Summer fun...and more photos

Oh boy, have we had some fun already this summer!!!  So much excitement, I don't even know where to start.  Memorial weekend was pretty laid back for us.  I had a couple girl's night outs, Friday was a Pink Papaya Party with some of my favorite women from MOPS, and Saturday was another Painting class at Picasso & Wine.  This one was a Field of cows, and turned out ok, but not as good as I had hoped. 

Then on Monday we went to my friend Trista's Farm for a BBQ.  It was a blast!!  Once again, all my favorite women from MOPS were there (we really have gotten so close!), and it was just a laid back afternoon/evening.  The kids played, the parents chatted, Trista's husband Jaime even took us on a Hayride!!  So fun!!

Jayce (and all the kids) loved Kinsey's Tractor

On the hayride

Jaime's Tractor

All the men changing tractors

The rest of last week was spent getting ready for Riley's Birthday.  I was busy making superhero capes, prepping food, and working on my Project Life 365 photos.  Here's some more photos I've been taking lately. 

Got My Toes!

Slip n slide!!!

These photos are great at telling how things are lately.  Amara can now grab at her toes, and is almost sitting up on her own!!  She still uses a pillow around her for balance, but she's not to far off.  Riley spends most of his days outside, playing on the playset (Monkey Bars are his favorite), swinging, or just running around the yard.  Jayce is a little side-kick.  Either to Riley, following him around to play, or with Mommy, sitting on my lap every chance he gets, or on the counter watching me cook.

I'll skip talking about Riley's birthday here and do that one in another post.  There's a lot!  Instead I'll jump ahead to this weekend.  Saturday was another lax day, recuperating from all the birthday hoopla, but Sunday was another fun-filled day!  We headed out super early from our usual to meet my friend Nicole for some photos.  She was hoping to get some "Dad & Me" sessions booked for Father's Day, and I thought that would be a great time to get some pictures of Cameron with all three kiddos.  Once again she did an amazing job! 

After that we took a drive through Rocky Mountain National Park.  We haven't been in a long time, and I was itching to spend some time in the mountains.  We didn't stay too long, and just did a few short stops along Trail Ridge Road, but it was still nice to get out and see it.  The late snowfalls we had this year contributed to some of the highest snowdrifts I've ever seen there!!  And it was a beautiful day to be in the mountains, barely a cloud in the sky until mid  afternoon, and only a few light fluffy ones after that.  Gorgeous sunshine the whole time (which added to a little sunburn on Miss Amara's nose and cheeks where her hat didn't quite cover.)

Well, that about covers it for now, we've already got a bunch of stuff planned for the summer, swimming trips with friends, park playdates, plans to hit the zoo, aquarium and more, camping, and more trips to Rocky.  This summer is going to be jam-packed, and I can't wait!!  Stay tuned everyone!

Photo Phun ;)

Well, this will be the last post for now (make sure to scroll down and even go to the next page to get all caught up on the last month and a half).

After Amara was born I have been really slacking on getting photos of our daily life.  Which I am very disappointed in myself for.  It's a real struggle for me to take my camera with me, remember to get it out and snap some photos.  I've been relying on my phone to capture most of the day-to-day stuff, which I am slightly ashamed of.  I hate most (not all) phone pics, and have a wonderful DSLR that I should be using instead.  So after some encouragement from a photographer friend, I'm trying to be better about taking photos every day.  One way to keep me at it is by joining a 365 photo challenge.  The one she and I are doing (together to keep each other accountable) is called Project Life 365.  (click to see more) Each day they issue a prompt (usually one word or phrase) for inspiration and your challenge is to take a picture of something representing that to you.  I love it!  I've really gotten into it, and love taking the challenge each day.  I like that it's Daily too.  I thought it might be too much, but I know that if it was weekly it would be to easy to forget by the end of the week.  And if I miss a day the world isn't going to end, so there's no pressure.  I'm slowly getting better at my photography, at least I hope so!  I just have to keep at it.  I also like that most of the prompts I can relate to my children, which is the whole reason I want to take photos now anyways - to document their growing up. 

Anywho - I started last week, on May 15th, and have only missed one day!  (I'm pretty proud of myself!!)  So here's my PL365 so far. 

#good

#better: hot days are better when wet

#best: cloth is best on the bum

#makes_my_heart_sing

#real

#curious

#souvenir

Make sure to follow me on Instagram if you can, I post most of them on there.  And here's a few of my other favorite photos I've taken as I get better at recording Life with the Louie's.