August 6, 2009

my kids are home and they brought me international gifts...



jumping beans 2

a little out of order now that I've done some photo re-posting
but hang in there with me and keep reading

my kids have spent the better of the summer in southern indiana
working as YMCA camp counselors
~~
a camp where they have practically grown up at
a camp where they have friends and make new ones every summer
a camp that will always have a special place in their hearts
~~
in the photo above are my kids
with some of the other counselors they worked with all summer
that made the 8 hour drive home with them
just to spend some time in wisconsin before they head out on their other adventures
around the united states
~~
~left to right~
david from sheffield, england
my son
quinten from johannasburg, south africa
alice from cheshire, enland
and
my daughter
~~
people say we look alike
~I don't see it~
what do you think
?
this is my daughter's boyfriend who was here all summer working
and
has a special place in my heart
~~
he mowed and trimmed the yard for me
took me to and from the airport when I went to colorado
and
even helped me out with sophie
when I couldn't get home in time to let her outside for her potty breaks
{thanks cody}
I took them all out for dinner the other night
well
most of them
as the young ones had already made their own plans which included some extra kids
but
they all showed up at the restaurant so I could at least get a group photo
{yes, I begged a little...okay, a lot}


jumping beans

this wild group then left the next day for a concert in milwaukee
and
the only way I allowed them to do this was with some bargaining power
{darn...I just realized the large format photos cut off nate on the right side...I might just have to re-post one of them
as he is the one who got the "most air"....which I just did as the first photo}

jumping beans 2

YES
YOU ALL HAVE TO JUMP
BECAUSE I SAID SO
BECAUSE IT'S MY THING
BECAUSE YOU'RE KIDS
BECAUSE YOU KNOW HOW I GET IF I DON'T GET A JUMPING PHOTO
BECAUSE YOU CAN'T GO IF YOU DON'T

so they did
and
now I've decided that along with regular jumping photos
jumping photos with shadows
are even better
*
thanks david, alice and quinten for staying here in wisconsin with us and making me laugh
while falling in love with all of your accents
*
safe travels

36 comments:

  1. Your daughter does look like you, same eye shape, same nose, same mouth. People say the same thing about my daughter and me - although I don't see it either.

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  2. that looks like a lot of fun. Yes I think your daughter looks like you. No wonder you stay so young with all of the kids you have around you and the senior photos etc. OH i love an accent Beth. I don't even need to know what there saying. As a kid I used to walk around pretending I talked in different languages. I have 2 friends and we used to go out and pretend we were Irish or English or Italian. This was when we wer younger. Sounds kinda silly now. Have fun.

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  3. Yes you DO look alike. :-) I love the photos and just the joy you have managed to capture. And I REALLY like the jumping photos!

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  4. I had to giggle about your daughter... Both my girls have dark brown hair and look nothing like me. But I do think you both look alike. Love the group photos...so fun!

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  5. You and your daughter both share the same beautiful smile and she looks like she has the same effervescence as her mom--what a great thing to pass on. I love the jumping photos--I'm going to try that the next time that I have a group to photograph. Enjoy having your children back home.

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  6. i am like you. i love kids, teenage and older. this is the age group that just sings to me. full of fun, energy, hope, ambition and a lot of daredevil. great photos.

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  7. I'm in love with the jump shots they are so great and would you believe I have never taken one. I might have to try for then next group shot I do.

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  8. Awww. What a special send off for them! What fun to have everyone together at your house.... I regret not sending my daughter to a camp each summer. I think she would have enjoyed it.

    Love the jump shot!

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  9. I LOVE the jump shot where they all managed to get in the air! It was brilliant! One that they will treasure years from now. . . Remember that summer they will say! Brilliantly done!

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  10. Fun, fun ,fun ! I love the shadows too - so cool !

    Yes, your lovely daughter looks like you - especially around that bright, shiny smile. It is so great that you captured their moments - even if you had to momma-up to get them !

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  11. how lucky they are to have a friend with such an awesome mom that makes them jump to capture them all so happy and full at this precious time of their lives... will you adopt me? ;)
    keep on rockin' girl!

