Day 164

I love so many things about this sweet girl of mine, but I especially love the swatch of freckles across her nose and cheeks. She seems to have new ones popping out each day since we've spent most of our time poolside. Couldn't decide if I liked this one better in color or B&W. So, I'm posting both.

Day 163

Another day to lounge by the pool. This family loves summer.

Day 162

Red velvet cupcakes always hit the spot. This was her treat for being so cooperative as we tried to get Eric's Father's Day gift done. Below is a sneak peak of what his framed gift will look like. We had so much fun sneaking around behind his back to get it accomplished. Thanks to Keara for the inspiration.

Day 161

Cameron decided to strap on the old shin guards and cleats to kick the soccer ball around in the backyard. I tried to get her to kick the ball toward me as I snapped a picture. Well, that didn't work out so well. She ended up nailing me right in the eye that wasn't looking through the camera. She's certainly got good aim. :-) I then opted for a shot of her practicing her footwork instead. (Less dangerous for momma.) The focus isn't what I'd hoped for but I still like the shot.

Day 160

It wasn't until this year that Cameron has really felt comfortable swimming at the pool. She did swimming lessons for the last two years without really wanting to get her face wet. This year has been a whole different story. She's swimming like a fish now, jumping off the side of the pool into the water and coming up with a splash. I'm so proud of her. Sometimes she lets her big brain get in the way of trying new things. She's like her momma and worries way too much.

Day 159

Mani - Pedi day for Cameron and me. We spent some good girl time together at the salon getting our nails done. She opted for purple with green zebra stripes and I went with a more low key pink with a tiny white flower. I love these little moments together. Such great memories for me and hopefully her too.

Day 158

Getting back on track with the 365 world. Our basket runneth over with squash. Anyone have any good recipes? I know about 4 ways to cook this summer goodness, but need more. We've been sharing the bounty, but don't seem to be making a dent. I need to find a food bank nearby that will take the extras.

Days 144-157ish

Okay, I'm finally posting the pictures that have been on my camera for almost two weeks. With school finishing up for the year, I didn't get a picture everyday. Like everyone else that has kids or teaches school, this time of the year is HECTIC! Here are the 8 that I took in that span of time.

Storms hit Fort Worth and we even had to duck and cover because of tornados on the ground near us. Kind of scary!


One of my 5th graders climbing the rock wall at the overnight field trip we took them on.


Using teamwork to hoist each other through the tractor tire suspended 5 feet in the air.

Another of my students shooting a bow and arrow for the first time. These city kids had a great time tromping through the woods.

What is a bubble bath without bubble beards?

100 degrees = pool time!

Cameron and some of her BFFs at awards night.

Graduating from Kindergarten

New posts coming soon

I am very behind on posting. I have been taking pictures, but I have been swamped trying to get the end of the school year wrapped up. As many of you know, I teach school and we are only days away from being done. Tomorrow is my official last day before summer can begin. I have so many pictures from this week and part of last week but just haven't had a spare moment to upload them and post on other blogs. I will catch up this weekend.

I hope I haven't lost all of my followers. I am still alive and will be joining you all on this 365 blogging adventure again this weekend. I can't wait to see what has been going on. I've missed you all.

Day 143

Callie gave Eric a spit bath last night. He claimed she was licking away any remaining hair he had back there. Took this one with my phone so the quality isn't great. It was all I had handy at the time. Didn't want to miss the moment.

Days 139-142

Day 139 - A bumper crop in the garden.

Day 140 - After the rain.

Day 141 - Working on her report about Gray Wolves.

Day 142 - A never ending job after the rains this week.

Day 138

Playing hopscotch right before dark. I'm getting used to my new lens. The biggest adjustment is the fixed focal length. So far I'm loving it.

Don't ask why she has on those winter boots. She loves them and chooses them over regular shoes most of the time. Wonder if she'll still choose them when it's 110 degrees this summer?

Day 137

Wheat field near our house. Almost ready for harvest.

Day 136

I received my new 50mm lens today. I'm so excited to start playing around with it. Today I just snapped one in the flowerbeds of the daisies. I wanted to see if I could achieve bokeh. I'll have to practice some more to get the lighting right, but not today. I'm off for a girls night out at a friend's to watch the season premier of Real Housewives of New Jersey. Reality TV is my guilty pleasure.

I promise I will do better on commenting this week!!!!

Day 135

We rode our bikes up to Eric's school today and decided to stop for a photo op. The landscaping is in full bloom and looks so great after the rains last week. Eric is such a great hands-on dad. He's willing to do just about anything for his little girl. Can you tell in the first one that they get asked to pose ALOT!

Day 134

Just an old water tower I've been wanting to capture. Seemed like the right time since the last of the wildflowers are dying out and will be gone in a week or two.

Day 133

Friday = Fun Day! We had field day for Kindergarten followed by the school talent show that evening. It was a jam packed day, but sooooo much fun. Cameron's favorite field day event was the sponge race.

At the talent show her class performed the Mexican Hat Dance. She opted to be a Mariachi because she didn't want to wear a dress. She told her teacher, "I'm not a dress kind of girl". Thankfully her teacher is one of my best friends and didn't take any offense to it.

Day 132

We had some amazing rains push through here on Wednesday. I had already posted my picture for that day so I'm posting this one of the clouds post rain showers for Thursday. Carrie asked me if we lived near Keara since she'd had a storm cloud post on Wednesday too. We live probably 250 miles from each other but the storms covered most of the central and north part of Texas that day. I tried not to do too much editing to this photo so that you could see the amazing color of the sky. It was almost eerie outside.

For you weather nerds like me, these are Mammatus clouds which are named because they resemble the mammaries aka boobs.

