emotional vomiting

I took this picture in Holmes County Ohio. Right smack dab in the middle of Amish country. The next picture I stood in the same place and took a picture of the same farmhouse, only I used a fisheye lens.

An hour from my house, it’s a whole ‘nother world.

Chipotle Burrito Bol. Chicken. Black Beans. Fresh Salsa. Cheese. Eaten with nachos, not a fork.

The sound of the girls giggling in bed at night. Even when they should be sleeping.

Cool grass under my bare feet. The kind thats soft, not pokey.

Spring peepers, the chirp of kill deer, and fire flies.

Being so inspired it’s physically hard to contain.

Bonfires. The way they make my hair and clothes smell the day after.

A Stewart’s Orange and Cream Soda.

A puppy’s sweet breath.

When someone else cleans my kitchen.

Baking cookies or decorating cakes.

How my Dad is my biggest fan.

How my God saw fit to bless me so.

After a long hard day of sitting and sweating in the moist air of Ohio. I like to sit down and shoot some pics with my new d80. Did I mention that to anyone yet? Yeah, a d80.

I know. I know.

Here is Reggie, playing sprinkler hopscotch. In a tummy exposing tankini. Avert your eyes.

Here you go folks. My D80.

It’s. Here. In. My. Hands.

Tonight.

I ran outside (in the rain.) To take a pic for you. No touch up. No photoshop. SOOC. (Straight out of camera.)

I am deliriously overwhelmed by the buttony doo daddy-ness of this glorious chunk of plastic and glass.

The manual? HUGE! The number of indicators on the LED screen? Too many to count. This is one serious camera my brothers and sisters, and I am sadly underqualified.

But come’on now people! Look at those raindrops! I was over 5 feet away from that leaf! Hello? Can I get an amen?

#3. Rope Swings. (Picture taken by Mackenzie.)

#2. BBQ’s.

#1. Flip. Flops.

Hello, chalk on the sidewalk.

Goodbye, number two pencil.

Hello, picnics on the grass.

Goodbye, lukewarm lunches on foam trays.

Hello, summer.

It’s been a while.

Goodbye, Champion Public Schools.

See you in 92 days.

Someone found their sisters dress up make up. Hmm. What a natural beauty, huh?

So, the other day, Alina, my oldest lil gal had a spring band concert.

Her and all her fellow band geeks put on a 7 song show for the community. And it was really good! 9 months ago, Alina had never even picked up an instrument. And the first time she tried to use her flute, she couldn’t even get one note to come out. And the same went for all the other kids up there with her. And i must say, they all sounded fantastic.

Even Reese was getting into all the groovy tunes. She was dancing around. Clapping her chubby hands to the beat. And shakin that diaper tushie. Occasionally, Reese would shout out,” Yeah, Lina! Woo!” Then everyone turned around and gave us disapproving looks. (Which we ignored.) It was a fun nite all around.

It’s so weird and wonderful watching the growth of my oldest child. I am continually proud of her. And her tooting ability.