vacation time!!!

It's going to happen. It's really going to happen. Steve and I are going on a vacation. Just the two of us. I have arranged for Wyatt to stay with my mom and my sister. I have booked our vacation. Where are we going? We are going on a cruise. I am sooo excited. I have always wanted to take a cruise. Ever since I was a little girl and watched Love Boat on tv. It's a short cruise, but that's fine. We will have one stop, Cozumel, Mexico. We are going to see Mayan Ruins. I am really excited about that. I have always been fascinated with ancient civilizations and how people before us lived.

Now I just need to buy some decent clothes. (I dont' think tee shirts and shorts with holes in them are going to work on this vacation.) I need to get a passport. (Hopefully this will be done in time.. may have to rush it through). I need to pack. (well I only have 36 days to plan what to take.) I need to gather some reading material. (Two paperbacks and 3 magazines should be enough.) Make a list.. check it twice... get excited.. wait..I am already excited.

I am taking my camera. I want to get some pictures at the ruins. OOHH I need to go and finish reading the field guide book. THIS MUST BE DONE!!!

oh me oh my... I can't wait.

Dreams really do come true!

Summer is proof for teachers that dreams really do come true. I am happy that summer is here. I want to spend my days doing ordinary routine things like cleaning, and grocery shopping. Cleaning, sounds weird huh? But during the summer, it is easier to keep it clean with little effort on my part. Then I can have time to do things I want to do. My plans for the summer include: hanging out in the pool, reading lots of good books, creating layouts for my scrapbook, and taking pictures with my camera.

Summer Fun

There is just something about summer, sprinklers, and kids that just go hand in hand. Steve wanted to water the grass this evening. Wyatt wanted to play in the sprinklers. I HAD to take pictures. It's only natural. I love this shot of Wyatt at play. Head back, mouth open to catch the water, and laughing like a hyena. I remember doing the same exact thing growing up. It's good to know that somethings just never change. So what if he had on clean clothes, and it was getting late. SOmetimes you just have to let them have Summer Fun.

a day at the zoo:

I needed to get out of the house. I wanted to play with my camera. I wanted to go to the zoo. However, Steve and Wyatt wanted to stay at home. Solution: I went to the zoo all by my self. I seldom go anywhere by myself. Well, not counting work or grocery shopping. I was surprised when I found myself actually enjoying the day. I could walk at my own pace. I could stop and sit and just enjoy the view. I could wait until I was able to set up and take the perfect shot. I was able to relax. Some of the pictures that I took didn't come out so well. I'm okay with that. Not every photo will be perfect. It's a learning process. I have to stop and remember that I have only seriously been taking photos for about 1 month now. It takes time. I can live with that. That means more days to be alone and relax. These are two of my favorite shots of the day.

I never get to go and look at the parrots. Wyatt thinks that they are boring. I think that they are beautiful. I stood at the different bird cages for a long time admiring their beautiful colors. It was very shady in that area. Shady means cooler. Shady also means hard to take photos. So this one is very special to me.

The alligators are usually under the water or facing the wrong way. I was lucky that this guy was up near the front and "smiling" for the camera. It looks like I was right there in the cage with him. But there were two fences between us. They are low fences, so I was able to get a good clear shot of this guy.

While I was walking around the zoo, I noticed myself looking at the landscape more carefully. There are lots of areas that are shady and so pretty to just look at. I found myself trying to capture the feeling of peace and tranquilty that they portray to me. This is one of the areas that leads to the "behind the scenes areas" Not really important, but so peaceful feeling. I would love to put a blanket in the shade, and sit and read a book.

Favorite pastime

I love how Wyatt can entertain himself when he is playing at home. HIs favorite pastime is spent playing with his cars and trucks. When he saw this "MegaRigz" toy advertised on tv, he went nuts. Apparently it is some kind of construction machine, that comes in pieces, and can be put together in different configurations to make 12+ different construction machines. He only asked once if he could have it. He never really asks for toys that often. Candy, yes. Snacks, yes. Ice cream, yes. Toys, not often. His dad and I made a deal with him. IF he would keep his room clean, do his chores, and work on following all of the rules, we would buy him this much coveted toy. We waited until Steve had to take a week long business trip. Wyatt worked so hard that week, to do everything just right. He kept his room clean. Not spotless, but clean enough. He kept his clothes in the laundry hamper, instead of on the floor. I had to remind him, but he picked them up quickly. He cleared his spot at the table every night. He slept in his room, alone, all night for the whole week. When Steve came home, Wyatt couldn't wait to show him what a "big, responsible" boy he was. When we went to run errands that day, we made a stop at Toys R us. Wyatt was told that he could pick out one toy (we put a price limit on it). He walked straight to the MegaRigz and said "Okay, lets check out now." Every night, he plays with cars and trucks of some type: construction, nascar, trucks, monster trucks, cars movie cars, it doesn't matter.. Wyatt will sit on the floor and play with his favorite toys.. quietly playing... well.. playing... he does tend to make a lot of "Motor" noises when he plays.. I love to watch the imagination that he puts into his playtime routine. Each car makes a different motor sound. Each one has a different job. If he watches a show on the discovery channel, he will find his cars and act it out.

My flowers are blooming

My dwarf gardenias started blooming this weekend. I wanted to practice with my camera, so I took advantage of the early morning to capture a few shots. This is my favorite.