Day 131

We had ominous weather looming for field day. But, that didn't stop the kids from having a great time participating in their running races and field events. I just loved this photo because you can see the pure joy of being a kid.

We made it back to school just before the rains came pouring down. We even spent the last hour and 1/2 of the day without power due to the high winds and lightning. We just read a book by flashlight to pass the time. It was such a great day and one of the days I look forward to each year. I am so proud to teach these kids.

Day 130

So, my kid isn't perfect. She has her moments when she is just plain ornery. Tuesday evening was one of those nights. We'd just gotten home from gymnastics and she wanted to stay out and draw with the sidewalk chalk instead of come in and take a bath. Glad I caught the moment so that I could show her children someday just what a their momma could dish out when she was a little girl. Fortunately, these stinker pants moments are very few and far between.

Day 129

First signs that the garden is going to have a bumper crop. I wish these things were bright red and ready to eat. The ones from the grocery store just don't come close to the flavor found fresh from the backyard garden.



I'm behind a few days posting my pictures but I'm still snapping away each day. Here is a some catching up.

Day 128

Happy Mother's Day to all of you!!!

We are practicing for the science experiment Cameron has to do tomorrow in class. Each kid take a turn doing an experiment for the class and explaining how/why it works. She will attempt to explain how the photons in sunlight are refracted through a magnifying glass to produce enough heat to burn a leaf. She's been practicing her little speech and burning as many leaves as she can.

I totally got the blown out effect on this one. I couldn't read my meter because I'd looked at that concentrated light on the leaf. I was seeing little yellow spots instead!!! But, you get the idea.

I also wanted to include the photo of the day our precious Cameron came into the world. I am so grateful to be her mother.

Day 127

We did our Mother's Day dinner a day early. Cameron and I have been flying solo this week with Daddy gone to California. So we went to our favorite hamburger place for dinner. I love spending time with my sweet girl. Since it was a special occasion, she got to have a soda.

Day 126

This is the picture Cameron drew for me in my classroom. Snoopy is headed out to judge a gymnastics meet. Eric has been in California since Wednesday judging Junior Olympic Nationals. I love that she gave him a tie & briefcase just like Dad. We both miss him and will be so glad to see him when he gets home on Monday.

Day 125

Thank you to everyone for your encouraging words. The workouts are still going strong. Today's was a little less intense than the others. The accountability of working out with friends is helping. Melissa, the videos range from 25 to 45 minutes long. Each day brings a new level of "pain", but it is so satisfying when you get finished.

On to my photo...Another beautiful day, another afternoon running around at the park. This time we just walked to the one in our neighborhood. I love the sunlight at her back. She is such a precious girl. Her dad and I are blessed.

Day 124

I've been doing the Insanity DVD workouts with some of my girlfriends. This is what I've been doing every evening to keep from being so sore. One thing is for certain: the DVD has been appropriately named. It is definitely INSANE or maybe I am for doing it.

Not pleased with the lighting on this one, but I was too tired to try a different spot with better light.

Day 123

We have had such beautiful sunny & mild days so it's been perfect park weather. After each slide she'd strike a pose. I love this one where she is supermodel-like. She acts like she's on a shoot for Vogue Kids. I love this girl's hilarious personality.

Day 122

Ever want to just hop on a train and see where it takes you? I think it would be fun to just go for it without any worries about where you'd end up. Unfortunately, I'm a planner and that would probably send me into cardiac arrest, but maybe one day...

Day 121

It's the first day of May. Time to switch out the closets with wintry clothes and replace them with the tank tops and summer dresses. Wait...what?...The high today was only 48 degrees (Fahrenheit). It has been a cold, rainy day here in North Texas. I sure hate when Mother Nature throws me a curve ball. But, very thankful for the rain.

Day 120

I didn't take this one, but it was taken by a friend of mine with my camera. This is from the birthday party we attended at the local gymnastics place. I just had to jump in and spot Cameron on some stride circles. Sometimes I miss coaching little kid gymnastics.

Day 119

T is for Ta-da! Cameron got to go fishing with Eric and they brought home this 43 pound catfish along with another 3 fish. Poor Eric will be up until midnight cleaning fish. I think Santa may bring him a new electric fillet knife for Christmas.

Day 118

S is for Sweet Treat. For anyone that has lived/visited in a small town, you know that there is often only one or two fast food restaurants. In Texas, one of those choices is usually a Dairy Queen. Along with the usual fast food options, the dipped cone is a must have on the menu. I decided to edit this one using Coffeeshop's Chocolate B&W action. It seemed to give it that feel of what rural small town life is like, simplicity! I miss living in a town where everyone knows you (& your business).

Day 117

I kind of forgot where I left off on my ABC challenge, but I'll just randomly choose R is for rose today. An arbitrary decision, yes, but who's really gonna hold me to it? Picture police maybe? I went out to cut flowers to brighten up the kitchen and make the house smell great. When I got out there, I was so disappointed because there weren't any roses blooming. Then right before I gave up, I noticed this gorgeous one hiding down under some other branches. I couldn't bear to cut it so I grabbed the camera and took a picture instead.

Days 109 - 116

We've been out of town for awhile and my lack of posting shows. I've been taking pictures, but out at my parents in Podunk, America the only internet is via dial up and takes forever. So, here's a week's worth of photos all at once.

Waiting to board the plane

My pop grilling the best steaks you'll ever taste

Cameron and her cousin John Lee

Swinging in Memaw's backyard

My cousin finally found her prince. A beautiful backyard wedding

Nana and Cameron

My brother helping his little guy hunt for Easter eggs.

Granddad teaching Cameron how to drive his patrol boat.