The Elusive *Just Right* Picture

When I remember my camera I take lots of pictures.  But rarely good ones. especially when there is more than one person.  Here’s Tucker Mac by the fire with his cousin young Polly.

Not awful, but look at Polly by herself

The confident stride and posture is great and she’s looking up so you can see her face, but she blinked, right then. Ugh! And look at the focus.  I think the fire is in focus  – not the beauty.

Okay, this one isn’t right either. I really want to show that they are working together and the fire was so big and central in the others and the lake behind them set off their faces.  And Tucker Mac is looking away here.  I threw away at least half a dozen others because they were worse than these.  But I wanted just a keepsake of the moment, and that’s all it is.

Its what most of them are …  and there are so many of the mediocre ones on flickr because I like keepsake pictures too, I want to document the trip.  I just need to delete more of them.

Here’s one, they were playing and all looked up at the right time … and I took the picture at that moment.

I would sort of prefer that they weren’t looking excactly at me.  The face turned toward me, eyes looking into the distance is nice, but I’m not complaing about this one.

Jenny’s kids take good pictures.

“Everyone on the ExtraCycle!”

"Everyone on the ExtraCycle!"

Originally uploaded by sweet-stream

We love the extracycle! Tucker Mac ditched his bike to keep Sister safe and young Polly, who was riding on my bike refused to be left out and wanted on too. No problem.

A Week of Cousins

Katie and Jenny are my cousins, They both have stunning and great kids my kids’ ages and it makes for fun times and good pictures.

A couple of weeks ago Katie’s family visited from South Carolina.  Otter began the week hiding out in our Airstream all day while Valarie, who he’s been playing with lots this year, dumped him for Martha, the older, cooler girl.  A few days into the Magley (Katie’s last name) visit something happened and Otter began playing with Martha.  They had a sleepover and climbed trees and all played together.

Tucker Mac found a new friend with Young Polly.  They, well they …

Yes, I believe he's trying to dip her, and they are so happy.

This is Howard and Callie:

These girls didn’t have bathing suits so they made do with what was around.

Just fun.

Playing in the Rain

Originally uploaded by sweet-stream

We are in the trailer near Franklin, North Carolina. It’s lightning then thundering before I can get to 1 and believe it or not the kids fighting isn’t so bad.

There are no kids movies playing near – I really was hoping for Earth or Monsters and Aliens or something. I tried to download a kids book but I think the manager just blocked the site I download from.

Lego’s it is then.

Wrenny went out when it was too cold to be playing even without the water; and I let her keep playing while I took picture after picture.

Grandparents around the Country

Feeling guilty about all the visits we don’t make, this year has been full of grandparent visits all over.

First Grampa William and Granma Janice came to Colorado, then we visited them in San Luis Obispo.

Then up to Reno with Omi and Opa.

Then Kansas where we saw Great-Grampa Sam and Great-Granma Ella and Great Aunt and Uncle Sammie and Jeff.

And across to North Carolina to see Tio Shane-o and his crew.

Then to Tennessee to Papa and Duck Duck and the Tennessee Grands and sleepovers with Tia Betsy.

And Florida to see Granma Helen and Uncle Frank.

And really we had so much fun everywhere we miss them all and wish could just just live in the Aitstream all the time, traveling from Grandparent to grandparent.

birds birds birds

A Green Heron from the Anhinga Trail in the Everglades

Dad said, “the bird pictures are nice …

Anhinga drying its wings

“but could you make it so bird pictures aren’t all we see?

This female is juggling a stick gracefully, I think practicing for catching fish.

Here's a Comorant catching a fish, it juggled the fish in it's mouth. They sort of swim with their bodies under the water and their heads above, looking a little snake-like.

Sorry dad, those birds did take up lots of Flickr pages.

Galax

Originally uploaded by sweet-stream

This Friday we’re going up Galax, Virginia, a place I’ve never even heard of and can’t wait to see. We’re already hoping the weekend lasts all week. The boys keep saying, “when do we get to see Roman?” “Is today Friday?” I watched Tucker Mac do the Roman dance this morning.

It’s been too long since I’ve been here

Originally uploaded by sweet-stream

When we’re not traveling this fall, maybe I’ll get to catch up the blog for real again. Sorry. This week I’ll do so many, you won’t be able to keep up. Several a day.

We’re in North Carolina. We had the best time ever in Florida and then went back to Tennessee to try and pay some medical bills and do some trailer repair. Now Peter is in a swiftwater rescue instructors’ course for the week and we are in a campground near Silva North Carolina until Friday … THERE’S INTERNET! (hopefully I’ll pay a little attention to the kids)

Yesterday we traveled through the torrent of rain late into the night, maybe that’s why we’re all so grumpy. We past the Ocoee, where I worked for 5 years or so … I looked into the dark road pull-offs and remembered the rapids and the people and the smells (too much old man old spice).

My two youngest playing on the playground in the Naples Zoo. I love this camera. I’m saving up for more lenses, just wait …

Beach dogs

Originally uploaded by sweet-stream

“Poor Moki” went all around the Florida … and stayed in the airstream lots. He loved the warmth of the air (when it was warm) and being around his family and he’s the best traveling dog ever. This year has given him lots of attention – more walks, more loving, more brushing and baths. But its also forced him into tiny places around kids who often accidentaily step on his tail.

But dogs aren’t allowed on beaches – anywhere.

Except a small beach at Fort Desoto county park near Seminole. We had so much fun with Moki on the beach. He took awhile to like the idea, there were lots of dogs and he hadn’t been off the leash in a long time. He didn’t know if those dogs were nice and he wasn’t so sure about the water that didn’t taste very good. There were 60 or more dogs there and not one was aggressive and there was no poop and they all played and wow! we got to spend a day with our dog.

Favorites

Originally uploaded by sweet-stream

Lots of people turn to the boys and ask them what their favorite part of our travels has been. There is a different answer every time, I’ve heard, “legos,” “the beach,” “my bed,” the food,” “yellowstone,” “hiking,” “grandparents,” “playgrounds,” “fires,”and lots of others, but while we were in florida they really liked the kids they met in campgrounds (and the shuttle launch).

Tucker Mac has gotten so he’ll walk right up to a child and say, “will you be my friend?” It’s very cute, and effective. We have found several other families traveling as we are, some just for a year, some for a month. They seem to be the ones our kids are attracted to. We’ll spend a few days playing and visiting together and then are on our way again, but these new friends are remembered.

We are back in Tennessee for the moment, doing some maintenance on the airstream and watching spring unfold. The computer is showing its age and we are of course not able to get reliable internet. We are planning some travels to the North Carolina Mountains and maybe to Washington DC.