Costume Supplies

Time to get busy!

Catch with Dad

Running plays between the giggles

More Volleyball

Here are a couple pictures from today's volleyball games. My shutter speed was a little too slow, but I wasn't trying very hard. :) We only have one more week left in this league. She's planning to try out for club volleyball in a couple weeks. You know, because she doesn't have enough to do already.

Practicing

I think she's a little frustrated with how she sounds, but I think she sounds just right for as long as she's been playing...which is about one month.

Today's Picture

This was actually yesterday's picture. I didn't have a chance to touch my camera today other than removing it from the table so we could eat dinner.

Our butterfly bush has been full of butterflies lately, primarily painted ladies and clouded sulphurs. I did see a late migrating monarch and this buckeye butterfly yesterday.

Sparkling Personality

 

Halloween Luminaries II

The boys humored me with minimal grumbling, and we finished our luminaries this weekend. I was afraid I was going to lose them at any moment, so I just snapped a couple quick cell phone pics.

There's no doubt the luminaries are homemade, but I like them. I like that we all sat down at the table to work on them together, too. That's no small task any more.

Photo Sundries

Halloween Luminaries

We had a rare evening with no obligations, so Danielle and I enjoyed working on a Halloween craft that has been on our to do list. We have some larger jars we are planning to paint, too, but we are hoping to recruit the boys to join us with those.

Salt & pepper shakers from the dollar store



 





One of Danielle's cute little pumpkin luminaries

Fall Approaches

 

 

Trumpet Solo

One of my coworkers told me he was walking down the hall at school the other day and heard a trumpet solo that was so good, he had to stop and listen. It was Tyler.

There was a substitute in band class another day. After class was over, she approached Tyler and asked how long he had been playing because he played so well. I'm telling you, those lessons with Aunt Nikki, combined with a little praise from his band director, and Tyler's talent has taken off!

His band director recorded this song today. They listen to the recording and then compare it to the professional recording to identify the areas that need improved. Tyler has a solo through most of the song. When the song first starts, the baritone plays a few notes and then Tyler starts with the melody. He carries that melody throughout the whole song. I think he sounds amazing. The song itself sounds pretty good...until the rest of the band chimes in. Those clarinets and flutes are just so out of tune. But boy, that trumpet sounds good. :) He said they always screw up when they know the director is recording them because they feel pressured. He confessed that he messed up a couple notes at the end. Still sounds amazing to me.

(This was a music file and the only way to add it was to make it a video file. So, this is a picture of Tyler I took last month. Just ignore it and listen to the music, which finally starts at 17 seconds. I had issues tonight. Ugh.)

Then & Now

Playing Tonka Town (2 1/2 yrs)

Designing a road in Unturned (13yrs)

Volleyball

More Fall Photos

Busy Butterfly Bush

The painted ladies, red admirals, and silver spotted skippers have suddenly been visiting our butterfly bushes in droves. I took these pictures of painted ladies last week.

My Bulletin Board

Granted, the photos are probably wasted on 7th & 8th graders who may or may not notice them, but it makes me happy to look at my pretty pictures all day long. :)

Ziplining Trip

One of Uncle Ron's birthday gifts to Tyler was a ziplining trip. Grandma & Grandpa C, Uncle Ron, Tyler, and Tyler's friend all went. I was the designated driver and photographer.

I used my 70-300mm lens when they were on the platform & ziplining overhead, and some of the pictures are cropped, so they look much closer/lower than they really were. They really were high up.

I couldn't zoom out enough to show how high up this was. The bottom of this picture is not the ground.

Tyler loved it. He said it's right up there with scuba diving and hopes he'll get to do it again sometime. It was a fun and memorable gift!