25 FREE PRINTS

Ok last time I put an offer from Shutterfly it didn't work for everyone... But it's worth a try. Get 25 free prints from shutterfly.com with code PRINTS. Offer ends May 13th. Mine was $2.70 for shipping + tax.

Rewards of Motherhood

Moments like this...

are a beautiful reminder that despite the squabbles, the screams, and cries.. the times that you don't want to share, the times that you can't sit near each other.. that deep down you do love each other. You are buddies, you do adore each other, you do have fun together, you can be sweet to each other and share a spontaneous hug or kiss or kind word. My sweet angels. These are the moments I cherish... the moments I feel like I've done something right. And definitely the moments I want to catch on camera!

Laughter

I have tens of thousands of photos, I didn't know how I would search them all to find a good one of laughter. Luckily I was flipping through my Fall '08 Alaska Visit scrapbook and remembered this is one of my all time favorite shots of Cali. She had just finished her first 4-wheeler ride with Daddy. She had the most excited, squeal-y, giggly laugh ever! I love that I caught that excitement in this shot.


Be sure to stop by the iheartfaces blog to see all the other beautiful "Laughter" shots this week.

Happy Mother's Day

I didn't make any plans for Mother's Day this year. Ideally, a magic fairy would have come and done all my chores today and the kids would have behaved like little angels the entire day... That didn't quite happen but we all had a nice day anyway.

I decided I wanted to go shopping (and we needed dog food too) so we did a nice tour of the pet shop, then I got myself a few things at Target & Old Navy. At home I indulged in a little catnap on the couch while D napped and Cali entertained herself in her room. In the afternoon I had a nice long chat with Dave online and he got to see us on the webcam, then the kids wanted to swim. Since I was attempting to "take the day off" I joined them and we had a lot of fun pretending to be sea otters together. I got to be their mommy otter and feed them fish, teach them to swim, sing them otter lullabies and give them otter kisses and snuggles. Then they ran off to play on the otter park and the otter swings that daddy otter built. They were so happy to have me playing with them rather than worrying about all the little chores I usually do in the yard. Cali told me later that she "had so much fun playing otters together." It was a nice reminder to stop and play and enjoy their smiles and laughter, even if it means more chores to catch up on later.

Cali had a basic understanding of Mother's Day since we'd talked about it during the week at storytime. She was sweet enough to make these 3 different "cards" for me.


Diego also thought he'd be creative while I was attempting to set up my call forwarding (so Dave could reach me even if I wasn't home). He must have remembered Daddy once stamping his hand with one of my scrapbooking stamps so he helped himself to it...


He did make this cute little "map", and insisted on carrying it around with him all morning.

$1.50

That's right for only $1.50 you can invest in a new box of sidewalk chalk and you too can create a beautiful mess like this!

9 of 52

Just hanging out with Cali before her naptime, then I decided to teach her how to use the Canon Elph. She took 8 pictures of my elbow before getting a few good ones. That's her beloved Bear on my head. She's been attached to him since about 5 months old. Don't tell her, but this is actually the 3rd one (thank goodness for ebay!)


Saturday afternoon we went to an airshow. The top one I took myself and the bottom I asked a stranger to do. That would be a UH-1 "Huey" helicopter, same one our dog is named after. More airshow pics (including D looking way too comfortable in the pilot's seat) here.

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Are you the Mom who's always taking pictures and look back only to realize you aren't IN any of them? Do your kids look through photo albums and ask "Where were you Mommy?" Well, Carin over at Forever in Blue Jeans decided to change all that and challenges any one who's interested to do the same. So hand over the camera, or at least figure out the self-timer and get on the other side of the lens more often. Post your photos of you enjoying time with your family every Thursday and share the link with other Mom's by posting it on Carin's blog. You can start any time with week 1 of 52, don't worry about being "behind" just jump on in.

Hats

She happened to look up at the blog as I was checking to see this week's theme. She saw the photo by this week's guest judge and said "I have a hat like that!" Next thing I knew she had it on, and as we went out to play she put on her coat and boots too. It was 78 and sunny, but hey it gave me a good opportunity for a new "Hat" shot.

She is saying "Come on in, Mommy"

Remember to stop by the iheartfaces blog to see all the other great "Hat" entries this week.