My camera's back!!!

Hooray- my camera has been returned from Canon and it is as good as new!! I'm so thrilled, sort of giddy, just like when I first got it. Hooray again!

Ok, since my last post we've been busy. Brian had a "stay-cation" this week (although he HATES that term) and I've been loving it! He's been home every day and although we haven't done anything too crazy, it's been soo nice to have him around to share the load around here and just to pal around with.

Brian took Declan to the zoo yesterday (because what would a vacation be without at least ONE trip to the zoo?). On a side note, one of my friends from HS posted a note on facebook the other day about how she doesn't like zoos (she had just gotten back from taking her five kids to the zoo). A bunch of other people commented that they also didn't like zoos and I was, frankly, taken aback. I thought that almost EVERYONE loved zoos! I know I do! We live right behind the zoo and since having Declan, I think I've gone at LEAST once a month. I love walking around outside, looking at the animals, feeding the giraffes, looking at the gardens and teaching Declan (and Brendan) all about animals. Declan LOVES animals and he wants to be a zoologist. We check out books from the library all the time about different animals and he is consistently interested and eager to learn more. Love, love, love the zoo.

What else? Well, we are having a builder come over tomorrow to see about having an addition put on. I'm in seventh heaven about it - we have such a tiny house and to get just a little more space would be sublime. We'll see how things shake out after the meeting, but I'm hoping and praying that we can do this.

Ok, here are my pics:

This was really too cute for words (or pictures). While I was showering, Brian was entertaining the boys and he put Brendan in Declan's baby stroller/wagon and let Declan push Brendan around in it. This is not something I would have done (or encouraged) but I have to admit, that it was darling and they both loved it! Declan was so proud of himself and Brendan was having a ball. (BTW, this was taken with my Rebel - hooray again)

First picture taken when I got my camera back yesterday. Just went right into Declan's room where I found Brendan playing (as usual). Adorable.

(The rest of today's pics are from the little Elph). This was from Monday at my cousin's birthday party. Brendan is fascinated by feet and here he is enthralled by blue toenails!

At the Memorial Day parade. Brian took Declan and they were lucky enough to run into my friend Monique and Declan's best friend Sophie.

This is from the Heritage Festival. I just love this pic of my two boys together. Declan had just gotten his face painted (see next pic) and Brendan was reaching to touch it. As usual, Declan was very patient and gentle with his baby brother.

Here is Declan with his face painted - a snake! Eek!

Memorial Day Weekend

Not much going on here. It's Memorial Day Weekend, so we are doing some gardening - getting all the veggies planted outside. I started some from seed and we bought a few plants. Brian did all the hard labor outside (as usual) and I got to play with the boys, watch some hockey and make dinner - a seriously nice day.

Yesterday was busy, we went to the Heritage Festival where Declan got to ride a pony and there was a petting zoo. Then we went to our friends' house for dinner. I do have pics from yesterday, but I haven't uploaded to the computer yet.

I'm still missing my Rebel, but here are some Elph pictures from the past week through May21st:

This is Brendan, he was so happy to play with these little animals of Declan's. They have a little button on the bottom and when you push it, they make animal noises. He was so proud of himself when he learned to push that button!

And here is my baby getting his VERY first haircut at a salon. Brian took him because he was off work and likes the boys to look "neat". He was a good boy, never even moved a muscle.

This is just some of the artwork that Brian and Declan did on our sidewalk the other night.

And here are the artists themselves...

Some pics from the Basset Hound Waddle last Sunday....these two look a lot like my Rufus

Here is Brendan enjoying the parade. He squealed everytime he saw a dog - very exciting stuff for him!

Me and my boys, watching the parade...

Here's Declan on the WAY to the parade - very very excited!

And here's a pic of Brendan in his car in the backyard - he loves it in the yard and gets so mad when it's time to come inside!

And Brian took this pic at the park last week. It was a fun, family evening.

Big day tomorrow - it's a cousin birthday party and Declan is psyched! Happy Memorial Day!

Go Wings!

I'm off to bed but felt like making a teeny tiny little post first. I'm in a good mood for the following reasons:
1. Had a "date" night with my husband tonight - we saw the new X-Men movie and before I get any rolled eyes or sympathetic tones, you should know that I love the X-Men movies. Hugh Jackman is gorgeous, for one, and I'm a super-hero, action movie type of gal. Thanks mom and dad for babysitting!
2. Last night Brian and I watched our Red Wings eliminate the Ducks in an exciting Game 7 - yahoo! And the best part is that the next series is against Chicago with only a one-hour time difference!!! The Blackhawks ARE a scary team, but I was still hoping they would defeat Vancouver so I can stay up to watch every game. Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals is SUNDAY!
3. Before the date with Brian, my mother-in-law visited today and we all went garage-sale-ing in our neighborhood's annual event. I got some scrapbooking things which I was pleasantly surprised to find. Also two lovely books to alter (thanks sweetie for finding those).
4. And I do have more pics to post for Project 365 - my dear husband reminded me that I can still take pictures using the little Elph *sighs* - it's not the same though. ;)

Good night sweetheart, well it's time to go...voh doh dee oh doh...I hate to leave you but I really must say, Good night sweetheart, good night

Bummer

Well, I'm finally getting around to uploading some more pics, and it looks like it's going to be a while before I will be uploading more after today. Total bummer - my camera is broken. Darn thing won't turn on. I (idiotically) left it on the couch when I put Brendand down for his nap today. Turns out, that Declan may or may not have knocked it onto the ground. He, of course, wouldn't give me a straight answer, but he did say that "it fell". I have to send it to Canon for evaluation and (hopefully) repairs. Darn, darn, darn.


