Michele Holcomb

summer:: state fair

Of all the images that I took at the State Fair, this is the moment that makes me happy. Serious love going on here and it's not often that I get to capture their connection. I love them so much!

The first thing we did was ride the monorail around the entire park. Amazing views and a chance to figure out our game plan was what this ride provided. The one and only ride that Dre and I experienced, which is fine by me. The girls and their all ride access bands had it good though. I think the engineer on the caterpillar roller coaster new them by name by the end of the night. Surprisingly we did not play any games. It was all about the rides, the amazingly bad food that tastes so good and a fireworks show that felt like magic.

So I would say our 2012 California State Fair adventure was an epic success.

summer:: a month of swimming

[photos filters from picmonkey]

The girls spent most of their July evenings at the neighborhood pool taking swim lessons. New skills have been taught, learned and mastered. Nyna moved up a level; I think she's mentally ready to take the plunge and join the swim team. Anna worked with the teen/adult class and has learned that kicking your feet and moving your arms will get you from one place to the next. 

Every morning I packed their swim bag, swim suits, towels, sunblock, snacks and my favorite book. I read, I cheered, I took a ton of pictures and video. We ate snack during down time. The girls listened to music in between each other sessions. The iphone is great for passing the time. I savored my hour and half of me time and finished quite a few books.

Now...it's on to August where we'll fit in more adventuring before school starts.

summer:: evenings

I found this note written by Anna last week and it struck me how much I love summer too. I didn't use to. In fact, it was my least favorite season growing up. But it's different now. I don't know if it comes with age but I'm loving this slower pace the days seem to bring. I'm not letting the fact that I work full-time get in the way of enjoying these longer and lighter days either. I want to take advantage of our evenings and weekends and spend them wisely. Lounging, napping, walking, biking, creating, playing...yes...that sounds wise to me.  

So yes Anna, I agree with your sentiment wholeheartedly.

Happy weekend!

happy weekending

I spent some time getting back to playing with paper, paints and glue. And although I had no idea what I was doing, I loved every creative minute. It's been a long time and it felt really good. I still had paint stains on my nails the next morning. I'm hoping to get in some creative time this weekend + take my new to me bike for a spin around the neighborhood.

Hope your days are filled with creativity too!

Happy Weekending!

simple scrapper:: summer reading pleasure

I say this every month and I think I'll say it again. This month's templates from Simple Scrapper are my favorites yet. I'm really lovin' the space for large photos and a few simple embellishments. Here is one of my contributions.

My July evenings will be spent poolside as the girls just started their swim lessons. And as much as I would like to be in the pool with them, the next best thing is uninterrupted reading time for an hour. I have a stack of books on my nightstand just waiting to be devoured.

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supplies: SS July Template Single 3; Ali Edwards Remember This & That Paper Collection (canvas blue pp); One Little Bird Designs Meadowlark (pp and word art); Anna Aspnes (staples); Font (helvetica)

***The Premium Membership at Simple Scrapper provides skills and shortcuts to help you simplify and find more meaning in your memory keeping***

summer:: weekend in reno

If you ask my kids would they rather go to Disneyland or to Reno - guess what they would say? I'm quite positive that if they were to visit "Disney's House of Mouse" that the answer would change - but for now....Reno it is.

Dre and I bowl in a summer & winter league and once or twice a year we take a trip up the mountain for the tournament. This trip is one that all of the league bowlers really look forward too. You know...casino's, drinks, a chance to unwind and just hang out with one another. But us...we don't roll that way. We're probably the only couple that brings our kids because we just are crazy. No really though? They love to be with us all.the.time.

The girls really don't know the power that this place has (good & not so good)...they just love the drive, the thought of sleeping in a Hotel and of course - the pool. The pool is where they spend most of their time.

 

This week we had the pleasure of making this an extended Family Trip. My brothers, nephew, and my parents all joined us for this yearly adventure. I'm so glad that they did. We played, we talked, they cheered us on as we bowled and we ate...a lot! So much fun!

As for Dre & I...we finally got to experience Reno as adults (at least for an hour).  We had a few drinks, played the penny slot machine and once my $5.00 was gone, I called it good! Yeah...I'm a high roller:)

Another awesome summer adventure in the books!

summer:: in film

We have less than twenty-five days of summer vacation left to soak up all of the fun before the routine of school begins. Doesn't it seem to go by faster each year? 

We've been spending our afternoons at the pool and there's nothing better than having it all to yourselves with a little sprinkle of people here and there. I am so enjoying this time with my girls that I just want to remember all of these little moments.

I want to remember how we've tried numerous times to teach Anna to float on her back but she literally just sinks to the bottom.

I want to remember how strong of swimmer that Nyna is becoming and her confidence when she's in the deep end. 

I want to remember how I've grown to enjoy this season more and more each year.

I've been feeling really sentimental these past few days. My girls will be turning 9 and 16 soon. It's just so hard for me to grasp. I want to hold onto these sweet summer memories of spending time doing our thing, enjoying one another's company, swimming, playing, and making up water games. 

Photos taken with 1960 Canon FT QL Camera

on your way to being a star

There's nothing like feeling the pressure of being interviewed for the news. You were stumped and started to cry. The camera man was so sweet and even shared that "sometimes the news anchors cry too." You calmed down enough and were ready for a second take. And again...that sweet camera man handed you the microphone, turned on his camera, and you were on it! You can thank your dad for the 2nd chance.

We are so proud of you for being one of the two kids in your class (and 1700 in the whole district) who received the Perfect Attendance Award for last school year. That acheivement earned you a certificate from Senator Darryl Steinberg and Assemblymember Roger Dickenson. But I don't think that was as exciting as the celebration at the CA State Fair. Food, Family, and best of all...the thrilling rides.

What an awesome way to spend one of our Summer Days.

summer pleasures

• loving the flowers blooming in my front yard - my own little oasis.
• washing the car on a hot summer day and playing in the hose. 
• making "swim friends" during family swim at the community pool - remembering them from last summer. 
• freshly picked strawberries from the patch around the corner.
• water guns and screaming kids. 
   
  

 

 

What "summer pleasures" are you enjoying right now?

summer:: at the park

Spending time at the park after work is something I want to do more often. It's relaxing but only when Shiloh is cooperating. Had to chase him down after he got out of his collar. Picture this crazy woman screaming and running across the park…I think my girls were mortified. I thought about it later and I think I would've been too! 

Blues, Greens, and Pinks = Amazing Summer Colors! The light in this photo is amazing. 

Can you tell? She's coming to tell on her big sister. Now that they spend every waking moment together there are more fights than normal. I welcome those moments when they are playing together so well. 

She loves the outdoors. Besides being in the water this is her next favorite place to be. She'll spend hours out here if I let her.

Isn't this what summer is all about?