Photo Blogging Challenge – Nine

The photo blogging challenge for March was Nine

I’m counting the weights to make this 9 but beautiful art making at the Discovery Museum in Acton
9 spokes on the boat steering wheel! Elise is having a wonderful time – also at Discovery Museum
Elise squeezes the 9th balloon powering this music machine at the Discovery Museum
Dad & daughter in wind machine as it hits 9 miles per hour – at Ecotarium in Worcester

It’s Autism Acceptance Month in April as I post this. Autism is neurodiversity – NOT a disease.

The need for order like the toys below can be one of the ways Autism presents.

9 toys lined up by Elise when she was playing

Last, here’s a bonus photo that in my mind fits the theme, but doesn’t really.

Humongous pigs larger than at least 9 piglets

The pigs are from Mass Audubon Drumlin Farm in Lincoln.

Looking forward to seeing what photos everyone else took!

Photo Blogging Challenge – Photographer Choice

The February photo blogging challenge was “photographer’s choice”

Open ended photo challenges are fun.

I approach by taking pictures for the month and see if a theme reveals itself.

I thought my theme would be “oh the places you go!”

I think it turned into “4 year old point of view”.

Hope you enjoy the photos as much as I did taking them!

Elise runs towards adventure with Dad
Making muffins with Dad

This next photo just made me laugh. We let our daughter pick out 2 toys to bring with her on the car ride to school. Usually they’re mini stuffed animals. On this day, Elise grabbed the 2 largest stuffed animals she has.

Frog and Shark on the way to preschool

February in MA had quite a few snow storms.

Adventure girl loves to climb snow piles

We’re MA Audubon members and in late February, we visited Moose Hill in Sharon, MA.

Elise investigates moose antlers

Looking forward to seeing what everyone else came up with!

Photo Blogging Challenge – Black and White

The photo blogging challenge for January was “black and white”. Here’s my view!

Owl art from my daughter
Turkey’s chilling

I like the white snow with the sledders lining up on the hill

Penguin rock art at our library
Snowed out view from a storm that dropped 30 inches of snow!

I have 2 bonus photos this month that I didn’t take but fit the theme so well, I’m including.

Future service dog – right now a puppy, enjoying a light snow on Cape Cod

My husband took this beach photo on MLK Jr. Day

Looking forward to seeing what others did with this challenge.

Photo Blogging Challenge – Holly Jolly

Well, I certainly have a lot of great photos to choose from for this December 2021 photo blogging challenge: Holly Jolly.

First, some fun news. My new years eve Instagram of the Boston Harbor Ice Sculpture Stroll won me a “staycation package”

Here’s the winning post:

Instagram Boston Harbor Ice Sculpture Stroll

Now, on to the photo blogging challenge. Let’s start with a unique to us photos.

One of our friends goes all out for Christmas decorations & this year he made stairs so the Christmas Village is viewable from outside! (COVID surge related reasons)

So here’s my daughter looking in at the Christmas Village and the sign inviting anyone to come see. Huge thanks to the Blue family for inviting us over!

Continuing with the theme of both unique and due to wonderful friends – the animal adventures at the home of my friend from high school, Jenn.

Jenn has “Christmas Giraffes” for lawn decorations!!!

Inside only got better! Jenn’s practically got an aquarium in her home!

Bearded Dragon
Crabs and fish for them to eat

Now, that would normally be where I stop, because I put up 5 photos. I’m still rolling with the jolly though because gosh darn it – I need positive in this pandemic scary!

Here’s 2 from meeting Santa at the Cape Codder Hotel

Oh lobster trap tree
Santa was impressive and really good with my daughter being autistic

One last photo – from Christmas Eve

This is my Dad being a proud Grandpa – reading a book to his granddaughter (my daughter)

Looking forward to scrolling through everyone else’s photo blogging posts.

Hope you had a Holly Jolly December and a wonderful 2022.

Photo Blogging Challenge – Give Thanks

The Photo Blogging Challenge prompt for November was “Give Thanks”.

Boy, do I have a lot to be thankful for.

This made me tear up when it came home with my daughter’s art from preschool

Let’s start with my daughter, Elise.

I was having Elise developmentally tested & we got an Autism diagnosis 2 weeks ago.

I’m really happy to have a name for the difference I see between my daughter and her 4 year old peers.

I’m also super lucky to already have a great group of Autistic friends – all thriving as adults. Positive is my only reference point!

Uncle God Dad Dave reading with Elise

I’m thankful for family!

My brother has been overseas for work (Qatar and Greece) so it was wonderful to see him on Thanksgiving.

Elise is obsessed with dinosaurs. Dave flipped each page and asked Elise to tell him the dinosaurs. I have cute video too.

Mass Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary on Cape Cod

I’m thankful for Mass Audubon Wildlife Sanctuaries and that our family was gifted a membership from Grandma on Dad’s side.

Our family of 3 can often be found exploring Mass Audubon sites on the weekends.

Barry Clifford – treasure hunter & historian

I’m thankful for the kindness of strangers.

A few weeks ago, my family and my in laws visited the Whydah Pirate Museum on Cape Cod. (The museum is very worth it and I recommend it.)

The museum goes over the history of the ship “Whydah” from origin until today – a wreck of Cape Cod that’s actively being searched for historical items.

Barry Clifford is the explorer who found the Whydah wreck.