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  12. Oh what fun these pictures are!!Your kids are lovely and all the kids with them are too!! Yes I think she looks like you..I hear taht alot and don't see it either.
    I taught program at GS camp and had a regular stream of 19 year old girls from all over - europe too..coming by for "Mom chats". Lots of home sick kiddos. How wonderful that they are doing the camp thing!! Great way to grow up!! Sarah

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  13. David from SHEFFIELD?!!!! crikey, that's where I just was. and pardon me you don't see the resemblance between you and your daughter? HELLO!!!!! like, totally! and your son -- look at their eyes. it's a lot in the eyes.

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  14. Yes, she does look like you, she also seems to have your spirit and spunk. BTW, you have great, beautiful kids!
    Keep doing the jumping photos! They're so much fun to look at. Just gobs of happy energy!

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  15. Such amazing photos.
    Those kids all look like a treat to have in your life.
    So great!

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  16. wow this looks like a fun bunch ....you right in the mix I know...i think you look like your daughter what beautiful ladies!

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  17. LOL I can't see the boys doing this - they are at that stage where everything is weird to them and they're so afraid of people seeing.

    what fun shots and they sound like wonderful kids.

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  18. Ooooo....I love the shadow jumpers! Your next assignment is to have only the shadows of jumpers.
    Yes, both your kids look like you, I picked out your son in the group photo before I read the names, and your daughter has your mouth.
    It takes a special person to make so many kids feel welcome...I would have a hard time because I would be too shy.

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  19. You know how much I love your jumping photos? I love your jumping shadow photos even more.

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  20. I am SO jumping! This post is filled with love!
    xo

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  21. Great shots. I love jumping shots.

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  22. just love the fact that there is a south african in the mix.

    love the jumping shot.

    and have missed you much.

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  23. THAT IS HOW IT ALWAYS SHOULD BE...XO

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  24. These are so fun! And reading your post made me smile. Sounds like there is a lot of good times going on over there! And you sound like a cool mom :)

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  25. PS I just checked, and can't believe I was not a follower! Now I am subscribed and following :)

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  26. Yes, I see it! Your baby does look like you!

    :-)

    I lope the fun spirit of these photos - it absolutely screams summer teens...

    :-D

    (((HUGS))),
    me

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  27. Beth thanks for sharing all of this ... loved getting to "meet" the images of your kids and their friends. Here's a challenge ... when my family of 54 has the reunion in FL in November, what are my chances of getting all 54 people in the air at the same time?

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  28. she looks a lot like you! and all your jumping photos have now got me getting everyone to jump when i shoot! isnt it so much fun? but yes the shadows are great!

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  29. those jumping shots make me WANNA JUMP right outa my chair! awesome!

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  30. Great photos! How wonderful to be surrounded by your kids and their friends. The jumping shot is great! (Actually, I think you look more like Cody than anyone else, but we won't go there!)

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  31. This is hilarious...gosh they can all REALLY jump! I feel so old.

    Um, no i don't see much resemblance between you and your daughter, although teeth/lips perhaps? But I thought Cody was your son....LOL!

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  32. yes yes you do look alike. You and your lovely wonderful gorgeous daughter have the same shape of eyes. Great seing here and your son. Love the'se jumping pics, do you mind stealing the idea? Try to let my boys jump when we're in Austria, I'll bet I'll have great shots there.

    Thanks for sharing the happiness it's beaming of my screen. Needed lots of that and I'm holding on tight. Hugs.

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  33. they definitely look like you! how nice to have them home it must be! what a great welcome post. it's nice to "meet" your beautiful fam and their friends.

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  34. your kids are beautiful. How lucky to spend some time with these energy filled beauties.

    And jumpin photos with shadows are way cool!!

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  35. Hi Beth,

    I'm from Sheffield, England! So, David MUST be a nice boy!

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  36. Love the shadow of the jumping one! Seems like such a fun group! And I agree, I can see you in your daughter... in the eyes.

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**I love reading the comments you leave, as they make me feel like we're sitting in my kitchen, having a cup of tea, discussing life and wondering where all the time has gone ...beth