panthers!

pickup game

After today's game was over (yes, another loss, and I have some philosophical growlings about recreational youth soccer to probably not share here--not our team or coaches, because they are great and play their hearts out), some of the kids stayed behind to have a team/parent pickup game. I don't play soccer, so I just took pictures. Here are some of our family playing (can you see which parent they get the tongues hanging out from??). The girls played for the parents.

one nice thing about homeschooling

After months and months of stifling heat and humidity, the weather has finally broken. The high today is only (!) 86 and the humidity is way down. Our house is finally open again and everyone wants to be outside enjoying it. Cabin fever, I believe, is the technical term for it.

So, we do a little bit of school, then have extended recess. And then do it again. They're happy; I'm happy; life is good.

who gets your vote?

So ... I (Andy) am in the unfamiliar territory of being less than 30 days from a major election and still being unsure of who will get my vote. Will it be McCain or Obama? I have many opinions. There are things I like about each candidate, and several I dislike.

So I want to take the step of asking all of you, whether you read this on the blog or on Facebook, to weigh in with your votes. I would love to know up to three things: (1) for whom you will vote - McCain, Obama, or another, (2) the most compelling reason for voting for that person, and (3) a compelling reason to not vote for his (or her) opponent. As always, let's please have some civility along with our courage.

I promise that later I will say what I think.
As always ... grace and peace!

do they ask more questions in wyoming than in any other state?

(That's for you and Dara, Jen.) So, my lovely and wonderful husband encouraged me to make the cross country trek this week to see Phoebe, one of my college roommates and dearest friends, get married. It was a totally whirlwind trip--flew to Jackson Hole on Wednesday and home on Friday--but it was completely worth it. It was lovely to finally meet Joe in person (their story is so unique and typical of something Phoebe would do) and wonderful to get to see Phoebe on this day of days.

I traveled light. No camera. Well, I took a camera--broke out our old Sony point-n-shoot. I guess that counts. It took pictures, anyway. But I really really really missed my camera. I am no longer qualified to use that little thing.

Phoebe was just radiant--this is what the camera did to me shooting around a handful of people as she and Joe "recessed". It's not in focus but I love the shot anyway.Sarah, one of my other roommates, was my date for the wedding and we took the long way back into town. Can you imagine getting married in a setting like this?

This mountain was our view from the hotel terrace where the wedding was.
I just liked this branch and how crunchy it was.
Congratulations, Phoebe and Joe!

panthers' first game

I know, the boys had a soccer game last week, but I can't count it since they mixed up the teams and all. I posted pics on my other blog already but figure not all of you are breathlessly checking that one (although you should be). So if you've already seen these, I apologize and you can sleep through or something. I will warn you as I warned the photo readers--I played with post processing on these quite a bit more than I normally do--it was pretty fun.

fritos: a fairy tale

So, Elanor wanted to join in the fun. I have to confess that the first story she told made me howl even more because the hero and heroine were actually eaten at the end of it. Guess she got a little gun shy for the camera.

I do have to say that this is about the level of video-ing with which I feel comfortable. Weird, I guess. But I still don't see myself wanting to be one of the moms who is too busy taping an event to really get to watch it. There are times when I approach that just with my real camera, but at least I can put that down and watch the game or show if I want to (and if I give a hoot or holler while in the middle of a shot no one has to actually ever hear it, thank goodness). I confess that I was looking forwared to the new 5D from Canon and I'm kind of disappointed that it has a video feature. I don't want to take video! I want to take pictures!!! It's still on my lust list, though.