Barry is also the man in the photo above. He was at the museum the day we visited and noticed my daughter investigating the cannons. While Elise was talking to Grandma, he hid 2 plastic coins in 2 different cannons for my daughter to find!

I cried tears of joy. Here I was worried Elise was getting bored and his kindness made my day.

Cape Cod beach sunset

Finally, I’m thankful for the beauty of New England nature – especially on Cape Cod.

You can find our family on Cape Cod at least 1 weekend a month, if not more. (My in-laws live mid-cape.)

Did you enjoy my photos? Looking forward to seeing what everyone else is thankful for – and their creative photos.

October Photo Blogging Challenge – Get out and play

How did October fly by?

My job is nonprofit fundraising and we’re about to head into the busiest season of donations in the whole year. (Good busy!)

The October Photo Blogging Challenge is “Get out and play!

October with a nearly 4 year old has us appreciating play. I have a wealth of photos to choose from that would fit the theme. The hard part is picking 5.

Playground – free for anyone to use

We celebrated cousin Georgette’s 3rd birthday at a park in Walpole. I was extremely impressed by all the ride on toys at the playground for kids to use. Elise tried out a few.

Shells

My daughter finds play everywhere. She loves arranging shells when we visit her grandparents who live on Cape Cod.

Pumpkin Push Up

On the Cape, the town of Chatham hosts “Pumpkin People in the Park” every October.

The displays are always wonderful, but not usually interactive like 2 were this year.

Above, my daughter attempts a “pumpkin push up”

Beach

You don’t need any event to play. Here’s my daughter enjoying running on the beach. Later in the day she pretended she was rescuing sea turtle eggs and some adults turned to look. I whispered “they’re imaginary” and the adults smiled and walked on.

Froggy for Halloween

This last picture was in Dorchester at the Pumpkin Parade.

After a fun night of trick or treating and seeing family who were volunteering – Elise and Daddy walk back to the car. I liked her light up shoes and glow bracelet adding to this one.

So there you have my 5 photos.

Looking forward to seeing the other posts from those in the photo blogging challenge.

Photo Blogging Challenge – Adventure

I’m late again for the Photo Blogging Challenge, but here’s August’s “Adventure

I started a new job in August, and that’s an adventure I’m adoring.

I’m the northeast fundraising manager for Dogs for Better Lives. They train service dogs for the Deaf and Autistic.

Here’s my office set up

My family and I went to the first annual Cape Cod Pirate Festival and it was so much fun

This preformer was impressive
I liked this library display about Cape Cod, one of our favorite adventure spots
Space bunny at her first Chatham Band concert

Better late than never! Hope you enjoyed my photos!

Photo Blogging Challenge Drink Up

The theme for the April photo blogging challenge was “Drink Up

I had fun with the theme but knew from the second I saw it that I wouldn’t be taking beverage photos.

Here’s my creative take!

It wasn’t intentional but my toddler daughter got featured in all of the photos this month.

Drink up camel

My brother is going to Qatar for 9 months for work, and we had a going away party for him.

My mom gave my daughter the cake toppers to play with and she was overjoyed at the additional to her toy collection.

This goat is drinking up attention and getting snacks

My daughter and I went to pre-school storytime at Unity Farm Sanctuary and oh my goodness this goat was using their height to get food and attention. The farm owner gave the lettuce to us to feed the goats, so it’s part of their diet.

Drink up knowledge

My daughter loves books and is just starting to memorize them to “read” to us.

This is from Easter – sitting on my dad, her Grandpa.

Drink up fun

My daughter was given an Easter basket with fake grass in it and she had so much fun making a mess. Why not enjoy it and clean up later, right?

Drink up wonder

My daughter and I got out in nature a lot in April. This is her riding on Grandpa’s shoulders in Sylvan Gardens on Cape Cod.

I hope you enjoyed my photos. I enjoyed taking them.

Photo Blogging Challenge: The Magic of the Season

The photo blogging challenge for December was “The Magic of the Season”

This one is particularly exciting for me because December is both Christmas and my daughter’s birthday! Lots of good photos to choose from and you may have me include a bonus.

First of all – we live in MA, which means snow! This is the view from our condo balcony on December 18, 3020.
I am in awe of the artistic talent of the family I married into. My sister in law Jen made beautiful intricate paper snowflakes to decorate their home.
Toddler loves all things winter and Christmas

Magic is definitely viewing the world through my daughter’s eyes

Happy birthday little 3 year old!

One last bonus, our masked family on Christmas Day

Here’s hoping for a wonderful 2021 to everyone reading this!

Photo Blogging Challenge – Thankful

The November photo blogging challenge was “Thankful

This was actually a month of photo taking that I had too many to choose from!

Despite the pandemic, I’m thankful that we’re still able to safely enjoy outdoor activities with our toddler

This was written as we left the Blue Hills Trailside Museum
Playground in Quincy
Looking at an emu at a zoo in North Attleboro

Every once in a while I remember to get myself in the photo, so here’s a selfie I enjoy

I’m also very thankful for our family!

This photo was taken on Thanksgiving

Uncle David waves at Elise

Here’s a bonus because I still can’t believe I caught it without trying. I was at an online fundraiser for The Samfund that had Tig Notaro as a speaker. Look what I caught when I excitedly taking a photo of Tig! (My name on the thank you donors scroll)

This monthly photo blogging challenge is facilitated by PJ of the Northeast Bloggers Network.