Just one photo!

Before daycare today, I tried getting a photo of Emalyn because I thought her outfit was so cute....

Not too bad....and then we had a meltdown.

So I thought I would get IN the photo with her...

What a face!!

That one turned out a bit better.

At bathtime that evening we decided to try to comb our hair. Too cute!!

Good Light

In my effort to regroup, I came across the author Annie Dillard.

(Words do me good. A lot of good.)

One of the things that bothers me...a lot...is the lack of "good" that I see in the world.

Peope can be so unloving towards one another.

Sadly, I am right in there with everyone else, NOT showing kindness to others.
Sidenote: This is why you should NEVER cut me off in traffic!! :)

And here I am, trying to raise a daughter how to live like a good girl in this world.

How to forgive. How to be kind. How to be nice. And, we can't forget, polite.

All the while, I want her to be REAL. Genuine, you know?

There are just so many negative outside influences.


The Bible uses the word light often to describe purity, goodness, and love.

Darkness describes all the other crap....

I wish I could see/add more light to the world.

**********************************

"I cannot cause light; the most I can do is try to put myself in the path of it's beam."

Annie Dillard

treading water

have you ever just felt like any way you look, there's an obstacle course right in front of you? Or you're running as fast as you can only to see other people passing you and all your efforts are useless?

I feel like that right now. And it has been awhile that I have been feeling like that, hence the lack of posts. I think I am just spread too thin...

Time to regroup.

Here we are at the pool:


She's LOVING it. Cant you tell?


Here we are at Daddy's work on Family Day.






Have a good week! (I don't know what is up with the picture quality when posting; these look great on my computer and then they turn all grainy....gotta figure that one out otherwise this is useless!!)

Some Aussie Highlights

Skywalk at Sunset over looking Darling Harbour.
Darling Harbour houses the wildlife world and the Aquarium along with a mall and a bunch of other shops, tour guides and the Maritime Museum (almost forgot about that one!).


The Promenade in Manly
Tourist-y attraction with lots of shops and a small town feel.


Taronga Zoo
The harbour is between the zoo and the city. The views were spectacular as you can imagine.


Sydney Wildlife Park
No one is allowed to hold a koala outside of Victoria or Queensland, one of the two. Basically they want to make sure the koala's stay healthy, so no touching!


Canberra
Australia's Capital. This is the Parliament building.



Sydney Aquarium
A dugong above left and none other than clown fish above right. This place had some amazing aquariums that you could walk through and the fish (sharks, tortoise, and sting rays) swam above you(the three small sharks are pictured here (bottom left)). The bottom right photo was the last aquarium you walked through when leaving the place...see the shark?


Opera House tour
I kinda had to push getting to go on this tour. I mean, how can you go to Sydney without seeing the inside of this saweet building? Totally worth it, and my sister-in-law Melanie thought so too. Unbelievably, I think we might have been the only ones!!?


The Entrance, NSW
We got to watch these pelicans get fed...these are some big birds people. And of course, the audience is lined right up on the edge of the steps leading down to this platform where these WILD birds are going to be "fighting" for the most fish. Really smart...although they probably got some better shots of the birds than me. However, I am completely satisfied with the shots I have!

A beach between The Entrance and Newcastle, NSW
I love the beach. Can't say much more than that.


Three Sisters at Echo Point in the Blue Mountains, NSW


Surprise sunset dinner cruise and night's stay at the Sofitel in Sydney from Cameron (which was won.der.ful!).

Bridge Climb
Because we weren't permitted to take cameras, I don't have shots of us on the bridge climb...but I did it! And it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought! Loved it and recommend it, highly!

I have to go back and see other sights outside of the Sydney area. Australia's huge, so a day trip to Ayers Rock or the Great Barrier Reef isn't really possible. I think we made most of the days trips that we could....there's always next time!

Cutest EVER.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattlogelin/3772792898/

Check this out.

Matt Logelin is a single dad raising a daughter in California after his wife unexpectedly passed away 27 hours after giving birth. He composes a blog outlining his life sans his wife and mother of his child, and believe you me, his writing leaves you speechless.

And here, in this video, you can see just how adorable his daughter, Madeline, is.

In honor of his wife, Liz, he has created the Liz Logelin Foundation. If you want to check out his Blog, the address is www.mattlogelin.com

Thanks Blogger friend, L, for the link on your blog....eventhough Matt is from MN, I somehow missed the newpaper article on him and only just found him through you! (well, a couple months ago.)

A Collection

Playing with Grandpa (7-18).


With Q in the porch (7-20).


In front of the door that wounded her (7-23).


This is how I walk now...(7-24).


This is the cushion from one of the patio chairs. For some reason she loves to pull one down and lay on it....cat nap, I guess? (7-25)


Thanks mom for taking these photos while we were gone...it is nice to see what you both were up to and how much fun she was having with you (and Grampy too of course!).

Down Un-dah

Australia, that is. That is where I have been. Sorry to have left such a vacant hole between posts....I have been a tad bit busy! Will post more shortly! Cheahs, mate.

First Notable Injury

Cam and I are leaving tomorrow for Australia and my parents are already in town to get her used to the switch that will be taking place.

Of course, I am running around busy as can be, and my mom is mainly the one watching Emmy. As you've seen, she's walking-much better now-and she's quick!

OF COURSE, this would be the time that Emalyn smacks her mouth into the wooden part of our screen door to the screened in porch (for no apparent reason either), and my mom feels horrible, because her tooth cut into her lip a little bit and her lip is fat and she's screaming like someone beat her.

Ugh.

And I leave tomorrow. My poor mom feels so bad, too.

Oh well, this is the life of a toddler!!

My Favorite Outfit...Right Now

Posing before we leave for daycare....

In honor of the Fourth...

Captured a short stint of Emalyn walking. I have had trouble capturing a really good video, so this will have to do....she'll be running soon I'm sure!