Father & Son

Sebastian is working on a special project at school and was in need of a father/son photo.  Last night he informed me that he required pictures in both a portrait and landscape orientation.  I questioned whether he knew what that meant and he went on to explain the difference to me.  He added that his art teacher had talked to his class about it.  And here I thought I had taught him everything he knew about photography. 🙂

We take a lot of pictures of the kids individually or together, but not many are with Mike and me.  We decided to do a quick photo outside of the “boys” in their baseball hats.  It was cloudy and close to sunset, but I think the pictures turned out really well.  We got a little carried away with our picture taking and came up with some extra photos as seen below.

The Boys
The Boys - Landscape
The Boys - Portrait
The Boys - Portrait
Mary & The Kids - Landscape
Mary & The Kids - Landscape

 

Mary & The Kids - Portrait
Mary & The Kids - Portrait
Mike & Up-Side Down Sophia
Mike & Up-Side Down Sophia

p.s.  If you ever need to make your kids smile when you are taking their picture, you can do what Mike did to get the pictures of me and the kids.  He tried the usual “say cheese”.   When that wasn’t enough, he said “say butt crack”.  That makes our kids smile every time.  Nice, huh?

Flat Tire

Sophia received her very first bike for her 3rd birthday nearly two years ago.  It took her all of about five minutes to figure out how to pedal and off she went. 

Sophias First Bike
Sophia's First Bike

We took the bike out of the garage last spring and found that she had a flat tire.  She had worn all the way through the tire and the tube was bulging out.  Mike replaced the tire and the tube and she was off again biking like crazy.  Mike pulled her bike out of the garage again this year.  She rode one block…another flat tire.

Flat Tire
Flat Tire

Mike set out this past weekend to find another tire and another tube.   He came home with two brand new black tires and one tube.  He had no luck in finding a 12″ white bike tire.  It took him quite a while to replace both tires, but he wanted her to have a matching set.  Although her bike doesn’t have the same look as the white tires offered, we are hoping the new tires are durable enough to last until next year when she has outgrown the bike.  A new bike for her 6th birthday next year may be appropriate – sshhh, it’s a secret.

New Black Tire
New Black Tire
New Wheels
New Wheels

Here’s a couple of photos of the mad biker from last night.  I know it would be more appropriate to show her on her bike, but I haven’t had a chance to get a picture of that yet.  For now, here’s Sophia with her purple nails and Sponge Bob pajamas.

Freshly Painted Nails
Freshly Painted Nails
Sponge Bob PJs
Sponge Bob PJ's

Mother’s Day

We spent a quiet Mother’s Day at home yesterday.  The kids spent Saturday preparing for Mother’s Day by whispering to each other and Mike about their plans.  I was told “do not look in Sebastian’s closet”.  I wasn’t quite sure what was hidden in there, but I knew I did not want to get caught opening his closet door even if I was only looking for dirty clothes from his laundry hamper.  In the pictures below you can see the giant card that was hiding in his closet.

Giant Mothers Day Card
Giant Mother's Day Card

Before any showering or changing out of pajamas could take place, the kids brought me gifts and cards.  I think they may have been more excited than me. 

Kids, Cards and Gifts
Kids, Cards and Gifts
Silly Kids, Cards and Gifts
Silly Kids, Cards and Gifts

We were lucky to have great weather and spent a good deal of time outside working on the yard and gardens.  Mike fixed the flat tire on Sophia’s bike so that we could head down to the Lakewalk.  The kids rode their bikes and Mike and I walked – or “power walked” as Mike calls it.

Although Mike and I were not able to spend the day with our mothers, we each called our Moms in the morning.  I’m amazed that my Mom (Mary Rose) could raise eight kids and still retain her sanity.  We grew our own vegetables in the garden and my Mom made a lot of our clothes when we were young.  I can’t imagine that she ever slept.  Mike’s Mom (Karen) raised two amazing boys.  With some of the crazy childhood stories that Mike has told me over the years, I’m quite amazed by Karen too –  especially her patience. 🙂

Marys Mom & Dad in the 1950s
Mary's Mom & Dad - 1950's
Mikes Mom and Dad (with Mike) in the 1960s
Mike's Mom and Dad (with Mike) - 1967