Hands-on science fun

I mentioned in one of my earlier posts that the weather didn’t always cooperate during my sister’s visit.  We had rain a couple of times and extreme heat a couple of other days.  One of the things we really wanted to do with them while they were here was go to the zoo.  Unfortunately, though, on the day we had planned for the zoo, temps were in the upper 90’s with heat indexes of about 110.  Not great zoo weather for people or the animals we were hoping to see.  So we went to plan B which was to visit a local science museum for children.

The kids had fun playing, learning and discovering…

Katelyn and my mom learning all about how tornadoes are formed…

The climbing wall was a bit hit…

And so was the giant slide (it takes the kids from the upper level to the lower) – with the exception of the goofy clothing they had the kids wear!  Andrew was gracious enough to allow me to take his picture and even told me later he didn’t mind if I posted them!  What a great sport!

Katelyn’s turn for the slide!  She later said it was much faster than she thought it would be!

Overall, it was a fun day of learning and playing … and we stayed cool!

Just some words about my favorite place…

We’ve had reservations for six months.

Our favorite vacation spot.

A whole week!

Biking, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, resting…

Getting away, gaining fresh perspective, making memories, recharging…

Camping!

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

Michigan!

Dancing in the rain!

Last Saturday we had a nice steady rain.  Although it started off as a storm, the thunder and lightning quickly moved out leaving gentle falling rain – perfect for playing and dancing in.

This series of pictures are silly and fun and make me smile…

I love how my kids were willing to act goofy and have fun and be spontaneous in the midst of a storm.  They embraced the bad weather.  This inspires me.  I tend to be a curl-up-and-hide sort of girl when faced with a storm.  I want to be the type who dances in the rain instead.

You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.  You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent.  O LORD my God, I will give thanks forever!  [Psalm 30:11-12]

Bowling

We had great plans for my sister’s visit to Indiana … a day at our favorite beach, a trip to our local zoo.  But, the weather didn’t always cooperate with our plans over the weekend and neither did Joel’s health for that matter as we found ourselves in the ER on Sunday morning thanks to a kidney stone!  Regardless of the weather, however, and before Joel’s kidney stone episode, we were able to enjoy an afternoon of bowling.

We got two lanes … one with bumpers for the kids and one without for the adults.  Although I probably would’ve had much more success with the bumpers!  I don’t bowl often enough to ever be any good at it.  Occasionally, I get lucky and have a kind-of-okay game.  That was not the case this time, however.  I stunk!  Thankfully, I was in pretty good company!  None of us did great besides my dad who was just thrilled to break 100! 

Despite the low scores, though, we really had a fun time together as a family.  I’ll let the pictures tell the rest of the story…

My sister & I

I just love this picture of my sister, Amy, and I – taken on the last night of her visit with us.  Joel snapped it with my new 50mm 1.4 lens, which I just love, and then I gave it a clean edit and a slight crop before I finished it off with a few of my new favorite actions from Pure Photoshop Actions.

My sister is pretty amazing!  She’s juggling a lot of different things in her life right now and although it isn’t always easy for her, she continues to plug away towards her goal of becoming a nurse, while at the same time being a wife and mommy!  I’m proud of you, Amy!  You’re doing a great job and I love you!

Cousin Cuteness!

My sister and her boys are currently on their way back to Colorado after a week long visit.  We’ve had so much fun over the past several days and it was hard to say goodbye last night, especially because it might be a year before we see each other in person again.

Thankfully, though, we have lots of memories to hold close to our hearts until the next time.  Memories of bowling, playing in the rain, running through the sprinklers, swimming in the pool, exploring Science Central, watching movies, playing with legoes and lightsabers and transformers … memories of just being together!

Stay tuned for lots more pictures of cousin time…

[To see more sweet shots, you can just click here to visit Sweet Shot Tuesday at Life with my 3 Boybarians.]

A massage, a flower and peace

Maybe it’s because of the soft color tones, but this picture says “peace” to me.

And when I think of the word “peace,” I think of Psalm 34:8 … Taste and see that the LORD is good!  Oh the joys of those who take refuge in him!  Or as another version says … “Blessed is the man that trusteth in him!”

Either way, when I take refuge in him … trust him, I feel peace.

Yesterday I was able to enjoy a wonderful hour-long massage for the first time in many years.  And the whole time I was laying there I kept thinking back to a similar time many years ago when I was laying on the very same table.  The difference was that on that previous visit, although I enjoyed my massage thoroughly, it took me nearly the entire appointment to fully relax.  I was tense and stiff and tied in knots over the circumstances of life.

Yesterday, however, was completely different.  I was relaxed, my muscles were limber, my heart was calm.  I was at peace.

And I enjoyed my massage so much more than had I been fighting the process.

Yep, being at peace … and taking refuge in the LORD is a great place to be!

Little creatures

One thing I love using my macro lens for is to capture little creatures.  There’s a certain challenge involved in capturing a tiny, flying creature and there’s much intrigue involved in seeing the tiniest of details – sometimes naked to my eye – come through so clearly through the lens of my camera.  I love seeing the intricacy and detail in the bodies and wings … it puts me more in awe of our Creator.  What an imagination he has!

Psalm 50:11 … I know every bird in the mountains, and the insects of the fields are mine.

A shout out to my honey who captured the last two shots.  I was in the pool with the kids when he spotted the red dragonfly.  Since it was different than any other dragonfly I’ve captured this year, he ran for the camera (yep, I think I’ve trained him well!).  Didn’t he do a great job capturing the amazing detail?  I especially love seeing how the wings are attached to the body.  And those wings?  I’m just in awe!

Sweet Shot Tuesday

I think it’s been a few weeks since I’ve linked up to Sweet Shot Tuesday.  But when I captured these shots last week, I instantly knew what I’d be sharing for this week’s link up.

I just love these flowers – especially the contrast between the bright, vivid colors of the center of the flower compared to the soft, subtle color of the flower itself.  In fact, they remind me of fire and ice … hot and cold.  They are just so pretty!

All three shots:  100mm … f/2.8 … ISO 100 … 1/100

If you want to take a look at some other “sweet shots,” you can check them out at Life With My 3 Boybarians.  Thanks for stopping by!

Our night on the lake…

We spent last evening staying cool on the lake.  There was lots of smiling…

Lots of floating…

Lots of splashing…

More floating…

More splashing…

Some posing for pictures…

Lots of swimming…

And even a little bit of pouting…

With temperatures in the upper 90’s and heat indexes in the low 100’s predicted for this week, I think there is going to be a whole lot more swimming, splashing, floating, smiling, posing for pictures, and possibly pouting (hopefully not too much though!).