April is Autism Awareness Month

This is a month of awareness that is very dear to my heart. As most of you know that read my blog Ashton is Autistic. He was officially diagnosed around 18 months with Classic Autism, but had clear signs of Autism very very early in life. I won't get into our life story - I just want to raise awareness! =)

This year I chose to show my support by having my nails done in the colors of the autism puzzle piece...

So please, spread the word, donate to Autism organizations, and educate yourselves. With the fast rate of Autism rising chances are you will one day know someone or have a love one that is affected by it!

Two WONDERFUL programs in need of donations:

A.Skate - http://www.askate.org/

Surfers Healing - http://www.surfershealing.org/

Teaching my 8 year old photoshop CS5

We used this photo because, well, it was already up in ps and Amelia looked at it and said "oh, this should be rainbow"! So, I showed her how to add a gradient map layer and she had fun with it. I also showed to how to erase back the seagulls and lower the gradient map opacity ... this is how she liked it =) I think it actually looks really cool.

LEM photo challenge - "Anything"

A few from my week!

It's been a crazy past two weeks. Busy and fun. I really don't have much time to tell you a story, so here is my week in pictures! =)

First my beautiful great niece arrived!

Then we spent the day/evening in Old Town where Ashton found this wonderful hat!

See, isn't she CUTE!

Yes, adorable!

Then Ashton got sick for, oh, about 7 days!

And the kids colored my back window with window crayons! Who knew!?

And the neighbors came over for some fun in the pool

Even though Ashton was sick he tried really hard to enjoy the fun too!

Then we went for a hike it was fun!

Ashton enjoyed the water, of course!

Walking home was a bit frustrating .. kids got LAZY!

Then the kids earned some mulla for ice cream (Thanks generous neighbors)!

Our Tsunami warning!

More from Friday morning .... bye bye ocean!

The fog was insane!

Then we went to the Irish festival - fun, but holy cow was it CROWDED!

Then today Ashton was so CUTE singing sweet noises to me! =)

Well, if you made it this far - thanks. =)

Making that money ...

So, the kids wanted money for the Ice Cream Truck Sunday and I suggested that maybe they should make thier own money, you know, EARN it =) Well, they sure did - they earned $17 dollars.  They ended up not buying from the Ice Cream Truck because he never rolled by. Instead they went to the Ice Cream place and all got a scoop of ice cream. They were even so generous to take along a few other neighbr kids and bring back Ashton (who is very sick right now) some ice cream too!

I heart faces photo challenge: People's Choice-Best Face from February

This was hard seeing I didn't take as many photos as I usually do this month, but I did love this one (I had another picked out but I took it in March). Anyway, this is my sweet niece! I just love her to pieces!!!!

I heart Faces - Fix it Friday

Here is my play on this weeks Fix it Friday. All I did was saturate the colors in everything except his face and arms, added some contrast, slight sharpen, and added some texture!

Original by Dana Suggs Photography -

My edit

 My B/W