I did this for my "homework" in my Layer mask class at
www.scrapgirls.com. The kit I used is a freebie from that
site called Refresh. If you haven't seen it you should check it out. Freebie kits are a great way to try digital scrapbooking
and this one really goes above & beyond!

I loved these pictures of Cameron & Noah playing over Memorial
Day weekend. They had such a good time together! Even though
there's no actual relationship, it's almost as if they are cousins with
the long standing friendships in our families.

Photography Class Weeks 1 & 2

I've been taking an online photography over at www.jessicasprague.com in an attempt to learn how to use my new Canon Rebel XTi beyond the "auto" mode. Week 1 was shutter speed. My assignment was to take pictures of motion. One using a fast shutter to freeze the motion, and another using a slow shutter to freeze. These were my pictures.


Fast shutter


Slow Shutter

Thankfully Jordan was a willing participant in my quest for motion. (don't you just love the look on her face??!)

Week 2 is Apeture. I had to take 2 pictures showing opened & closed apeture. This time I left my kids out of it & went to my garden.


I assume *gulp* combining the two is coming next???

We spent a quiet 4th of July at a family friends house. My in laws always drive down from Massachusetts to visit with these friends, who they've known for 25 years or more. They split the time they're in town between our two houses. It's really the best of two worlds for them.

In years past, the 4th has been a big family & friends celebration but in recent years the participants have branched off to "bigger and better things" This year, it was the four of us, my in-laws and their friends the Henderson's who were our hosts. They had one granddaughter staying with them because her parents were with her sister at some big softball tournament out of town. We did the typical hamburgers & hotdogs BBQ and spent a nice quiet day catching up.

We left in time to watch fireworks and spent 2 hours sitting in a parking lot, watching the approaching lightning until we finally gave up and went home. Unfortunately because of the storm they had to postpone the event until Saturday night. What a drag! The highlight of the night was watching a fox come out to do her nightly prowl. After a few minutes of watching her, more people started showing up & she went back in to hiding

Cameron had some friends over last week to play. The kids all had fun splashing in the blow up pool and playing in the sprinkler we call "Mount Wanna Hock a Loogie". I pulled the little picnic table over to the pool so they could jump from it. I think that's 99% of the fun - launching yourself in to less than a foot of water, in to a blow up pool (feet first only please!). The surface of the table does get a little slick when wet. I should look for some of that "no skid" stuff they use in the Navy! lol

The main picture I used of the boy jumping, was one I used in a homework assignment for a layer masks class I'm taking online. I created the blur you see on him. Not very interesting, but I'm learning something new - which is always good!

Just another day in the backyard.

Cameron graduated from Preschool on May 22,2008. The kids put on a performance & sang lots of patriotic songs, then the teachers handed out diplomas. The ceremony was simply wonderful. Cameron's voice could be heard singing loud and clear! Her confidence sure made me proud. She's grown so much socially since we started at Messiah 2 years ago. I am so thankful for the wonderful staff and all of the friends she made there. Although the graduation was a happy event, part of me is sad to close that chapter of Cameron's life as we move on to Kindergarten in the fall.