Meet the Teacher Day!

This morning was the day for the kids to meet their new teachers.  Since there were so many school supplies to bring in, we brought them in today rather than sending them in on the first day of school.

Those bags of tissues and wipes and hand sanitizer were pretty heavy!

We arrived a little early and talked to friends while we waited outside for the doors to open.

We went to Owen's classroom first and found his desk ready and waiting for him in Mrs. Tossie's classroom.

Then we headed downstairs to Chloe's classroom.

Her desk was ready for her in Mrs. West's classroom.

Both teachers were so nice and the kids are excited to start school.  How can we be parents to a first and third grader already?

School Photos and Supplies

After getting up the first two wall clings at Discovery Point, we ordered two more and got those hung up.  Think they turned out great!

The kids love being able to see some of their own up on the walls.

It was a good mail day and brought new laptop skins with Kelley's business logo.  Now everyone in the family with a Macbook can sport a Pear Tree Photography logo!

We went school shopping over the weekend and got all the kids' supplies.

Can't believe all of this cost over $150, can you?  It did.  Even with Walmart brands.

Todd's Tennis Match at Country Club of the South

Another perk of the kids staying Up North with Papa Wenzel and Grandma Sharon is that I get to attend Todd's tennis matches.  This morning, he was playing mixed doubles at Country Club of the South (one of the fanciest neighborhoods in North Georgia).

 Todd and Melissa won this match.  Go Todd!

Kelley's Photography at Discovery Point

After we got home from Minnesota, Kelley worked with the owner of Discovery Point to decide on the favorite images from her photo shoot of the kids at the end of June.  Two of the images were enlarged to 24x36 and printed as wall clings.  

Pretty neat to see her images up on the walls and so large.  The kids really like them, too!

A Photography Night Out

My friend Cas and I joined a local photography society.  Most of the fun is had when we go out for Mexican before the meeting.

After the meeting, Cas wanted to do some self portraits so we brought our tripods out for some low-lighting shots in historic Roswell.

I played around with slow shutter speeds and caught tail light trails as cars drove by.

Late Lunch

It's weird being home and not having the kids around.  We almost don't know how to act.  But we're making do and went out to lunch with friends.  At 3pm, just because we could eat lunch in the middle of the afternoon.

Nancy's Pizzeria made wonderful deep dish pizza, but friends made the lunch even better.

Driving Home

There was an early morning departure from Up North.  And even though the kids were still asleep, there were too many tears.  Good byes stink.

These heavenly skies made the drive home a little easier.  This was one of the many windmill farms we saw.

I will always love these bridges of the Midwest.

And the big farms.  Don't see many of these in the South.

Day 5 Up North

Every day up here is just perfection.  The kids get to do so many things, including playing volleyball in the sand court just in front of Papa and Grandma's.

They get trained by the best card sharks there are in the family (I've heard Grandma LaVonne is THE bets there is!).

Even Chloe is learning to play and love spending time with the Grandmas and Aunt Louise while the guys go out fishing after Todd and I have left.

Owen challenges Uncle Roger to some Tae Kwon Do moves.

Bean stole cousin Lisa's sunglasses.

As the sun is getting close to setting, we head out for our last night of fishing.

Owen is held close by his Daddy as we soak up these last few hours Up North.

My toes are an excellent fishing rod holder.

Owen has been catching a lot of fish and is again getting the hang of removing them from the hook by himself.

A campfire with S'mores has been long awaited since we arrived Up North.

Fourth of July Fireworks

Some Japanese lanters were released before the sun was completely gone, but none of those shots turned out.  Boo hiss.  The fireworks started once it was completely dark.

 Love the big star fireworks!

I tried experimenting and holding my shutter open longer to see if the fireworks would illuminate the barn and people sitting in the field in front of me.  The people are a bit blurry because I didn't hold the camera completely still.

 This one looks like it was taken closer to sunset, but this was taken after 10pm and my shutter was open for 10 seconds.

Happy 4th of July!

In the morning, the kids decorated the golf cart with Grandma Sharon for the parade.

Todd and I went on another run/rollerblade together and I shot the signs.  Skiers, snowmobilers and horseback riders were allowed here.

But snowmobiles were not allowed here.

Akeley is only 6.3 miles away.

The railroad that was repaved is now called the Heartland Trail.

So many birch trees line the trail.  I love the sound of the wind blowing through their little leaves.

 The boat parade started up shortly after we got back.  See the Cheeseburger in Paradise?

Santa came down to enjoy the warmer temps and to take a break from making all the toys.

There was even an aircraft carrier this year!  There was an airplane flying close behind this one.

Once the parade ended, Bean went out kayaking.

And Owen chilled (Owen, you better be wearing a bunch of sunblock laying out in the sun like that!!) on a lounge chair with his sandy feet.

My feet are up like this over much of our time Up North.  It's awesome.