It’s another mash-up with Like Mother, Like Daughter’s {pretty, happy, funny, real} and Cari’s Theme Thursday: Self-Portrait. (Skip to the {real} if you want to go directly to that.)

{pretty}

I was at one of our local churches and shot this with my iphone.

{happy}

I was trying out a new salsa recipe last night and took out my camera to take a photo of it. Matthew got excited and kept saying, “Cheese!” until I snapped his photo.

{funny}

The other night  Bella was getting ready for bed while Brian and I were watching a movie. Suddenly this text popped up on my phone. I have many job description as mom. Now I can add Official Spider Squasher to the list.

{real}

This are the photos I am linking up with Cari.

I was not excited about doing a self-portrait as I dread looking at the dark hallows under my eyes and the wrinkles and dark spots popping up on my face. But with my iphone I was able to snap a decent photo in forgiving B&W that hid the flaws. At least I was showered, dressed and had a little make-up.

Then last night (as I was making the salsa and kneeling on the floor getting Matthew’s picture), Matthew grabbed me by the neck and wanted to take a photo with me. So I turned the camera towards us even though I needed to shower, had no makeup and there were dishes piled up in the sink behind us.

It’s off center, we’re not looking in the right direction and we’re scrunched up but I love this hand around my neck, the smiles on our face and the sun flower in the window. It’s my reality right now – a lot of messy imperfection coupled with smiles and bright moments. (And still using forgiving B&W also helps. ;-))

Well, my blogging break didn’t last very long. haha! I’m actually just making a quick post since I took a lot of photos on Mother’s Day and I wanted to share them. 🙂 I’m linking up with Like Mother, Like Daughter for {pretty, happy, funny, real} and with Cari for Theme Thursday: Animals. (But you’ll have to scroll down to {real} for that one. :-))

{pretty}

I took these photos at one of our favorite places to walk – Point Lobos State Reserve, CA. If you ever are visiting Monterey, make sure to stop and visit there.

If you go to Point Lobos and the parking lot is full or you don’t want to pay the parking fee, park outside the gate along Highway 1. There is a walking trial you can take instead. That’s what we did on Sunday.

After you clear the forest area, you look down at the ocean below.

Love the colors.

The fog was rolling in fast so we lost our blue skies.

The forest across the way looked eery with the fog rolling in. You expected to see Aragon in the distance.

I was trying to get reflections.

Poppies, the official flower of California. 🙂

We are back at our car parked along the highway. You can see the fog sitting over Pebble Beach.

{happy}

These five blessings couldn’t possibly make me happier.

Brotherly Love

After the first 1/2 mile, Matthew wanted to be carried. I got quite a work out. 😉

{funny}

For school John-Paul had to fill out a questionnaire about me. Here are the facts. It says:

My mom is 10 years old. (Funny that to a 3 year old 10 is really old. LOL)

My mom is prettiest at Easter. (Maybe I should get dressed up a little more often than Christmas and Easter. ;-))

My mom likes to make dinner. (I’m proud of this one. I am finally feeling a lot more comfortable in the kitchen. :-))

My mom always says,  “I love you.” (Aw. Happy tears.)

My mom is funny when she is at Disneyland. (LOL! I’ll be at my next Disney laugh-fest in the Fall. ;-))

{real}

These are the photos I am linking up for Theme Thursday: Animals. The other participants had awesome photos of cute dogs, cats, farm animals…heck, there was even an alligator! I guess I’m really a city girl in this regard because horses make me gag, I’d rather eat a cow than look at one, I hate cats (and not just because they drive my allergies insane),  and if it can’t wear a diaper, it is not allowed in my house. Although, my no pet policy finally broke when Bella won a goldfish at school in the first grade. (I still think she rigged the contest.) Since then we have kept fish. These little guys turn one year old on Memorial Day. I’ll admit I fell in love with their beautiful, bright colors! (And having to clean up poop only once a month? Even I can handle that. :-))

Bella’s fish is on the shy side but feisty when provoked. His name is Spike.

Poor guy. He’s trying to get away from the camera flash.

Andrew’s fish, Rocky, is spunky. I caught him napping in his tree.

Rocky spotted some fish food floating to the bottom of the tank and he made a dive for it. I love that you can see the folds of his fin as he was swimming through the water. 🙂

Thanks to LMLD and Cari for hosting!

This week is a mash up as I link with Cari’s Theme Thursday and Like Mother, Like Daughter’s {pretty, happy, funny, real}. Cari’s photography challenge is PLAY. There’s plenty of that at our house.

{pretty}

Mama likes to play with her camera in the backyard.

Sunny skies.

 We have a lot of ice plants on our property.

{happy}

I love the glee on Andrew’s face.

It bugs me that I didn’t frame the photo properly but I love Andrew’s crooked grin. 🙂

 Andrew tried to grab John-Paul into the photo but he was not interested. In the meantime, Matthew in the background wouldn’t get off his Big Wheels long enough to get into the shot.

Bella is happiest when she is drawing.

Here is one of her creations.

{funny}

When the cat’s away the mice will play.

It was a little too quiet so I went to investigate and found Matthew helping himself.

His shirt was rather prophetic.

{real}

On rare occasions there will be peace and quiet and no mischief afoot.

Brothers playing quietly together. Blessed moments indeed.