Family Vacation!

I can't express just how much fun my family had on our vacation to Eastern Oregon on the 4th. You will just have to judge for yourself from the expressions on the faces of all the kids (and adults). I got to put myself to a challenge trying to take pictures of kids on rafts in a moving boat!! It was so much fun but so hard!!

If you have never seen Wallowa Lake, you gotta make it a priority. It is such a beautiful area.

A HUGE thank you to my really good friend, Kris and her husband Steve, for putting this all together for us to enjoy and for sharing all your wonderful toys with all of us. It was so nice to make new friends also. Everyone's kids were so well behaved..... even mine didn't do too bad. Yahoo.

Kris and I knew my youngest had the time of her life when she said, while riding on the back of a jetski, "this is better than sticking my head out the car window". We got a big laugh out of that one. Both my girls giggled the entire time on those jetskis.

Sorry about posting so many pictures but I couldn't decide which one's to put on here. I have so many more to go through yet. I took over 300 pictures.

This is how we all felt at the end of the day.... DOG TIRED!!

K-9 Competition

Today I got to practice some action shots with a K-9 competition. It was a lot of fun to take pictures of these amazing dogs.

There were 10 participants from various agencies. The overcast skies were also perfect conditions!

I just wanted to share a few.

OH MY GOSH!

I had to use that title because I was in awe over the beauty of this baby girl and her wonderful brother.

Thank you so much for bringing them in to me. You sure have a very helpful, responsible son on your hands. He was so patient while we tried to get that beautiful smile from Ms. D.

Here is just a little sneak peek for you. I will have the rest ready very soon.

New Addition!

Well, we have a new addition to my family. We've added this beautiful 2 year old boxer. He is doing quite well with his other 2 buddies (boxer and a labrador).

Just thought I would share a quick photo of him. Meet Justice!

Fun on the Ranch

My daughter was all smiles again when she had a riding lesson yesterday at the ranch. I think it just makes her so happy which makes this mom so happy. I couldn't stop smiling with her and my heart was just filled with joy. She did extremely well especially since it had been so long since she last rode. She even got to make her favorite clicking noise and of course the horse trotted for her.

I'm so proud of you, baby! Yes, you will always be my baby!
I also had to share my other daughter's recent progress. She is very happy to be back at the ranch after a long riding season "indoors".

ADDICTION!!

Ok, since I am really addicted to making these hats, I decided to get a little more creative with taking pictures of them so here are a few outdoor shots. These and others can be found on my etsy site HERE

Hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial day holiday last weekend and cheers to warmer, sunnier weather!!

Just for you Oregon Duck fans!! I'm preparing some for the upcoming football season.

More Hats!

I bet y'all thought I had finally burned out on making these hats. Well, you are wrong. I still cannot stop!! I wonder if they have a counseling group for crocheters?? hehe. Anywho, here are a few more hats.


Keep in mind it is difficult to take shots of round hats on a light stand. :0

What's on my Mind..... AUTISM

Why is Autism so difficult to understand??

I have never been too good about sharing my feelings on autism but part of me is ready to do that today. I hope I don't go overboard but if you are out there reading this, I thank you for taking the time to let me share my feelings.

I am sure many of you out there know how frustrating parenting a child with autism can be. We've been thru many hoops and my daughter has made tremendous leaps and bounds but I also know we have a long and bumpy road ahead of us. Today's society isn't so forgiving of our little angels.

She is a very exuberant, vivacious little girl who has no worries in the world.... according to her. She thinks everyone is her best friend. She greets everyone with a smile but after seeing her peers turn their backs on her with her overly friendly personality, I have to ask myself what happened in this society for it not to be ok to be friendly? I know there is a line that needs to not be crossed and at least she has stopped hugging strangers at the grocery store but I just can't bear to think that I have to change something about her in order to help her make friends. She is over bearing and has NO friends. What would your life be without friends? It is obvious that she cannot decode facial expressions and body language.

While I was doing some research on socialization, I read that most special needs children have the best manners because of the setting they are placed into and the expectations and standards set forth in that classroom. I can't think of anything I am more proud of as her parent than for her to be known as having great manners.

I pushed for her to be integrated into the general ed classroom and overall she has done just wonderful except for socialization. I realize that there will need to be lots of things she is just going to have to learn the hard way but as her parent it is difficult to know when that time should be. I came across this article below which I found to be both interesting and true.

"Unfortunately, many times children with autism become an easy target for bullies who cause them physical and emotional harm. Other classmates, who may be nice enough themselves, may still go along with cruel jokes or name calling at the expense of a child with autism just because they don’t want to be ostracized from their peers."

Ok, I am done for now.

Mr. Frog

Ok, I have a new favorite..... meet Mr. Freddie Frog! I have to admit that I had help with this one from my WONDERFUL MIL. She has so much creativity that it just makes me so jealous. I crocheted the hat and she did the eyes and legs with felt. He has removable eyes and legs(velcro for washing the hat) and the legs can be velcro together under the chin to fit a child.

He will be on my ETSY site later today so if you are in the market for cute hat for your child or for a photography prop, check it out at my http://www.photonut.etsy.com/

Lil' Ladybug!!

Well, I have a new favorite hat. I just finished this very tiny newborn size ladybug hat. As most of you can see, I have gone crazy crocheting hats. They are sure stacking up but I cannot seem to stop!! I didn't know whether to laughed out loud or hit him but my father in law said I was just getting ready to be "old".
Anyway........
www.photonut.etsy.com