I’m so far behind. . . I think I’m ahead!

So many goings-on and so little time!  I have the time to take the pictures, but don’t carve out the time to edit them, put them on the blog or write about them, and now I just want to skip ahead to the “and to top it all off” story, but that would be unfair to my 4 faithful readers and I wouldn’t get to showcase nearly enough pictures! So. . . .here is the Reader’s Digest version of the last 2 months!

First, there was the week Daddy spent in New Mexico for work.  He traveled to The Lodge at Chama (in Chama, NM) and a couple other  nearby spots to meet with several elk breeding operations that use Record Rack (Cargill’s Elk and Deer Game Feed).  Here are a couple pictures for you big game hunters out there.

 

And for those of you who don’t hunt big game, but are married to those who do, this picture is for you!

This is the lodge at Chama, where you can relax, read, knit, nosh, or snooze to your heart’s content while your guy is out bagging game or hooking trout .  Not too shabby!

 

While Daddy was away, we busied ourselves at home, counting the days until his return and hanging out with Nonni and Pop.

NEXT, Daddy came back (He ALWAYS comes back) and we took a family adventure to Arbuckle Wilderness, a ride-thru wilderness and wildlife park where you can feed the animals from your car (read: the camels will climb in your window with you!)  If you don’t believe me, check out the photos below!

I also got to feed the giraffes from the other side of the car, but Jason was too busy trying to keep V from climbing out my window to take any pictures!  

We also took in a little thoroughbred horse racing this Labor Day.  There was a big to-do out at Remington Park (bounce houses, 1$ hot dogs, live music, face painting, etc) and we took Vaughn to see the horses.  He was so busy running from fence post to fence post looking at the big green tractors and all the beautiful horses, I was only able to get one picture, but it did turn out pretty cute!  He and dad enjoyed the good eats!

Finally, in the last couple of months my son has discovered a few new favorite activities: 

Paying the Bills

and

Dressing Up like a Cowboy

Oh. . . and did I mention he had his first dentist appointment?   He handled it like a champ and we got his first (of many, I hope!) no cavity reports!

So, I think you are all caught up now. . . more on “to top it all off” tomorrow!

Practice makes Perfect. . .

. . . or at least it makes you aware of what you need to keep working on.  And while I still have a long way to go getting to know my camera, (someday I hope it is all just an extension of my arm!)  I am really having fun practicing.  One of the most fun things to do (for me, anyway) is to frame the picture in a less than predictable way.  Here are a few of my favorite pics from a recent backyard “photo shoot”.  Thanks to Aunt Missy for the great Curious George umbrella prop!

Don’t you love how it looks like he doesn’t even know I’m there?

There doesn’t ALWAYS have to be a smile centered in the frame.  I will treasure these little feet forever!

Again, just a different perspective.

  I can hear the familiar music. . . “Just Singin’ in the Rain!”  This is our nod to Gene Kelly!

I have also been taking a few close-up shots and FOOD is one of my favorite subjects – It doesn’t wiggle NEARLY as much as my son does!!  BTW -These blueberry muffins were delicious!

Playing at Church with Friends

Ok, technically, it's called Parents Day Out, and most of the teachers there (of which I am one - in the 4-5 year old class) call it "school" but I cannot bring myself to say that Vaughn, my baby, is in "SCHOOL" just yet. . .so we are currently calling our "outings" that last from 9-2 on Tuesdays and Thursdays "Playing at Church with Friends". Here is a picture of our big boy on his first day. He informed me, prior to the picture, that he needed to sit down because his backpack was too heavy, and he could not hold his lunchbox for the picture because it was too full of food. He has since developed the muscle strength and coordination necessary to handle BOTH bags at once. I am so proud!

(BTW . . . that is Lucky Louie - a bobble head doll from the horse races we went to on Labor Day - in Vaughn's hand. The two have been virtually inseperable since we brought Louie (a giveaway) home from the racetrack!)