Day Fifty: Sunset

It's day 50!!! Can you believe it? I've never been good with keeping up with something for this long! I'm pretty proud of myself! { patting myself on the back }

On our way to dinner tonight with family, I saw this amazing looking sunset. I took a few pictures, but kept coming back to this one because the silhouette of the trees and the little cloud line across the sun. This was even more beautiful in person. It makes me miss living on the lake as a kid, watching the sun set over the water. But I've got a mental picture of that, and hopefully I'll never forget it. I love a good sunset.

Day Forty Nine: Butterfly

I saw this little yellow butterfly in my front yard while getting in my car, so I quickly grabbed my camera. By the time I looked up, he was gone. I was about to give up and leave when I noticed him fly by me and land of the ground. I didn't like the angle he was at, so I scooped him up and put him in a tree. I got one picture and turned to listen to my husband tell me that the butterfly probably couldn't fly out of the tree ... just as it flew out of the tree and down the street. Luckily, I got this one picture! And I think it turned out pretty good!

It's SOOC because I think he's pretty the way he is!!

Day Forty Eight: Night

We got home tonight and I was telling Luke how strange the sky looked with the moon shining through the clouds. I decided to take a quick pictures, and this is how it came out. I've never seen so much color and detail in the clouds from the reflecting light of the moon. This is almost identical to how it looked in the sky.

Day Forty Seven: Home

After searching for months and months, we finally found a new home!

I'm sure in the next few months I'll be adding more pictures of our new place. But first, we need to get moved in!

Day Forty Six: Cloud Trail

I think this is called a cloud trail, but I could be wrong. It wouldn't be the first time.

Taylor saw this while we were taking out the trash this morning. She was so excited and insisted I go get my camera. And since it's the only picture I took today, it has to do.

{ Correction: } I looked it up .. it's called a contrail. Short for condensation trails.

Day Forty Five: Tulips

Happy Valentines Day!

My favorite flower is the tulip and these were a gift today from my awesomely wonderful husband. Thanks for the flowers babe! Love ya! : )

One is SOOC and one is not. Can you tell which is which? It's amazing what just a little bit of editing can do!

Day Forty Four: The Capitol { of Florida }

I'm sure the majority of you have never been to or even seen the Florida Capitol building. The original capitol building { seen in the front } was built in 1845, just before Florida was added as the 27th state. { Technically, the first capitol was a log cabin built in 1842 } The dome was the first of many expansions, added in 1902.

In 1970, the larger building in the background was built. It is 22 stories tall, not counting the 3 stories that are underground. The old capitol building was scheduled for demolition, but with the help of the citizens of Florida and the Secretary of State at the time, it was saved and restored to its original 1902 appearance. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

And a useless tidbit of info: A drawing of the capitol is used in the logo of T-Pains label, Nappy Boy Entertainment. I'm not kidding.

Day Forty Three: Pink Flowers

I have no idea what these flowers are, but they were all around the yard of a house we looked at today. Something about the beginning of spring, with all the new growth, flowers and pastel colors just made my day! So pretty!

Day Forty Two: Jumperoo

Jump, jump, jumperoo. Harper loves to jumperoo.

This is our 5th Jumperoo. I won't get into the boring details, but our first jumperoo { which we love and still have after 6 years } was a hand me down. It's only flaw is the need for a door frame. And our curse has been to live in houses without them. So after letting our kids bounce in bathroom doorways, front doors and the complete opposite side of the house from where we ever are, we got a free standing bouncer.

This bouncer was expensive, the cadillac of Jumperoos, and our kid hated it. So much, in fact, that it went back to the store after 2 hours. And thus came the best Jumperoo we ever had. The trash day special. Just sitting on the side of the road like .. um .. well, a piece of trash.

This Jumperoo had it all. Wait .. almost had it all. Except a seat. Which cost me $5 online. But I'm not the kind that normally goes digging in trash piles .. and to understand why I didn't even bat an eye lash while throwing it into the back of my friend, Ericas, Buick .. would involve a long and drawn out story about base housing and deployment paycheck upgrading. So out with the old and into my house.

We had that magical Jumperoo until we simply ran out of room for it. Then I sadly it got a new home. After that we tried another fancy shmancy model that left my heart aching for the one that got away. That was until today.

Once Harper showed an interest in jumping in the old door frame bashing model, my grandma suggested that it'd be nice to have one that was free standing. Since our beloved model is no longer available in stores .. and highly over priced on Ebay, I broke down and tried another new concept Jumperoo. Much to my amazement, Harper not only had love a first sight, but jumped with glee to now be part of the family again and not stuck in a doorway down the hall. She can now bounce until her hearts content and watch TV with her big sisters. She, and I, are some very happy girls.

