Missing: Natalie

Did you notice that Natalie was missing from all the photos?   She was at soccer practice (of course...).  

Last night was Natalie's long-awaited and much-anticipated performance at the school talent show.  She sang "You Belong with Me" by Taylor Swift and it was the cutest act in the whole show.  

For all the loud crying I do over my baby becoming a little girl -

You should hear my inner torment over my little girl becoming a young lady...

Her signature cowboy boots.

I love this country cutie.  LOVE.

Sister's biggest fans were front and center.

Mia with her wide eyes feeling so nervous for Ali that she could hardly speak..

and Eva with her free-style boogie warming the audience up.

I would never have even entertained the idea of performing on stage in front of my school as a little girl.

Or even now.

I'm so in awe of Natalie having the self-assurance and confidence to get up there

BY HERSELF

and sing!  

Better watch your back, Ms. Swift. 

Another Over-do Post

Hello!  Still here....

A long time ago, I read a post written by a good friend (who I miss, by the way) about a camera she was fantasizing about.  In no time at all, her fantasy became my fantasy and I nearly passed out when I saw the Canon Rebel t2i Kit at Costco for a killer price.  I didn't buy it.  No, I totally behaved myself.  I went home and researched some more, talked to my artistic younger sister-in-law, who is my guru for all things photography, and then presented my case to the husband. He didn't say "NO".  I was surprised.  And after a long day of clinical yesterday I came home to a box with "CANON REBEL T2i" written on it and I nearly passed out again.  What a dear, sweet, wonderful husband I have.

Today was the first day of shooting.  Here are my first attempts taken of my favorite subjects:

Iris Maria is so easy to photograph.  Everything she does is adorable.  

Chow time.

Handsome Mr. James.

Did I mention it's chow time?

My old "point and shoot" could never have managed this shot.  Can you see the potato bug?  

My "mini me".  

Potato bug fascination.

"It's nature!"

Sweet P.

I have always wanted to be able to focus on an object and have the 

background object slightly out of focus. 

 I love it!!

Look at those colors!  

 My blue-eyed girl.  

Lessons learned at the park tonight

1). Texas grass in March is full of treacherous land mines just waiting to swallow a toddler into a muddy pit and ruin her tutu.
2). Muddy, wet tutus make sliding down the slide a painfully difficult affair. I think the top layer of Mooseys backside is still on the slide.
3). Cartwheels and sidewalk don't mix.
4). Cartwheels and wood chips don't mix.
5). The fireman pole is best left to firemen. And big kids.
6). Put your phone down and play with your kids.
7). Put your phone down and say hello to the other mom.

I did #7 (and #6!) and made a new friend from South Korea. She moved into a house down the street 2 weeks ago with her 2 little boys and her American husband. She has suddenly found herself in a strange country, in a big house, far, far away from her mom and her sister and all her friends. This, I believe, is Gods way of reminding me not to take familiar things and people I love and see everyday for granted. And to put away distractions and try to do the thing you are doing really well, instead of trying to do 6 things half- tushed.

I'm glad I smiled at Yoon today. I think I'll bake her some brownies tomorrow. I do that thing really well.

Pictures are from my nephew's birthday party. Happy 6th James!! Auntie loves you.