Beach Fun - I HEART Faces

I have been wanting to do these photo challenges more, so I decided to just enter this week... even though this picture is a little older. ;) We went on a cruise last fall and this was taken at Grand Cayman. We were just a little out into the water. This is my brother getting ready to snorkel and being his normal goofy self. ;)

Check out the other great entries:

Zoo Day

We met up with cousins for the last Wet 'n Wild Days for the year. After water play, we had to check out some animals. The first stop was in the Jungle to see the River Rays.

This is a horrible shot, but there is the memory of how much these kids loved the rays. ;)

This shot was when we had first arrived and my little niece was so stinkin' cute!

She was really stealing the cuteness today! These birds were really interested in us today. I mentioned that maybe it was dinner time and the little one replied:

"Don't eat me!" So cute. ;)

Here's another one that didn't come out that great, but she was so excited about the waterfall and she was giggling the whole way over there!

The kids earned t-shirts today with the Kid's Club by attending enough events. The boys love them!

New Background, etc.

Okay, so I changed my template so it would show off my pictures better. ;) Mostly, I just adjusted the size of the collumns. Then I put a new girly background up. I probably won't stick with this one; I just needed something that was the right size. Anyway, does it look better? Hopefully, the full pictures are showing now! ;)

More Bentos! Lunch or Snack

You all might be getting sick of these, but I am having a blast. ha! This one was really easy and the kids' favorite so far. The bottom layer contains rice and cucumber shapes with veggie-bobs. I made these rice shapes with cookie cutters by pressing sticky rice into the cutters while on a flat surface. You want to squish it as much as you can and I got pretty sticky myself. Rice molds are a much better idea, but I just don't have any yet! ;)

The veggies are tomato, avacado, and black olives. Yum!

The top layer was for fruit... Green grapes, mango, fugi apples, and bing cherries. Oh so good! ;)

Once again, I used parchment paper to divide the layers. I'll have to do a post that is just about my materials some time. And perhaps some of you can give me some ideas! ;)

I haven't really ever taken pics of food before and I have to admit it is pretty fun! ;) So, what do you think of my artistic photos?

Zoo Day ... Pictures Galore!

The kids had a great day at Wet 'n Wild Days yesterday! We started off our adventure with two little guides leading the way...

We had an extra munchkin along for the ride. This is my squeezable nephew, Little Man. I promise he is not squished under all that stuff!

Little Man was the first to test the waters...

The other three kids quickly made their way into the largest puddle in the state, waving at the firefighters as they are drenched by the firehose! You can just pick out Mr. Cool standing right in the middle, blocking the spray with his arms.

Next we found a misting tent where Mr. Cool just couldn't resist splashing like he did when he was two! He loved this picture, so I just had to share! ;)

The kids got pretty worn out, so we headed for the door, but we found an awesome photo spot and stopped for a few more shots. I was thrilled because I finally got Drama Boy to hold still for a few clicks! heh

I really loved this one! Notice the bare feet, though? Yeah, we lost her shoes somewhere along the way! (sheesh, pay attention mama!) Thankfully a wonderful zoo employee found them and brought them all the way to the front for us. Thank goodness for the kindness of strangers!

And finally there are these two shots! I love my creative kiddos!

They were so fun... if only I could get all four kids to look at the same time. yeah right ;)

It was a Mamarazzi sort of day:)

We had a little impromptu backyard photo shoot this evening:) The kids were so sweet!

I can't really decide between the pics of Alex, but I will print copies of one or two to hand out this summer. Feel free to leave your opinion:)

Alex chose the background today, saying the rock she sat on was "just the right perfect" and the flowers were "pretty pieces of purple". Sounds good to me... almost enough for a Beatles song:)

I think I might crop this one in a little closer on her... I am trying to get better at manual (dramatic music plays...) Alex moved just as I snapped this one, but still cute! Okay, so the boys weren't exactly portrait ready, Mr. Cool wearing just swim trunks:) I was a little sad after I looked at them too... I mean, look! A REAL SMILE!!! Lol, I love this picture of him! We'll have to try this again... apparently "ice cream and potato chips" is the phrase I need to use:)

And here's my precious little angel! He has the sweetest smile:)

Only two more pics...

I snapped these after the pros were finished... I'm sure his is better. Actually, I know for a fact; I made him show me:) Do you ever worry about silly stuff like spending gobs of money on pictures and not liking them later? Lol, anyway, I don't have fancy lights or a soft flash, and I was only about 4 feet from her... for those photographers(even am's), you know this isn't ideal for portraits:) Either way, I managed to capture just what I wanted...

This first one is what Alex did pretty much the whole time on stage:)

And then this... her hip shake. Lol, she's a doll!

Good Ship Lollipop... A Picture Story

I just had to put this pic up:) She just had to have something pink! The rest are a picture story of Alex's dance Good Ship Lollipop. There are quite a few, but so cute! ... enjoy!

On the Good Ship Lollipop

It's a sweet trip to the candy shop

Where bon bons play

On the Sunny Beach

Of Peppermint Baaaay...

Lemonade stands everywhere

Cracker Jack bands fill the air

And there you ahhhre

Happy landing on a chocolate bar...

See the sugar bowls
To the tootsie rolls

To the big-bad-devils-food cake!!
If you eat to much, ooh ooh...
You'll awake with a tummy ache

On the Good Ship Lollipop

It's a nice trip, into bed you hop

And dream awaaaay...

On the Good Shipp LOLLIPO~~~P!