My Best Shot

When was the last time you've seen one of these? A couple of days ago we took a short drive out to Fredericksburg for the the morning. Of course, Natalya and her horse radar found this. We didn't have any change to find out if it still worked. But cool anyway.

This is My Best Shot for today. Have a fun New Year's Eve celebration.

Happy Holidays

Thanks to everyone who visited our "home" this year. Here's to peace in 2008. (Click to enlarge.)

Welcome "home" to Tracey's Best Shot Monday. And our Disney pictures are below.

Pic of the Day

By the light of the tree.

V is feeling good and actually went back to school this week. Thanks to everyone who was concerned. We're leaving for Disney World next week so I just want everyone to be well and in a good mood. I hate flying. Yuck. Vienne want's to "do something Christmas" so we're off to the Riverwalk to see the lights.

(I posted this a couple of days ago but I'm making it My Best Shot. 'Cause I said so.)

Gingerbread in the House

Today we visited the Bear Moon Bakery. We invited our friends to join us in decorating gingerbread houses. What a wonderful way to celebrate the holiday. The wonderful owner of the bakery laid out all the goodies and set the kids a decorating. They all truly took the job seriously. They had so much fun and we went home with works or childhood art. I really hope we can do it again next year. What do you think, Jen? We'll see how long these works of art last. They are just so yummy.

Daddy helping V. When she gave him permission to help.

What fun is decorating a gingerbread house if you can't taste it? No fun at all. Cutie pie Trevor.

Good thing we didn't have to clean up! What a blast the kiddos had. This last one will be My Best Shot for today. For more festivities head over to Picture This.

'Tis the Season

Can we officially celebrate now without everyone going, "Oh, it's too early." We put our tree up last week. It just goes by way to fast. So, to those of you on on my Christmas card list, this is what you will get in the mail. Hopefully it looks just as great on paper. Lookey what I put together:

We took the girls to a creek and let them play. They had a blast. Here's a behind the scenes shot. I call it "The Croc Hunter":

I think this happened a couple of times. What a sport Daddy was. Oh, that's a pink Croc gettin' away in case you missed that.


And because I just LOVE this shot of some very adorable girls, friends of a friend. If you don't just say "Aw" then you are the Grinch.

Meet the beautiful Avery and Adelyn. Click to truly enjoy their cuteness. You should have seen how they totally destroyed those lollies about 20 minutes after they started them. Slammed them into the sidewalk. Just to see what would happen. A riot.


'Tis the season. Enjoy every moment.

My Best Shot? Hmm, what do you think? Now, off to Picture This while you ponder.

Boys Oh Boys

The other day, my friend Dawn asked me to take a few pictures of her boys. How could I say "No" with faces like these. Plus, I never get to see boys faces in my camera. Aren't they cuties?

Big brother Jackson...

...and Baby brother Harrison in all his beautiful baby chubbiness.

One of these will be My Best Shot for today. Hmmm... Which should it be? I'll decide later. More Best Shots at Picture This.

And more Shawn love... I just had to throw in her other blog that shows off her blog design work. It's all eye candy. I have a feeling she'll be staying pretty busy.

AND, I've been working on our Christmas card. Can't wait to show it to you. Soon.

AND AND I can't believe Stacy is giving away one of her one of a kind custom made creations to one winner. I want it to be me so don't enter. I love her work.

AND, in the spirit of Stacy's giving, I've decided to have my own First Blog Give Away. If you have girls in your life, come back tomorrow for details. You won't be disappointed at the cuteness.

To Be...

...Young, carefree, uninhibited, naive, independent, imaginative, loved. To be V.

This is My Best Shot for today. Come on, give us yours at Picture This.

Imagination

They were pretending to be fairies. This is My Best Shot for today. Fly on over to Picture This for more.

Like Mother Like Daughter

When I was little I was terrified of pulling my teeth out. When one got loose, I would let it hang there until it almost slid right off. My permanent teeth would grow under the loose teeth every time. I get the creeps just thinking about it. I can't blame the girls if they turn out to be the same way. Natalya's top front tooth has been loose for a long time. If she wanted to, she could probably pull it out today. But she won't. We'll see how long it hangs on.

You can see there's a gap there. That's because the tooth is so loose that it is now sitting a little crooked.

This is My Best Shot for today. Ain't she pretty? Tracy has more at Picture This.

And, I finished Halloween costumes today! What a load off. And sewing fur ain't fun. I just need to gather the accessories this week. Here is just a peek at one of them. You don't get to see the whole thing until I get a pic of the girls wearing them. Just think "Groovy Ghouls". And if anyone knows where I can buy striped tights, please let me know. It's too late to order them online.

Pumpkin Patch

Yesterday we visited the Love Creek Orchards annual pumpkin patch. We've been going there for years. Last year we wore jackets and long sleeves. This year it was a warm 90 degrees. We always have so much fun there and the girls really look forward to it.

