Have I told you lately...

that we have been having a fabulously, wonderful summer?

Well, we have.  Thus the few and far between blog posts.  As June came to a close, I told myself I would keep this thing updated way more than I had been.  But, alas, July is here and I am just now getting around to posting something. 

We've been using our water park passes.  We go our park district's water park a few times a week.  Just for a couple of hours.  It's nice to get out of the house and enjoy the summer sun.  This year I actually found a swimming suit I feel comfortable in.  So getting dressed to go to the park isn't as much of a headache for me.  It's a Land's End suit.  I highly recommend them for their suits.  I've been very happy with mine.  It's a tankini with the bottom half a little skirt with some 'tummy control'...just what I need!  So, the water park has been our go to place this summer.  Soaking up some sun and splashing around has been a lot of fun!  It tires Owen out and we get home just in time for him to take a nice little afternoon nap.  I thought for sure he'd of dropped his naps by now, but with as busy as we have been he's stuck to them like glue.  Some days, when we aren't running around, he doesn't nap but he does go into his room for some quiet time.  I'm lucky he loves his bed and will just play in there for a couple of hours while we both get a nice break from one another. 

We continue to go to the gym most everyday.  I have a nice schedule of classes I take each day and Owen has finally come to enjoy the playtime he gets when I go and workout.  It's a win-win!  I'm getting the exercise I need and he's getting the socializing he needs.  I never thought I'd get to the point where I actually look forward to working out.  It really helps break up our mornings and it gives me the energy I need to get through the rest of the day.  I've become a fitness junkie...if only I could get my eating habits in line with my working out, I'd be all set.  But that's a whole other issue.  My struggle always lies in balancing my eating habits with my working out.  I can do one but never both at the same time.  Why is this?!?!?

Let's see...what else have we been up to?

Our 4th of July was a blast.  2 evenings of fireworks in a row and then a nice picnic at my mom's.  The weather cooperated and we were able to enjoy our entire weekend rain free and HOT!  Owen enjoyed the fireworks, as long as Daddy was holding his ears closed.  That hasn't changed much since last year.  It was great celebrating with family and friends the entire weekend.  This week has been a week of recuperation. Which has been just fine with me!

I've been shooting away with my camera.  Just today my new lens arrived.  I'm so excited about it!  It's the 85mm/1.8 Canon lens.  I can't wait to get some nice close-ups with it and some portraits taken with it.  I'm completely in love with photography and like a sponge, I love to absorb as much information about it as I possibly can. I really can't picture myself ever not taking pictures again.  It's really become such a passion of mine.  I've been fortunate to assist a local photographer on some photo shoots.  Todd's amazing and I've learned so much by simply observing him.  Holding a reflector and other equipment here and there has been a fun way to get out of the house, earn a little cash, and feed my hunger for photography.  I've taken some pictures for friends recently and am toying around with the idea of doing some more in the future.  It's definitely something I've been praying about and listening to God's lead in.

I'll leave you with some of my favorite images thus far from our summer.  I hope to update more often than this.  But you know how that goes...

Hope you all have been enjoying your summers!  Get out there and make some memories!!!

Yep...ready for the pool!!!

Owen and I at the fireworks.  Stepping out from behind the lens for once.  I entrusted Brad to take our picture...not bad, eh?!?!

In case you really wanted to see me up close...

Owen and his cousins (his 'friends' as he calls them).  "They are my brends, Mommy!"

My nieces used to love to be thrown when they were much younger than this in the pool.  They couldn't resist asking my husband even though they are all getting too heavy for such stunts anymore.  I say he did a pretty good job launching them into the air!  (Notice both of them holding onto their suits...they learned real quick to do that!)