Dream Lens

These are the Canon lens that we have on our wish list. Of course, they are more spendy since they have image stabilizers. But they are much much nicer than the one we have now. The 2nd one is the one that Ben wants the most. It is about $650. The 1st one is $425. Ouch either way considering the version of the bottom one without IS is about $250.

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 Image Stabilized USM SLR Lens

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens for Canon EOS SLR

Koka Gallery - Part 2

The art show will be the weekend of the Maple Leaf Festival in Carthage, Oct 17th. Ben submitted 3 pieces of his work for the Juried Art show that week. His work is getting good reviews according to the gallery owner so she is hoping he will sell well that weekend. She is even recommending some kind of portfolio book to display just in case some sell and interested buyers can place an order. Ben is getting very excited. Trying to keep him controlled on overfilling the gallery with his work is almost becoming a full time job.

Date Night

Ben and I got a "date night" this last weekend. Not really one but close enough. We went to a dinner party with some friends. It was just nice to be able to go out. Marq took a photo of us when we got to mom's house. Beej volunteered to watch the kids while we went out. We just went to dinner to Outback. Yummy! Afterwards, Ben joined the guys to hangout. They mostly played mini golf and went out for coffee. Can't you tell they all had work the next morning...lol.

Dancing Machine

Liam and I have been watching Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance. He cracks me up now since he dances along with the music. He apparently inherited my love for dancing. I just hope he can get him into some formal gym or dance classes. I will have to find a way to get my videos from my phone on here. He is too funny. He just keeps going and going. Jumping from the sofa then continues on the floor.

Weekend Warriors

Ben and I tackled the "deck box" and finished it finally. I just need to get a seat cushion for it. Regretfully with the rain last week we never got to finish it and it was actually sitting in our living room all of last week. The generator in going in and my back porch is finally getting clear. I finally worked on our lawn and did tons of yard work. Knowing I will be unable to work on anything for several weeks again, makes my feel like we have to get it all done now. Sad but true. We moved over the tool shed and started working on the landscaping for the play area. As much as I wish our yard was bigger, it just would mean more work.

MSSU Homecoming Week

Saturday was the MSSU homecoming game and parade. All the local middle and high schools were invited to march in the parade. Each band got judged as well. North Middle School got 2nd place in the middle school division. Cheers!

It was great to watch him march for the 1st time. He has picked up a love for music and I hope it carries over till he is an adult. He already wants to learn more instruments. It just blows me away on how fast he has grown. I am so proud of him. To think my little man is going to be 13 soon too... He is getting a little bit taller too. Maybe he will get some of that Bradberry height after all. He has definitely has gotten the Barrios sarcasm.

What daddy taught Liam

Q: What is your name?
A: L - I - A - M or Liam Sloma ( He will flip flop the answers)

Q: Who is your buddy?
A: I'm daddy's buddy.

One: eins
Two: zwei
Three: drei (Dry)
Four: vier (Fry)
Five: fünf
Six: sechs
Seven: sieben
Eight: acht
Nine: neun
Ten: zehn

(Yes, daddy taught Liam German.)

Q: Are you stinky?
A: Nope I smell like roses!

Q: What are you?
A: I am a cootie patootie. (cutie patootie)

Firetruck

Daddy and Liam strike a pose.

Liam was invited to a birthday party last weekend and it was a firetruck theme. The local fire department came out with their new truck and let the kids climb in and out of the vehicle. It was a lot of fun. As it entered, they blared the horns and Liam was super excited and could not wait to get on the truck.

Koka Gallery

Venice - One of a 3 part series

Oldest Man in Kosevo

Ben has some of his photography in a gallery in Carthage. It is really exciting. What started as a summer outing with just the boys, ended up with a opportunity of a lifetime. Ben has always wanted to have his artwork displayed. He had gone into this gallery with Marq over the summer and talked to the gallery owner. She told him to go ahead and bring his work in sometime. We took several of his photos from this European trip and worked with CS4. We brought the proofs to her and she loved them. Here are a couple of the works... I put a watermark on them so that is the "By:Benjamin Sloma" The Gallery owner told us to watermark everything and his work is being copyrighted. He is even entering a Juried Art contest next month.