Practicing with the camera

I finally put the longer lens on the new camera and took some shots. I am impressed with the lens....my photography talent....not so much.

Here is Bill's new toy. He has had it in parts all over the garage floor for the past month or so. Look! He is driving it! That means that all the parts (or most of them) are back inside the engine and even though it is running rough, it is running.

I have been sewing patches on Boy Scout uniforms. We got a new shirt for both Bill and Daniel so it is a lot of hand sewing.

I used Chelsea as a subject. She is NOT supposed to be in this chair.
But she thinks she is the queen of the house.

I need to practice with the depth of field on this lens.

Apparently, this photo lesson was boring.

Yup! Definitely boring.

What? Did you say something?

Then I went outside. My azaleas are blooming. They are so pretty at this time of the year, but Bill is getting ready to rip them out. The plants themselves are ugly most of the year and also are getting sparse.

Here are also some little flowers that I swear I pull up every fall and they come back every spring.

Nannerpus

We cannot stop laughing at this silly Denny's commercial. Sarah even has it as her ringtone right now.

Lent

Sarah decided to do a very hard thing this year for Lent. She has given up Oreos! She even put this little note on the cookie jar to remind herself. My prayer for Lent is this: Dear God! Help Sarah to find strength to give up something so dear to her. Also, please help the rest of our family to find the strength to LIVE with Sarah while she sacrifices for these 40 days. Amen!

School Bus Accident

The kids both called my yesterday morning with the news that their school bus had been in an accident. Daniel was quite dramatic, calling is a crash! He took tons of photos of it, although no photo of the front of the bus. Sarah was moderately annoyed that they were going to be late for school. She was a lot less dramatic.
Apparently, the bus driver bumped the car in front of them at a place where I have personally almost been in an accident more than once. There is limited sight distance for merging and then when you decide that you should wait, the car behind you thinks that you went forward when you didn't. Boom.

The firetrucks came.
The sheriff's department came. They needed to direct traffic as the bus was clogging a main road at rush hour.
The school district emergency people came. They needed to inspect the bus.
The fireman got on the bus to ask the kids if anyone was injured. Luckily, there were no injuries.
There were even ambulances there just in case their were injuries.
The principal from the school and some other school people arrived, as well. The district sent another bus to transport the kids on to school. Apparently, something was wrong with the bus up in the bumper area. I'm not sure if it had to do with a wheel or perhaps the safety arm was bent. The kids were not really sure. The people in the car that the bus hit were also fine. Apparently, their bumper was a bit smooshed.

Sarah is 14

Sarah is 14 now. We had the family all over on Sunday to celebrate. She requested lasagna and cookie cake. Not a bad combo.



Here is Uncle Tim sportin' a pony tail.


Daniel and Sarah posing for a birthday photo.



On Sarah's real birthday, she got a guitar from Mommy and Daddy. She is so excited!

Chili Cook Off

Today was the big day of the Chili Cook Off. Daniel and Nick cooked the chili yesterday and today they got to the church and decorated their table. There were 16 chilis there today. From banana chili, white chili, buffalo chili to beanless chili, there were many varieties represented. It was a lot of fun and there were many people there! This is the big fundraiser for the troop. Daniel personally earned $415. for his efforts.
Daniel and Nick made beanless chili.

They were pretty proud of their shrine to Tim Tebow! Yes, Tim Tebow IS a superhero!
They won the best decorated table.

Sunny Florida in January

I feel sorry for my family and friends that live up north. Florida is wonderful at this time of year. No snow, not too cold. Here are photos I just took. This is 5 p.m. on Wed., Jan. 28. Notice no snow, notice the temperature on my lanai and notice my goofy dog that will only drink water out of the pool.