Team-Up Thursday~ UNDER

It was my turn to choose a theme, so I randomly threw out the idea of UNDER. Not only did I have zero idea what I would choose to shoot, I had to email Berta 2 days later and ask her what exactly was the theme I had chosen. I only wish I was kidding. tee hee.....I am such a scatter brain.

Once I had the theme written down and taped to my computer monitor, I continued to have NO idea what to shoot. Then, on Monday, while watching my little Sugar Bear during her Swimming lesson....when suddenly, something AMAZING happened. Sugar Bear went willingly UNDER water! This is BIG for her. I mean HUGE for her. She has been not very cooperative about the face in the water for several years now. Two previous summer sessions of lessons had made zero impact on this issue. Suddenly, this week...she is doing it....of her own accord! I am thrilled for her. I was so excited to grab this shot of her UNDER the water.

Berta's shot is so very intriguing. I love that the fast shutter speed captured the water as if it were solid. Morgie is standing UNDER a water bucket at the local water park. How fun is that? We don't have one of these around here. I love that we both ended up with water shots this week. I mean...the possibilities are truly endless, and yet....we chose the same thing. How funny! Thanks for being such a great partner, Berta! ♥

There are so many wonderful folks participating in this little game. Please link up so people can see your team's Diptych this week! :)

Wordless Wednesday~ If a Frog can do it.....so can a Butterfly!

Alternate title: Reason #376 my daughter is a GOOD SPORT! ♥

For more Wordless Wednesday, go HERE and HERE.

If you love something....set it free.

Back in May, I did a quick post to share the fact that Sugar Bear and I were excitedly awaiting the birth of some pretty amazing creatures. It was our first time ordering a Butterfly kit from Insect Lore. We were over the TOP giddy about our caterpillars, and the idea of them soon becoming beautiful butterflies. We did EVERYTHING by the book, and watched as those 5 little caterpillars grew and grew. Then...one day, they attached themselves to the top of the container and started working on their chrysalis. It was so INTRIGUING! At this point, we knew that we had about 10 days from them to do their THANG....and emerge in their new form.

THEN......

Things went to "heck in a hand basket" Memorial Day weekend, and Sugar Bear had to be shipped off to Grandma's house for the week. The instructions that came with the kit was pretty darn specific about not moving the habitat around once the caterpillars were in their chrysalis. So....they had to stay here at home. Yup....wouldn't you know it....Sugar Bear missed the most anticipated day of 2010. The emergence of her new butterfly friends. I was SO.VERY.BUMMED for my little honey. She took it like the trooper she is....(gosh I love her), and was happy to meet them as soon as she came home. Lucky for HER, and not quite as lucky for our little friends, we have had a horribly overcast/rainy/cold sort of June, so I didn't feel quite ready to set the poor wee loves out in the world. Sugar Bear had a few weeks to enjoy her little friends indoors. Finally the perfect evening presented it's self, and we decided to let our little darlings go.

I know it isn't news that I'm a tad bit infatuated with Sugar Bear, but I have to tell you that I just fell in love with her 100 times over that night. She has the most wonderful spirit.

She is gentle and kind......

And completely enthralled with nature.

Watching her hold each butterfly with such care made my heart beat to a sweet little happy rhythm.

Animated, she'd talk to them so lovingly, and giggle at their reactions to her affections.

They weren't just butterflies to Sugar.....they were her little babies, and she knew that setting them free was the right thing to do.......but she'd miss them terribly.

She uttered adoring goodbyes as she placed them gently on flowers, or watched them fly away up into the trees. I never tired of learning the lessons she has to teach me. She loves without question, and accepts disappointment as part of life.

Goodbye baby butterflies! We'll never forget you....as you brought us all the closer together.

Not at all crabby, for once!

If you have been a reader of Living and Loving Every Minute of It for longer than a year, you might know that this time of year is usually the most difficult for our household. Usually, you'll find me about ready to tear my hair out right about now. The root explanation can be found HERE. You see, when a woman is used to being at work 5 days a week, and a child is used to being with her friends 5 days a week, it is a harsh reality to suddenly be put together 24/7. Again, if you've been reading this blog for very long, you also know that Sugar Bear and I ADORE each other. Normally, we treasure each and every moment we have together, but the first few weeks of June tries to kill us EVERY.SINGLE.TIME. Then we adjust....and when August rolls around and I have to go back to work....we miss each other so much it hurts.

This summer, I went into it with must trepidation. You see....usually Sugar Bear gets to go to her daycare at least once a week during the summer. This serves the purpose of holding our slot, and giving this ONLY CHILD much needed friend time. I'd like to say that the mama gets to play as well, but I work one day a week throughout the summer. Sometimes, Sugar would even go play at Daycare twice a week, and then I'd have some time to get some things done just for me. As you might know, Sugar's daycare provider was in a bad car wreck on Memorial Day weekend, and she broke 5 ribs, her shoulder and a vertebrae in her back. Let's just say.....she has been out of commission. Going into this summer vacation, I just knew....it was going to be ultra tough, so I made some plans.

