365 Project - September 17 -25

September 25 - Seasons - A spring like dandelion, and a fallen autumn leaf. A paradox of nature.
September 24 - Weekly Self Portrait - Winds of Change - Gusts of wind blew the leaves and branches off of trees today, ushering in a new season. Ironic that today, I ushered in a new stage of my life as well. I look back on the past with sweet memories, and I look forward to a new adventures. September 23 - Golden - My rings, my vows, my respect, my love, all golden. I consider myself honoured to be his wife.
September 22 - Savings Account -

September 21 - Bonus Reading - I went to the library with Kenzie today. She has discovered that the library is not only good for free books, but there is a cute library boy that works there. Ah to be young again.

September 20 - The Rose on the Wall - A rose from the funeral arrangement of my mother in law. I've kept it, but now it just makes me sad - and yet somehow, I am still not ready to give it up.

September 19 - Home - I love going away, but I love coming home too. I love our house as much today as I did the day we bought it, almost 6 years ago. I sometimes forget how cute it is, because usually there are so many vehicles and a trailer in the driveway. So before hubby backed in the trailer, I jumped out to get a picture.

September 18 - Neon Spider -This spider was on my mother's coat. We thought that we had brushed it off, until my daughter screams, "OMG, grandma the spider is still on you!" My mother freaked, crying and laughing at the same time. The spider somehow landed in the fire pit, and I got a picture of it. I have never seen a spider so vividly coloured before.

September 17 - First Day - Today was Charlie's first day of SK. Look at how happy and excited he is!!

Camping Season is Closed

The last camping trip of 2010 was much needed and one of my best trips of the season. We went to Valens Conservation Area, one of our family's favorite campgrounds. Just 45 minutes north of us, it is a convenient escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
We booked two sites, one for our family and one for Papa and his puppy named Freddie. When we first arrived, the men were busy setting up the trailers. By the end of the year the set up is so routine, that it doesn't take long. After quickly setting up, we sat down to a dinner of pulled pork sandwiches. With our bellies full, we sat around the campfire. We brought lots of dry firewood, and enjoyed our biggest and best fire of the year. The next day, we cooked our traditional egg and bacon sandwiches for breakfast - yum! Just as we were cleaning up, my mother and her boyfriend arrived visit us for the day. That afternoon some of the boys went fishing for a couple of hours. The rest of us stayed at the campsite playing Kuub, tossing the football around and making gimp bracelets. When the two groups reunited, it was time for dinner. After dinner Mom and her friend left for the night. As I was washing the dishes, another guest arrived. This time it was my sister in law and her family. That night we all sat around another great fire. Even the light rain did not diminish our spirits. The last morning of our trip, my husband and I took the bikes out for a long ride down to the beach. It was a relaxing end to a wonderful weekend.
The fall camping trip allows my family to slow down, enjoy each other's company at a hectic time of year. Maybe it is because we know that we wont have the same opportunity for another eight long months. The last trip of the year reminds me just how important it is to slow down and reconnect with family.

365 Project - September 15 - Mmmuffins

Somehow, I forgot to post this 365. So here goes Best Ever Banana Muffins

3 large bananas

3/4 cup white sugar

1 egg

1/3 cup butter

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup chocolate chips

In a large bowl, mash bananas. Add sugar and slightly beaten egg. Add butter and stir well. Combine dry ingredients; add to mixture. Stir in chocolate chips.

Bake at 350*F for 20 minutes. Makes 12

365 Project - September 11, 13, 14, 16

September 11 - Mr. Bunny - The Little man got this bunny as a Easter present from his Grandma and Papa when he was one. It was one of the last gifts he recieved from his Grandma before she died. He loves his Mr. Bunny, and it makes me feel that in a special way, she is with him.

September 13 - Washing Up - Monday we painted! Most kindergarden kids love arts and crafts, but not The Little Man. You see, Charlie doesn't like to get dirty, and arts and crafts are messy. So I was overjoyed when he asked if we could paint. Although, he did have just as much fun washing the paint brushes as he did painting.

September 14 -Time Out - Taking a break from the street (driveway) hockey to get a drink, my daughter rested her stick on the front bench. Her five year old brother gave her a run for her money.

September 16 - Rain Rain Go Away - self portrait Thursday.

Family Portrait with the In-Laws

On Sunday we had a famlily dinner and celebrated both of my brothers-in law's birthdays. Since it had been awhile since our last big family portrait, I made sure that I remembered my tripod so I could get a picture of the gang.

