It's All About the Light

Criminals

A recent visit to Barnes & Noble with my daughter:

O: (crumpled on the floor in front of the cashier...angry that I won't buy her something). "You don't LOVE me!"

(snickers from all the people in line behind me)

Me: Yes, I do love you.

O: Well you're a criminal! Criminals are parents who are bad to their children and you're not doing what I want. That means you're a criminal. You're going to go to jail if you don't buy me that book!"

Me: mortified and embarrassed but also trying to stifle my laughs

Fine Art Canvas Update, a Little Blue-eyed Wonder & Denver

Denver

I'll be away from Phoenix this week at a photographer's workshop and will be unable to return calls.  I will have limited internet access (at least I'm hoping!) so if you need to reach me, please send an email and I will return it as soon as possible.

Canvas

For my clients who are waiting on their fine art canvases....I am still waiting on delivery on the canvas from the printer.   I've used this particular printer for close to two years now and have never had a delivery problem before this...so for those of you who "lucked" out to be in this batch, I apologize!  To make up for the late orders, I will be personally delivering your canvas to you once it comes in and will slipping a little gift in for you to express my apologies.  I have been told that everything shipped last week so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I will have some boxes waiting for me when I return from Denver!

Little Blue-eyed Wonder

I met this little guy and his parents earlier this week.  He just recently turned two years old and was just talking up a storm!  He had quite the personality and we had a fun time "playing" around his home.  

The Transformation

Being that it seems we will be staying in Phoenix for a while longer, we decided to finally transform our backyard into a little oasis for our family.  We are nearing completion of the transformation and I am ready to share some before & after snapshots with all of you.  Enjoy!

Before: 

(the view from the pool)

After:

(the view from the pool area)

After:

(the view towards the pool)

Before:

(the side yard & pool equipment)

 

After:

(the side yard & pool equipment)

We are loving the "new" backyard!  And I'm sure will be making lots of use out of it, especially once the weather cools down enough to light up the fire place and make some smores with the kids!  

Back to School

Many of you know that we have been homeschooling for the past year. It's been a wonderful year.  After finding a school that we think will be a good match for our family, we recently made the decision to put them back into school. You can read more about our decision here.  

Well, we did it.  We got up this morning, ate breakfast, got dressed and left the house by 7:30am to be to school on time.  The morning went great.  Both kids got to meet their teachers and got their new school experience off to the good start.

O was so excited all morning until we got to school and she saw all the new kids on the kindergarten playground (there are probably about 60 kindergarten students in all - class sizes range from 12-17).  She started to get a little clingy and the was a little shy & tearful in the class but she sat at her desk and tried to put on a good face.  At one point, I heard a little voice from one of the nearby tables say "Don't cry.  It will be okay".  Isn't that just the sweetest?  I left O with a kiss goodbye and am sure she will do fine.  

H of course went off happy as a clam.  

I thought I wouldn't cry.  I was sure I wouldn't cry.  But, once I got into the car...I cried.  Alot.  I know I'll get use to it.  But the house is so quiet.  When H went away to school, I still had O at home.  But now, they are both gone.  She is my baby and it's hard to let the baby go...ya know?

Oh well.  I guess I'll finally be able to catch up on all that scrapbooking that I've been neglecting for the past few years.  I can refine my cooking skills.  Get back to crafting.  Catch up on my reading.  Paint my nails.  Fold laundry.  Pull weeds.  Take the dog for a walk. Change the litterbox.  Look at pictures of my babies....all grown up....  (I don't think I'll be able to handle college!  Thank goodness I have a few years to work up to that one!).

Anyways here are the first day pics: 

 

 

on the way to school...

 

with Mrs. M

 

with Miss F

 

More from Camp Rainbow

Flashes of Hope/Camp Rainbow

I've been getting through the files from my day up at Camp Rainbow.  These kids are just absolutely amazing!  Every single camper from ages 7-17 have either battled cancer in the past or are currently in the middle of the fight for their life.  

The courage of these children is just amazing.  The joy they have with being up at camp seeing old friends or experiencing camp for the first time is...well, joyful!  

Since this was my second time up at Camp Rainbow, I was able to see & photograph some of the children that I'd photographed last year.  It was nice to see how they've grown and hear a little news about the past year....a new "C - Leg" or an adventure with the Make a Wish foundation.

Here are a few of the fabulous kids of Camp Rainbow....

I'll share more later.

Driving Lessons

I stumbled upon an available MarioKart last week and given that the game is in high demand and somewhat difficult to find, I purchased it (along with an extra steering wheel to avoid sibling fights).

The kids had a ton of fun with the game which made it easy for me to pack up for our trip up to the White Mountains (more about that in a later post).  My mom was here to help O with her steering....

 

You can see that we aren't very good yet... 11th & 12th out of twelve places.  LOL

Camp Rainbow

I'm heading up north today to photograph the kids from Camp Rainbow.  If you are unfamiliar with Camp Rainbow, it is a wonderful organization set up through the Phoenix Children's Hospital for pediatric oncology patients, both past and present.  

Camp Rainbow organizes fun event through the year for these children to have a chance to enjoy life and rejoice in who they are, whether they have lost their hair due to chemotherapy or lost a limb due to cancer. 

I was up at Camp Rainbow last year (thanks to the charity organization Flashes of Hope) and had a great time with the kids that I photographed (around 30!).  I feel blessed to be given the opportunity to head back up again this year.  I look forward to seeing some familiar faces up at camp. 

If you are the praying type, please say a prayer for all the children at Camp Rainbow...for some, this may be their last camp.

Remember the Spork?

You Are a Spork

You have a playful, eccentric sense of humor. You are creative. You see the world in bold colors. You are a dabbler. You love to experiment. You aren't an expert in anything, but you know a little about everything.

What Utensil Are You?