2011 June | I Should Be Folding Laundry

Archive for June 2011

You Capture – Water

Thursday, June 30th, 2011

By Beth

Hey there, friends.

I apologize for my delay but my power went out just when I was editing photos this morning. (no bad weather, just the power company trucks lined up and down my street) And then the power came on and guess what? My kids started fighting! And telling on each other! And then they started getting along and telling on the neighbor kid!

Such a fun morning.

Anyway, let’s get to some water. I love water. I love to drink it and swim in it and sit by it. (except I don’t really swim, I just stand and when I’m pregnant I resemble a bobber in the water. It’s really cute.

This past weekend we visited my sister and her family while they were camping. The kids swam in the lake for the first time. (not Lake Michigan lake, that is.) They jumped off of boats and swam around. Oh, they had a blast.

dayswim

I dutifully sat on shore and clutched the handles of my lawn chair and counted heads bobbing up and down.

And then Uncle Chip gave Eli an important lesson in boating. It was crazy cute.

boating

This morning I wanted to try to capture how crystal clear water can be, I think I accomplished my mission.

mason

ISO 500 | F/3.2 | 1/125

There you have it. WATER! Now, it’s your turn to share!

Now it’s your turn to share!

PLEASE READ THIS GUIDELINES, especially, yes, especially if you have never linked up!
1. Anyone can join in on the challenge at anytime.
2. Please make sure the photos you use were taken for the challenge, meaning do not search your archives for an appropriate photo. The goal of You Capture is to get you out taking photos each week!
3. Use YOUR photos.
4. When linking up, only link to your You Capture blog post, not your main blog URL. (incorrect links will be deleted.)
5. You MUST link back to You Capture in your post.
6. I encourage you to visit other participants and leave comments. This is a great way to meet new friends!
{more You Capture info can be found here.}

Patriotism

Happy Capturing!

Have you “liked” Beth Fletcher Photography on Facebook? I wish you would. That would be so fun!

Categories: you capture.

15 months

Wednesday, June 29th, 2011

By Beth

I don’t mean to get all sentimental on you, but seriously?

How. Is. This. Possible?

Eli-plays-ball

This morning, Anna, Noah and I took Eli to his 15 month appointment and they were all like “climbing! running! eating! independence!” And I was like but “he’s so tiny and my baby, leave us alone.”

Except they’re not lying. Even just these past few weeks he’s grown so much. He really is climbing and exploring and not wanting help from anyone. He wants to jump in the baby pool, unassisted, and share popsicles with his siblings and throw balls and push toys rather than be pushed in them.

He even started drinking beers with his little cousin. (although, we’ll need to refine his choice in beer, it’s a work in progress.)

Eli-and-Dane

He looks at you with wonder and throws his arms straight up in the air when he wants you to pick him up. He loves his Mama and his Daddy and he adores his big siblings, too. When you ask him where “the baby” is? He lifts my shirt and sticks his finger in my belly button which I find completely disturbing so when I do ask him, I hold my shirt down as best I can.

His eyes are spectacular and his skin is so soft and his thighs are so wonderfully chunky.

He loves adventure and shows no fear which I love and also fear.

Eli 0133

I think we’re in trouble because when Brian and I are together with Eli, we just let him do whatever he wants and we think whatever he does is just incredibly cute. No matter what it is. On Sunday, he opened the dryer and took some clothes out and placed them in the washer, shut the washer door and began pressing buttons. “LOOK, BRIAN! He’s doing laundry!” And we laughed and our eyes sparkled at his cuteness and then reality hit us and we were like “we mean, no, no, Eli.”

We are wrapped around his tiny little fingers.

Today, when the three of us and my giant belly were walking out of the doctor’s building, the older volunteer woman said “you remind me of me when I was younger. I had four children and I was so happy.” I love that my happiness shined through. I replied, truthfully, that I could absolutely not wait to be a Mom of four.

“Enjoy them, as you’re doing. Mine are all gone now.”

In just three months, his little sister will join us and then all of a sudden I’ll be writing about her climbing and eating and her growing up before our eyes and it will still feel as wonderful and amazing as it does today because that is the wonder and beauty of being a parent.

The hardest, best job in the entire world.

Categories: Being a Mama, Family

ReadySetGo

Monday, June 27th, 2011

By Beth

e-and-t-

These last few weeks have been incredibly disappointing to me. By the time I wake up Monday morning, Gloom and Doom have arrived, not even giving me a chance to start off on the right foot. Each week I try to break myself free from it and it works, but only briefly. But last Friday, when I was officially diagnosed with strep throat, I thought, “that’s it, I give up.”

And not that I was giving up and hiding underneath the covers and crying and pouting, I was just giving up that I had to accept the bad with the good. I’m always to willing to open my arms up to great opportunities and warm hugs, beautiful things and good health. Well, I can open my arms to a little bit of pain, too.

Lately, there have been so many thunderstorms in my life and even during them, I’d know they were purposeful, I always believe in the brightness shining brighter after the darkness (and even during the darkness.) I just thought maybe this time, I need to stop. Sit in bed, do not work or write or email, allow Brian to bring me Tylenol and rub my feet, browse on Pinterest, eat ice cream, doze off, just accept that sometimes life seems really hard and you feel beat up.

I’m okay with that. Because at least I have the chance to get back up, to let the sun warm my shoulders and to wake up and do everything I can to at least attempt to kick ass every single day.

Sometimes I can’t. Sometimes I won’t. But sometimes, I will. And that will always leave me grateful because at least I have the choice.

Categories: Being a Mama, JJF, Loss, stupid crap

Friday Morning Coffee

Friday, June 24th, 2011

By Beth

Every time I wash my hands, I get real close to the mirror and count the number of gray hairs that I see. It used to be none and then one and two and three and then well, I don’t really want to talk about it. I’ve always been a big fan of getting my hair colored but it’s so expensive so I haven’t had it done it since December.

I WILL NEVER TORTURE MYSELF AGAIN.

My appointment to get my hair color is in an hour and I don’t even care what color she does, I just don’t want gray anymore. I mean, I’m 25 *cough*, who has this much gray hair at thirty-f….25? (I’m not really sure how I’ll pay for it, I’m thinking I’ll bat my eyelashes and offer her the broken nutri-grain bar in my handbag.)

In other news, I’m really sick. (I texted my hairstylist last night and warned her) Severe sore throat, fever, my ears, neck and head hurt, I’m basically miserable. I woke up in the middle of the night to pee and it was all I could do to hurry and lie back down because the cold almost killed me. I don’t think I have ever been so cold in my life.

I may have cried.

Leave me alone.

So, along with my hair appointment today (which is very, very important) I should probably see a physician because I could possibly die from the sick today.

But at least my hair will be pretty.

Happy Friday, friends.

Categories: Friday Morning Coffee, stupid crap

You Capture – Purple and bathrooms

Thursday, June 23rd, 2011

By Beth

Hi friends.

I have done a pitiful job of photographing outside of sessions these past two weeks. dangit. I’m going to do better, though. I think. At least, I’ll try.

Here are my cute little bathroom shots:

bathing-boy