I have lots to keep me busy though - since May 1st, I've worked out every day with the exception of Mother's Day and today. Not too shabby! And I feel great, so that is the most important thing. More energy, and more patience with the boys.


Also, I've rediscovered reading. Just finished a great fantasy book , Bones of the Dragon by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. They wrote the Dragonlance series that I loved in highschool. After I had Declan, I must have read a book a day. I would read whenever I nursed him - and I nursed him A LOT! When I started digital scrapbooking, I found that my free time was spent on the computer instead of curled up with a good book. I'm trying to find some balance in my life and not be so caught up in one thing or another. Moderation in all things?


Still playing around with my altered book. And I made two hybrid projects (little accordion brag books) for Mother's Day, plus cards for my mom, my mother-in-law and my grandma - yay me! Super proud of myself for doing the hybrid thing. It's been intimidating me for some reason. Anyway - it was fun and I'll be doing more in the future.


And playoff hockey has got me in front of the TV for a couple of nights each week. Go Wings!


On to the pics:

This was yesterday at the corner park. My parents stopped by and this is Brendan peeking out at my mom, who was sitting on a bench across from him. Peekaboo is a new fav for him. Cute.



Yup, this was Mother's Day - I had my little cousin Emmi take the picture with my camera. She was pretty nervous (she's 8) but I think she did a great job! We spent the day at my grandma's house. My mom and dad were there along with my aunt and her four kids, and two of my uncles. It was a lovely day, although my grandma is looking a bit tired (she's 93, so I shouldn't be surprised, I guess!)

Still from Mother's day -this is Declan holding a toad that he caught behind her house. Very proud of himself, he was.

And check out Deck with a python around his neck! Yikes! Our neighborhood library had a Science Alive visitor who brought a ton of animals for kids to touch and hold! Declan touched (or held) a turtle, a parrot, a kangaroo, a chinchilla, a porcupine, a smelly anteater and the python - how cool is that?

This is from last Friday. Brian was off work so we took the boys to the zoo. It was a really nice afternoon.
This is Brendan at the zoo. He had so much fun and is becoming so much more interactive and communcative - I love it!!!

I took the boys to the mall to meet my folks and Brendan had his very first "hands-on" experience in the play area - he was so excited - see the tongue? That is evidence of his enthusiasm!

And here is a morning shot of Brendan, just hanging out in the living room while the light was nice. (I'm sooo going to miss my camera!)

And more fun at the local park from earlier last week. Declan and Brendan swing side by side with a beautiful magnolia tree behind them. These two shots show them each looking over at each other - precious. (These two are begging for a scrapbook page!)

Off so get my camera ready to be shipped - peace out! :)

I've been remiss in taking photos lately. I missed several days at the end of April. I have no real excuse, just that I was feeling a little bored by my photos. I also started a new project - altering a book. I just decided one day to make use of some of my scrapbooking supplies and an old book of quotations that has been lying around for a few years. It has been very satisfying, from a creative standpoint, although, I think the only person who really appreciates the "art" of it is me. My husband just shakes his head when he looks at it and my mother-in-law and sister-in-law looked interested, but quizzical. But it is for ME after all, not for anyone else, so why should I care if no one else appreciates it? Well, that's not really fair, since Declan loves it. He especially likes the glittery pages. I will take some photos and post them soon. I also finally got off my duff and started exercising again. May 1st, May 2nd, May and May 3rd - CHECK! I feel so good about myself already - it is like a drug. I had forgotten how much I love it! If I can keep this up through May, I should be ready to go to the pool without too much bathing-suit anxiety. Also, I have been having a hard time keeping my cool with Declan lately and I've been praying for help and I think this is the answer. A happy Melinda makes a happier mommy and I'm always happier when I'm working out on a regular basis. I'm going to recommit myself to the 365 project because I really do love the idea of a photographic journal of our year. I have to figure out how I'm going to print and preserve these photos...but I'll figure it out before the end of the year.

So, on to the pictures. Yesterday was a beautiful (but cool) day and we went to the train park near our house to see the trains (these crazy train enthusiasts have miniature trains on a track and they come out once a month to let the kids ride their trains) - but the ground was too wet and the trains weren't there. So we played on the swings for a while. Brendan cried and cried when we took him out of the swing. He loves it!


This was also from yesterday morning. Brian and Declan were walking the dogs and I was playing with Brendan in the living room. He was cooing and "talking" and chewing paper - he knew I was going to take it away and kept crawling away from me when I would come near.


This is from last Tuesday, the 28th. Kathy came over for a visit in the afternoon and played with Declan. After Brendan's nap, he came in the living room to play too. He was throwing that little football and showing off for his aunt. He is soo funny about balls - loves them. If you ask him to throw you the ball, he will, but make sure to give it right back or he will SCREAM! :)

And this is from last Saturday at my grandmother's house for Alex's 19th birthday party. Brian was holding Brendan up and making him "dance'. It was cracking up Brendan and all the kids. Very sweet day and such a sweet moment.

And the last pic is from our hallway. Brendan in his diaper, getting ready for bed and playing with the closet door. He is still obsessed with the doors - open, shut, open, shut. Occasionally, he will pull the sheets and blankets out of this closet, or the diapers out of his little cupboard, but for the most part, he just opens and shuts the doors without worrying about the contents.