Capturing October: Cozy

October 27, 2013 Molly 1 Comment

We finally kicked Gus out of our bedroom. He is not a good sleeper. He wakes up often. Not totally awake, but just enough that he moves around or talks and wakes us up. I couldn’t do it any more.

He’s now in our guest room. It will be easy enough to set up the pack and play in our room when we have company, and we will get better sleep the rest of the time! On top of that, our guest room is more out of the way in our house, so he’s less likely to wake up from other people moving around in our house. Yay!

We went to Oregon Trail Nature Park today. Aaron and I have been here a couple of times, but we’ve never taken the kids before.

There’s a long hike up, up, up.

And then you get this “lovely” view.

Welcome to Kansas, y’all. We have beautiful sites. Overlooks for our energy plants.

There’s a bench, where you can sit on your brother’s lap.

Then, we went to a little lake to wait for it to get dark enough to capture the stars. Aaron found this area, which is supposed to be one of the best places to see the stars. We planned to camp here for my birthday a few weeks ago but the weather never cooperated.

This sky was beautiful.

Waiting patiently.

It was perfect.

I love the Milky Way. I think it looks like the sky is being ripped apart, but in the most beautiful way.

And then we took our covered wagon home.

Everyday Life, Photography, Project 365

Capturing October: Landscape (and Lena’s Award)

October 26, 2013 Molly 4 Comments

My day was SO busy. My only guaranteed free daylight minutes were about 40 minutes from the time I dropped R&L off at school until we went back to school for an assembly. So, Gus and I drove out in to the country and I took a few quick photos while he yelled “I’m cold!” from the van.

Frost and fog all around. Beautiful, but definitely things I DON’T love about fall.

After we were done, we quickly headed back to the school for an assembly. Lena was getting a success award! Each teacher at the school picks one kid a month to be honored for their success in the classroom.

This was totally a sappy, proud mom moment for me. Yes, 8 of other kids in her class will also receive this award this year, but for Lena, it’s truly spectacular. Life hasn’t exactly been easy to her. We’ve always recognized that she is special, but in a class of 15 kids, SHE is exceptional.

We met her 3 years ago in November. At almost 3 years old, she was still a baby. Tiny in stature. She could only speak the few words we taught her– “Mama”, “Papa”, “Cracker”. Her gait was stiff and awkward and her run was a slow shuffle. After her third birthday, when we introduced her to our extended family, they said “are you sure she didn’t just turn 2, not 3?!” Yes, we’re sure.

Here’s what her teacher wrote about her for today’s award: “I would like to nominate Lena for this month’s success award. Lena has shown amazing academic growth so far this year. She has also begun to participate more in class by raising her hand and offering answers. Lena always does the right thing and makes good decisions even if those around her are not. Lena is a smart, wonderful little girl who is a joy to have in class.”

Congrats, my sweet Lena. You are exceptional!

“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:19

Everyday Life, Photography, Project 365

Capturing October: Harvest

October 24, 2013 Molly Leave a comment

I picked this prompt with all of the pumpkins and cornucopias in mind.

I probably should have just photographed the little gourds and pumpkin on our table. We went to pick out some fall decorations last week and I let Reed and Lena each pick out a big pumpkin. Then, I let all 3 of them pick out a little gourd. Gus hadn’t paid much attention when R&L were picking out their big pumpkins. But, he saw the little pumpkins next to the gourds and said “I want a pumpkin, too, ‘eez.” And, when you use full, polite sentences, you get whatever you want!

Anyways, by the time I got a few minutes with my camera, it was getting dark!

And I was standing in a field of soybeans, ready to be harvested.

That’s according to my farmer’s son husband, if anyone was wondering. I know nothing about soybeans. Except that these were soybeans. He can’t recognize crops by their silhouette, apparently.