Just a stone's throw ...

... or maybe a bit further.

Here's the view of the Empire State Building from our hotel room. I could probably write & share pictures to fill 10 blog posts, but this is all you're getting for now.

This is the last week of school and each day gets crazier than the last. As soon as summer starts next week, I'll be able to really sit down and share all about a fabulous weekend with family in the BIG city.

Thanks, McClymonds clan ... it was a WONDERFUL wedding weekend!

Name! That! Celebrity!

You are welcome to participate in this mini game show!

Use the pictures provided to determine which celebrity my kids read about this month.

Yes, these are all illustrations of the same celebrity, even though it really doesn't look like it. We got LOTS of laughs over these illustrations!

Clues added each day. Make your guesses in the comments.

Saturday's Clue: Famous for being a singer. (Yes, even though you think there might be drawings of breadsticks or ferrets with the celeb ... they are actually microphones.)

Sunday's Clue: She is still living.

Monday's Clue: She is married to a singer.

Tuesday's Clue: She was in an awful bus accident and broke her back.

Wednesday's Clue: She donated close to $3 million to Hurricane Andrew survivors!

Meet my new friend ...

This is Webster.

His egg came from our custodian's farm.

He was born in the preschool classroom on the other end of our building.

He is the only duckling that hatched.

He has some chick friends in Kindergarten.

He is cute.

He took a field trip to 4th grade this afternoon.

He looks funny when he walks.

His feet & bill feel funny.

His wings are so tiny, they look funny when they flap.

I've never held a duckling.

I didn't want to put him down.

He likes to nuzzle in your neck.

Webster moves too fast to pose for a picture.

Can't I keep him?

Too many thank yous

Today, on Mother's Day, I thank you.

I don't even know where to start, but I'll try.

Thanks for always caring for us and loving us, even when I know we were (and maybe still can be) difficult.

Thank you for supporting me in my NEED to get a puppy for my 25th birthday. You even showed up with a kennel and collar for this little one, even though we were "just going to look at the puppies".

Thank you for thinking she's still cute, even when she crawls on your kitchen table.

Thank you for being my shopping partner at estate sales and at antique malls.

Thank you for showing me how sisters should love each other ...

... and laugh with each other.

Thank you for teaching me how to play cards, complete puzzles and love dominoes.

Thank you for the dresses, shoes, hair & nails on special occasions.

Thank you for all the vacations, even the wild trip to the lake with the girls one summer!

Thank you for passing down some of your jewelry to me, because I really do love it & wear those pieces with pride.

Thank you to all the women in my family for being great role models and second mothers when I needed them.

Thank you for moving me, too many times to count.

Thank you for helping to get me through KU and graduate with the degree I've wanted since I was 7 years old.

Thank you for showing me that I should always speak my mind, if I believe in something.

Thank you for supporting me when I completed my Master's program a few years later.

Thank you for passing along your crafty and creative genes, and helping me with my crazy decorating ideas.

Thank you for being you. I love you! Happy Mother's Day!

Maybe we DO live in a big city!

After a VERY LONG day at school, a night out with friends to take in First Friday downtown was just what I needed! After a quick meal at Sushi Train, we headed down to do a lot of walking, a bit of window shopping for art and the night turned into a mini Photo Walk for me! Too bad it was so chilly, we were bundled up in hoodies & scarves. Next time I go, I hope we can wear flip-flops and short sleeves :)

Enjoy!

The biggest front yard I've ever been in!

I've been participating in my Project 365 with other friends & photographers on Twitter since January. For months, I've been hearing about people doing "photo walks" in their hometowns. The idea is for a group of people with various levels of photography skills to get together, take pictures & share tips.

Most days I'm that crazy lady on the walking path by myself, crouched down on the trail or in the weeds getting a picture of some rock or shadow. I even was "caught" by one of my neighbors when he was out walking his dog, too. People look at you funny. If you go with a group of people ... there is safety in numbers. Or at least, I like to think so.

I wrote some friends on Facebook with a wide range of photography skills: takes photos for her job, takes photos of her kids, used to work as a photographer, wants to get better with her camera, etc. The first date I picked fell on a busy weekend for many people. I ended up going to Loose Park with just Molly and Ellen. I never got pictures uploaded from the first one, but you can see them on Molly's blog.

I wanted to schedule another photo walk before May got completely hectic and crazy. Today was the day. So I asked for suggestions from the girls and they came up with great ideas. Molly's suggestion was the Nelson-Atkins Museum lawn. I haven't been there in years, but I knew it would be a great place with many photo opportunities!

We showed up at 10:30, and the group had tripled from the last time. Progress! We stuck together for the most part, but some of us broke off on our own for various shots.

You can see Jill's pictures on her blog. And Marie's pictures on her blog. Oh, and Molly's pictures on her blog. In case you didn't already know it ... in order to be my friend or family member, you should have a blog! :)

Here are my pics in a slide show. They seemed to be easier to share this way.

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Who wants to join us for the next photo walk? I'm thinking I'd like to schedule a monthly get together, weather permitting. You would NOT have seen me out in the snow last winter for a photo walk! :)

Thanks ladies for coming! I had a ton of fun!