Happy Birthday Dennis!

Today (American time) is my Dad's birthday! Happy Birthday!!!

Well things have not really been as productive as I had hoped now that I am unemployed. I had hoped to have the cupboards all pulled out and sorted, bedrooms cleaned out, bathrooms.. you get the idea!
Liberty is having a bit of a hard time adjusting to school... She misses me... I thought she only "Missed" me before and after school, but she was miserable yesterday and I almost brought her home. It does pull at the heart strings. I thought she would have had no worries at all with school, she has suprised us all.

Last weekend I shot a wedding and a family portrait. So I have over 1000 images to sort through and edit. The image above belongs in the Family Portrait group. Pepi (Pepsi, as I call her) is one of the most well behaved and trained dogs I have ever known.

I went to bed last night knowing I would wake up with a charming cold... and I have! YAY!

Aussie paper wasp

We had a great weekend away at Green Oak.

Swimming in the perfect water. fishing. relaxing. chatting. eating. laughing. just perfect!

Until the last hour...

I had an encounter with what we think is an Australian paper wasp.



He came from behind and hit me with what felt like the force of a golf ball. I could even feel the poison going through me. Nasty thing! As I ran screaming, like the girl that I am, I found myself ripping off my shirt screaming for someone to get the stinger out. Turns out there was nothing in me, it just felt like I had 100 thistles in my back.

I would like to apologize to my friends for seeing me rip my clothing off, I hope I have not scared you or your children for life. I would like to thank Matt and Jase for defending my honor and distroying this nest of pain! This nest was on the outside of the shower room. I must say we were pretty lucky that they didn't venture into the shower... that could have been a very bad sight!!! :)

I didn't take many photos over the weekend, but I did get one of Shawn surfing behind the boat.

Camera play time.

Yesterday was a pretty sad day... Our beloved Pittsburgh Steelers lost the Super Bowl. Matt had the day off and we had our own party. We decided while the game is on that we will go and do a tour of Heinz Field, the home of the Steelers when we go over next.

On other news. I have now had a full week of unemployment. I am still yet to catch up with the Forrester's, actually today is my first day at home. I have baked, washed and folded. I think I like paid work slightly better... :)

I made some time to play with my camera a few days ago. This is a really neat trick I came across. Tape baking paper against a window and position your object in front of it. It apparently works best with leaves that you can see light through, so an Autumn leaf would be ideal. This is a garlic flower. I had to tape it so that it was not flat against the paper or it would have looked false.
I am looking forward to finding some interesting leaves!

All dressed up.

Today my baby went to big school. It was so lovely, we all walked over to school together. As we walked along the fence to get to the office, lots of Libertys friends came over to say 'hello'. It is so wonderful, I know it is a great school and I am so confident that if she is ever lost, lonely or just having a bad she has a great support network in her friends!

Shawn went back to school on Monday, he is now in year 5.... YEAR 5!!?! he is a very proud brother having his sister at school.






This is how things looked this time last year...




Today I am a very proud Mummy.