Return from Recess : Readin', Ritin', 'Rithmetic

My oldest grandson starts 5th grade this year. Kinda scary.

This little cutie is going into 2nd.

Those happy faces are enough to make a grandma proud.

But how on earth are they growing up so quickly?

Looking at this shot, I can almost imagine them as teenagers.

(Am I wrong, or does bright-eyed Carli sorta stand out in a crowd?)

They'll never be too grown up for that first-day-of-school ice cream!

=)

photos by tendershootz

The Boardwalk Boys

I love this shot of my husband walking along the boardwalk with Bryce. Every picture tells a story, but this one actually tells me two. One is that Heather, my daughter-in-law, has become increasingly proficient at her photography craft. The other is that fathers (and grandfathers!) are important in our family.

I'm glad this is so, and I'm grateful to all the wonderful men who have done their part to make it true.

=)

Three for the Sea

Who loves

the sea?

These three!

=)

photos by tendershootz

click below for more happiness

Wedded Bliss? Can't Resist!

The setting was delightful,

in each and every way.

The stars were perfectly aligned

for Rich and Stacy's day.

With friends and family gathered 'round,

beneath the warming sun,

the vows were lovingly exchanged

and two became as one.

Of course, there must be pictures,

and we took more than a few.

We even got Rich with his boys,

and lots of cousins, too.

(This one's a closer view.)

Don't laugh. I had a parasol,

and then we had some dinner.

These happy faces say it all.

(But Rich was the big winner!)

Congratulations and lots of love

to

Rich and Stacy.

May you have many happy years together.

As If

Gotta get ready for the wedding, and the internet's been down all morning, but I had to cruise by quickly and play Saturday Centus with y'all. Today Jenny's allowing 50 words plus the prompt, and I almost made it! (Sorry, five words over and don't have time to edit or I'll be late to the big event.) I promise to hit the word count right next week.

∞§∞

As If

No ridicule allowed???

What cloud

have you been living under?

Your antics make me

laugh out loud.

Let no man put asunder

your penchant for amusing me

with blunder after blunder.

It’s oh-so-true.

Without you,

I’d be blue as blue can be.

All jokes must have

a butt, my friend.

(And you’re the butt for me!)

∞§∞

Tahoe Wedding Weekend

Tomorrow promises to be one more in a long list of happy days my family has shared this summer. We are heading for Lake Tahoe and my little brother's wedding to the long-awaited woman of his (and our) dreams. Yep, he has found himself a real winner on this second go-round, and we are excited as can be.

A little less exciting is the fact that I always have trouble with my blood pressure when I hang out in lofty altitudes, but my plan is to down a little extra medication and hope for the best. Wish me luck, okay?

Every one of my siblings will be attending, and I don't have to tell you how I feel about being with them, to say nothing of the fact that all of my kids and most of my nieces and nephews have found a way to come, too. Needless to say, my mom is in family photograph mode (ugh), but I will be a good sport and try not to fret because I didn't lose any of the weight I'd wanted to drop before being immortalized in living color for posterity. (Don't be surprised if I wear black with a splash of some flattering hue at the neckline.) No, I'm not in mourning...I'm in hiding!

What I won't be hiding is the big smile on my face.

=D

HAPPY WEDDING EVE

to

RICH AND STACY!

(and to their already well-blended family of six kids, too)

Quiet Time

Quiet Time

©2011 Susan Noyes Anderson

The world makes lots of noise it seems,

but those who want to live their dreams

will seek and savor quiet time

to make a space for the divine.

So much of truth speaks soft and low,

but all who listen come to know

that in the peaceful moments lies

the wisdom of the earth and skies.

The glory comes in still, small ways...

a flicker, rather than a blaze...

a whisper, not a statement bold.

In silence, are life's secrets told.

∞§∞

"Be still, and know that I am God..."

Psalm 46:10

photos by tendershootz

click below for more Q posts

Life Is a Fun Zone

Life is a fun zone,

no matter your age...

whether you're in the kid

or the kid-at-heart stage.

You can ride it with friends

or strike out on your own.

You can fly high,

fly wild,

or be jarred to the bone.

You can be super chill,

scowl or smile...

that's on you.

But you'll come up a winner

(and take the prize, too)

if you love what you do.

=)

photos by tendershootz