locked so Dax can't open them. Usually though, if he opens the back door it gets left standing open and the dog is running around the neighborhood. Not today. I stuck my head out the back door and yelled.

No noise. I ran to the front, yelled, no noise.

I ran to my room, threw on a pair of pants and ran out the back door. There was Dax running around the side of the house with a big grin on his face. He said, "Hi mommy! It's really nice outside, we wanted to come out!"

All I could say was a very panicked, "where's Finn??" As I scanned the side and back yard.

"He's upfront, but I keep him from the street."

I take off running. The front? By the road? Dax is in the back...so Finn is alone!" As I made it to the front and at first glance didn't see him, but then caught him dancing around barefoot in his jammies, I'm not sure if I ever felt more panicked and then more relieved in my whole life.

I scooped him up under my arm and escorted the boys back into the house. I preceded to give Dax a huge lecture about all the horrible things that could happen to a baby outside without a grown up. In Dax's words "he could get smooshed?" I then started to cry while I spoke...not exactly my intent. Finn climbed up and rubbed my back and hugged me as I talked. If only they could understand even just tiny little bit of how much I love them and how much one moment could change everything.

Praises...

These two little boys in their matching "crabby" pajamas are safe & sound and continue to make my life a little more "edgy" after their disappearance this morning. I will continue to come up with new ways to harness Dax's stealthiness for good and not evil!

My tea and quiet God time this morning was somehow better than all other mornings.

Our extra daughter/babysitter, Hayley, has babysat for both tonight and last night's meet the teacher meetings. I've enjoyed our "drive home" conversations! You know, teenagers are really pretty cool (although I'm sure "cool" isn't really "cool" anymore).

Meeting the teachers. Both kids seem happy. I always love the chance to meet and spend some time with the important people in my kids world. With Lily when she was little I always worked in her classroom. I'm hoping this year I can find a way to spend some better time in her class than last year, and I'm hoping that I'll be able to spend sometime in Dax's room too. Lily's preschool was a co-op so even before I went back to teaching I got to spend good classroom time in there. I loved getting to know the kids and the flow of how things worked. Seems around these parts I couldn't find a co-op type program. I really like the place he's going, I just hope I get a chance to spend a little time! Ok, now I think I'm rambling...

And on a preschool note, Dax was super excited after going to his open house! He was even ok that he and his best buddy, Max are in different classes. He really likes the idea of going to school. On the way home he asked, "mom, am I a preschooler now?" Yes. baby, you are a preschooler now! Weren't you just a baby not so long ago? I wonder how his teachers feel about ketchup, yogurt, and whipped cream painting?

Friends who will keep your mini man so you can take the big one to school on his own!

Little brothers and their friends who request to be the friend of somone who feels too old to be joining facebook! Honestly I just wanted to see what the inside looked like! So far the only people who have requested to add me as their friend are all guys in their early 20's. They've made me smile!

The Baby signing time DVD which my boys think is the coolest thing ever and are actually starting to use!

Blogland. A place that lets you peek through the windows into other's worlds, sharing their joys and praying for their sorrows. watching miracles happen. There is a lot of bad stuff out there but there are some amazing stories that are much more fulfilling to read than my dishes are to do!

Have I mentioned lately how blessed I am to have the mom I do...that women, she sometimes amazes me. In the midst of her own "stuff" she always thinks of everyone else.

Beautiful end of summer days!