Camera: Canon Digital Rebel XT

1/200; f/5.6; iso 100 80mm

Give it your all

I love this photo of you. You were at your tee ball game and as usual I was snapping pics like crazy. I caught this one of you as you were running to third base. Shirt half untucked, because you did it yourself. The look on your face is priceless. Who cares that it is instructional league tee ball? One look at you, intent on making to the next base, before you are tagged out, and one would think that you were in a fierce battle to score the winning run. Running all out as fast as your little legs will carry you.. tongue hanging out.. arms pumping... you are giving it your all... I hope that you continue to do give your all at everything you do. I hope that you continue to have as much fun in all that you do.

Baby Steps to Growing up

It has started. Wyatt is really growing up to be a big boy. I didn't notice it at first. Then all of a sudden it hit me. This week. Tuesday morning. 6:30 AM. The final piece fell into place. It all started at daycare. I am sorry at "school" as you call it. When I dropped you off, I could only go as far as the kitchen steps. I could get a kiss and a hug. Then I could only get a hug. "Mom, the big kids might see you kiss me. We can kiss in the car okay." Then I was stopped in the front room, and given a quick hug, but only after you looked around to see who was looking. Then it was to inside the front door, with no kiss, but just a wave of the hand as you bounded off inside. NOW THIs NEW STEP... we pull up to the school, and you are all but jumping out before the car stops. "Bye Mom, gotta go. Don't get out. I'm a big boy. See the door, it's right there. I will be fine. You stay here." Off you go. Strutting.. yes you strut when you are proud and pleased with yourself... to the door...opening the door... stepping inside... walking away. You didn't even turn around, just held up your hand as you walked inside. I guess I should be happy that you are so confident and independent. That means that I am a good mom right? That means that I am teaching you the right things? But did you have to learn them quite so soon? I wasn't ready for you to grow up.

It's almost over

School that is. I have just a couple of weeks, or to be a little more precise 14 more days.til the end..or to be just a tad bit more precise: 10 days if you don't count weekends, and I don't count them... I don't think students look forward to the summer nearly as much as the teachers do.

THe Thrill of Victory and the Agony of Defeat

I have always known that I was proud of my nieces and my nephew. All four of them play softball/baseball, among other sports. All of them hold very high grades in school. I didn't know the amount of pride that I Could feel would be soooo overwhelming. I learned this lesson the last weekend in April.

Both of my nieces play softball for thier respective high schools. Both high schools won their district play off games. They were headed to the state tournament. Friday, TIffany had a game at 1:00. I had my cell phone in my pocket all afternoon. Just waiting on the phone call from my sister that would tell me the outcome of the game. A win would keep them in the tournament. A loss would send them home. The teams goal was to win the Friday game, to be one step closer to the tite than last year. Finally at 2:30, the call came. It was a win. That meant we were heading to Sulphur Louisiana the next morning. Kati didn't play until 6:00. I stayed up later than usual, so I could find out the score of her game. Finally at 10:30 pm, I found out that they won their game 1 to zero. That meant two games to watch the next day. I was one happy aunt.

Saturday, off we go. Jump in the truck, and take off to watch our girls. I had a small problem in that both games were to be played at the same time, and on different fields. Luckily the fields were not that far apart, so I could run between the two games to watch, cheer, and take pictures. Both games were exciting. Tiffany's started first. It was a good game. They won. They were stunned.... they were going to play that night at 7:00 for the STATE TITLE! I felt extremely proud of her. Then I dash over to watch the last inning of Kati's game. It was good as well.. Unfortunately, the outcome was not as good. After a hard fought battle, they lost. I was still very proud of her, win or lose she played her very best and that's all I could hope for.

Then Kati walked off of the field. My heart broke. Watching the tears fall down her face, and seeing the anguish and disappointment in her eyes was more than I could take. I tried to cheer her up. I hugged her, and felt soo useless. There was nothing I could do to make it better, and I felt bad about that. Finally we head to the truck, I cried the whole way there.

Now we faced a different problem. What to do for the night.. we decided on staying over, so we would not have to face a 2 1/2 hour drive home, at 10:00 pm. No big problem, we just didn't have any clothes, or necessities. But there's always a walmart around.

No sooner do we get checked into the hotel, eat a little dinner, then it is time to head back to the ball park. Why do they not make this a 3 day tournament? I know the girls must be tired. But they sure don't look it. 7:00 and they take the field. The game is very intense. NO score until the 7th inning. Bottom of the 7th and Tiffy's team is 1 out away from winning the title. Then it happens.. the other team scores. Ties up the game. This the overtime continues. What normally is a 7 inning, 1 1/2 hour game, turned into a 3 1/2 hour game, 11 inning game. I saw some of the most incredible plays that night. Girls stretching to a full split to catch the ball, slamming into the hard ground to slide to safety, banging into the fence to catch a pop up foul ball. Determination on their face. But victory was not to be for TIffy's team. THey lost 2 to 1. Still not bad.. that made them second in state in their division. But not the win they were hoping for.

I realized that win or lose, both of my girls did extremely well that day. THey played the sport they loved with heart and soul. They lost with dignity. They walked from the field with thier heads held high, even if disappointment wieghed down their spirits. I realized that that strange feeling in my chest was my heart full of pride. I didn't know the I could feel that pride so deeply. What I had thought was pride before was just a drop in the bucket compared to this feeling I had now. Words really can't describe that feeling.

High school ball was over for the season. But never fear, between tee-ball for my son, baseball for my nephew, and tournament softball for all 3 of my nieces the season for us is far from over.