You Capture: Summer

Chicago Skyline just before sunset.

For this week's You Capture challenge, I didn't cheat one bit, but I am turning in a little late. It has been full fledged summer and there have been so many many photo ops- at the park and the beach and the pool, and all those things all over again. With the 90 degree heat this week, we made the best of what summer had to offer. And today at the lake while I was watching and helping the kids build a sandcastle , I honestly pretended that we were on vacation. It was a lovely sweltering hot and humid day.


I took a lot of summery photos this week, that I would love to share, but for now, we are all sun-drained and sleepy.

And another

Looks like I am not the only one who found this one.

As Luck Would Have it

In my attempt to occupy the kids while I made dinner last night, I allowed them some extra time on the swingset. Swinging always involves the beckoning of small voices for pushes. I try to get away and back into the kitchen, but there is always a plea for one more. And I walk back. Another escape attempt. Another plea. Another trip across the lawn.

Last night I never did make it back to the kitchen while they were outside. It was underdogs and airplanes. And right before my unsearching eyes, was this.




See, I really am the Clover Queen. I had never found a five-leaf clover, which happens to be more rare than a four-leaf, until a week ago. According to lore, five-leafs are extra lucky and attract money. Looks like I am in for something real good.


But no matter, I'm already the luckiest person in the world.

You Capture: Emotion

This is my first week participating in the weekly You Capture photo challenge hosted by Beth over at I Should Be Folding Laundry.

I broke the rules. Guess I am a rebel like that, but, in my own defense, it is my first week and, honestly I did have this challenge in mind all week, and was, well, challenged, I guess.

So as not to fail, I took this picture is from my archives. It was taken by the sprinkler a few weeks ago.

Pure exhilaration.

Lucky

I am The Queen of finding four leaf clovers. Seriously, I look down and they stare right up at me. I've plucked at least six in the last six weeks, and I wasn't-not once- looking for one. Sometimes I don't even pick them. Usually I find two in one day. I've always been lucky like that -if you call finding four-leaf clovers lucky. I myself don't find luck elsewhere aside from my particular "luck" at finding lucky clovers.

Lately, I've been leafing (he he) through a book that was given to me called The Secret. It is based on positive thinking and how your thoughts attract the things that surround you in your life. My first impression was that it is a bit far-fetched. I had to laugh out loud when the author suggested that if you think of yourself as weighing 116 pounds, you will. Or that if I focus my mind on one million dollars, it will be mine. Voila! However, just last night I read something that I could relate to( since wearing my skinny jeans didn't seem like such a great idea). I read something that made sense.

It first questioned if you have ever had a thought of someone, a friend or an acquaintance whom you haven't seen in a long time, and then the next day you see them at the post office or they shoot you an email. Yeah, that has happened to me. Often, actually.

A couple paragraphs later it, to illustrate the power of thought, positive or negative, was the example of how people who say, "I never win anything," don't win. And how people who think they are lucky, are.

This made me think me and my absurd ability to pluck supposedly "lucky" four-leaf clovers. Maybe I find them simply because I believe I can. And then I thought, maybe they never bring me luck because I don't place "positive thought" in that idea.

Low and behold, all that "thought" on clovers, and look what stares me down today? Not a four-leaf, but a five-leaf clover.

And this one? Pure luck.

Let the Wild Rumpus Begin

The day I have been dreading has arrived.

Doom, doom, doom , doom......

The baby, my baby ( okay, he is a toddler) has learned how to hoist himself up and over the crib railing. With ease. He is quite efficient at it.

Good Lord help me.

I can't begin to explain the myriad of complications this new skill presents to my already barely sane life.

He is just so proud and joyous, utterly excited to be "up" that he gets the whole gang into the event. So this doesn't just involve him running sprints throughout the house, but he's got his brother and sister up and excited too. Bedtime has turned into a two hour ordeal. My time has turned into nonexistence. And I don't even have the heart to talk about naptime. I need naptime.

It is a circus.

Can't you just see in his eyes how ornery he is? He is just waiting for me to turn out the lights and walk out. Let's par-tay!

Wearing a gown and a Cap on my Head

Allison had her big graduation ceremony from preschool yesterday. It was a darling little event, with caps and gown, a diploma, and a finished portfolio with her work over the past year. She is officially on her way to kindergarten.