Could I make it as a sports photographer?

My nephew, a budding track & field star, gave me the opportunity to use my camera on the sports setting...taking several continuous shots at a recent track meet.  Oh what fun it would have been to be a sports photographer (instead of an insurance underwriter!)  How great would have been to get that perfect shot of Olympic glory or the perfect catch at the back of the end zone to win the Super Bowl or the faces of defeat at the high school state basketball championship - it doesn't matter when or where - just to capture sport - how fun!

Anyway, here Micah goes on the pole vault...  (these shots were taken from the stands)

Micah cleared 9'6" but couldn't clear the 10 foot mark on this day.  Better luck next time!

Now on to the triple jump (or as Zoe called it, hop-skip-jump)

We left before I found out what place Micah finished...but he got a nice high five from his little bro!!!

And what was Zoe doing whilst I was captivated by Micah's athletic feats??

Rolling balls on the ramp...

Climbing the stands...

Eating candy...

Climbing up on the railings...

Playing Ring Around the Rosie with Katie...

Sliding in the dirt...

Track meets are so much fun!!

Dental Health

I guess we need to brush Zoe's teeth!  They're looking a bit blackish gray!

Oh no, look at all those cavities!

The culprit?  Black jelly beans!!

Recap: Easter Sunday

Just another lazy Sunday...as evidenced by Shammy...

and Grandpa Norman...

Meanwhile back in the kitchen...

Zoe decorates the super yummy carrot cake Grandma Sharon made.

Grandma Eileen joins in on the fun...

Zoe shows off her work...

"Aunt" Angela (really cousin Angela) & Dejan got roped into playing in the sandbox with miss zoe...

Sitting down for Easter Dinner...minus Brian who was winging his way home from Australia.

Dan's ready for dessert!

Chit chatting away and...

sharing stories!!

While the kids learn that you can throw the gel clings (decorative stickers) onto the window and they'll stick!

Zoe then moves on to jumping off the couch into Micah's arms...

Thanks for catching me Micah!

And Shammy follows around the one admitted non-dog person in the house! (We all know Teresa gives shammy people food on the sly!) In a second, shammy's gonna start really leaning into Teresa! Or nudge her hand with her cold nose begging for some petting!

Thanks to my bros and Grandma Sharon for being my dishwashers and house cleaners and for all your help in my husband's absence!

And I escaped being in any picture!!! =)

Easter Basket Hunt!

When I was a kid, the Easter Bunny never just placed our baskets full of treats in plain sight.  The Easter Bunny (E.B. for short) cleverly hid our baskets in the house only leaving clues behind and sending us kids on a wild goose chase to find them. 

A tradition that continued when E.B. came to our house for a visit this year.  Zoe got so excited when she got a note from E.B.  It took her a second to figure out what was going on but then  had a blast running around the house.  Of course she had more fun finding the notes than actually finding her basket!

You can follow the hunt with this series of videos...(just click the arrows to play.)

I missed taping the 1st clue which read:

Your Easter Basket can't be found

You must look and look and look around

First find daddy's office chair that spins around!

(Note the shout outs to Grandma Sharon and Grandpa Norm!)

*short break to go upstairs*

and now join us upstairs...

**oops, we had a little shoe incident...rejoin us after the clean-up**

And here she is posing with her basket...

I think this tradition will have to continue for quite some time.

Zoe and her Easter Bunny...

"And here is my singing bunny that I love so much!!!"

Easter 2006

Easter 2007

Easter 2008

Easter 2009

Why does she have to grow up so fast?

By the way, Zoe cried and cried when I packed away the bunny this year...it was so sad.  It made my heart ache.  She loves that bunny so much!

Easter Egg Hunt!

The day before Easter, my friends "E-Lo" & "Uncle D", held a big Easter Egg Hunt in their backyard for their family & friends' kids.  

E-Lo planned it all out very carefully...each kid had their own colored bag and looked for eggs in their assigned color.  Zoe had pink, of course.  It was an easy choice since there was only one other girl in the sea of boys!!

 

Let the hunt begin...

Found it!!

Uncle D gives a hand to Zoe up the hill...

and points her in the right direction.

Got it!!
 

Searching and searching for more eggs...

Zoe takes a step back to survey all the activity.

Hey, I think I found one!

Yup...

Got it!

Taking a moment to inspect all the trinkets and candy

After the egg hunt, we feasted on way too much food and delicious birthday cake for Uncle D.  Just look how content and independent my child is...hey, wait Zoe, what are you eating???

Big globs of butter cream frosting!  Oh my!

Thanks E-Lo and Uncle D for the hospitality and the feast and the fun!!!