I've had a few questions about my camera. It's funny. Todd and I have been looking at digital cameras for about 6 years. I've messed around with photography for years but the more into photography I got the more I wanted a digital camera. But the problem was every time I would go to look at them I just kept wanting the top of the line digital SLR! They were way out of my price range but when I looked back at the stuff I could afford I would just feel like I was going to waist my money on something I didn't really want so we wouldn't buy one.  When we finally decided that we couldn't go on much longer without digital I was working at Target and had been promoted to Head of Electronics. I kept looking at what we had and though it wasn't much I was getting to the point that I wanted to go ahead and get something. Only a few weeks into my position we did a complete update on our camera models and several models were going away. Such is the case with the camera above.  Of course all these models went on clearance and were marked down a couple of times and then I was instructed to sell the model at a reduced price from the lowest clearance price. So we got this camera for a song. I told Todd that while it was far from what I was really wanting it was durable and good quality and while it wouldn't take super amazing pictures it would at least give us a decent digital camera for the cost of one evening out! He was surprised that I was willing to settle but as he keeps telling me, there will come a day when I can have what I want --I just have to wait a few more years.

This camera has been a joy! I can do more with it than I ever imagined. Thank-you, Lord, for providing just what I needed at this time! Your provisions are so sufficient!

I wanted a new profile picture and tried on several occasions to do self portraits but while I liked some of the pictures Todd felt they didn't capture "me". I wasn't sure how that worked but he said I needed to smile more. That I was more of the "smiley" kinda person. *sigh* Oh, well! I was going more for the sleek and sophisticated look but I guess I am more cutesy... So this is my attempt to capture "me"! Anyway, it was fun!

I never watch TV. If there is something good to watch I wait until it comes out on DVD and watch it without commercials. I hate commercials. But we got hooked on LOST. (....thanks, Mom and Dad.... ) So we have been eagerly anticipating the premiere of Season 3: And TONIGHT IS THE NIGHT!

Lame... I know! How crazy is that! I'm anticipating a stupid TV show! sheesh... I'm pathetic.

Sunday we decided to spend the day at Smithville Lake and enjoy the beautiful sunshine and lovely breezes. Todd needed to study so he brought his laptop along and a blanket while I packed drinks and snacks to keep the troups happy! We had a blast running around under the trees and playing soccer.

A little blurry but so cute!

Discovering grass...

Sweet smiles!

My handsome boy

Sibling secrets

And finally the photographer, Me (taken by Trina)

This Google Images survey is really a fun idea!! I guess what you do is type in your answers to google and post the picture next to the answer. So here is mine...

1. My name is Jessica Lynne

2. Place you were born: High Point, North Carolina

3. Place you live now: Kansas City, Missouri

4. My favoite food: Italian

5. My Favoite Drink: Dr Pepper

this picture made me smile!

6. Favorite song: currently, So Long Self

7. Favorite Smell: hmmm.... Downy Fabric Softener? That's all I can think of now...

8. Favorite Hobby: currently, Blogging!

9. Favorite Places I have been to: Yikes got to narrow this down..... Hmmm... Monument Valley, Utah

This was fun!! Thanks, Chels and Abby!

Our darling little Tacelyn Lark (age 5), a.k.a Tacey  has ever since she was a tiny girl loved Shirley Temple movies! Mostly she loves Shirley Temple's songs! She is always dancing around the house singing Animal Crackers In My Soup or The Lollipop Song at the top of her lungs! But by far and away her favorite Shirley Temple song is Be Optimistic and Smile! Amazingly, that song perfectly captures her personality! So just the other day I got her to perform it for me on video and I wanted to share it with you all. She was so excited she even went out to the garage and dug around in the winter clothes bucket and found an old play dress from last year and got all "dressed up" for her performance. I didn't have the heart to change her.....

Enjoy!

Today was the exciting much awaited KC Air Show at the Downtown Airport only a stones throw from our house. I guess there really are advantages to having an airport so close. We have had the privilege, for the past couple of days, of watching planes and helicopters arrive for the show....

Even the US Navy's own Blue Angels have been flying over our house!!

What a thrill it has been to hear the deafening sound all 7 F/A-18 Hornets come screaming over our house barely above the tree tops all in a line!!! Way cool!!!!! The kids have lived poised to dash out the door when they hear them coming..... Just so much excitement! Be sure to turn up the volume on our computer before you click on the movie below. Can you hear the kids shreeking in the back ground?