And I'm please to report.......I am not CRABBY! For the first summer in AGES.....it is going smoothly this transition. I do not feel as if I'm being smothered to death, and Sugar is doing GREAT. We are ignoring the price of fuel, and getting out of the house as much as we can.

A few weekends ago, we attended a fun local class for young children at a local estuary. The theme was CRAB. Oh what fun. The teacher was one of our faves, Tall Tom. And new friend, Mister Pelican was a special little treat.

Tall Tom wasted no time getting to the good stuff. There was a fun little active lesson on molting.

Sugar Bear makes a very cute molting crab, doesn't she?

We love that the lessons are so interactive. Here Sugar is learning about what an estuary is. She is mixing the fresh and salt water with her hands.

Just when the kiddos need to get some wiggles out, we jumped outside to do some crab walking. The grass was pretty wet, so not all the kiddos participated. My shot of sugar as blurry, so I'll share one that features one of Sugar's newest little friends.

A super fun puppet show was next on the agenda, and we were not disappointed. Tall Tom is multi-talented.

Sugar Bear was very engaged in the puppet show.

I had not realized that she has never seen an actual puppet show before. This was indeed a special treat for her.

I am very sure this was her favorite part of the lesson.

After having the opportunity to view and touch a wide assortment of crab, it was time to get MORE wiggles out, and Tall Tom didn't disappoint. The Eel Grass boogie was a real hit.

Shake it....shake it......

The lesson was wrapped up with an opportunity to do a little creating. Give those kids some paper, glue, and some googlie eyes.....

And some pretty darn cute creatures will appear.

What a fun morning. We've been having LOTS of fun mornings....and afternoons....and evenings. It is sooooooooooo wonderful to report that WE.ARE.NOT.CRABBY!

Summer is GOOD!

Sunday Citar~ Shine

Welcome to Sunday Citar! This blog quote meme was created by http://www.freshmommyblog.com. You can stop by her blog to see the quotes and photos that she and everyone else is loving right now.

“We are told to let our light shine, and if it does, we won't need to tell anybody it does. Lighthouses don't fire cannons to call attention to their shining- they just shine.” ~Dwight L. Moody

Kitty loves the summer sort of schedule

The second week of summer vacation suited us well.

Day 287

(Kitty got a little carried away while helping Sugar Bear plant sun flowers.)

Day 288

(If you love something.....set it free.)

Day 289

(We love, love LOVE summer reading.)

Day 290

(Quiet moments alone at the beach....sigh.....)

Day 291

(Mowing the lawn is exhausting...but the feeling you get when you finish...priceless!)

Day 292

(The monthly kiddie class at the estuary was all about CRAB. How fun!)

Day 293

(You can't beat a little bit of marble painting, when you need some quality time with your 5 year old.)

Hosted by Chris

Tell Me Thursday~ Kitty and Haba's Summer Adventures

Something you might not know about me, is the fact that I have a little project going. Well, not quite such a little project anymore, but a project none the less. You see, on September 1st, 2009, I started taking a photo a day of my little friend Kitty. It was only going to be a month long experience, but I didn't feel quite done when the month was over, so I decided to keep going until I felt done. Each day, the photo must be different than any other I've taken. Interestingly enough, this project has given me MUCH MUCH MUCH more than I ever expected. My hope had been that it would challenge my photography skills, and inspire me to take chances, and try new things. It has, indeed, done all those things. Above and beyond ALLLLLL THAT, a surprising outcome emerged. Each day, I find Kitty lingering in the back of my thoughts, and as I view my world, I think about when and where I want to capture that day's photo. It has forced me to think about my life, and choose a defining moment in each day. This simple project is somehow helping me own up to my feelings, be more present in my life, and truly see that each day is it's own, even when it feels like you are going no where.

Somewhere along the way, I inspired the fabulous BERTA, to take on a project of her own. She adopted a little friend, Haba, and her posts that feature Haba are definitely some of my favorites. She couldn't have picked a cuter subject. Berta has skills, people. I haven't seen a picture of Haba that bored me. She really has a way with him. ♥

This week, Berta suggested involving our little friends in our Team-Up with the theme of SUMMER ADVENTURES. Lucky for me, I actually had some summer adventures this past week. I had the opportunity to stop by the seashore all BY MYSELF. sigh.....it was fabulous. I guess technically, I wasn't ALL by myself, as Kitty was there. My constant companion for 300 or so days now.

Berta's shot this week of Haba, just yells, "take time to smell the flowers!" and THAT is what summer should be about. We need to take the time to enjoy the gifts this world has given us. The flower seems to have made him really happy, and I understand that sentiment.

If you are a Team-Up Thursday participant, please feel free to link up, so that I can check out your post.

Wordless Wednesday~ Big Beautiful World

For more Wordless Wednesday, go HERE and HERE.