Frame A Day '12: Week 34: 8/19-25

August 19--Just Chillin'--We did a lot of relaxing this weekend.  It may look like my kids are in a closet watching TV, but it's really the crawl space in the boys' room that we've converted to their own playspace.  They love retreating there to watch a show of their own choosing, or to have a "sleepover".  It's actually quite cozy.

 August 20--Witch Day Is It?--So what if it's August?  It's never too early to get a jump on Halloween witches, no?

 August 21--BFF--Trust's friend slept over and they tried out their artistry with some chalk self-portraits on the driveway.

 August 22--Limbo Like Me--We went to the library for a dance party.  The kids had fun dancing to all different dances, including the limbo finale.  Imp's expression here just makes me smile.

August 23--Lazy Daze of Summer--Trust enjoys a relaxing read on the hammock.

 August 24--En Garde!--We met up with my sister and the kids at a fair.  The highlight for everyone was the balloon creations.  Ninja Imp  challenged his fellow ninja cousin to a dual.  The outcome was fun for all.

August 25--Apple of My Eye--We went to an evening viewing of the Lorax at a local park.  Prior to the show, there was face painting for the kids.  Trust always manages to come up with something different to challenge the painters.  In honor of the impending start of school, we have an apple.

Frame A Day '12: Week 33--8/12-18

August 12--Wedding Channel Next Generation--I met a friend 10 years ago online, when we were both planning our October 13th weddings. In the ensuing years, we have probably managed to see one another a half dozen times, despite living very many miles apart. In August, she often travels nearby for a work conference. When she has done this in past years, we have tried to get together on her way back home if our schedules can mesh up. This year, she brought her 7 year old daughter for the first time. After a brunch at our house, the girls had fun presenting a fashion show, doing a craft, and playing the Wii.

 August 13--Skating Friends--This summer, Trust and her friend were the only two skaters in the gamma/delta class at the ice rink.  We joked that it was almost like having a private lesson.  The girls enjoyed seeing one another every week and skating together.  I really wanted a picture of the two girls skating during the lesson.  I should not have waited until the last night, as they were down a teacher (the teacher in the photo is not their regular teacher) and tonight was the test.  I was stuck shooting behind the scratched glass (hence the dark line going through Trust's friend and the reflections across all of their midsections).  Ah, well.

 August 14--Taking the Plunge--Imp and I went to my cousin's house today to swim in the pool.  Imp was itching to try out the diving board, and right before we left, he had his chance.  For better or worse, my kid has no fear.

August 15--Drive My Car--The kids have recently rediscovered the Wii. Although Mario Kart was difficult for Imp a few months ago, he has quickly gotten the hang of it.

 August 16--The Future Imp--These photos appear to me maybe once every few years, where my kid's expression just seems older than their current years.  In something as simple as painting, I can catch a glimpse of a Imp-to-be, one that is well past four years old.

August 17--Lend Me Your Ears--Another free Friday night at the museum. Trust had fun being heard in the recording studio.

 August 18--Swing Your Partners--With the rainy weather for most of the day, the kids had a few dance parties.  Before bed, they had a few more rounds.  This was the big finale to "Drive By", one of Earnest's favorite songs.

Frame A Day '12: Week 32--8/5-8/11

August 5--Keeping Cool...-...in our own backyard.  We had a relatively quiet Sunday, where we stayed put and the kids had fun with the inflatable pool with built-in sprinkler.

August 6--Puppet Master--Imp and I went to the library today for a few short movies.  This library has a castle-shaped puppet theater, which Imp enjoyed immensely as well.

 August 7--Guess Who--Meet Batman, Rainbow Girl and Tiger.  We all went to the library's End of Summer (?) ice cream celebration, where we had ice cream with rainbow and chocolate sprinkles and were transformed into the trio pictured here.

 August 8--Alien Invasion--Earnest has rediscovered these snap cubes and has had fun making things like this alien.

 August 9--Twinkle, Twinkle--...reading star.  At the library, the kids get to write their name on a star for every five books they read during the summer.  Although we read every day, today was the first time that Imp added his name to the stars in the "sky".

 August 10--Happy Birthday, Nana--Today would have been my grandmother's 92nd birthday.  This hydrangea was from the basket of flowers we sent for her funeral.  I was given some of the flowers and plants to take home.  It has grown quite a bit in the five years since we planted it, and I love that it's always blooming quite beautifully around her birthday.  Since it's right on the path which leads into our house, I notice it every time we come and go.

 August 11--B-10--Every once in awhile, the kids pull out the Bingo game.  They don't necessarily play the game, but have fun calling out the numbers.

Frame A Day '12: Week 31--7/29-8/4

July 29--Five Hour Roller Coaster--Earnest drew us his rendition of a "five hour roller coaster" today. It was quite twisty and turny and the thought of it really being a coaster put butterflies in my stomach.

 July 30--This is not the actual photo for the day, but this is one taken of Trust on a Mom and Daughter day out to a place that really interested Trust.  Conveniently, it was also a place I had always wanted to visit but never had.  This photo was taken around noon, so not the best light.

July 31--Bubble Blast--I took the kids to see this bubble master, who created marvelous bubbles to entertain and amaze us for an hour.

*August 1--A Day out with a Cousin--My sister and I took the kids (sans my nephew) for a quick little hike and then out for lunch.  It was fun for the kids to see their cousin, as it has been awhile.  The summer is flying by!

 August 2--Summertime Stories--The library had a pajama story time tonight.  The theme was 'summer fun'.  Clad in PJs, my kids went and danced with maracas, shook their sillies out, listened to many stories about the beach, and did a craft.  There was a small group, so Trust and Earnest were both feeling brave. Trust  volunteered to read one of the stories, and even Earnest read a few lines of one of the books to the group.

August 3--A Day Out with a Friend--The kids and I had lunch with a friend of mine from work.  She does not have kids of her own, so she is always so nice to mine.  After lunch, we made an unplanned stop at a sprayground, where the kids played in the water and had tons of fun, despite not having bathing suits.

 August 4--Two Wheelin'--Look who learned how to ride sans training wheels yesterday!  Chretien took Earnest over to the track at the middle school and in no time at all, he was good to go.  Earnest was so excited about this accomplishment that he could not wait to try it again today, even in the 90 degree heat.

Best Photo for July

It's that time again! The Best Photo for July contest over at "I Clicked it Up a Notch" is here.

I missed the June contest, since I was away for the last two weeks of June.  Not only was I away, but I didn't have internet connection for a big chunk of that time.  I have to say, it was nice to have a break for a few days...just like 'olden' days.  ;-)

Anyway, my photo for July is this one of my younger son: