This week was equally busy and lazy. We had the best weekend I think we’ve ever had… I mean Sunday was perfect. Curtis and I got up and hopped in the pool around 10 a.m., then Dominic joined us. We got out around noon, had lunch, a family nap, then got back into the pool around 4 and swam for a couple more hours. It was divine. I even got Anna to get in! Curtis left for Minneapolis Tuesday morning and won’t be home until Friday night, and my mom was still gone all week too… but she got home Thursday night (which is why my blog is a day late getting posted) and we were all so excited to see her!
Day 218 ~ Fire in the Sky
The fire bush is blooming like crazy. I’ve been trying to capture these tiny ants that run in and out of the open blossoms, but they are so fast and so tiny, it’s hard to focus on them. I like this image though… the juxtaposition of the red bloom against the blue sky with the green leaves and the white cloud in the background. It’s very primary and vibrant.
Nikon D750 | 105mm | f/10 | 1/400 | ISO 200
Day 218 ~ Outgrown
I spied something low in the fire bush… it was an empty cicada shell. I find it fascinating to watch them discard their old skin. The cicadas have been so loud this summer. Every year I think they get more abundant and louder, but they are truly cacophonous this year.
Nikon D750 | 105mm | f/6.3 | 1/320 | ISO 200
Day 219 ~ New Friends
When Dominic attended the New Braunfels Makerspace camp, he met a girl named Leyna. They really hit it off and exchanged numbers and have been texting. Dominic and I met Leyna and her family at the park last week and had a picnic. They invited to their home Saturday night to watch a movie. Rory, Leyna’s dad, built a huge outdoor movie screen and they have these awesome drive-in movie theater speakers mounted next to the screen. We watched an old black and white French film that was actually very funny. Anna even stayed outside and watched the whole thing. The best part, besides hearing Anna belly laugh at Wile E. Coyote and Roadrunner cartoons, was seeing Dominic be so charming to his new friend and making new friends for us too.
Nikon D750 | 35mm | f/2 | 1/200 | ISO 1250
Day 220 ~ Toasting Tootsies
Sunday was our day in the pool. It was the most relaxing and fun day I can remember in a month of Sundays! We hopped in and out all day. While the rest of the family took a nap in the afternoon, I lounged outside and worked on my foot tan.
Nikon D750 | 105mm | f/5.6 | 1/320 | ISO 200
Day 221 ~ Don’t Be Afraid
We went out to eat Monday night before Curtis left for Minneapolis and had froyo for dessert. Orange Leaf is good, but nothing compares to Front Porch in Round Rock. Hi Lynn! I thought this Don’t Be Afraid poster was cute and snapped a pic of Dominic sitting under it. If you look closely, you can see Curtis shadow-bombing the background by doing a muscle pose. Ha!
Nikon D750 | 35mm | f/2 | 1/320 | ISO 400
Day 222 ~ Happy 6 Months!
Cooper turned six months old on Tuesday! He is a very sweet bird and we are happy to have him as part of our family. I haven’t gotten to spend as much time with him this last week or so since mom has been gone and Anna’s been home from summer school, but we are going to start working on some tricks soon. Anna and I took him to the vet last week to get his wing trimmed (he had been flying further and further each day)… he wasn’t a fan but he’s been super affectionate ever since.
Nikon D750 | 35mm | f/2.5 | 1/200 | ISO 400
Day 222 ~ She’d Rather DS
I talked the kids into swimming a little on Tuesday, but Anna had to be bribed. When she was little, I couldn’t keep her out of water. Seriously, she would see a puddle on the ground and she’d be drawn to it like a moth to a flame. One of the reasons we bought this house was because of the pool (and the awesome guest house for my mom), but Anna hasn’t wanted to swim much since we moved in. She agreed to swim for 45 minutes, then she would get out and play her DS. Guess what she preferred?
Nikon D750 | 35mm | f/2 | 1/320 | ISO 50
Day 222 ~ Splish Splash
Curtis taught Dominic how to dive down to the bottom of the pool to get toys and he really took to it. I am really proud of how Dominic is taking more risks and trying new things lately. All of this exercise and sunshine has made him sprout though! He has completely outgrown every single thing he owns and I need to replace his wardrobe before school starts.
Nikon D750 | 35mm | f/4 | 1/640 | ISO 50
Day 223 ~ Intense
Since Nana and Daddy were out of town, the kids and I decided to drive up to Hutto to spend some time with Jenny and Chris. They have two cats, Luna (the female orange one), and Kronk, this male black one. They both have such different, but huge, personalities. Kronk likes to play while Luna likes to cuddle. Dominic took off his tennies and Kronk came to investigate the delicious smells coming from Dominic’s socks. Then Kronk hung out on the floor by the couch for the longest time. Aren’t his eyes gorgeous?
Nikon D750 | 85mm | f/1.8 | 1/160 | ISO 3200
Day 223 ~ Cat Baby
Jenny says that Luna prefers Chris which he then demonstrated by flipping Luna on her back and laying her in his lap. She’s like a baby… looking up at her daddy with an adoring gaze. Chris can pretty much do anything with Luna and she doesn’t mind. She’s a stunning feline specimen.
Nikon D750 | 85mm | f/1.8 | 1/160 | ISO 3200
Day 223 ~ Those Eyes
While Dominic played the new Ratchet and Clank game on their PS4, Chris played with Luna, Anna played on her DS, and Jenny and I chatted while I played with her hair. Even though she is turning 25 this year (WTH? how did that happen?!?), she’s still my baby. Her eyes still stop me in my tracks. She is so beautiful.
Nikon D750 | 85mm | f/2 | 1/250 | ISO 2000
Day 223 ~ He Loves His Sister
Jenny and Dominic are 12 years apart but are very, very close… mainly because they are the same person. They like the same things, they read the same books, they even like and dislike similar foods! I love seeing them together and know in my heart, should anything happen to me and Curtis, these two will be there to take care of each other and take care of Anna. I sure wish they lived closer though.
Nikon D750 | 85mm | f/2.5 | 1/250 | ISO 1250
Day 224 ~ Is That Her?
Finally it was Thursday. Twelve days may be the longest my children have ever been apart from my mom. We had a super busy day getting ready to welcome Nana home. Dominic spearheaded the welcome home poster which said, “You are the tape that holds us together” along with a tape dispenser, and “You are the glue of our family” with a glue bottle. He is so cute. We got to the airport early and waited at the bottom of the escalator for Nana. Is that her? Is that her? Nope, nope. Where is she? Turns out, we were in the wrong terminal. Ugh!
Nikon D750 | 85mm | f/2.8 | 1/250 | ISO 1000
Day 224 ~ Welcome Home, Nana!
Reunited! Both children cried as they wrapped themselves around Nana. She loved the poster and was so happy we had come in to the airport to greet her. I was so sad we missed seeing her come down the escalator but it was still a very happy reunion. We took her out for Tex-Mex (nothing good up in PA!), then went home and let the menagerie attack her. Cricket was especially happy to see her mommy. We love Nana so much and are so happy to have her home. <3
Nikon D750 | 85mm | f/2.5 | 1/250 | ISO 1600
Thanks for looking! Everyone stay cool out there, it’s incredibly hot right now. Next week will be a visit to the kids’ psychiatrist in Austin, my birthday, and back to school shopping. Love you all!
