My Week 89

June 11th was a day we'd been waiting for allllllllllll year long.  The Butterfly Pavillion fieldtrip.  WAHOOOOO!  The First and Seventh graders raised some butterflies from catepillars, and we headed northeast to a great place to release them.  It was super duper fun, and I was so glad to be able to tag along.  I love having my summers off from work.  :)  Here is Sugar Bear and her 7th grade book buddy studying some deceased butterflies.

June 12th was the LAST day of school!  I simply can not believe that my little Sugar is NOW a second grader.  I know people say it all time, so it feels cheesy to say it, but since when has that ever stopped me?  I mean seriously folks....have you read the stuff I used to write on this hear blog.  CHEESE doesn't even cover it.  Sometimes I wonder if I'm like a bit over the top too much in love with this special little person, but then I remind myself that everyone deserves to have someone who always thinks the BEST of them.  Someone who loves them for doing nothing at all.  Someone who thinks they are smarter......funnier.........cuter.........sweeter........than any one else.  Everyone deserves that, right?  So I'm her someone!  She worked hard this year, and I am so proud of her.  Here she is on her last day of First grade wearing the same outfit she wore on day one.  She is hold the "Thank you" gift for her teacher.

June 13th was quite nearly the AWESOMEST!  At least that's what Sugar Bear thought.  It was the "ALL School Pool Party!"  What's not to love about that?  She had such a fun time playing with all her school friends in the pool.  I had so much fun watching her mingle.  She really got around.  I loved that.  I was able to see how much growth she has had this year.  My girl is still shy, but BY GEORGE.....she made lots of friends this year.  I love it!

June 14th was the first offical day of summer vacation for Sugar Bear and we made the most of it.  We had a little fun with a fan.....and an air compressor.  tee hee......Sugar had been wanting to cut her hair short.  I told her that if she waited until after the Dance Recital we would cut enough for Locks Of Love.  She was quite interested.  However, recently she decided that she wants to hold on to her long hair for awhile longer.  We had to much fun with her long, long hair. 

June 15th sadly brought sickness to our home.  Sugar started out the day soooooooooooooo very excited to spend the day at her old daycare, so that mama could attend a meeting at work.  Not long into the meeting, I got a call saying that Sugar was vomiting.  :(  boo hiss.....what a horrible way to start the summer.

 

June 16th we just stayed home letting Sugar Bear recover.  She didn't have much energy, and the vomiting lasted about 24 hours.  Poor sweet girl.  Later in the afternoon, we spent a bit of time outdoors enjoying the beauty that surrounds us.  The freshair did Sugar a bit of good and perked her up a bit. 

June 17th found Sugar still feeling like she had to lay low, so we just hung out and played in her room most of the day.  This is one of her favorite little toys, duckie, riding a little while pony.  Sugar has never been much about playing pretend by herself, and I'm not much good at it.  Lately, however, Sugar is getting better about playing on her own, and this is fabulous.  :)

52 Weeks of Me 2012~ Week 25

The theme/prompt for the week was: Negative Space

Some might wonder what "negative space" could mean.  Put simply, negative space is the area which surrounds the main subject in your photo (the main subject is known as the "positive space").

I knew what I wanted, but found it a bit hard to achieve.  I initially only wanted my eyes and forehead in the shot, but try as I might.  It never seemed right.  I did end up liking this shot.  I hope it feels a bit like I just popped into the shot. That is what I was going for. 

Next week's theme/prompt is: Clothes

Have fun!

My Week 88

June 4th was, as far as I can remember, a pretty normal sort of Monday.  I went to work, and Sugar went to school.  We got home early and had popcorn for dinner.  :)  What's not to love about that.  I made it in my cast iron skillet with Coconut oil.  It was good, but different.  Sort of.....ummmm....crunchy.  Does that even make sense?  It was almost hard.

 

June 5th was picture day at the Dance School, and Sugar Bear had some good times with two of her friends.  These girls were over the TOP goofy.  I think it just felt good to let go and have some silly times. There had just been so much hard work towards the end of dance year.  They really embraced the freedom.

