The M Family

Home From School

This week's photo challenge theme at Simplicity is "School."

My kiddos aren't back in school for another week and a half yet (Yikes! Can it really be that close already?!), but I took this shot last May. The Youngest and I were outside, and I was playing around with my camera when the bus pulled up to drop off the 4 oldest after school. Think the Youngest is excited to have them back home? :)

Summer Continues

Yes, it's still summer, although I'd be much happier if it was June or even July rather than August already. I am NOT ready for school to start again at the end of the month! At any rate, I'm going to enjoy the summer break while we have it.

The theme for the week at You Capture is "Summer." Last weekend we went camping with a group of people from our church. The campground had a pool, and we spent a LOT of time there, and I took a bunch of pictures that fit You Capture's theme.

Jumping in the pool quickly became the activity of choice for the boys.




When Hubby and I first tried to coax the Youngest to jump in the pool into Hubby's arms, Hubby practically had to pull him in. The second time the Youngest kept squatting down, and we kept telling him to stand up and jump. He squatted and stood about 5 times before jumping in. After that, jumping in was almost all he wanted to do!


Look at our big muscles!


Our water nymphs

Splash Pad

The other week I took the kids over to our town's new splash pad and was able to capture some fun memories.

(My submission for another "Blue" theme, this time over at the Thursday Challenge)

(My submission for "Pure Joy" at Perceptive Perspective)
***UPDATED to say that I won this photo challenge!

I'm also submitting both of these pictures for Simplicity's "Summer" theme.

Racehorse

Hubby's parents and grandparents live in a town where there is a horse track. A couple of years ago we happened to be there during racing season. One morning Hubby, his dad, the kids, and I went down to the track to watch the horses train. I snapped this pic as one of the horses galloped by.

I know it's not the best pic, and I can't crop it any more or it will be even grainier (I took it with a digital point & shoot.), but I think it's pretty neat how I captured the horse with all 4 hooves in the air.



"Horses" is the theme over at Unique Exposure. Head on over there to see more of these beautiful animals.

Hang Time

PhotoHunt's theme for the week is "Hanging". I thought this pic I took of our Youngest swinging fit the theme well. (This is the way he normally swings.)



I tried panning when taking this shot, attempting to keep the Youngest in focus while blurring the background to show motion.

Be sure to check out PhotoHunt to see more "Hanging" pictures.

Kick

Paper Mama's photo challenge: Take or find a photo of your baby (or kid... or puppy... or kitty). Let's see some movement for this challenge! Take any sort of action shot.

Oldest Son and Middle Child kicking a ball back and forth in our driveway


For more action shots, visit Paper Mama.

Summer Fun

The new photo theme at Thematic Photographic is "Summer". (Click the link to see more summer photograph submissions.)

Nothing says "Summer" to me more than kids playing in the sprinkler and running around in their swimsuits having waterfights.

Waterfights are serious business


Garbage can lids make great shields


Last second decision to go around the sprinkler


Sprinkler hair washing
(our girls and the neighbor girls)

Our Family on Vacation

Thanks for being so patient while I've been going through all the pictures I took while on our vacation to Glacier, cropping and editing them.

This week's photo theme at Thematic Photographic is "Family." (Click on the link to see more participants in the "Family" theme.)

I've chosen "family" as this week's Thematic Photographic theme because as time goes on, I realize little else matters beyond this. It's the one constant in most of our lives, the one foundation on which all the other good things - career, health, interests, etc. - are ultimately built. Many of us are lucky to be surrounded by strong families, while others, sadly, wish that could be the case.

Since I tend to wear the family thing on my sleeve, anyway, I thought it might be fun to explore it for the next week. As you both capture and choose which photos to share - and let's be clear, you're free to participate as often as you wish - please give some thought to the definition of family. Specifically, it doesn't always necessarily have to be someone directly related to you.

What better way to showcase some of my favorite pics of some of my favorite people from our trip?

We stayed at the Izaak Walton Inn. It had a pool table in the basement that got much use from us in the mornings, especially by our Oldest Son.

We stopped at many lakes and rivers while on our trip. The kids (and Hubby) had fun playing on their shores.

Something for everyone to do

Looking for treasures

I counted to three and all three boys were supposed to throw a rock in the water at the same time. This shot looks like an image progression of the a toss instead.

All tuckered out after a long day of hiking

The main reason we went to Glacier was to see the mountains.
(Hubby took this picture of our Middle Child at Logan Pass.)

We walked the Trail of the Cedars. Here the kids are resting like bumps on a log.

I like this pic because it shows their different personalities:Oldest=trepidacious
Younger Daughter=a bit of a diva/princess
Youngest=happy and willing to go along with whatever the big kids are doing
Oldest Son=does NOT like having his picture taken unless it's his idea
Middle Child=goofy personality and doesn't care what others think (Just look at the socks!)

Our family at Many Glacier

(We asked someone who was standing nearby to take this picture of all of us.)

Our bookend children taking a rest while on one of our many hikes

Unique Exposure: Stopped Motion

It's summer ... time for fun in the sun with water!



Got to Unique Exposure for more awesome "Stopped Motion" shots.