Is it already Thursday? Man, this week flew by!

I’ll admit … we’re not playing outside as much as normal, because …

I can’t remember what day that was, but it could be any day these past couple of weeks. So we’ve spent a lot of time inside with play-dough, crayons and coloring books, baby dolls, and My Little Pony’s.

When we ARE outside, you’ll probably find us trying to cool off.

We also hit the playground one evening … 98 degrees at 8pm. *sweat*

And sometimes, she can whine incessantly convince me to take her outside in the morning.

And then I can usually get her to do this …

So it all works out.

The past three days have brought afternoon summer thunderstorms, which we LOVE. The pounding sideways rain … the thunder and lightning … the cooler temps. Yes yes YES!

In the end, we just do our best to have fun no matter what we’re doing.

See how everyone else played this week over at Beth’s.

I rarely process in black & white, because I feel like b&w adds a dramatic flair, and I don’t think I take a lot of dramatic pictures.

But this one of Emma looking out the window, waiting for daddy to get home … it needed some drama.

But I also liked it in color.

Go figure.

Well, we have plenty of green around here, which is shocking since we haven’t gotten rain in a while, and it is hot as blazes. So I managed to hunt some down for this week’s challenge.

Canon 50D • 85mm • ISO 160 • f/ 5.6 • shutter speed: 1/500

Canon 50D • 85mm • ISO 125 • f/ 2.5 • shutter speed: 1/6400

Canon 50D • 85mm • ISO 125 • f/ 2.5 • shutter speed: 1/1250

 Canon 50D • 85mm • ISO 200 • f/ 2.5 • shutter speed: 1/800

Canon 50D • 50mm • ISO 100 • f/ 2.8 • shutter speed: 1/640 

See the other green (or chair or hands) entries over at Beth’s …

This week’s You Capture was all about getting down low … so I took it literally and shot from the ground.

Emma splashing at the end of a super fun water slide …

Canon 50D • 85mm • ISO 250 • f2.2 • shutter speed: 1/1250

sprinklers sprinkling the heat-dried grass …

Canon 50D • 85mm • ISO 250 • f1.8 • shutter speed: 1/4000 • manual focus

momma feet and toes wrinkling from too much time in the pool …

Canon 50D • 85mm • ISO 400 • f1.8 • shutter speed: 1/250

little feet scooting in the late evening sun …

Canon 50D • 85mm • ISO 100 • f2.5 • shutter speed: 1/8000

and our current “middle child” snoozing in the shade.

Canon 50D • 85mm • ISO 100 • f1.8 • shutter speed: 1/3200

Okay, so that last one wasn’t really shot from a down low perspective, but I was squatting. And squatting while almost 6 months pregnant is kind of a big deal.

So how low can you go?

We’ve had a pretty fun week!!

Saturday – I led the Columbia, SC Photowalk as part of the I Heart Faces Photowalk Across America. One of these days, I might sit down and write a blog post about that. Like how one of the photographers was 8.99999 months pregnant when she came … and had her baby the next day.

Sunday – I took this picture. Being pregnant is really REALLY fun.

Monday – I went a little crazy and hung teeny tiny diapers on the line, we went to the pool and then enjoyed that magic light at the end of the day. You know, that light … where you could take a picture of dog poop, and it would still look beautiful and glowing.

Tuesday – we went for a walk in the morning and enjoyed the summer hydrangeas that are at every 3rd house in our neighborhood. And then back to the pool.

Wednesday – we walked to the playground in the morning, had a picnic lunch, watched a summer lightning/thunderstorm from our front porch that afternoon, and then went and watched Ken play tennis in the evening.  

And now, we’re on our way out the door to meet one of the amazing ladies from the photowalk at the zoo. So this day is gearing up to be a very fun day, as well.

See the other FUN entries at Beth’s.

rain. crocs. puddles. pink. running.

a few of her favorite things.

we never let a little rain stop us from playing outside. until the lightning strikes.

you capture :: this week’s best shot

A beautiful evening for a scoot, wouldn’t you say? See the other SKY entries at Beth’s.

Don’t forget to enter the Mimi’s Babies Giveaway – it ends tonight!!

Spring from a different perspective = an afternoon at the local carnival.

And picnic lunches …

See all of this week’s

s p r i n g

entries

h.e.r.e.

When I chose this week’s theme, I partly chose it to selfishly challenge myself to get my camera out and shoot this week. I also wanted it to be somewhat of a challenge.

I tried to think of things that bring me comfort … and the obvious came to mind. A cup of coffee in the morning. My daughter’s hugs and kisses. My husband’s hugs and kisses. A good book. Light summer rain. Waves on the beach. The scent of vanilla. Mom’s chicken and dumplings. Flip flops. Fresh sheets. Black and white chapstick (reminds me of my dad).

That beautiful light at the end of the day … or as my friend Kristin calls it, the day’s exhale. Oh yes.

My kiddo. I find comfort in the everyday. The things that make her her. Like wearing my glasses and “reading” the US Weekly.

I admit it. I love Tivo. At the end of the day when Emma’s asleep and hubby is teaching a night class, there’s nothing quite like sinking into the couch with a snack to catch up on my favorite shows.

Snuggled under the quilt my grandmother made.

So what brings you comfort? Or how did YOU interpret this week’s theme?

Please read the guidelines and make sure you link to the actual blog post not just your main blog address.

<a href="http://www.kidnappedbysuburbia.com/index.php/2010/04/07/you-capture-comfort/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo145/rubyandroja/youcapture4-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />

And finally …

FRESH

Next week, you’ll be back at Beth’s blog – thank you all for swinging over here for the past two weeks!! I had fun getting to know so many new bloggers! I wish I had time to add all of you to my Google reader!!

ps – I like exclamation points!!

First of all, you must must must go see Beth‘s new baby boy. He is just delicious! And don’t come back here until you’ve goo-goo’d and gah-gah’d all over her blog.

M’kay?

Now, let’s go on to the business at hand … this week’s You Capture!

When Beth asked me to host You Capture for the next two weeks, I gladly obliged. I love Beth, I love You Capture, and I love meeting new people – it’s a win win win!

Win³

But here’s the honest truth.

I hate feet.

Seriously, they really really gross me out.

With one exception. Baby feet.

Baby feet are awesome …

… but once the kid is old enough to start getting their feet dirty, then I’m kind of over it.

{Britney Spears barefoot in a gas station? Pretty much vomit-inducing for me.}

But … here I am. Opening my blog to an onslaught of feet.

Lots and lots and lots of feet.

Because that’s how much I love Beth. Lots and lots and lots.

So bring on the feet!

But first, please read the guidelines and make sure you link to the actual blog post not just your main blog address.

You can use this code to link here since it’s a new location for the next two weeks …

<a href="http://www.kidnappedbysuburbia.com/index.php/2010/03/31/you-capture-feet/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo145/rubyandroja/youcapture4-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />

And finally …

COMFORT