Photography

My photography class just wrapped up.  I learned a lot from this class.  I highly recommend it if anyone is looking to learn how to use their DSLR camera better.  I'm not really a read the manual and you'll figure it out type of person.  I like asking questions on what I read and the forum in the class allowed for ample opportunity to ask questions without feeling like the questions were too naive.

I now have a short list of items I'd like to add to my camera equipment...which means I'll have to save up my money because none of it is cheap.  The good thing is I only really want one lens and then I'll feel like I have pretty much everything I need to take the photos I want.  I'll have to get on that yard sale I keep talking about to raise the money for the lens.  Maybe this will be just what I need to find the time to pull the yard sale together!

I also learned that I would not be great at taking a degree program online.  It's really quite hard to learn that way - keeping track of the conversations on the forum, holding myself accountable for finishing the reading and assignments on time.  I liked it for a hobby class, but for a degree class it is not my preferred mode of learning.  Good to know but not a big deal since I do not plan on going back to school!

Here are two photos I took of Chris while working on an assignment.  He was a really good sport to pose for me since he is not too fond of the camera.  Lucky for me it didn't take too long to get some nice photos.

Thank you, Chris, for all your support in pursuing my photography passion.  This is one of the many, many reasons I'm so happy you chose me.

Hopeful Parents

My monthly post is up over at Hopeful Parents.  Click here to view it.

Playground Fun

Our family believes in taking full advantage of our local park system.  Although we are still finding our way around the parks in our new area we have a few that are our go to places for a guaranteed good time.

Smith Playground is a family favorite and an amazing playground for children of all abilities.  It is a playground that both girls can have a lot of fun at together.  And it provides lots of people watching opportunities for the busy-body in our family (ahem....Emma!).

There is a really great swing that is a saucer and the girls can lay down or sit on it together while I push it.  I really love this swing and it seems that all the children in the park do, too, since there is often a line up of children waiting a turn.  I don't know of any other local parks in our area with a saucer swing so we are heavy users of it when we do visit Smith Playground.

There is also a new age see saw where the girls can sit next to each other while I help to bounce it up and down along with spinning teacups and lots of imagination/play structures in the Tot Lot.  One thing you can have fun in while still in the wheelchair is a swaying structure.  I usually pretend that I'm surfing and Emma thinks it's funny.  It also helps that there is a great view of the spinning round thing from her location.

Julia on the spinning round thing

There is a path all around the playground to make it easy to push a wheelchair.  There are some large hills, though, so you better be holding on to the handle when going down them unless your child is a thrill seeker like Emma and loves a bit of freefall wheeling....just kidding, Chris!

My Grandmom loved to sit on her porch and look out the window and see what everyone on her street was up to and Emma is so much like her!  I usually take advantage of that characteristic and put her on regular swings on her belly to work on strengthening her neck muscles.  There is NO WAY she is about to keep her face looking down at the ground and gets some amazing neck workout by lifting it up to see all the playground action.

The playground also has an enclosed wooden slide.  It's the kind that you use a burlap bag to slide down and produces lots and lots of giggles.  It's quite a hit with the kids and I have to admit I enjoy going down it as well.  There is a really nice ramp that leads to almost the top of the slide, but it's cumbersome since you don't slide down with the wheelchair and it's a long way back to the top if you are carrying your child.  I mentioned this on the playground's Facebook page and found out that there is a separate entrance for wheelchair users!  How amazing is that!  I can't wait to try it out at our next visit!  
 

Keeping it Real

I was watching an episode of Everybody Loves Raymond the other day and found myself wondering whatever happened to that brand of family on tv.  You know - the kind with the house where sentimental keepsakes and little kid artwork are found in just about every room?  It seems lately all I see on tv are extra large houses, decorated very trendy and no clutter anywhere. 

Before we moved we sold or gave away A SERIOUS amount of stuff.  We have been in this house for about 8 months now and I've managed to accumulate a large pile of more things to sell or give away.  I'm keeping them all in a pile on our basement floor and I plan on getting them tagged or on Craigslist in dribs and drabs.  We also have some unopened boxes from the move.  I think they are due to be added to the pile.  

It feels great to declutter and repurpose items rather than just allowing the stuff to stack up for "someday when I get time to look through it...."  Maybe there really is something to the idea of spring cleaning after all.  Just don't expect me to part with my sentimental keepsakes or children's artwork all over the house.  To me that's what makes a house a home :-)

Happy Easter!

Easter is one of my favorite holidays.  And it's not because of the candy - although everyone in our house does enjoy the treats the Easter Bunny leaves us each year.

We've been celebrating Easter the traditional way - Church, dyeing eggs, having egg hunts, eating candy.  Wishing everyone a wonderful Easter Season!