This one is my favorite. But I should have explained to my nephew, (the little guy in the plaid shorts) that the camera was working with a remote. He looks so confused.


Here are just a couple of the outtakes. My husband and I were cracking up when we uploaded them...

First Day of School for the Big Kids

The Little Man got up early to see his siblings off. I thought that he would be bummed about not having his brother around to play with him all day, but he has enjoyed some one on one mommy time, including a special breakfast out.

My son in his super cool Mario shirt. He kept giving me goofy smiles. Guess he had the nervous sillies.

The Kid, with her high school in the back ground. She bolted just after the picture was taken.

Another goofy smile from the Boy.

September 7 - Today was the first day of school for the big kids. This year I don't have a picture of my kids together, because they are heading in different directions, which makes me a little sad. I was excited to hear all about their first day, how they liked their teachers, who they ate lunch with, if their friends were in the same class as they were. There was lots of happy chatter around the dinner table. I felt a HUGE sense of relief. Phew, got through the first day, no casualties. A great begining for the rest of the year ~ fingers crossed!

365 Project - September 5 -10

September 10 - A is for... - The little man and I went apple picking today. The apple farm we went to has games for the kids and a small section with some animals. It was a fun way to spend the morning. When the Kid came home, she went to reach for an apple, stopped and asked, "Can I have an apple or are they for a picture?" Silly kid, I took the picture before she got home. September 9 - The Little Man went for his visit to Kindergarten this morning. These wild flowers grow on the path heading down to the school.

September 8 - Weekly self portrait, hip edition - there was a conversation amongst the women in my family on Facebook regarding the size of our hips. Personally, I've learned to love my hips, now that is growth, I mean maturity.

September 6 - Waiting - I walked by my son's room and his bright new white sneakers caught my eye. He is waiting to wear them on the first day of school tomorrow.

September 5 - Work Weekend - Hubby is on call this weekend, Labor Day weekend - the unofficial last weekend of summer. If that weren't bad enough, he mowed the lawn in between calls. Lawn mowing is just one of the things that I had to give up because of my crappy knee. Too bad too, because I used to love mowing the lawn. It gave me such a sense of satisfaction when I was done. Today while Hubby was mowing, I was so thankful for all he does for us. Thanks babe.

365 Project - September 3

Some days are just more exciting to photograph than others. September 3 brought another hawk to my tree. This time we think it was a Kestrel, mostly because of its high pitched "klee" I did my weekly self portrait today too. These were a bit over exposed, and I think that I may over done it a little in my editing, but overall I am happy with them both.

I also got this picture of my son's war wound. He had gone to a paint ball birthday party, and got this nasty bruise. Ouch!

365 Project - August 30 - September 2

September 2 - Recycle - yup, I am making the kids reuse their pencil crayons this year. I have bought 2 packages of pencil crayons every year, for the past 9 years - I think they'll have more than enough. August 30 - Decisions - I can't decide which picture to use for my 365. The toadstools, or the close up of the leaf. What do you think?

August 31 - Locked and Loaded - The kid went to her high school today for registration. She found out her schedule, got her student card and her lock.

September 1 - Cousins, little brother edition

Good Bye Summer 2010

On August 29 we headed to Christie Lake Conservation Area, for one last after dinner swim. We love the beach in the evening. There are no crowds at this time of day and we usually have the run of the place. Plus, as a photographer, I love the "sweet light" you get as the sun sets.

Project 365 August 23- 28

August 23 - Peer Pressure

August 24 - Moon Behind Clouds

August 25 - Candle Light

August 26 - Sleep Tight

August 27 - Self Portrait Thursday

August 28 - Sunset

August 21 -22 Killbear Park and some 365's

The Kid was at a friends cottage near Killbear Provincial park. It was her longest trip away from home, lasting 14 days. By the middle of the first week, it became apparent that she would not be able to make it for the whole trip unless she had a visit from home. So we packed the trailer and made the journey to Killbear. The hubby booked the last site that they had available. It was non electric, but on the plus side it was right at the waters edge.

Killbear is a beautiful park. It has a great learning centre, where guests can go and learn about the wildlife, and history of the park. Unfortunately, the weather was cool and wet the weekend that we went, so we didn't go swimming. Hubby took a boat trip, and says that the main beach was huge, and there was a smaller cozy little beach within walking distance of our site. The main problem that I found with Killbear, was the location. It was a long haul for one weekend, when you factor in the cottage country traffic, well for me four and a half hours is just too long of a car trip.