Gosh, it’s been a BUSY week! I’m pooped and so are the kids. Curtis has been working SO hard, he needs a real vacation. But I had a lot of proud mom moments… check it out!
Day 113 ~ Happy Biking
I’m doing my best to keep Anna’s physical therapy going at home. Want to watch the iPad? You have to bike while you are watching. She was all smiles last Friday. 🙂 Pssst… notice those great photos on the wall? My aunt Beanie when she was a Girl Scout and Big Rick as a young man. <3
Nikon D750 | 35mm | f/2 | 1/160 | ISO 1000
Day 114 ~ Haircut with Heather
I love Heather Hudson! I found her by cold calling salons when we first moved to New Braunfels and asked if anyone worked with kids and if they had experience with special needs (for Anna). And I found Heather. She is awesome and I’m so happy for her that she’s gone into business on her own. Dominic is looking spiffy after his cut!
Nikon D750 | 35mm | f/2 | 1/160 | ISO 1000
Day 114 ~ Wimberley
We went out to dinner with the Swansons, our friends across the street. We went to Wimberley and enjoyed a delicious dinner at the Cypress Creek Cafe. After dinner, we strolled around and enjoyed the sights. We have to go back when all the shops are open! Everything closes early on Saturday there.
Nikon D750 | 35mm | f/2.2 | 1/250 | ISO 640
Day 114 ~ Cypress Creek
This is Cypress Creek in Wimberley which runs into the Blanco River further south. Both this creek and the river flooded very badly last Memorial Day and Halloween. The Memorial Day flood took 12 lives here in Wimberley. It’s hard to process something so beautiful can turn so deadly so quickly. Flash floods are no joke.
Nikon D750 | 35mm | f/2.2 | 1/250 | ISO 640
Day 115 ~ Jungle Book
Sunday we took the kids to see Jungle Book in 3D at the Alamo Drafthouse. The theater was already quite dark when we arrived, so the quality of this photo isn’t very good. But Anna was so excited to be out at the movies, I had to capture her sweet face. Her assessment of the movie? She didn’t like it. It was too scary for her, too much adventure. The rest of us liked it though! Especially hearing Christopher Walken’s voice!
Nikon D750 | 35mm | f/1.4 | 1/160 | ISO 8000
Day 116 ~ Ready to Rank Up
Monday was the Spring Court of Honor for Dominic’s Boy Scout Troop.
Nikon D750 | 35mm | f/1.4 | 1/160 | ISO 800
Day 116 ~ Nana and Anna Tickles and Giggles
Anna was anxious waiting for the event to start and anticipating a baby (Wolfgang) to arrive (which he never did come). Mom was able to distract her with some tickles and giggles. They are soooo cute! Anna is a little out of focus but that child would not stop moving. 🙂
Nikon D750 | 35mm | f/1.8 | 1/160 | ISO 3600
Day 116 ~ My Mom is So Pretty
She looks damn fine, doesn’t she?
Nikon D750 | 35mm | f/2.2 | 1/200 | ISO 800
Day 116 ~ Proud Moment
Dominic and Curtis worked sooooo hard this past 6 months. Dominic ranked up not once, but twice, earning his 2nd Class and 1st Class. He also earned the following merit badges: Citizenship in the Community, Art, Animation, Chess, Communications, Dog Care, Environmental Science, Public Speaking, Mammal Study, Personal Management, Photography, First Aid, and Forestry. WOW! And that’s not all…
Dominic was also elected Assistant Patrol Leader for his Longhorn Patrol (he will be bossing around kids older than him, ha!) and Historian for the Troop. Knocking my socks off.
Nikon D750 | 35mm | f/2.2 | 1/160 | ISO 1000
Day 117 ~ Cactus Bloom
Tuesday brought some space to breathe so I went out in the yard to find the blooming cactus that mom told me about. I didn’t realize cactus blooms were so pretty!
Nikon D750 | 105mm | f/7.1 | 1/500 | ISO 400
Day 117 ~ Thorns and Blooms
I love the juxtaposition of the spiny cactus thorns against the soft petal blossoms. Nature is so incredibly beautiful.
Nikon D750 | 105mm | f/7.1 | 1/500 | ISO 400
Day 117 ~ Mesquite Tree Burl
I spied some yellow moss growing on the mesquite tree then noticed these protrusions growing out of the trunk… they are called burls. They are velvety soft to the touch.
Nikon D750 | 105mm | f/7.1 | 1/500 | ISO 400
Day 118 ~ She’s a STAR
Comal ISD doesn’t have a Special Olympics program, but they do offer the STAR Program (Specialized Training in Athletics and Recreation)… four weeks of bowling in the fall and four weeks of track-and-field in the spring. Anna was excited to try track and field. They only had one practice, the other two were rained out, then the competition this week. Here is Anna coming in with the other student from her school. Isn’t she adorable?
Nikon D750 | 85mm | f/5 | 1/500 | ISO 50
Day 118 ~ Why Fit In…
Why fit in when you were born to STANDOUT! I love that!!! There were so many volunteers to help our special students… easily a 3:1 ratio. It was so affirming. Anna is on the far right watching the color guard present the flag.
Nikon D750 | 35mm | f/5 | 1/500 | ISO 50
Day 118 ~ Anna Running the 50m Dash
Bonus Movie! Here is Anna running the 50m dash… she’s in red in the row closest to the bleachers… ready to see how she did???
Day 118 ~ Hot and Tired
It was so sunny and hot out that mom got woozy in the stands, so I made her go down and sit in the shade after Anna finished running. I also went out and got Anna’s flip flops for mom to wear and grabbed mom’s extra umbrella for Anna (I was already using mine to shield the sun). We weren’t sure when and where Anna was competing. The event started with the 100m dash, then the 50m dash, and on down. There were stations all around the stadium for javelin, shot put, long jump, standing long jump, and a couple of others. Here Anna is waiting to do the long jump, she has mom’s umbrella and is holding on to her student aide for dear life!
Nikon D750 | 35mm | f/5 | 1/500 | ISO 50
Day 118 ~ Proud
She got her trophy for her first place finish in the 50m dash. She was very proud of herself and so were we!!!
Nikon D750 | 35mm | f/5 | 1/500 | ISO 50
Day 118 ~ Checking Out Her Trophy
After posing for a photo, Anna had to check out her bounty… I was so proud I could bust. She didn’t do well in the other events (though we didn’t get scores, I’m just going from what I saw!) but it didn’t matter one bit how any single kiddo did… we all had a good time and that’s that matters. We got to take her out to eat then home.
Nikon D750 | 35mm | f/5 | 1/500 | ISO 50
Day 119 ~ Freshly Groomed
Mom took Cricket to get groomed today and she looks so sweet. She’s an elderly dog and we don’t know her history. Mom’s been trying to groom her on her own for a while but felt she needed a professional cut. Cricket looks great!
Nikon D750 | 35mm | f/2.8 | 1/250 | ISO 100
Day 119 ~ Cute Cricket
She really is soooo cute!!!
Nikon D750 | 35mm | f/2.8 | 1/250 | ISO 100
Thanks for looking! I hope everyone is enjoying life in whatever neck of the woods you are residing. <3