June 6th had highs and lows.  I was excited to have a day at home alone.  I wanted to work on getting a bit caught up on my scrapbooking.  So, I ran Sugar to the bus, and came home to find that Ivy dog had decided to chew up one of Sugar Bear's stuffed animals.  She chewed the nose right off of this poor little white puppy.  Sugar was pretty sad about it when she got home.  Ivy hadn't chewed anything in months and months, so it was quite a surprise.  Darn it.

June 7th could have been a super duper bummer, but we refused to let it be so.  The previous day had stunning weather, but this day...it rained....and was soooooooooo gloomy.  This was sort of stinky because it was Sugar Bear's field trip day to the tide pools.  I was there as a parent helper, and I was so worried it would be horrible and cold.  I couldn't have been more wrong.  The excitement and spirit of the children warmed the day.  Yes.....it rained.....and the wind blew, but I hardly noticed.  The kids had a great time.....and so did I.  

June 8th....well......I let the rain bum me out.  It was super stormy, so the school had to cancel "field day".  bummer deal.  I was seriously annoyed by the weather....can you tell?

June 9th brought back the sun, and so we were more than pleased to attend a fun Pirate Birthday Bash at a beachside park.  It was so fun for the all involved.  Sugar hasn't been to this park too often, and it is one of the very few that still has seesaws.  We should go there more often, but only if we have a friend to teeter totter with .

June 10th brought even MORE sun, so towards the end of a typical day at home doing chores, we whipped out our "solar print" kit.  It was our first time using it, an it was so very fun.  We can't wait to make even more beautiful sun art.

Wind Blown

My Sugar Bear couldn't let me have allllllll the fan fun! She just had to have a turn. :) Some of these are also done with an air compressor.

 

If you ever get bored....you just have to give this a try. It makes for some wonderful giggles. ♥

Books, Books, Books....I can't get enough

Yes, I'm still reading. Here is a list of the books I've read since the begining of the year (2012). I'm always looking for book recommendations. You have any for me?

“My Lobotomy” by Howard Dully

“The Apple Turnover Murder” by Joanne Fluke

“The Glass Castle” by Jeanette Wells

“The Sugar Queen” by Sara Addison Allen

“Bone by Bone” by Carol O’Connell

“History Lesson For Girls” by Aurelie Sheehan

“V is for Vengeance” by Sue Grafton

“The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins

“The Chocolate Bear Burglary” by JoAnna Carl

“The Chocolate Frog Frame up” by JoAnna Carl

“A cure for Dreams” by Kaye Gibbons

“Catching Fire” by Suzanne Collins

“The Cat Sitter’s Pajamas” by Blaize Clement

“Mockingjay” by Suzanne Collins

“The Secret Life of Bees” by Sue Monk Kidd

“Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” by Ransom Riggs

“Does the Noise in My Head Bother You?” by Steven Tyler

“Gingerbread Cookie Murder” by Joanne Fluke

“The Big Over Easy” by Jasper Fforde

“The Girl Who Chased the Moon” by Sarah Addison Allen

“Dropped Dead Stitch” by Maggie Sefton

“The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane” by Kate DiCamillo

“Dismantled” by Jennifer McMahon

“$10,000 in Small Unmarked Puzzles” by Parnell Hall

“A Dog’s Purpose” by W. Bruce Cameron

“Chocolate to die For” by JoAnna Carl

“The Wise Enchanter” by Shelley Davidow

“Gods in Alabama” by Joshilyn Jackson

“A Dog’s Journey” by W. Bruce Cameron

“Devils’ Food Cake Murder” by Joanne Fluke

“Little House in the Big Woods” by Laura Engalls Wilder

“A Dirty Job” by Christopher Moore

“The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet” by Reif Larsen

“Skein of the Crime” by Maggie Sefton

“Stuart Little” by E. B. White

“The Peach Keeper” by Sarah Addison Allen

I better go....there are books to read.  :)

Dancer in Action

There are short-cuts to happiness, and dancing is one of them. ~Vicki Baum

To dance is to be out of yourself. Larger, more beautiful, more powerful. ~Agnes De Mille

Dancing with the feet is one thing, but dancing with the heart is another. ~Author Unknown

Dance first. Think later. It's the natural order. ~Samuel Beckett

Dancing is the body made poetic.- Ernst Bacon

Those move easiest who have learn'd to dance.- Alexander Pope

Another year of dance is done.  I'm hoping the summer break will renew Sugar Bear's desire to dance.  While she enjoys dancing, she tires of the endless practicing of the "same old dance" that the preparing for Recital brings.  By the time Recital gets here, she has grown weary of the classes.  The Recital itself is joyful for her, and for that I am glad, because I love seeing her perform. 

