Ice Skating

Today was Clara's last day of ice skating before we move. One of the many reasons I am sad to leave. Ice skating is really not as easy as it looks and she has made a lot of progress. She has had two fun ice skating friends Bianca and Malinda. Malinda is pictured here. I have learned a lot about Clara watching her out on the ice. I hope that it will be a fun thing for Clara to remember doing.

Maya

Allium

Clara picked them while out at the playground. I figured I might as well take them home. This was my feeble attempt to be like Karl Blossfeldt.

No. 37, No.51, No. 58

These are all the same type of plant. Same as this. The last (I think) has a fungus.

Holding Hands

Stomping Berries

This is what Clara was doing while I was photographing.

Side French Brade with two Bear-ear Pom-Poms

This goes with that. What I like about them is the texture of the hair.
Everyday I feel like I get a little better at doing Clara's hair. It is so fun. Every Mom needs a little girl that will let her do her hair.

Victora Gardens

A while ago Jill told me I should takes some photos of lamp posts. I have been trying for a while and this is the first one that I think turned out alright.

Cross on cross

I miss the BYU-I Photo Lab. You know that Cheers song "Sometime you wanna go where everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came." That's how it was. Everyone was a friend. We all helped each other out. Giving opinions openly and decidedly. Sharing tips, experience, services and equipment.

I would have asked them "Is this photo worth posting?" "Does it look better in black and white?" "Is it too similar to what I have taken in the past?" and "Is it cliche?" What I hope they would have said was "Yes it is worth posting." and "No Sally, the black and white is OK but the color adds." "Yes it is typical of what you would photograph but different enough to group it with some of your others. Like these."

I am doing my best with only my husbands help. Hopefully I will be able to be in a setting like that again.

Mothers Day Flowers

It makes me happy when Kelly gives me roses! To see them on my table is so cheery. Like most brides I used roses at my wedding. When living in Rexburg Kelly worked for a concrete vault company. He would go to a lot of funerals and have to stay until it was over to finish his work. Often he would take one of the roses from the arrangements and bring it home to me. Also, Clara says "Lips that shame the pink red rose." because all roses are pink and everything is Sleeping Beauty! I love roses.

Johnny

We lost all John's binkies last Sunday. After Sunday night I decided the worst was past and I was right. The binky is gone and what he gained was personality! I love it. Mom says that the twinkle in his eye may be mischief. I think she may be right! He is clapping, picking up Gerber puffs with his thumb and first finger, and when I go into his room after naps he is standing and smiling! He kinda says "Hi" when I haven't seen him in a couple of minutes. Also today, he said Dada and did the sign. It was so amazing that I wonder if it was a one time deal. We will see.

Dress up

Yesterday our friend Misa came over. She is a pretty little girl and we really had a good time. I think it is fun to see what the girls pick out to wear. So far Misa has always picked the purple top. Clara always likes the pink skirts. Good thing we have two. We also have to set the timer for the shoes. 3 min each.

Prints

I was never able to really figure out what butterfly that was. I have decided to just give a print to everyone that guessed! Mary Ann, Mary D, and Robin. Go ahead a look through the blog and pick a photo that you would like a print of. Then email me at sallyseamananderson at Gmail dot com with your selection.

Huntington Gardens

It was a lovely day at a lovely place. Anita and I had a great time taking it slow and visiting. I couldn't have done it without her. I was overwhelmed by the wealth that could create such a home and grounds and glad that I could visit. Also, I was surprised to find myself dressed to casual. Next time I will look polished and maybe wear a fun sun hat.

The last photo, when in black and white, looks like ribbons but I decided color helps you know what it is. The scale is distorted as well; it was a very large plant.

Sleep

John is crawling. Clara is growing up and out of her pj's but still looks tiny in her bed. Days pass happily. I am happy to put them to bed, but also am happy when they wake up.

Kelly's Birthday

If you ask me Kelly had a great birthday! He took Clara to Disneyland and rode all the little kid rides. Bought with his birthday money a Sleeping Beauty Fashion set for Clara. Came home and had dinner with the Evans. We ate ribs and the traditional blueberry pie, which were both disappointing. The ribs were tough and all fat, and the pie crust was too hard. The company was awesome. Way better then last year when I was out of town. I am still sorry about missing it.

Zion

The last photo was taken in tidy little Toquerville.

Changes

The First and scond photos are taken with the same camera, same lens, in the same month and in virtually the same postion just two years apart.

I was sorry to find the Grotto park area remodeled when we went this past Easter weekend. Instead of having a nice open area to run, throw the football, and gather in( as picnic areas are ment for) it was roped off into small single table units with gravel paths. The larger parts left to let the grass grow and little signs said "give plants a chance." Where we could once move the tables around to accommidate our large extended family, they had cemented the tables in so it is only useful to a group of eight or smaller. Where we have had our egg rolls, they had flattened out the ground and put logs to discourage explorers.

I love nature. I believe in engaging with the landscape. As a child we would play in the water, squish mud between our toes, slip down moss covered rock waterfalls, climb bloulders and play in the gorgous red dirt. It makes me unhappy when I see that only the wealthy (you can take a car in if you stay at the pricey lodge) or childless people are able to enjoy the park like i remember enjoying it. It is a hassle getting into the park because of the trams. They simple don't accommodate demand. they are either empty or packed and you wait forever in both cases. Zion is my park and I have an intimate opinion about how they manage and run it. You might too. They need feedback! Go here and write a quick comment.

But like I said in a previous post about how curves were thrown in. Federal management aside, God made Zion and they did not ruin the splendor and magnificence of the cliffs or the spiritual nature of being in a certain place at a certain time. To have beautiful monuments named after people and things in the gospel adds another layer of meaning to the expirience. There is no place like it.