For Karen

Since there is a stalker on the loose in the family {wink wink}, I figured I'd better post something:

But in case this isn't the one you are looking for, here's a link to the rest!

https://picasaweb.google.com/110058266431247307044/PitcherFamily112212?authuser=0&feat=directlink?noredirect=1

-EBP-

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Parenting Fail!

It was time for a zoo trip.  The forecast was mostly cloudy with a 30% chance of rain.  Perfect for a trip to the zoo in that middle of summer!  The zoo had a Dino exhibit open that I figured John would enjoy.

But THIS is how John spent most of our trip inside the Dino exhibit at the zoo. Uh, parenting FAIL!   After much standing / sitting around in front of the T-Rex, he finally relented to my request for a photo.

You can tell how excited he is, can't you?  And what is up with my hat?  Surely the guy taking the photo could have said something to me about it.  I promised a trip next to the new splash-pad so John brightened up soon after.  Well, and I bought him a cool new triceratops mask to commemorate our trip to see the dinos.

It was hard to tear him away from the splash-pad, but we needed to move on.  I was getting hungry.

I had rented a stroller and while trying to short cut through the lion den where there was only stairs - no ramps (yes, we had to back-track!), we discovered this cheetah sculpture that was yearning to be photographed.  We did finally get some lunch and refreshed, we moved on to see the rest of the zoo.

The only other out of the ordinary things that happened on our trip was that the Kimodo Dragon must have just been fed because he was MOVING.  Every other time we've been to the zoo he's been lying very still sleeping on his favorite rock.  But on this day, he came out of the alcove at a decent pace, sticking his tongue out as he moved along.  He actually seemed pretty interested in the crowd watching and photographing him.

All in all it was a good trip to the zoo.  We did stay much longer than I anticipated, but it wasn't too bad getting home.  Although I could have done without the drama on the way home concerning what I didn't buy JHP at the zoo.  We are working on gratitude, but on this day it was a mute point.

-EBP-

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A Father's Day Gift

John's gotten to the age where he's deciding that gifts are in order for certain occasions.  He was on the right track, but I did steer him a bit for this occasion.

New Hawaiian shirts for Hawaiian Shirt Friday at work!

And a sweet hug as a final gift!

-EBP-

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Every Sunday

This WAS shot on a Sunday.  You would think that it wasn't since there is no one else around.  But on this day we got there early ( in between services) so that Daddy could drive the golf cart that shuttles folks back and forth to their car.

-EBP-

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Birthday #4

It's a tradition a school that everyone gets a birthday hat!  John was pretty excited to get his.  Only one problem...

Now that's much better!  It was funny to see his reaction to having his class sing to him.  He loved the attention!

We brought cupcakes to share with his class.  They were decorated with Transformers candies.

So sweet of him to pose with his Momma on this special day.

Only one problem with the candies, they turned everyone's tongue black.  Oops!

When Daddy got home, John got to open his presents and his cards.

Among the gifts were some Transformers, which he loved.

And some footie pajamas.  Funny thing is that this is only his second pair since he was a toddler.  I never figured he'd like them so I never bought any until he saw them in the store.  He loves them.  He also got some Star Wars Transformers and some t-shirts.  Oh, and his loving family sent him a wad of cash.  Well, for a 4 year old, anyway.

His birthday fell on Family Pizza & Art Show Night at his school.  So I took some cupcakes and we celebrated there.

His was not the only birthday that night.  So we shared our cupcakes!

-EBP-

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A gift from the heart

Sweet, sweet Aunt Susan sent John Harrison a gift that arrived a few days before his birthday.  The Super Bowl was in Indy this year.  Daddy was a bit jealous Aunt Susan didn't send him anything.

And even though it was Valentine's Day, John insisted on wearing it the next day to school.  The kids were only a tad bit sugared up after the class party.

And John managed to keep his shirt clean by avoiding to wipe red frosting on it.  This shirt and hat is a matching set and must be worn together, according to John.

-EBP-

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Reading and pillow fighting

He likes to spend his time in his PJ's on Friday morning.  Mostly since every other day of the week we are dressed and out the door.  His favorite PJ's this winter are the footed kind.  And he loves to curl up for hours and read.  Yes, read.  He's always liked books, but now he can't wait to get new books on our regular bi-weekly library trips.  In January, the director at his preschool tested him at the end of 1st grade reading level.  Um, how did that happen?  We discovered in September or October that his sight words were through the roof for his age.  And then he started picking up all the phonics via Starfall.com, I think.  And boom, he's reading, all on his own.   You even have to be careful if you are reading the paper because he'll read the headlines over your shoulder.  Then you have to explain them.  Have you read the paper lately?  It's not always filled with good stuff.

I just like this little smile so I had to include this photo here.

I think he got this idea from Daddy, but maybe he came up with it on his own.  Those pillows are so heavy I'm surprised he didn't fall over backward.

And now he's all armed for a good old pillow fight.  Except he can't see anything.  Or maybe he can just a little?

Momma, what are you waiting for?  I was ready.

-EBP-

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Got you covered!

I'm not sure what inspired me today.  Maybe because I picked up the camera yesterday and got some "good stuff" or maybe because I'm trying to figure out if the focus issues are me or the camera.  Either way it was a good thing because I captured a photo that I really love.  Maybe because it reminds me of a younger John or maybe because it's so natural and not the contrived faces I see all the time (it seems anyway!).

Since I was taking photos, John paid me the honor of posing.  He likes to pose because then he can make lots of "funny" faces.  Well, he thinks they are funny.  Me, not so much.  But this face, specifically the eyebrows, just kills me.  I'm not sure I can do that to my eyebrows.  Or at least not to that extent.

I took lots more photos, playing with the flash and my technique, while he played with his hot wheels cars.  You can check them out on the Web Albums.

-EBP-

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A little different

I know it's going to be kind of shocking, but I actually took these photos TODAY and here I am already blogging them...

I rented this wide angle lens for a church project.  Now, normally wide angle lenses are used for landscapes or to capture a feeling of an event.  NOT for close-ups of people.  Can you tell why?  My, what big eyes you have?  And nose and mouth...

It's not so bad when you've got a little bit of distance between you.  But, mind you, that's my knee he's resting on.  So sweet!

But get just 8 inches closer and look what happens?

And look how big his feet are now?

One definite advantage:  easy self-portraits of the two of us.  I guess he was getting ready for the picture here.

Oh, he was ready by now.  Lovely face, dude!

And finally a sweet one!  He looks like he's actually enjoying that kiss.  He's such a Momma's boy!  And I really hope he stays that way for a while.

-EBP-

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Ashamed

I'm ashamed to say it.  It's the 11th of January and I've not taken a single photo on my Sony since Dec 27. 

And I've only taken photos once since then - on my phone.  It was the only thing I had with me when we all three went to the zoo on Dec 30.  Forgot the other cameras at home. 

And I can't even tell you when the last time I blogged something current (besides this).  I'm so behind.  But I am slowly rectifying the backlog.  So if you are interested in ancient history then scroll down a few posts.  I'll keep back-filling the old blog here by backdating posts, mostly for my benefit when I finally work on the blog book for 2011.

And if anyone has seen my motivation, can you send it back home to me?

-EBP-

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