My Blue-tiful Dancer

“We dance for laughter,

we dance for tears,

we dance for madness,

we dance for fears,

we dance for hopes,

we dance for screams,

we are the dancers,

we create the dreams.”

- Author Unknown

52 Weeks of Me 2012~ Week 24

The theme/prompt for the week was:  The Fan

Okay....so we all know I was a bit giddy to do this theme again.  I had so much fun the last time.  Maybe too much fun! What a dork-o-pot-amous I am.  tee hee

I didn't really have any expectations of this photo shoot.  I just wanted to try it again.  So I set up my tripod and had at it.  I got quite a variety. 

I didn't try to be as silly as last time, but I had to do a few. This one is my fav of the goof ball shots.

 

If you have never given "The Fan" a try,  I highly suggest that you do. It is good for a few giggles. Sugar Bear got in on the action this time. I'll be posting her shots soon.

  The theme/Prompt for next week is: NEGATIVE SPACE

Have fun!

My Week 87

May 28th was a Memorial Day.  We ran errands all morning, then treated ourselves to an ice cream. 
Sugar Bear always thinks it's special to get ice cream in a cone.  I always feel a great need to capture the "eat it all" on the cone.  I love that.  Sugar Bear can be a real stickler for routine and "the usual".  This day she branched out and tried a new flavor.  I was a bit shocked. 

May 29th was a long day at work.....and we got home late after Dance Class.  I love that it is so bright out later in the evening, and so does our dog, Ivy. She is CRAZY for a good game of fetch.  She is constantly throwing her tennis ball at us.  The best way to get a photo of her is to have someone hold her tennis ball up in the air for her.  She concentrates on it so much.  She is such a pretty girl......but quite the moose.  She is about 80lbs exactly.

May 30th was a beautiful day.  I got off work early to get my girl from the bus, as her usual ride had other things to do.  I had the chance to actually do someone else a favor for once.  It felt great.  We stopped by a local furniture shop and picked up the new desk and book shelf I purchased for Sugar Bear's room.  We are "growing up" her room a bit.  (sniff....sigh....sniff....cry)  We still had time to hang out in our yard with all the pets when we got home.  I figured since I got a nice shot of the dog the day before, I might as well get a shot of our cat, Toby.  He is turning 12 this August.

May 31st the last official Dance Class before recital.  Sugar Bear was excited to bring home her costume.  We had a little fun with the tutu.  :)  I really adore this shot.  There is just something about it.  sigh.....  ♥

June 1st was a super special day.  It was my official LAST DAY OF WORK before summer break. WOO HOO.  I only work one day a week during the summer.  What is NOT to love about that?????  Nothing....that's what.  :)  Then......then.......Sugar Bear's School Spring Festival was that evening. It was fabulous.  She sang like 5 songs, and everyone danced and played instruments.  It was total awesomesauce!  Here she is singing a song in Spanish.  Love.Love.Love

June 2nd was Dance Recital Rehearsal.  This is our only opportunity to take photos.  I got tons a great shots of the kiddos dancing.  It is always such a treat to see them getting it all together.  I loved the color of Sugar Bear's costume.  So pretty.

June 3rd was the actual Dance Recital.  It was a wonderful show.  So much hard work went into it, and it surely paid off.  I so loved seeing so many beautiful young ladies I know dancing.  Sugar Bear did a GREAT job, and she felt so proud.  I love this picture of Sugar Bear and her friends.  These two young ladies, and their mom got Sugar to dance class each week.  It was such a blessing.

Last Day of First Grade

I am quite nearly overcome with emotion thinking that my girl is finished with First Grade.   How can this be?  This year really did fly.  While it was a wonderful year, we are so ready for Summer.  Looking forward to lots of fun times. 

If you remember, I started a little project on Sugar Bear's first day. 

Here she is TODAY....on her last day of First Grade.

Oh my how she has grown.  I had forgotten that she had TWO missing front teeth when school started.  tee hee