Testing

A friend has let me borrow one of his lenses to play around with...the problem with that is it has been getting dark quickly at night, and I can't seem to get dinner cooked and everyone outside to play before 7. Fall is in the air around here. It's cooler, the humidity has disappeared and the light has been fading way too fast in the evenings. We did head outside last night for some street soccer. Because of the light and my struggle to learn this new lens, these images are a bit (ok, maybe more than a bit) blurry. I was having a hard time staying far enough away from the kids (it's a 300mm lens). Anyway, I still thought these were fun enough to share.


On the Attack

Where did everyone go?

Down the street to play with a neighbor.

Please tell me when her legs became so long...

Our Deepest Fear

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.- Marianne Williamson

Little Miss Sassy Pants

This was taken last night during the jump rope fest. It really shows the sassy side of her personality.

Where was Adam you ask?


His love affair with the lawnmower continues. He's always asking if he can cut the grass. I almost feel guilty...

Helicopter

Helicopter

Helicopter

Over

My

Head

The Box Turtle

With the start of this new school year, I've been feeling a bit overwhelmed. There are three lunches to pack this year instead of the one last year (Adam has decided to pack his lunch instead of buying it this year). There are three book bags to look through, three sets of papers to keep track of/organized/returned to school. There are three kids talking simultaneously when I pick them up at the end of the day. There are three kids who want/need my attention all at the same time. Awana has started back and there are Bible verses to be learned. And there is still the laundry to be done, dinner to be cooked and the house to be cleaned. There is still only one of me. In addition to this, there is the stress of an ex-husband who wants to reduce child support. There is a person from my past who refuses to go away...despite repeated requests for this person to do so...to the point where I am considering changing my email address. Last night, was particularly stressful. There was an AR test at school that didn't go well. There was a spelling test for another that didn't go well. There were boundaries to be set and help to be given. And there was still only one of me.

And then this happened.



Adam sat down and read books to Andrew for his required reading.

And after Abby and Andrew had been tucked into bed, I saw this.







Adam had become a box turtle, and we laughed. Most importantly, I see Adam growing into a fine young man. Loving, compassionate and intuitive. One who loves God and his family.

And the night ended well.

everything has rhythm. everything dances.
- Maya Angelou

A Dilemma

These garden spiders are prevalent in our neck of the woods this year.



We've had a couple of them reside in the exact same spot for most of the summer. The kids and I have enjoyed watching them work on their webs, catch their prey, wrap their pray and well, you know, eat. Now we have several of these hanging out.



What, you want a closer look?



I've Googled the spider. Apparently, she'll die this fall and her babies will appear next spring. Do we leave the sac and wait for the babies or tear them down (after she dies, of course)? It is fascinating. Don't you agree?

Fun with Water

Do you think it looks as though she's up to something?



Do you think this was the end of her mischief?



It was, in fact, just the beginning...



Ian was dubbed the Underwear King by the Pretzel King.



Andrew had some fun of his own.





I believe there may have been a minute or two when Abby and Kylie were not joined together as one, but most of the time they looked something like this.



Adam spent a relatively quiet day at the pool. He thought the water was a litle cool. Oh, that kid's eyes...



Hope your Labor Day was without labor...

Group Shots

Does anyone else struggle to achieve a nice group shot? I'm not even talking "perfect." Just nice. When we took the kids bowling last week, that's what I wanted. A nice group shot. Instead, I came away with the following:







After a couple of meltdowns by the kids, Dawn and I discussed why it is that we take the kids bowling. She suggested that it was for the fun and for the bonding. Right. Mission accomplished.