Photo Challenge: Day 29

"A picture that always makes you laugh."



This is a picture of my husband when he was a kid.

Why it always makes me laugh pretty much needs no explanation.

Photo Challenge: Day 28

"A picture of something you're afraid of."



If you can't tell from this picture, I'm not particularly fond of the water. However, I know that some of the world's greatest things are seen in and on the water, so I try not to let it stop me.

I have snorkeled in the Bahamas (while wearing a life vest and staying no more than 15 feet from our boat). I rode on a choppy charter boat to the Greek island of Delos (though I was a sick shade of green the entire time). I have kayaked in oceans and rivers (the one water activity I love because I don't really get wet). I tried to surf in California (though that didn't go particuarly well). And, as shown in this photo, I took a tube down a river in Belize. This trip had a catch. The river went through a pitch black cave for twenty minutes. After I emerged, I couldn't find my husband and ran into a rock face. I was rescued by a group of Villanova kids on spring break, but scarred for life. Never again.

I don't know where my fear of the water comes from. I'm not a terrible swimmer. In fact, I'm a pretty good swimmer. I am equally afraid of rivers, lakes, oceans, and the deep end of the pool. I have nightmares about drowning. Despite this, I'm rather fond of boats. Though if I'd been on the Titanic without a lifeboat, I would have been one of the people clamoring for the tip top of the railing until the last possible second. Definitely not one of the ones who willingly jumped overboard. Crazy afraid of the water.

Photo Challenge: Day 27

"A picture of yourself and a family member."



This is my mother. We are dressed up for Halloween, um, obviously.

You know, the last day of this challenge is supposed to be someone you miss. I thought about saving my mom for that day, but then I realized she's down here enough that I pretty much don't have a chance to miss her.

Since my son was born, my mother has hauled it back and forth from her state to mine more times than I can count. She was there for my baby shower, the birth, and a few weeks after to clean my house. She's given up many of her weekends to come give me a break. She works full-time and still manages to make it down here almost monthly to see her grandson. I know she loves me, but she is absolutely head over heels for Winston. And he loves her right back.

Not to mention she'll dress up like a wicked queen just to make him happy. Well, to make me happy, anyway. Now THAT is a grandma.

Photo Challenge: Day 26

"A picture of something that means a lot to you."



This is one of three photos that my friend Joana took of a diorama. She had them beautifully matted and framed, and gave them to me as a baby shower gift.

Giving birth to the son of a career military man pretty much meant that my son's bedroom would have some kind of camouflage decor. In fact, my husband picked out the bedding and decorations. My friends and family got on board and helped add to the theme.

But this gift? It was immensely personal. It put a touch of sophistication in a room filled with tanks and camo covered teddy bears. I walk into my son's room and look at these everytime I get him out of bed. And I smile every single time because the gift means so much to me. I treasure this artwork.

Photo Challenge: Day 25

"A picture of your day."

Winston and laundry. Actually, this is just like every other day, except I didn't really have a full load of laundry to do today. My son, confused by this, kept trying to start an empty load on his own. After he was nearly successful, I grabbed up what laundry we had and stuck it in there. Who am I to discourage a man from doing the laundry?