The moral of this story is to never let me tell you that I'll skip the boring details and keep the story short and sweet. Because I won't.

And to never let a good Jumperoo get away.

Day Forty One: Big Girl Shoes

I can't talk too much about this picture because I didn't take it. My husband says he captured this moment in time because Ryen looked adorable in her big sisters shoes. That little girl loves shoes. The first thing out of her mouth every morning { besides "good morning, mommy!!" } is "SHOOOS!!" She even tries to sleep in shoes. The only thing that can get that girl out of shoes is a bath. She loves her "bafs".

So big thanks to daddy for a silly picture. : )

Day Forty: Cards

The girls were really excited the day they got Valentine cards in the mail from grandma and grandpa. To them, getting a letter is like me getting a rebate check that I completely forgot I had coming. It's a happy surprise. And they were so excited to show me what each card said. Except for Ryen. She loved her "kitty" card, but didn't want me to see it. She said, "IT'S MINEEEE MOMMY".

So a huge thank you to grandma and grandpa Phillips for making our night! Even though mommy was sick, the girls loved there cards. And they've continued to love them every day since!

Day Thirty Nine: Little Hands

I took this the day I got sick. Harper wasn't feeling well that day either and she fell asleep on our bed. She looked so peaceful and sweet. But what got me was that little hand. I'm glad I have a way to capture these little things that she'll one day grow out of so I can keep them forever.

Back .. with updates

Wow. I'm not even sure when the last time I did an update was. I've spent the last few days unable to leave my bed. Feeling like I was an inch from dying. I'm talking, "take me now, Lord" stuff. I'm pretty sure it was the flu because it made it's happy way around my house, effecting everyone under the age of, dare I say, 30. Gag. That word just made me a little sick again.

Now that I'm back up and running, it's time to get this 365 up to date. I'll be really honest with you. I only took one picture while I was sick, but my thoughtful husband { and only because it was "too cute" to miss } took some for me. I haven't seen these pictures yet, so lets all say a quick prayer that they are worthy of my photawesomeness { pronounced: pho tawesome ness }. Yes, I just made that little jewel up.

So bear with me. By tomorrow morning, this blog will be fully updated and back on track. Unless something on my *DRV deems more important.

Just Kidding. I can multitask. { with the pause button }

*Edited: also known as a DVR! As Christie so sweetly pointed out, "I'm glad you are feeling better! And uh, is DRV what ya'll southern retirees have in Florida? Us hicks still have D-V-R! lmob I'm just kidding ya! Take care!" Thanks Christie! And yes, our Southern technology is far more advanced. Now everyone's gonna want one of those DRV thing-a-ma-bobers.

Day Thirty Eight: The Duck

It rained again today. And frankly, I'm running out of ideas for rainy days. I thought I had used them all up ... until I met this guy. Or girl. I honest can't tell. I'm pretty sure we went over something in science class about the male species being the prettier one, but I'm not sure what that actually applies too. Anyway, one thing I do know is that ducks love rainy days.

He also had really stylish hair. For a duck. That probably doesn't own a mirror.

And when your feathers look like a royal cape, it seems fitting to have a crown and scepter.

{ FYI: I looked it up .. it really is scepter. If my Mac didn't auto correct for me, I would have called it a septor. }

Day Thirty Seven: Shadows

This weeks theme is shadows. Since most of the week we've had overcast skies and rain, it left me praying that today would be sunny. And it was! Not even one cloud in the sky. I took two pictures, but this one, although it's a bit blurry, stuck out to me. I love the little wisp of wind blowing her skirt and the cute silhouette of the flower in her hand. It just seems like such a playful, innocent shadow.

Day Thirty Six: Dandelions

I know I had a dandelion picture the other day, but these little flowers are amazing! They make me feel like a kid again and I can't help loving them. So in honor of a flower that brings back great childhood memories, and starts new ones with my girls, here's a few of my favorite dandelion pictures from the day.

These 2 above are SOOC { Lauren, that's straight out of the camera .. just in case you forgot }. I don't think these are great photos, but the bokeh is to die for! { Bokeh = blur: the out of focus area of the picture, in simplest terms }

And then there's Caidyn enjoying the dandelion. She asked me, "Mommy, why do you take pictures of everything I do?". I said, "Caid, one day your going to be able to look back and see these things that you did that you aren't able to remember otherwise". "Okay mom," she said, "that's pretty cool."