Natalya's obsession with horses started before she was two. She's delirious when she gets to ride a horse. Hence, the obligatory pony ride at the patch.

And I guess when Natalya eventually gets a horse Vienne may want one, too.

The girls also got to hold baby chicks...

...eat carmel apples...

...paint pumpkins...

...and get their faces painted.

I will post more from this set through the week because I just took so many. This one is My Best Shot for today. Sure I'll be seeing more pumpkin patch pictures at Tracey's Picture This.

Oh, and I get nothing from this but Photoworks is having a photo contest that could win you a Nikon D40. I don't use Nikon but I'm sure it would be a great camera to win. They have a few categories that you can enter so you might want to check it out. But then again, if you don't enter then it will increase my chances of winning so... hmm... forget I said anything. Where's that delete button...

Happy Monday

This was Natalya's serious face. I just love it. I have been practicing more with Stacey's "eye pop" tutorial. What a difference it makes. This is My Best Shot. Heading over to Picture This.

Pattin' Myself on the Back

I'm still learning the flare thing but I think I did pretty good on this one. I got low to take this and happened to see the sun through the trees. I crossed my fingers and clicked. Not bad, eh? Then I chose to over expose a little and added a touch of grain. I chose this as My Best Shot. Now I'm going over to Picture This to see other amazing shots.

My Best Shot

Follow the leader to Picture This for more Best Shot's this Monday.

Happy Labor Day

Hope no one is working on Labor Day and that you are out celebrating in some wonderful way (or just doing nothing). It's raining here this morning so that may put a damper on our plans. Have a fun day!

This was taken at the parade this weekend. To see more go here. This is My Best Shot. There's no homework at Picture This today.

7 Days and Counting

I just realized that this is our last week of sleeping in! The girls start school next Monday. Of course, sleeping in for us is only 7:30 but still. I can't believe how many things change with just one event.

These are the books that I am reading to V to get her ready for school: How Do Dinosaurs Play With Their Friends by J. Yolen and M. Teague; If You Take a Mouse to School by Laura Numeroff; The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn; Dora Goes to School by Leslie Valdez; Brown Bear Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Eric Carle. Any other recommendations?

This will be My Best Shot for today. Been to Picture This lately?

OH! And I just had to mention that I entered this picture in the Photoworks Dog Photo Contest and I won 1st place! Enter your cute dog in this month's contest and you too may win a $100 gift certificate.

Manic Monday

Busy day today. My mom is off of work today so I get to leave the girls with grandma while I run a few errands. The girls loath the fabric store (so did I when I was little) so I get to go in peace. Anyone else preparing for Halloween costumes already? I feel like I need to do a million things today. We'll see what gets done.

Here's My Best Shot for this Monday. Check out what everyone has for today at Picture This.

Saturday Afternoon Post

This morning Maile was in our little town again for another shoot. So I met her to pick up Vienne's portraits from our session. It was like Christmas. I opened the bow, then the paper, and there was my beautiful girl's face captured just as I know it. The book that she created was amazing. I may just have to carry it around with me for a couple of weeks to share it with any stranger who's willing to give me a few minutes.

Afterwards, the girls and I roamed Main Street for awhile. Trying to figure out why I always have so many pictures of Vienne and less of Natalya, I realized that when Natalya is done with me pointing the camera at her, she starts making funny faces. Here ducky, ducky.

(The "bottom" one will be My Best Shot. Whatcha got?)

Duck!

Duck sits all alone.
Days pass as it rains and rains.
Come inside wet duck.

My Best Shot Monday (but not my best haiku.) Check out Tracey's Picture This for more best shots.

Hangin' With the Homies

The other night we met some wonderful friends for dinner and a swimming. The girls had a fabulous time. But the water was so cold because it really has not warmed up to Texas hot due to all of the rain. We lucked out though. We had a clear evening and dodged the rain. For now. It did come back.

"Should it be a cannonball or a jackknife?"

Vienne with 3 of her favorite friends taking in some evening sun.Sunset by the pool. This will be My Best Shot for today. Check out what everyone has to offer.

The Eyes Have It

I think a gift we were given as moms is that we can often tell a lot about our children by looking at their eyes. When they are telling the truth, when they are frustrated, when they are not really listening, when they are proud of an accomplishment, or when they are not feeling well, it all seems to come right from the eyes. While we were in Cali, Natalya got a unexplained fever of 103. It all came and went within 24 hours but she did not want to be sick. Too many fun things planned and she knew she'd be missing out. But I knew she wasn't feeling well because her eyes looked so tired and droopy. So, as though as she is, she stuck it out with a smile on her face and blue bags under her eyes. And, as it often happens with Natalya, all of a sudden it was gone and she was back to her usual perky self. This is My Best Shot Monday. Come see what others have contributed at Picture This.