The Best of 2010: June

It's funny.  You can always tell where I am and what's been going on in my life over the last month by the pics that show up in the "Best Of" collection.  June was all about sports, beaches and the start of summer...

I wanted to try an exercise in perspective that I saw a friend of mine do.  I took several shots of my son jumping off this log.  Each time he jumped, I placed myself in a different position, standing up, on my knees, off to the left, and so on....This one, taken with me laying on the ground, turned out to be my favorite.

My parents have a pool in their backyard.  The goal is always to have it open for swimming by Memorial Day, but the weather never seems to cooperate.  This year it was the second weekend in June that we finally got to dive in and enjoy the water.

My in-laws all joined us for a beach weekend over Father's Day.  It was great to have everyone out there, especially because my niece is such a great playmate for my daughter.  They jumped over wave after wave together until they were both soaking wet.  I loved this image of them, and I ended up submitting it to King 5 News.  They linked it to a story on their website about the summer weather finally arriving in our area....Cool.

 

I don't know if this requires any words other than "I love my son."

June brought me back to the football field for Spring Practices and a Jamboree.  It was great to see the guys again.  Got me excited for the season to start again in September.  GO BLUE!

I saw this woman at one of my son's baseball games this month.  Totally decked out for a ride, looking very athletic and in shape...smokin' a cigarette.  Huh?....I had to laugh at the irony, and, of course, I had to take her picture.

Grandma bought a fun, fluffy skirt and we had to have our picture taken in it.  Every time she wears it now, we all say "Skirty Girl!"

We said goodbye to the Giants this month.  It was a great season.  Probably the best that we've ever been a part of.  I shot this image of one of the girls during the last run through the kids made under the "Parent Tunnel" at the end of final game.

I took my daughter with me on a coffee date this month with the idea that she'd be able to splash in the fountain while my friend and I were talking.  The sun was shining, but the water wasn't running, so after coffee, we went across the street to the water park where she got to kick off her shoes and do a little splashdancing.

We also said goodbye to the 2nd Grade this month.  It was a great year for my son, the best on record.  We took this same picture of him on the first day of school, same stairs, same position, same outfit even. 

Have I mentioned how much I love the beach?....These last few were shot on the same day.  The first two during the same walk along the shore and back home again.  Both of them are on the wall in the beach house...

This sunset was funny.  It started off pretty run of the mill.  A little pink, a little blue...whatever.  Then we started to see the reflection of the sky in the windows of the house next door.  It was looking really dramatic, but we just thought it was the reflection creating the color.  When we got up to look, we found this outside the window.....

Biker Babes

While we were having a Girls' Day (Target shopping and McDonald's), the guys got together for a Boys' Day (Gregg Greenlake Cycle shopping and Wendy's).  They beat us home and had a pinkilicious surprise waiting for one of the girly girls....

So, then my son had to get in on the game and give this whole bike-riding thing a go....with a little help from Auntie Leslie.

I can tell already that this is going to be one of those classic images that they'll pull out 20 years from now and remember that summer they all learned how to ride bikes around the front yard together....

Life's A Beach....

We officially welcomed the start of summer with a long family weekend at the beach.  The sun didn't share its rays with us too often, but don't think for a minute that that stopped any of us from rolling up our pants, kicking off our shoes and digging in for some fun in the sand and surf....

My nephew found the skeleton of what my son called "a fish that only swims in the deep dark water"....

My niece had to help Grandpa stay warm on the beach.  He's from Arizona, so the wind was a little too much for him.....

Mmmm....Campfire!

This trailer was parked a few spaces down from us.  I just loved the flag flying from a stick, and the boat sitting in back.  Combine that with the awning and the picnic table, and it was just too perfect to pass up.

Poor Mojo.  The dog-phobia my kids suffer from made it nearly impossible for him to come out and enjoy the camp.

This was just the best part of my day....

Big Sis arrived with poppers, so Nicholas and Dad had to try them out.

He could literally sit there all day waiting for those fish.  He just loved it...and he ended up with 5 in his bucket!

Grandma and Brianna had a chance to catch up during their long walk on the beach.

Tina found a HUGE cockle clam just sitting in the water.

Mud....and sand.  On his clothes.  In his hair.  And in his ears....

And, of course, let's not forget the special guy we love everyday and celebrated over the weekend....DADDY!!

Last Day Of....

SCHOOL!  We have been counting down to this day for 180 wake-ups.  The teachers in our district went on a three week strike back in September.  To make up for the lost class time, we missed out on our full winter, mid-winter and spring breaks.  And you really don't realize how much you need those breaks until you don't get them.  Don't get to sleep in.  Don't get to just stand around and drink coffee watching the "Today" show.  Don't have to struggle to get breakfast eaten, teeth brushed, clothes on, out the door and not be, attendance sheet forbid, tardy.  Yes, we're ready for school to be over this year.  It's been a good one.  A lot of work.  A lot of homework struggles, but also a lot of learning and growth and development.  So, to my little love bundle I would like to say congratulations on a 2nd Grade well done!  We LOVE you!!  You are one truly amazing kid and you make us grateful everyday that we are your parents....Now get in the car and let's head for the sand.  It's summer!!!

Friday Night Lights ~ Tahoma Jamboree

Okay, so it wasn't Friday.  It was Saturday.  And there weren't any lights really, because it was early evening and the sun was still shining.  Although I wish there were lights.  Would have helped me out a bit.  Haven't done the football thing in about six months and was kind of out of practice.  I left the house in sunglasses, but when I got to the stadium, over half the field was in the shade....and me without my flash.  Great being back on the turf again, though.  I thought the guys looked great.  It's always a lot of fun to watch them, and listen to them, and capture them in these moments that are so defining for their youth.

GO BLUE!!