So, the last few days I have literally been waiting by my door for a new lens I ordered.  Finally, after missing the UPS guy for two days I got the long-awaited lens.  The next night (last night) Paul had some church work to do so I decided to take my kids to the Mesa Fine Arts Center for a photo shoot and a chance to learn my new lens.  Now, keep in mind, as I tell this story that this new lens was not cheap.  

Anywho, we arrive at said location and began shooting.  As I've said in previous posts, photo shoots don't go so well with my own kids.  I wasn't too up tight and figured I'd get a few pictures from it.  Not only did my kids not cooperate like others but most of my pictures turned out blurry.

If you don't believe me feel free to browse the following photos of failure....

Eli doing his own thing and paying no mind to the experienced photographer....
Once again, Eli doing whatever he darn well pleased....
The delayed jumper didn't make for the cute photo I had imagined...
O.k. so I get Eli to finally smile at the camera, the boys look pretty cute....did you notice Ruby?  She's working on a scab on her knee- not her finest moment... 

I actually kind of thought this one turned out pretty cute.  Not planning on making it into a canvas but I'll enlarge it...
And I liked this one - hands on head and all.  I have very few pictures of all four of my kids so I'll take it.

So, my story continues...

We're having a good time and the kids notice some steep stairs that lead to a cool place with water.  We start heading down there and I'm holding Eli as we're going down.  I have my rockin' camera and new lens hanging around my neck.  I'm thinking as I go down these steep stairs, if I trip Eli is more important than my camera and I will save him before my camera.  Just as I'm thinking this I feel my camera strap slide off my left shoulder and my camera goes crashing to the concrete ground (this is over $2000 of breakable equipment falling to the hard ground).  My stomach goes in knots and I check my camera hoping, praying it's still o.k.  The glass filter is cracked all the way down the middle but the lens appears o.k.  I check the camera, it still works as far as I can tell.  Cute Gib comes running up the stairs and is sincerely concerned.  He know how much I love my camera.  My hands were shaking.  Ruby asks if she can have cold cereal when we get home.  Basically, she could care less.

I'll take my camera to the shop tomorrow.... hopefully it's o.k.