in the common hours

What am I doing here?

That's been the question in my head every time I've attempted to start a post in the last week or so.

Whenever I take a short break from the site, I find it difficult to post, start questioning the whole effort, and have to remind myself why I'm doing this.

The original idea was to continue the blog until Nolan's first birthday, and I plan to stick to that...at least I think I do.

I like how little things get captured here that I might otherwise have forgotten. I like how blogs make the world a little smaller and connect like-minded people. I like sharing random things that I enjoy. I love the way it combines words and photos. I love the way it motivates me to pick up the camera more.

I'll share what I don't like when I pack the whole thing up:-)

So now I just need to sum up the last few weeks and get those random posts down that have been wandering around my head. Lots of photos to come, a few kid quotes, a recipe and a random contest.  Assuming I get back to the computer this week.

Meanwhile...here's a recent favorite photo :

It's dark and if I knew how to use PSE better, I'd tweak it a bit, but I love that Brian reached for the camera last Saturday while the boys were watching cartoons and all snuggled with me on the couch. Pjs, blankies, and one with a pacifier. These are the days...and that's why I'll keep doing whatever it is I'm doing here, even if I'm not 100% sure of what that is.

Nolan's baptism photos

Us. 

Yellow roses, my favorite.

Such a good boy, in his Grandma Keating's arms.

 "Like a sunflower, that follows every movement of the sun, so I turn toward you, to follow you, my God."

Our little rockstar.

Summer Photo Week: Day 5

Are we there yet?

Thanks, Anne, for the inspiration. I made it five days in a row, yay me! I meant to post a kiddie pool photo, but there were just too many to choose just one. Loved seeing all the photos, and the litany of summer joys on Anne's site as well.

We're preparing for Nolan's baptism this weekend. We have family here this week and next...so posting may be infrequent for a bit.

Hope everyone is enjoying summer to the fullest and staying cool.

Summer Photo Week: Day 4

Yummy watermelon. Aidan, 15 months.

Kevin, now I agree with you---he may have been the most photographed baby ever. Wish I had something better than a point&shoot back then.

More summer fun photos at Green Jello.

Summer Photo Week: Day 3

One hot day + one young boy + one homemade popsicle = Happiness

Summer Photo Week: Day 2

I resisted the crocs craze for a while, but now I fully embrace it (for children at least). They protect little toes from hot driveways and pool sides, are easy to clean, and best of all, even two-year-olds can put them on all by themselves.

When the crocs come out, we know it's summer.

Part of Anne's Summer Photo series. 

Summer Lovin Photo Week, Day 1

Anne at Green Jello is celebrating photos that represent summer. I'd like to play along, find photos that capture some essense of this too-fleeting season, and see if I manage to post every day for one week.

 

Circa 2002, my very first babe, Aidan, on our front lawn in Ashland, Oregon.

Maybe because all my babies have been born in the spring, but I associate summer now with a baby on a blanket, and the pursuit of shade.

Now back to the goal...

of writing shorter posts.

If, like me, you've wanted to know how to make a border in PSE, Susan Weinroth generously shares a little tutorial here, as well as lots of photo inspiration on her blog. 

Overlooked #1

Got the camera out this morning. So much to learn. I'm going to try to do the Overlooked  challenge, which offers a prompt each month to photograph a specific everyday item. Your Favorite Mug is the current challenge, and this is mine. A gift from Erin many years ago. I'm not a Starbucks fan, or even a coffee fan, but when I have tea or cocoa, this is the mug I reach for.

Love that it is big enough for me to not spill as I carry it to the table:-) Love that it reminds me of our old hometown. Brian gave me a similar sized one that says Utah, which comes in a close second, with third place being another Erin gift: a Greta Garbo one that says "I want to be alone." I just wish I could add the footnote "for just five minutes" to it, because I don't really want to be alone. Just want to finish at least one cup of tea while it is still hot at some point.

I love the idea of noticing the little, everyday things in our life more, but I also prefer people in my photos. So I turned my camera on an innocent boy who was eating breakfast next to me. As soon as he saw the camera, he turned into Buzz Lightyear:

Note to self: next time, move the sippy cup.

I couldn't get him to stop making serious Space Ranger faces and smile,

until I remembered a tip (can't remember from where though, maybe Lisa Russo) to get a natural smile (instead of the fake "cheese" smile) from a child by telling them to NOT smile.

He's such an obedient boy, he tried really hard then to not smile.

Dude, come on. Stop smiling. Seriously now. Oh no, I see what's coming...

Yes, the uncontrollable, throw-your-head-back-and-laugh fit!

Here's to never saying, "Cheese!" again.