Something New For Me

This needs some work but I thought it was fun. I always feel there is so much to learn on photoshop!

1st Day

Yes that's right, while everyone else's kids have been back in school mine just started today, AND only 2 of them started. It's a very complicated schedule the 1st few weeks as everyone gets adjusted. It was with mixed feelings, mostly sad, that I sent the boys off, one to 5th grade and the other to PreK4. I have enjoyed them this summer although there have been times I felt like jumping out of my skin!!! Actually almost every day but the feeling seemed to pass quickly, most days. Anyway Dylan doesn't start until Wednesday and then I will have 3 glorious days to lunch and catch up with the ladies.

They were all decked out and sporting a coolness factor that jumped right by me. I like them a little dorky myself, keeps them humble and close to mama.

5th grade, I'm not sure where the time has gone. Crack, that's my heart breaking.

Ryan was so thrilled really to see his friends again, these are friends I didn't know he had. I love this child, everytime I tell him how much I'm going to miss him he gets real quiet and introspective. I kow he doesn't like to see me hurt, so sensitive.

Then I sae this picture and told him I was going to marry this dude when he grows up and he just laughs that little Ryan sweet laugh. My boy.

Tyler seemed like a little boy trying to be a big boy. He asked me if I would walk him to his class and I said sure. Then about 10 minutes later told me there was no need and I said "woe nelly I already had my heart set on walking you to class, it's a done deal the 1st week of school, no fussing about it. ".  He accepted no problem. See that shy boy standing outside his classroom, this is as close as I got, I wasn't sure I could handle it. This is my baby.

He later told me "wow mom that was a long day!!!" yes it was little man, I'm so very proud of you!

Day 2 : Hot Springs to St. Louis

This day was long but the payoff at the end was so worth it. Who knew 1) that the St.Louis arch is a national park 2) that you can ride a very scary podlike thing all the way to the top, have a brief look around, and then ride the same pod back down. It's hard being a mom sometimes, you have to act all brave and confident when the reality is you keep your hands in your pockets so on one can see the sweat dripping off them. It was that nerve racking for me and Ryan was right along for the freakout with me so I really had to lock my knees so they wouldn't shake.

He looks scarred, I was too but I had the camera so there isn't any evidence.

St.Louis seemed like such a beuatiful place, I would love to go there again sometime to really check things out. 

Day 1 : Houston to Hot Spring, Arkansas

Our trip started just like any other, with bagels and plenty of frantic packing. Once we got under way it became the norm, 8 hours in a car with 3 kids and the husband , how sad for them or me I'm not sure. Just kidding I loved the whole experience and forgot how much I love to just explore. The first place we stopped was Hot Springs Arkansas. We visited to bath houses, really I thought there were hot springs that you can swim in oooops sorry kids. Turns out that the bath houses are one of our national parks!

This is an example of me practicing my panning. I think this one came out, the other 100 not so great.

Lots of the stuff looked like old torture contraptions. I just kept trying to imagine all these men and women using the tubs and, well really it felt like being in an old insane assylum. Cool but very creepy. These are just a few of the pictures, no one would need to visit there if I posted all the ones I liked! 

That day we got in the car for a trip to St Louis to see the arch, I'll post that day soon.

Two at Mortal Muses

So I've been very busy with back to school stuff, just kidding my brain is just so unorganized that I have yet to actually sit down and get my trip pictures together. All I can say is that it was such a great trip, 3001 miles in a car with 3 kids and a husband, what more could a girl ask for. It was heaven every moment of every day and I will for sure do it again next summer. No it's true I will. Maybe a little better planning so next time when we get to St.Louis the largest convention of the year won't take every last hotel room so weary travelers and crazy parents won't have such a hard time finding a room. Anyway I'm linking up at Mortal Muses with my interpretation of "two" this week. From somewhere in the midwest I think :

Oh by the way this was taken with my iphone, everyone should have one.

More about our trip shortly.

We Are Back !!!

Wow that was a long trip, but so much fun. I will plan another one for next summer! More on that later. Now I want to comment on how much I love INSTAGRAM on my iphone. It's a free app and it's amazing what it can do to your photos with the touch of a button and then it posts them. It will post them to your instagram account as well as several other places, including flickr! ! Anyway here is a before and after, both taken with the phone.

Before :

After :

Check it out, it's so great ! 

St Loius

We have only briefly checked it out and frankly we will only see a little but it looks like a great city to visit. I've already scoped out several places, just in our attempt to find a hotel room, that I'd like to check out. We are off the see the Arch. I'm still trying to figure out how we are going to get Ryan to go up in the arch. Hmmmm

A Great Day

On the road :  

 





We Made IT !!!

Pretty

Something dying that is oh so beautiful.

Still LIfe Standout

I have decided to participate in Still Life Standouts which I saw over at Ramblings & Photos.

It's a Prickly Pear Cactus, I think.

Check out the other entries over at My Reflection of Something. FUN!!!

A Trip To The Children's Museum

I think these speak for themselves. All I can say is it was fun but it was a total zoo. 

The kids didn't mind.

I'm kind of worried. Should I be? I'm not sure how I will handle this experience, it can't be good, I drive ALL the time. 

The last picture above says it all. Look at his face and her body position, I want to weep right now. 

And then there is this, and the van wasn't even moving!