Looking for something fun to do this weekend? It's time for the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival at the Howard County Fair Grounds. It is FREE and there are lots of things to do with the kids...sheep shows, sheepdog demonstrations, live music, family activities, food and more. Check out the 2009 Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival website here.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival
Looking for something fun to do this weekend? It's time for the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival at the Howard County Fair Grounds. It is FREE and there are lots of things to do with the kids...sheep shows, sheepdog demonstrations, live music, family activities, food and more. Check out the 2009 Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival website here.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Go Green Art Show
Kellen and Ammy had their annual art show at school last night. The theme was Go Green and all of the art in the show was made using recycled materials. I was so impressed with the art teacher and what she was able to put together. Each child had at least two pieces of artwork in the show.
Here are a few of the things we saw...
Drums/Chimes made out of painted coffee cans. The kids used rulers, spoons and paintbrushes to bang on them! 
Here are a few of the things we saw...
Drums/Chimes made out of painted coffee cans. The kids used rulers, spoons and paintbrushes to bang on them! Recycled People
Good-luck dolls
Painted umbrellas that were hung from corner to corner in the gym.
There was a fashion show to end the night. Teams of kids put togther recycled clothing outfits. It was a riot.
The runway lit with Capri Sun boxes and Christmas lights (the best idea I've seen yet)
a skirt made out of Capri Sun juice bags turned on the back side so they shimmer
And of course, green snowballs to go! 
Good-luck dolls Painted umbrellas that were hung from corner to corner in the gym.
There was a fashion show to end the night. Teams of kids put togther recycled clothing outfits. It was a riot.The runway lit with Capri Sun boxes and Christmas lights (the best idea I've seen yet)a skirt made out of Capri Sun juice bags turned on the back side so they shimmer And of course, green snowballs to go! 
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
In Full Bloom
Spring is my favorite time of year. I love all the bright flowers,green grass, longer days and warmer temperatures (although I could do without the 93 degree days that we've had recently) I have cherry trees in my yard and this year, it seems like they have taken FOREVER to bloom.
April 19th
April 21st
April 27...FINALLY!
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Everyone Needs A BFF
On Friday, I had seven kids staying in my house instead of my usual 5. One of Allie's BFFs, Meghan, was over and she and Allie let me practice taking pictures of them.
Then I moved on to "freezing" movement using the sports mode on my camera. 
Blowing flower petals at each other.
They absolutely hated having their pictures taken!
More depth of field and selective focus shots...
Then I moved on to "freezing" movement using the sports mode on my camera. The High School Musical jump.
Flipping their hair.
Blowing flower petals at each other.
They absolutely hated having their pictures taken!Friday, April 24, 2009
Cooking With Ammy
Chango Bars
Ammy loves to cook and she has been bringing home recipes from school this week. She decided to make these yesterday afternoon.
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup margarine
2 cups brown sugar
3 eggs
2 1/3 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup mixed nuts (we left out the nuts)
Melt butter and margarine.
Cream brown sugar and eggs, then add melted butter and margarine.
Combine flour, baking powder and salt and stir into sugar mixture.
Fold in chocolate chips and nuts.
Pour mixture into a greased 13 x 9-inch baking pan and bake for 45 to 50 minutes at 350 degrees F.
Then clean up the kitchen so mom will let you cook again.
The Chango Bars were very good--imagine "fluffy" chocolate chip cookies in a pan. As Ammy says, "You will love them!"
Ammy loves to cook and she has been bringing home recipes from school this week. She decided to make these yesterday afternoon.
1/2 cup butter1/2 cup margarine
2 cups brown sugar
3 eggs
2 1/3 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup mixed nuts (we left out the nuts)
Melt butter and margarine.
Cream brown sugar and eggs, then add melted butter and margarine.
Combine flour, baking powder and salt and stir into sugar mixture.
Fold in chocolate chips and nuts.
Pour mixture into a greased 13 x 9-inch baking pan and bake for 45 to 50 minutes at 350 degrees F. Then clean up the kitchen so mom will let you cook again.
The Chango Bars were very good--imagine "fluffy" chocolate chip cookies in a pan. As Ammy says, "You will love them!"Thursday, April 23, 2009
April Showers
It seems like it rains a lot these days. On Tuesday afternoon (after a very rainy Monday), I took Kellen and Ammy to Sherwood Gardens. Sherwood Gardens is the most famous tulip garden in North America (according to their website) and I used to take my older three kids when they were younger. The kids can run around the 6-acre property, climb trees and see all the varities of tulips.
They also have dogwoods, flowering cherries, wisteria and magnolias in the garden.
Now to be honest with you, the real reason I took them to Sherwood Gardens was so that I could practice using my camera. I have a great camera and I take tons (hundreds at a time) of pictures. As a result, I usually end up with a lot of great shots. I have been working on a project where I have been photographing textiles for a book and decided that I needed to figure out how I am getting the good shots (and what I am doing wrong when I get the bad shots). I bought Photographing Children, Photo Workshop: Develop Your Digital Photography Talent by Ginny Felch and Allison Tyler Jones. While this book won't help me shoot textiles, I figure I take many pictures of children and this was a good start for learning the ins and outs of my camera.
They also have dogwoods, flowering cherries, wisteria and magnolias in the garden.
Now to be honest with you, the real reason I took them to Sherwood Gardens was so that I could practice using my camera. I have a great camera and I take tons (hundreds at a time) of pictures. As a result, I usually end up with a lot of great shots. I have been working on a project where I have been photographing textiles for a book and decided that I needed to figure out how I am getting the good shots (and what I am doing wrong when I get the bad shots). I bought Photographing Children, Photo Workshop: Develop Your Digital Photography Talent by Ginny Felch and Allison Tyler Jones. While this book won't help me shoot textiles, I figure I take many pictures of children and this was a good start for learning the ins and outs of my camera.The topic for the day was Depth of Field and Selective Focus. The assignment for the day was to try to get a beautiful photo with selective focus (meaning that the subject is sharp and all else is out of focus) I used the portrait mode on my camera and I ventured out and used Aperture Priority. Here are some of the photos I liked...
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