I had to leave Tegan there at the end for family... She was out there and just being sooo cute we had to video her too! You can hear Trenton in the background getting her to wave at the camera.

What an exciting weekend we have been having....

I guess by now it's just tradition to think of exactly what you were doing this day 5 years ago when you got the news that a Bowing 747 had just crashed into the the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. I had a friend over early that day to babysit for Todd and I to go to Joplin, MO to spend the day together for his birthday the next day. Actually I was going to pick him up from work there and just as I was preparing to head out the door he called. "Jess, something is happening in New York. Turn on the radio." We didn't even have a way to get TV since we were so far out in the country then. So all I had was the radio. I tuned it in for my friend who was in shock too and I headed out the door with one ear glued to the radio and my cell phone pressed to the other listening to Todd watch the TV at work. I was listening when Todd said, "Oh, man... there goes another plane into the other tower..." and his voice trailed off. "I guess there's no question now that this is a terrorist act." he stated solomly. I wasn't sure what to think. Todd was down playing the whole thing, probably worried that all the drama would 'cause me undue worry. When I arrived to pick up Todd the TV was full of reruns of the second plane hitting the South Tower and while Todd was collecting his things I watched the South Tower collapse on the TV there at the helicopter base where Todd was working then. I couldn't figure out how to feel. I'm embarrassed to admit that I had never even heard of the World Trade Center! I hadn't ever been to New York and all that I knew about it was from movies. WTC towers hadn't figured very high into any of the ones I had seen either so I felt a lot confused and a little unsure of what all this meant.... I was more concerned that day with spending much looked forward to time with Todd and was baffled when we saw people lined up for miles to get into gas stations! We just drove on past. We tried to do our shopping and all that day but we just felt that everywhere we went people were nervous and worried. I felt a little stupid that I wasn't more upset but I realize now that I didn't experience the whole thing the way most everyone else did. I saw barely 5 minutes of TV that day and most everyone else saw hours and hours; even most of the day and for several days after! It was actually something like 2 years later that the nightmares started and the gravity of the whole thing settled it.... Our country, the Land Of The Free and The Home Of The Brave, had been targeted, infiltrated, and at least partially successfully attacked, killing thousands! I struggled with feeling like such a stupid Ostrich with my head in the sand.

As I was talking with the children today and showing them pictures on the internet I struggle with those feelings again. How easily we take for granted what others are giving their lives for! Freedom, liberty, prosperity, justice. These are a few of the things that make our country a target of Al-Qaeda but at the same time are what makes us great. As the words of our President were then, they still ring true:

"A great people has been moved to defend a great nation. Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.

America was targeted for attack because we're the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world. And no one will keep that light from shining.

Today, our nation saw evil, the very worst of human nature. And we responded with the best of America -- with the daring of our rescue workers, with the caring for strangers and neighbors who came to give blood and help in any way they could. "

"America and our friends and allies join with all those who want peace and security in the world, and we stand together to win the war against terrorism. Tonight, I ask for your prayers for all those who grieve, for the children whose worlds have been shattered, for all whose sense of safety and security has been threatened. And I pray they will be comforted by a power greater than any of us, spoken through the ages in Psalm 23: "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me."

This is a day when all Americans from every walk of life unite in our resolve for justice and peace. America has stood down enemies before, and we will do so this time. None of us will ever forget this day. Yet, we go forward to defend freedom and all that is good and just in our world. " --President George W. Bush, Sept. 11th, 2001

After nearly a week of training on near by bike paths we finally felt ready to head to Smithville Lake to go biking on the trails there yesterday. It took over 4 hours to get everybody dressed and ready, lunch packed, the car loaded, and the bikes set up on the back of the car. Once we finally we got there it took another half an hour to get unloaded and on the trail! It was pretty hilly and we ended up traveling over 8 miles of trail but we really had a blast! Here are some pix of our set up:

Tacey is my little biking buddy! She's quite the trooper going up the hills...

Trenton and Trina both have "new" 21 speed bikes. They are getting quite good at choosing the right gears for each change in terrain we come across.

The babies get to ride in cofort with toys, drinks, and everything-- right within arms reach. Tyler loves it and Tegan is learning...

I forgot to bring our camera yesterday but we really had so much fun and stretched ourselves allot! That distance was nothing for Todd and the kids I guess, but my legs felt like jelly by the time we got back to our car! I really need more exercise! I don't like to think of family biking that way, though. Takes all the fun out of it!