So here are some photos....

Okay so here are a few photos from the new camera, there are lots of features on this thing, so I will be taking a class a Kits Camera to see if that will help me with my ability to take fabulous photos. I have to say that our point and shot camera will still have a place in my house, it is so easy to use and easy to take on the go!

Kelly on the trampoline! This is the first time I have been able to get real action shots!

This is Riley, she too loves the trampoline, she has come a long way, she used to just cry when she got on it, now it is difficult to get her off!

It's finally here.....

After abou a year and a half of saving my money I was finally able to purchase this baby! I even spent the extra $90 and got insurance for the next four years, so if some one drops it or water gets spilled on it, it is covered! I got a camera bag and an extra battery, too. I was not able to purchase a extra lens, but that is what my next bunch of money will be for! Details, it is a Canon XSi Rebel, it had 12.2 megapixels and a 3 inch LCD. So far I can take a good portrait of the girls!

What is on my camera now {photos by Kelly Soda}

This is my favorite.... Our apple tree, a faithful tree that bears much fruit, this year I think we will have enough to make 15 pies, that will be more than one a month for the next year! :)

Kids that make me laugh...

Okay so I was at the pool part of the triathlon trying to get photos, making all the kids crazy. But I really wanted a cute photo of Emily and Lauren and I did finally get this good photo but I first had many others... see below for details! And this is what I got, I must say that it is a great photo of Emily, she has a real smile and Brett is such a fun big brother to have around!

He is one of Laurens FIVE OLDER brothers! He is going to be 15 in November, my girls say he is kind, adventurous, and just plain fun to be around.

Swim bike run Kelly

Kelly wanted to compete in the junior triathlon again this year, here are a few photos.

Her she is finishing, she got third for the 10 and under kiddos, and second place for girls ten and under.

After she crossed the finish line, she said, "that was not as bad as last year, it's getting easier!"

I planted this by seed, I am so happy to see it finally bloom! There should be many more in the days to come. I will keep you all posted. I love Cosmos!

Sleepover--- Kelly and Ella

Emily is gone again, she is attending Junior High School camp with our church, so Kelly wanted to have a sleepover. The girls wanted to sleep out in the office, aren't they cute! I had to tell them to be quite at 11pm, Kirk had to work in the morning!

This is the girls in the morning, they were laughing about a scrapbook page they had made about 5 years ago and wanted to pose the same way again. They were laughing about how small they were, their penmanship and how they both had written many of the letters backwards! I am thankful I made them do that! Kelly is almost 10 and Ella will be celebrating her *golden birthday* September 11.

*Golden Birthday is new to me, but I guess it means that you turn the age of your number, so Ella will be 11 on her bday, so it will be her golden bday.

Another David Problem---

So he also chipped his left front tooth. He said that he was playing tag and fell. UGH, he must have fallen face first you can see the little scab above his lip as well. Is this just how GOD created boys?

This looked like a mug shot to me, I just had to show it! He will hate it I am sure, but I know that he doesn't read my blog!

Wild Waves for 13th Birthday---

It is funny what children remember and hold you to. When Emily was about 8 she was allowed to invite a friend down to the lake (before Kirk's mom and step dad got divorce) and that friend got to stay with us there for the weekend. Some how Kirk's mom got inexpensive tickets to Wild Waves and the Huffers and Emily Noelle went. The girls had a great time but Emily wanted to know when would she be old enough to hang out with her friends with out her parents trailing along. I must have said 13, because she held me to it.

Last week we packed up the van with 5 girls and headed south to Wild Waves. They ditched us as soon as we got there 11 and didn't check in until 1 pm when it was time for lunch. After lunch they went off again and check in 2.5 hours later, true freedom! They were the last group on the water slides at closing time! In fact the workers were loading up their towels to place in the lost and found since they were riding until the last minute! It was a long and fun day, one that all the girls will remember for a long time.

Hannah (14), Emily Noelle*, Emily Lyn*, Lauren* (* Almost 13! Scary!)

NEW BIKE---

Kelly has had a crappy Huffy bike from Kmart for the last 2 years and HATES it. She rarely wants to bike up to swim, she would rather walk. So after much thought and debate Kirk and I decided to get her a new bike for her 10th birthday. The major problem with waiting until September..... she is participating in a youth triathlon on Sunday and we didn't want her to do it again with a crappy bike. Last year she said it was very painful and trying to ride all the laps in the grass with her bike.

One of the funny parts she wanted a GARY FISHER bike because they are the best! That is the only brand of bike that she knows, since that is what Emily has. She has used Emily's bike a few times when Emily was gone, but shh don't let that out!
This bike came in pink or black and white. I was shocked when Kelly wanted black and white! She said the pink would get so dirty and the black just looked so cool! I am hopeful this bike will last 2 to 3 years before we need an upgrade for size. I am also hopeful it will provide miles of fun!

David--Another injury at camp

So last year at camp David almost killed himself on the BMX bikes by perforating his small intestines! This year on the last day of camp I called my mom to say "yeah David made it without major injury!" I should not have done that.... 2 or 3 hours later my mom was meeting the Camp RN at the Store, so she could drive David to the ER to get his leg stitched up!It appears to me that he has 6 stitches but David is sure the ER Doc said that there were 9. Needless to say it doesn't really matter! It was an awful wound, one that he should be proud of. It is interesting that our Kelly attended the SAME camp the week before and came home in one piece. Emily has spent three weeks of her life there without injury as well! It just goes to show you that boys are do different than girls!