Vacation

Me and the captain are such a good team.  I think that a lot.  We balance each other out.  I'm kind of a pushover; he's a little too strict.  He's kind of private; I am...not.  He's my yin to my yang, and I'm grateful.  But here's what we're really good at.  Seriously, awesomely simpatico:  packing for vacation.

I'm good at the week-before prep. I make lists and pack clothes, and swimming stuff, and beach gear.  I organize meals, and pack the right seasonings and tin foil, and baggies.  I make sure the laundry is clean and put together.  But I swear, he picks up everything I leave off.  All electronics.  Nightlights. Fans.  My pillow.  All the last minute stuff.  And he can pack that car like a boss.

We had such a great vacation this year.  Dreamy, really.  Here's what I did:

Watched my kids swim.
Watched my baby splash in her baby pool.
Eat lots of food, including locally-made summer sausage and my own homemade guacamole
Read three books:
The Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini (five stars!)
Bad Monkeys (highly recommended by my cousin Chris on his blog The Gamer Cave) (four stars -- it got a little sci-fi for me in the second half!)
Insurgent by Veronica Roth (still reading)
these were amazing summer vacation books.  happy sigh.
Spent quality time with my husband
Spent a little time working; sold a house remotely!
Floated on the lake
Slept in
Took 200 photos.

I wish I could do it all over again.  It was pure perfection, even the vicious mosquitoes and deerflies.  Perfect Up North vacation.  Can't wait for next year!

May Photo Challenge: Water

I'm so far behind! I didn't even realize we were on Water when I took this photo this morning.

Filling my kids pool on our first 80+ degree day.

May Photo Challenge: Texture

May Photo Challenge - Sunflare

I'm digging back into my archives for this one.  These are my favorite sunflare photos of all.  My favorites are from vacation, which is no surprise because I have all that time to photograph so many things...I should have done this challenge in June!

May Photo Challenge: Beauty

I really wanted to photograph my mom for this topic, but that wasn't possible, unfortunately.  This is my neice, and I think she's beautiful.  I love the light in this photograph.

May Photo Challenge: Bold

You don't have to agree with his statements, but you have to agree that standing up for your convictions, even if it might cost you politically, and even if you know others are going to hate you for it, is BOLD.  

May Photo Challenge: What Makes Me Smile

Oh, boy. Everything. 

The garden centers that are open and full of flowers. 
My children. 
My job. 
The promise of a better tomorrow. 

The return of Jack's fauxhawk.

A husband who takes care of me.

Rhubarb.

May Photo Challenge: All Alone

Wow.  I struggled with this one.  I don't see things in the world as alone. Almost everything is in unison and working together.  I see many trees, flowers.  I see many pinecones under a tree.  I see my kids playing together.  I thought of the people I could photograph that maybe feel all alone.  And then I said a prayer for them, that they feel less, and chose to not ask them to prepare for a photography session.

But then, at the end of my day, I enjoyed this.  And the teenager came upstairs and said, "Ooh!  Ice cream!  Can I have some?"  And I said, "Sure.  Anything you can find in the freezer," as I held my half gallon closer.  The salted caramel I am going to enjoy all alone.

May Photo Challenge: Silhouette

This one is from 2009:

May Photo Challenge: Reflection

I'm reading Game of Thrones by RR Martin.  Worth every moment!

May Photo Challenge: Soft

Evening Light after Rain

A Snuggle with Papa

A Baby's Blanket

May Photo Challenge: Street

This is my favorite street to drive up in the spring.  It's near me, so I do it almost daily.  So pretty with the maples coming in purple.

And this is my street.  We didn't choose this house, we chose this lot.  A third of an acre on the back of a cul-de-sac.  We back up to a couple acres of city park.  There are things I'd change about my house, but I wouldn't change this lot.  Or my neighbors.  But I wouldn't be mad if someone moved in with a seven-year-old boy for Matthew to play with...

May Photo Challenge: Movement

Not gonna lie, I thought this was a hard one. 

I tried to capture a spinning quarter:

And a globe:

 

But I most love these movement photos I took last year in California:

May Photo Challenge: Bokeh

These photos are my interpretation of Bokeh.  And also a celebration of my very favorite day of the year...May Day.  Nothing is filled with hope like the first day of May.  May is the month of rebirth...when everything comes back to life after winter...turns green and colorful.  I chose to get married this month for that very reason.  Happy May Day, my friends.

A passerby asked me, as I was taking these: 

"How does it look up close?" as I was standing in the tree. 

I replied, "As beautiful as it does from there!"

May

Heaven help us, May is going to be a big month around here. 

1.  I'm going to participate in a photography challenge.

2.  I'm going to start talking about the 2012 presidential race.  It's just over six months until November 6.  Also, it appears the Republicans have a nominee.  I'm going to share some of my opinions.  It's been a long four years since we did this last and I am psyched.  This is my football season, y'all.  I wish there were Presidential Picks.  I feel like gambling.  Heh.

Both of those are going to be good reasons to stick around Bits and Pieces.  Please don't leave.  And please leave your name if you comment.  Remember last time...?  Oooh.  Get ready.

Here are the photography challenge categories.  Play with me!

1.  Bokeh
2. Movement
3. Strangers
4. Street
5. Soft
6. Reflection
7. My Shadow
8. Silhouette
9. All Alone
10. What Makes Me Smile
11. Bold
12. Emotion
13.Beauty
14. Sunflare
15. Texture
16. Rule of Thirds
17. Hands
18. Water
19. Sign
20. Inequality
21. Contrast
22. Diptych or Triptych
23. Mother Nature
24. Simplicity
25. Weathered
26. After Dark
27. Shallow Depth of Field
28. Strange
29. Vintage
30. Broken
31. Trust

Spring

I know we're officially done with winter because my allergies have set in.  Also, I see things like this, and these are not winter images:

California

It's beautiful here.

I'll be happy to see the rugrats, but I'll miss the ocean.

Some things I love...

This guy has been wearing his 'ninja' costume for two full days. And I love him, although I wish he'd get over his facination with guns, swords, and 'bad guys.'

Brach's Jube Jel hearts. Seriously, these things are like crack. I'm always glad when my grocery store runs out. It happens earlier than you'd think...I'm not the only Jube Jel addict.

A good neighbor. Seriously, I have a neighbor who is always there for me. Cup of sugar, sure. Baking soda, of course. A cup of Caribou on a bad day, she's got it. I'm very grateful for all of my friends who fill my heart with love. I am so very blessed.

Happy Day of Love!

Malia

I don't have a girl. And I have boys who never really liked to snuggle. But I've been blessed to have this precious girl in my life, who adores me, and whom I adore. When Malia comes over ever other week or so, on her mom's day off, she comes willingly into my arms. Most times, she lays her head on my shoulder. She's a very busy two-year-old, and she loves to color and play (she's an incredible independent girl), but when she needs a hug, she gives the best hugs. She'll simply lay her head on my shoulder for as long as I'll allow (which is a long time). I've never had that with either one of my busy boys, so I'm grateful for her sweetness.

But she has two big brothers, and can hold her own. Every time. She's a tough one...she cries less than my boys put together!

Maybe that's why I love her so much: she's the perfect combination of affection and strength. The future President of the United States! Go, Lia!

P300S

Photo 9

Someone drowned the chipmunks.

Photo 10

I decided they really just wanted to go for a swim.

(Three cheers for Momma!)