Team-Up Thursday - Rain

When Jen e-mailed me some suggestions for a theme this week I immediate picked rain/water. It seems like that is all is does when I have anytime at all to take a photo.
Monday early evening as we ate dinner the rain poured down on the table on the deck. I knew then that I wanted to try and get the water on the edge of the table. So as the rest of the crew ate, I pulled out the tripod and the zoom lens and open the sliding door...letting the cold air in. Of course, the boys were not phased by this one bit, including my husband.



I love the DOF, the colors and the composition of Jen's. I also like how there is a similar green in both photos that ties them together even more than the rain/water.


Hosted by Megan and Hip Momma

Best Shot Monday:Life is looking pretty Happy!

Tracey wrote: What have you been reminded of lately? How is life looking in your world?
Great questions, and this picture answers both those questions.

1. I am reminded that my, 4 in July year old, is turning into a preschooler. Yes, I said it preschooler. He won't say he is 3, or even 3 1/2 or 3 3/4, no he is 4 in July.
2. Life is looking pretty happy. I asked him to draw me a face and he asked, "happy or sad?". I of course picked happy. Then I talked him through the other body parts but never once did I touch the pen. He drew this all himself and I had to show his father and hung it on the fridge.

I had that Mom moment when your child reaches a milestone right before your eyes. I know drawing a person is some sort of milestone, but for me this picture is more so a piece of him at the age of "4 in July" I can hold onto forever.

365 - Week 16

Another week under my belt. In 10 more I will be half way there!



The middle picture is my Birthday present from my wonderful husband. Its 2 hearts, the big one in the back say, "I love you all" over it and the little one in the front say, "Let me count the ways". I just love him for thinking of me!

baby&sofia Monkey Muffins

A few days ago I had 3 very ripe banana's on my counter. I said to my husband I guess I need to make banana bread. That day I was reading my friend Brook's post about Monkey Muffins and knew right away I was making them. Come on, banana's and chocolate chips, win, win!

Let's just say they were delicious and my little monkey loved them.

This is how yummy they looked right out of the oven.


That night they had hardly cooled off before Nicolo got his hands on them.


Today there were three left and he would not share.


Thanks for the recipe Brook, definitely a keeper.

Team-Up Thursday - Earth Day

Jen and I decided that since today was Earth Day we would make that our theme. The first thing I think of when you say Earth is trees. The fun part was taking the picture.
I work at a place that has a large property to it. There is an abundance of trees, flowers, a bell tower, a hospital, a mansion, a parking garage, statues etc. I was waking back from a meeting the other day when I decided to try to get this shot. What I had to do was get under a tree, lay on my back and look up through the tree. This on the front lawn of my work as people walked and drove by, in my work clothes. Like I said it was fun!



I love Jen's message and how you see it twice with the reflection. I also wonder where she took it. I like photo's that leave me guessing.

Hope you all have a great Earth Day!

Hosted by Megan and Hip Momma

Cheeseburgers In Paradise

My OLDER brother turned 40 this year. My siblings and I planned a Surprise Party for him with a Jimmy Buffett theme, it was "A Pirate Looks at 40." The menu was simple Cheeseburgers in Paradise, Fries, Pickles and Cold Draft Beer. The dessert was fun and fabulous.

We had seen the idea in many places, one of course being Bakerella. What we did was make cupcakes with brownies in the middle as the Cheeseburgers and sugar cookies as the Fries. They were easy and fun to make. Let me make one disclaimer, I was the assistant, my sister did 99% of the work and she as always does a fabulous job.

The cupcakes and the brownies.


Putting the burgers on the bun.


Dressing them with the fixin's.


Topped off with a Sesame Seed bun.


Burgers and Fries.


The Big Kahuna Himself. Happy Birthday Cliff!


The absolute best part of the party was the fact that we really did surprise him. That was a joint effort all around. My sister in law did a great job keeping a secret and getting him there on time. The other nice thing was all the guest had a great time and some even said it was the best Birthday Party they had been to.

BestShot Monday

“Experience is never limited, and it is never complete; it is an immense sensibility, a kind of huge spider-web of the finest silken threads suspended in the chamber of consciousness, and catching every air-borne particle in its tissue.” ~Henry James

I like this quote because lately I have been feeling this way, experience is never limited. I learn something new everyday, whether it be about myself, my kids, my husband, my photography or my job (just to name a few) it's new.

Today I learned:
1. Francesco can write the letter H and picks them out in all kinds of places.
2. Nicolo can say "Momma" but is still calling me NaaNaa.
3. Laying down and looking up through a tree has an interesting pattern.
4. Some people need to act their age and not their shoe size. My 3 year old has better manners.