BSM: Back in the US

Breezed back into town yesterday...well, really, I flew thousands of miles and countless hours, but "breezy " ought to do it. James continued on to Portland (he actually has to work today -- groan), but I'm in CA soaking in lots of hugs from the boys.

I won't have any Australia pics up for a few days. I have to get home first and maybe do some grocery shopping. But I did snap one gem before I left for OZ:



Some of you might remember a similar photo I took last summer, with Harrison walking solo along this path. This year I got both of them in the shot.

I won't tell you what I had to do to get them to hold hands...

BSM: G'day!

Here's what I saw yesterday:

Australia Update

We arrived in Cairns yesterday after a very long (almost 24 hour) journey. We haven't been able to hook up to the internet from our room, and I couldn't even get on the free WiFi at a local hotspot, so I'm afraid there will be no photos (and possibly not many posts) until we return.

A few things I've noticed in the 24 hours we've been here:

1. Lots of Americans here. I hear American accents everywhere...and they just aren't as lilting and lovely as the Aussie ones.

2. Prices are very high. Even with the exchange rate (which is favorable to the US dollar), the cost of everything makes James have to remind me, "we're on vacation."

3. So many choices for our Great Barrier Reef trip. Am stressing about choosing the wrong one!

4. Did anyone else know that they have Target in Australia -- who knew?

5. Yes, I DID go into the Target...I just couldn't resist.

BSM: Party Boys

Now I know that the number "SIX" doesn't sound like a lot. Just half a dozen -- that's barely enough eggs for anyone, right? But six boys at a birthday party? Six seems like a lot more with a bunch of nine-year-olds (and a five-year-old brother who thinks he's nine).

We kept them busy with an "amazing race" adventure involving bikes and basketballs, rocket balloons and water balloons. Somehow, when boys are all in a bunch, it seems that the energy they generate expands exponentially.

Therefore, my BSM for the week captures the single moment they were still: when I lined them up execution-style, against the wall...




Notice the targets on the wall? The red detritus on the ground? Left over from water balloon target practice...ah, the joys of childhood.

Ninth Birthday Party

Balloon rockets, marshmallow guns, and water balloons, oh my!

Theme Thursday: Sunny

Thanks, Amy Jo, for ruining our weeks of good weather by announcing a theme like "sunny." No chance of taking a sunny photo here today, so I'm digging into the archives. I'm posting one of my favorite photos from a couple of years ago when I was just getting to know my camera. We were staying at the coast for spring break, and one evening we had the most glorious, golden sunset. It was fun to revisit this series; I like them just as much now as I did then. And I don't say that about a lot of pictures.





I'm hoping to post a lot of "sunny" pictures in the coming weeks: we are going to Australia! I won't be posting for Theme Thursday next week (we'll be on the airplane), but I'm going to try to post SOOC photos from Cairns while we're there.

I Lied

I said there would be no more baseball. I lied. Harrison pitched yesterday, so I had to post a couple of photos. The other time he pitched this season, the darkest clouds rolled in and I got horrible, grainy shots with my zoom. This time I came prepared with my low-light prime, so that I could get shots even if the skies went the color of mud. He looked so cute out there...although I'm pretty sure that's not what you say to a pitcher ;).

BSM: The Last of Baseball

Baseball is almost over. Technically, it IS over. But the league thought it would be nice for Harrison's team to make up the games it missed due to weather issues. That means seven games in twelve days. The last game was supposed to be this past Saturday. Instead, we have three games in a row this week: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. I tried to make the best of it on Saturday by taking some (slightly) more creative shots at the game.










Yeah, this last one sums up how I feel about baseball, too.

Theme Thursday: Family

Happy 9th birthday, Harrison!



Harrison & Josie, Summer 2002




June 4, 2009

I always try to grab a few shots of the kids the mornings of their birthdays. Some years are more successful than others :). This was the best of the bunch this morning...and it's tie-dye day at school! Hope it's a great one, sweetie!

Time and Relativity

Owen: I can't WAIT for my birthday!

Me: Well, you have a little while to wait, honey, it's not till the end of the summer.

Owen: But I can't wait!

Me: When we're really looking forward to something, time seems to pass slowly, doesn't it?

Pause...

Owen: I CAN wait till my birthday.

Me: What?

Owen: I'm not looking forward to my birthday anymore.

Me: What do you mean?

Pause....

Owen: Is time passing faster now?