Official countdown to SUMMERTIME has STARTED!

I can't believe we have ALREADY turned the A/C on and we aren't even out of May yet! It has been down right HOT, HOT, HOT here in Western PA--we are talking mid to upper 80's! Whewww!

Lucky for us, the neighbor's 'pool' is open and has become a gathering spot for the kids...as well as our sprinkler system! Needless to say, the kids have been enjoying themselves!

PTI

Pardon The Interruption!!!

I have not forgotten about the blog...I merely am without my Mac! I lost my hard drive and am in the process of getting my computer fixed! In the mean time, say a little prayer for my Mac Book--

I am still snapping pictures left and right--it may be a few more days before I can get up an running again though! Sorry about the interruption!! :)

Practice Makes Perfect...

I am really enjoying my birthday gift...but I have to tell you, the learning curve on this thing is wild! There are so many different gizmos and gadgets, and I don't have a clue how to "really" use it just yet! I am trying to read the manual and take a few pictures as I go--but I think it is going to be a work in progress for quite some time! It is amazing the quality of the images that this camera takes! It doesn't hurt having beautiful children to photograph!!!


Using the telephoto lens...this is sooo fun!Trying something here with the lighting...
Still trying the lighting thing...this one didn't turn out like I was hoping it would, but it is still stinkin' cute! Lexie: "Uhhhh, Momma...what are you doing?"




Lexie in her 'thinker' pose!!
BIG BLUE EYES! Looks like she is coming in for a kiss--pucker up!
I love the way the camera focuses in on the nearest object and makes the background kinda fuzzy


I seriously can't get enough time behind this camera! I love it--I just can't wait until I really know how to use all of the great features!

Mother's Day Weekend 2010-Part 2

I was so sore I could barely move, but was so excited since it wasn't raining, and we were sooo close to being done with the girls' swing set! Russ decided to let me have the morning off...so he prepared made to order eggs for everyone--AND cleaned it all up! Before we bundled up to brave the cold temps, he and Lexie presented to me with my mother's day/birthday gift.


What could it be?

This is hysterical...leave it to Lexie!


This was what was really inside the bag...along with a telephoto lens, 4 GB SD card, and a bag to carry it all in!!! I must have been good--really really really good!!!




I used my new present to capture a photo--one of my TRUE GIFTS!!!
I was so excited and wanted to 'play' with my new toy...but duty called--it was time to get outside and finish the play park...

Thankfully, there wasn't much left to do, but unfortunately...we were missing the brackets to install all of the swings! TOTAL BUMMER...but we finished what we could...Lexie sure didn't seem to mind!




Then, the real chore began. We had to clean up the wood pile to load up on the trailer! That was a job! Pulling all the nails out of the deck boards was NO FUN!!!


What a day! Lexie and Olivia LOVE their new 'play park'!!! All the hard work was worth it hearing them laugh and seeing them smile! It was nice to be done for the day and look at the (almost) finished product!!!



After dinner and after we put the kids to bed, Russ and Grandpa made a scrap pile and we had a bonfire! It was nice to sit and relax in front of the fire!

It was chilly outside, but the fire sure was nice and warm!

Perfect ending to the weekend!

Thank you Aunt Allie, Uncle Marcus, Granny, and Grandpa for all of your help! AND A VERY HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all of you WONDERFUL MOMS out there! Especially mine!!

Mother's Day Weekend 2010-Part 1

For some, Mother's day/weekend is a relaxing escape...a special weekend free from responsibility and daily chores. For others, it is jammed packed with manual labor. While I was thinking to myself, "what in the world are we thinking trying to get this done on the COLDEST and WINDIEST weekend

Lexie taking an active roll in building her "play park"...she was having so much fun...but boy was it COLD!


Um...this is going to take a while--this is where we are about 2 hours into it--gonna be a loooong day!

Aunt Allie brought Lexie outside again so she could inspect the progress just before we called it quits for lunch. Not too shabby--the deck is done and so is the picnic table!

After our lunch break, we were after it again...


Really starting to take shape! the roof is on...and just in the nick of time, as it started to rain! (Have I failed to mention thus far that the winds were sustained at about 30mph???)

So much done...and by the looks of that wood pile, so much more to do!

Window archways are in and the side "walls" are started!


After working for a few more hours, we took another break to eat some dinner! Even though the weather wasn't conducive for grillin' out, we still fired up the grill for some fillets and scallops! MMMMMMmmmm--if I do say so myself!

Lexie and Grandpa at the dinner table--both with full bellies!
Lexie giving Aunt Allie and Uncle Marcus good night kisses...little did Aunt Allie know she would be putting Lexie to bed--she LOVES her Aunt Allie!
One more picture with Grandpa!
Granny was a HUGE help--she got to stay warm inside with the kids!!! Olivia and Lexie kept her quite busy!!! Here she is with Olivia just before bedtime.
After dinner, it was back to the grind! Only a little bit of daylight left...so we had to keep on keeping on! We managed to get the windows in, the safety handles on, the rock wall assembled and attached and all of the side walls finished! Whew---I am beat!

Just like Daddy!!!

Lexie love love loves her daddy--and wants to do everything he does! When he exercises, she wants to exercise. When he goes to work, she wants to go to "work". When he puts on one of his shirts...well, you get the point...

Russ was getting dressed and Lexie just had to put her daddy's shirt on!
She has got bit shoes to fill...or sleeves in this case!
So big and so cute!

Sisterly love!

I was trying to get some laundry put away, but both of the girls were waking up from their naps. They woke up in such good moods, but were ready to PLAY! Fortunately for me, they decided to play with one another so I was able to get our things put away, and managed to get the camera to capture some sisterly love!!!


First stop was to get Olivia...
Goof balls!!!


Lexie was rolling around the ground which made Olivia laugh and laugh and laugh!
Olivia grabbed one of the Dora walkie talkies while laughing at Lexie!
My two little love bugs...too bad Lexie's hair is in her face...still as cute as can be!
I know I am biased, but they couldn't be ANY cuter if they tried!
Okay, maybe they can...

More MILESTONES in MAY!!!

April was CERTAINLY a month of milestones!!! Lexie learned how to use the big girl potty and hasn't looked back! Olivia has been trying and trying and trying to walk. She would take a step here and there, never putting more than two or three together at one time...that is until we were at GG and Gpa's house! Luckily I had the camera close...

My little love bug is getting so brave..and so big!
Here is Miss O taking a few more than just a few steps!!!


Such a ham...and O-so Ornery!!!

Look out world...she's a walking!!!!