The Best

Over at Digital Photography School blog, they have a recent post that asked "What is [my] best shot ever?" I wrote even more about it over in my Photo Edit Magic blog.

It got me thinking, though - is the picture I think is the best really the best?

My inquiring mind would like to know... Which of these pictures is THE BEST in your opinion? (each title is listed below its respective photograph)

Looking Over Lake of the Woods

Through a Child's Eyes

May I Have this Dance Forever?

Fireman's Class-A Portrait

With This Ring...

Striking Beauty

As you all can see, I have a little poll-thingy over on the right hand column. I'd LOVE it if you'd cast your vote! Don't vote for the one you think I like the best - I want to know your true opinion. And it won't hurt my feelings if you think none of these (or any of my pics) are the best. I really would love to know what you all think :o)

Thanks a bunch in advance, and feel free to leave a comment here if there's a specific picture you like even more than the ones I selected. Much love to you all and God Bless!

A Bored Toddler + Toiler Paper...

Equals this:

(After I chased Liv from the living room back into the bathroom with the TP still in her hand)

Which is why someone (ahem, Livie!) got put into her playpen until her Mommy rolled all that toilet paper back up.
Doesn't look like she was too distraught about her punishment though, huh?

Hope you all got a laugh out of this - as I certainly did and still am!

Much love to you all & God Bless!

Day of fun with a Superhero & Polka-Dot Tot

This past Wednesday, Livia & I got to spend the day with a Superhero - her cousin Nolan (Thanks so much for loaning him to us for the day, Kendra!)

We decided that it would be perfect day to go to the Children's Museum of Evansville (CMOE)

For THE first time in my life, we actually got there early!!! It opens at 10:00am, and we were there at ten til. I must say that I was quite proud of myself!

Livia was ready to go in - or at least try to get those neat things she saw in the window.

As soon as we got in, Nolan guided us to a fun & play stage area. He's been to CMOE several times, so it was wonderful that he knew right where all the fun stuff was!
Liv & Nolan played and danced on that stage for a good 10 - 15 minutes. I knew that Livia loves to dance, and I soon found out that her cousin does too!

Then it was off to the construction room...
I don't think Livie realized that she was being weighed in this picture... and I think she wasn't really on there long enough for it to register her entire weight. It took about 10 seconds to figure out Nolan's weight - and that's about 8 seconds more than Livia had to offer!

Then Nolan showed Liv the house you can "build" - or just climb!

They dug for dinosaur bones & fossils...

And then painted their faces!Nolan was the Incredible Hulk (hence the green)

And Liv was a little Polka Dot Tot

I just loved seeing my little girl have so much fun with her cousin! He watched over her, played with her...

And even took her down a little slide!

Livia really liked that room!

Then it was off to more adventures!

Nolan climbed into this huge nose, and I couldn't help but laugh - the Incredible Hulk kinda looked like an incredibly big booger!

Just kidding!

Nolan showed Livia how to hold the handles of this contraption... it actually beat a drum to the beat of your heart.

Then it was off to the funnest part of the museum - the water room!

Livie had SO much fun getting into the water

Even though it was really kinda cold, she didn't care at all

Nolan was working on trying to get a balloon to fly as high as he could while I chased Livia. In the water room - she was quite excited in there!

Finally, it was getting to be lunch-time, so we decided to leave.

It came as so surprise to me that after we left CMOE, Livia fell asleep even before we could get to our lunch destination! Nolan, meanwhile, happily played his Nintendo DS

After lunch, we went back to our house. Livia fell back asleep in no time, and Nolan went back to his video game. The Superhero quickly succumbed to sleepiness as well, and took a nap too. I couldn't be left out, so I took a little power nap as well!

Later that afternoon when both the Angels awoke, we decided to take a trip over to their Grandparents'.

I think the kids love all the toys their Grandma keeps over there for them - Nolan even has his own room over there!

Nolan got out the Lego's, and began building a fort...

Livia had other plans for the Lego's...!

I laughed so hard that I was lucky to get those shots!

Their Grandma then gave the kids some snackies & lemonade... And I tried to get a pic of all 3 of them.
The most successful picture I was able to get of the kiddos with their Grandma Trilby

Oh well. Hopefully I'll get a really good one next time.

Then it was outside to play!

Bill offered to take the kids in a ride around their place in this little wagon hitched up to the lawnmower. It was the first time I'd seen such a thing, and definitely got a kick out of it!
Nolan held Livia as they began their ride...

And thankfully, Livia had no desire to get up - she liked it!

It was so wonderful to have Nolan along to help with Livia. And she loved having a playmate all day!

All good things must come to an end, though. Shortly after the kids' fun ride, I took Nolan back to his home, and Livia back to ours. I couldn't believe it when I looked at the clock & I was getting back after 7:30 that evening!

Time does fly when you're having fun. And I just hope for more days that go by as fast & fun as this one!

Much love to you all & God Bless!

Paying Forward the Presence of God

Some days, I can just feel God's presence all around me. Through nature, creatures, the sky, and even people. I love it when I see God through others!

When I see God though others, it gives me a renewed faith in humanity - a renewed faith that our world really is great.

This evening I was so blessed to see God through others at least 3 times within a half-hour.

My daughter and I were on our way back home from a long day of fun & play, and I called my hubby to let him know where we were.

It was already past dinner-time, and I didn't have anything planned. Perry said not to worry about it, that he'd just order & go pick up a pizza. I knew he was still extremely engrossed in his work and didn't want to have to make him stop.

