Michael's swimming certificate ~ Digi Layout

Michael finished his first session/class of swimming lessons and received a certificate for his achievement. He was so PROUD and so was I. I was not going to continue with the lessons next month, but found out they are not having lessons during spring break, so we signed him up for next month too. Hopefully he'll stick with it and by summer he'll be swimming really well on his own without a floatation device!!

I found this really nice Digi Photo template at Scrapbooketc.com. While I was checking it out trying to decided if I wanted it I noticed a comment from Jen. She had used it and had a link to her blog to show her example. She also showed how she put her whole digi layout together and I loved the fact that she took the time to show you how she did it, in plan english too. If you would like to check out Jen's blog click here. Thank you Jen!

I also added some word art from Sue Cummings and some stars embellishments too. You can check out Sue Cummings blog here or her items at O'scraps here.

(South Texas Sunset ~ February 25, 2009)

"Nature always wears the colors of the spirit"

~Ralph Waldo Emerson~

Michael's swimming lesson update

Tia Anana (Aunt Diana) came to watch Michael tonight and he was just thrilled...(I'm wondering if he wasn't showing off for her?)

He is ready and waiting...

As you can see he is also tired of Mamma and her camera, LOL...

Tonight they threw rings on the bottom of the pool and the children had to go get them...Michael did an exceptional job and I was BEAMING...I am so PROUD of him...Last summer he was swimming under water but near the surface...tonight he dove down 4 ft to get the rings and did IT!! The photo above is him surfacing after collecting the ring...

At the end of the nightly lessons they've been letting the kids go down to the deep end and jump in...Michael loves doing it...I caught him in mid-splash again!! The "bigger the splash the better" is what the boys seem to think!!

He has one more lesson and then he is done with this session...We won't be doing lessons next month as we will be gone for a bit...But maybe in April. We shall see how he is doing in school too...He's doing great and I would like to continue until he is swimming really well...He's been doing wonderful in school this month and I am wondering if him taking swimming lessons has made him improve on his schoolwork...This month is almost over with and he hasn't had any frown faces all month...Amazing!!

Going wild with Macro...

I had some time this evening and decided to play with the Macro as the butterflies were all over the new plants I had bought for the garden....These are different types of Skipper butterflies.

To me there is nothing better than getting up close and personal with butterflies!

Working with the Sigma Lens

Today I played with the Sigma lens....

Kit was full of piss and vinegar this morning and tearing through the house...

Jake trying to figure out what Kit's problem was, lol...duh!

Then I went outside to see if I could get photos of the birds...They all ran away, lol...but then as I glanced behind me I found a cardinal drinking...a bit too far for the lens but still no color distortion!

Chipping Sparrow...we have tons and tons of them!

The hummingbird came to the feeder...I wasn't ready for him and had to do some adjustments in photoshop on this photo as it was REALLY dark! Oh how I love shooting in RAW!!

I then glanced over and the deer were up here...I took these photos without moving and if you look closely you can see the woven wire fence that is out of focus.

Texas Huisache

I am getting used to the Sigma lens...I like the fact that there is no color distortion but I have noticed I need to use manual focus most of the time as the lens has a really hard time focusing...Practice makes perfect and I'll keep working on it!!

Grandma meets Malachi

I am in LOVE!! Malachi is such a little sweetie!!

This past Sunday we went to Beeville and we were able to spend some time with Malachi, Erica and Ray....

I think Grandpa is in Love too!!

So precious!

Out of all the photos this is my favorite...I can't help but smile everytime I look at this one. I am truly blessed...do you realize we had two grandchildren born within a day of each other...and they are both healthy...and that I captured both of them smiling!!!

Mom with her beautiful son!

Erica, Ray and Malachi...(Malachi is a week old)

Trying out the Sigma Telephoto 70-300mm lens

On the way to Corpus today I asked my dear sweet husband if he would stop if I asked him to so that I could try out the new lens...And guess what?

HE DID!!

He stopped at Bayside on our way...

Then after visiting our dear sweet Grandson J.J. we took Michael to Whataburger on the Corpus Christi Bayfront for lunch...

This child, this dear sweet child...NEVER shut up the whole time we were gone...

Sheesh...Chatter box is what he is and I love it!! He's very entertaining and just a wee bit annoying but how can you NOT love that face and those sparkling eyes?????

Below was the view from the Whataburger of Corpus Christi's Bayfront Marina. It was raining and not too nice outside...


Then we were coming across the bridge and I took two photos of the USS Lexington and combined them in photoshop for one whole photo...Not bad...I am going to see if I can print it off on a 13x19" photo paper for Michael...He loves the Lex!

Fred stopped at Indian Point and let me get some more photos...He was so patient today...but then he also gave me time limits of 5 minutes, ugh!!

I thought the sign above was interesting, I noticed it while were stopped at Indian Point...I love history and did not know this historical fact!

This (above and below) were the main reasons I wanted to stop at Indian point...On the way to Corpus I saw Rosetta Spoonbills and they were still there this afternoon...Yea!! I was experimenting with the camera and lens...I have made a note that I do NEED to use the tripod!! Now if I had only had time to set it up...But there is no color distortion and that makes me very happy...I just love Rosetta's!

As we were coming back through bayside a cold front swept through...I wanted to get photos of the frontline as I thought it was very ominous looking...
I really enjoyed myself today...Meeting one of our New Grandsons and being able to take a few nature photos along the way...Thank you Fred for a good day and also for stopping and being patient with me...5 minutes here and there is better than nothing :o)