I told him that I would take care of it for him, but he protested that I'd have to wait too long to make it worth it. In other words, my helping him out would definitely NOT be helping me & Liv out...

I saw where he was coming from, and was just about to give in. Til I remembered a little take-n-bake pizza joint we've tried before & liked - Papa Murphy's. I suggested it, and Perry seemed thrilled at the suggestion. So, Papa Murphy's it was.

As I pulled in the parking lot, I noticed that Liv was dead asleep. No worries. I'd just carry her in, and I was sure she'd wake up (as she always does when even slightly disturbed out of her car seat.) This was the one time she had no intentions whatsoever of waking up.

I ordered the pizza & paid with our debit card as the young man behind the counter held down the receipt so I could easily sign it. He even gave me a card & coupons after I told him that we really liked their pizzas. How nice!

As the pizza was being finished, the lady getting it packed up asked me if she could carry it out to the car. I thanked her very much for her kind offer, but since there were other customers I politely declined. She still went to hold the door open for us as she smile, and brightly said, "Hope you & your sleepin' Angel have a great night - she's a little doll!"

And then, just as I thought the evening couldn't get any better...

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a tanned, blackberry-wielding, ready-for-a-night-of-fun young man quickly heading my way. I didn't even have time to wonder what he was after...

He marched right up to me & said, "You got your hands full! Here - let me help you with that!" (with the sweetest little lisp that only a man of non-straight origin could pull off!) He gently took the pizza from my arm while I opened the door & placed my still sleeping daughter in her car seat.

I turned back around to see him with a look upon his face I can only describe as genuine. He was sincerely happy & willing to help out his fellow man (er - woman) It's a look I'll never forget, and can only hope to ever see again from a perfect stranger.

I got in the car and nearly had tears in my eyes. I sat there amazed at the kindness & selflessness of total strangers, and then realized...

We aren't total strangers! We're all children of God. It truly made me realize that even today God is everywhere, in everyone. He was there for me tonight when I didn't even know I needed Him.

Just as I was getting ready to put the car into drive, I saw another mother holding her sleeping toddler heading towards her car with her arms completely full.

I suppose you all can guess what I did...

God Bless You All!
~ Love, Amanda ~

Wordless Wednesday - Backyard Butterflies

I hope that you all enjoy these beautiful butterflies as much as I do...

And perhaps this goes against the "wordlessness" of this Wednesday post, but I wanted to share just a few quotes these creatures have inspired:


Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you. ~ Nathaniel Hawthorne

If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies. ~ Author Unknown

I saw a poet chase a butterfly in a meadow. He put his net on a bench where a boy sat reading a book. It's a misfortune that it is usually the other way round. ~ Karl Kraus

Beautiful and graceful, varied and enchanting, small but approachable, butterflies lead you to the sunny side of life. And everyone deserves a little sunshine. ~ Jeffrey Glassberg

Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by. May you all have a wonderful day, take care & God Bless!

All my love,
Amanda

***For more Wordless Wednesdays, click here ***

Sunday Fun

Sunday I went out to my parents' after church (as always) and Laura Belle & I decided that we should take a dip in the pool. And we couldn't leave Livia out of the mix!

Livia enjoyed floating on the raft with her Auntie Laura

And even though the water wasn't super warm, Liv did not seem to mind at all. It was a hot summer day, and she loves spending time with her Mamma & Auntie the pool!

Me & Livie

Livia Rachelle - you're such a ham!

Me, Livie, & Laura Belle

She got so excited - Can you tell that Liv LOVES the water?

Squish'er with a kiss!

After we got dried off & ate some snackies, Mom & I decided that it was perfect weather for a walk. So we decided to head over towards The Neighbors: my Aunt Tanya - aka, The Dairy Wife - and the triplets.

On the road going up to the Willis Barn, Livia was just SO cute that I couldn't resist getting some shots of her...

She was all smiles, as always!

And we walked just a ways further, and came up to the bales of straw...

She started pointing at them, so Mom & I took her over to one in the shade for a closer inspection.

Livia wanted an even closer look, so she put up her little arms - she wanted UP. So, we put her on top!

I guess Liv felt really big sitting up there on that straw bale...

You can see my Mom's had there making sure she doesn't fall.

"So Big!"

After we got her down, we continued on our way over to The Neighbors.

Whatdaya think of the view on the way there?

Pretty, huh?

Livia just loved visiting with the triplets - or at least their toys! You know how it is... other kids' toys are ALWAYS more fun than your own :o)

She found their cute little wagons...

"So, what are these for?"

She soon found out...!
I gave her & Meg, Jay, and Sam a ride around the yard...
Livia wasn't all that impressed. Neither was Sam to be perfectly honest.

I think he was more interested in doing the pulling!
Jay & Meg loved being pulled by their brother!

Then Jay took a turn...
While Sam & Meg rode.

But Jay nearly ran over himself, laughing all the while!

As Jay got back up, I looked up to see who wanted to join back in the fun...

"Wait for me, guys - I wanna ride too!"

I think I may have to hire Jay to keep Livie entertained more often. It's a very rare event that I get to see this little girl sit still!

After the rides, it was just about time for us to get going. As we were saying goodbye to The Dairy Wife, we heard some commotion coming from inside the feed room...

Meg had gotten into the chopped corn, and was soon joined by her brothers - they had so much fun (even though they really weren't supposed to be up there...)

They had no desire whatsoever to get out. But after being convinced that "Uncle Don is coming down the road!" and they'll be in big trouble if they don't hurry & get out...
They smoothed over their little footprints & The Dairy Wife scooped them out... and into the bathtub!