Day 33 & 34 - Late Father's Day

Sorry I didn't post yesterday. I had a sort of anti-computer day. It was nice!! haha Anyway - sorry I didn't post a photo.

Today we had a combined family gathering in the park. By combined I mean Josh's and mine. It was really fun! With all our schedules this was the first Sunday we were all in town and could get together to celebrate our dads.

Ok so on our last picnic in the park (Mother's Day) I TOTALLY failed at my attempt of taking pictures of my nephews on the swing. They were BAD!  Well, I'm proud to say that apparently I've improved in the last month and this time I did not fail! That shows progress, which is all I can ask for. OK - so here are my non-horrible swing pics!


f/6.3, 1/200, ISO 200, 50mm, PW Fresh & Colorful (can't believe I got a clear show with such a slow shutter speed!)


f/6.3, 1/320, ISO 200, 50mm, PW Fresh & Colorful

And I really loved this one I took of Tami and her dad (my FIL). It's not artsy or anything, I just thought it was super cute.


f/5.6, 1/250, ISO 200, 50mm, PW Fresh & Colorful

Tami, you look like you're 21 in this picture! :)

Well Les, hope you and your baby boy are doing well. Can't wait to see some amazing newborn photos!!! :) xoxo

Day 33 - The Movie Show

***Announcement!*** Leslie had her baby boy today so while she won't be posting, I'll keep taking pictures and talking to her like she's here. CONGRATS LES!!! I LOVE YOU and your little man is gorgeous. Can't wait to meet him!

Can you guess what movie Josh and I and my family went to see tonight??


f/6.3, 1/400, ISO 200, 50mm, Boutwell Magic Glasses

It was GREAT!! We went all the way out to Thanksgiving Point's movie theater because they assign seats so you don't have to go early and wait in line! It was WORTH the little drive out there!!! So awesome to show up ten minutes before a brand new movie!!

Anyway - I digress. I love Thanksgiving Point's theater because of it's old timey exterior. I brought my camera to snap a few shots after the movie. The light was really warm and pretty. But my family was waiting for us to go to dinner so I was really rushed. I don't think I really captured the angle I wanted but I guess they are alright.


f/11, 1/125, ISO 200, 50mm, Boutwell Magic Glasses


f/6.3, 1/640, ISO 200, 50mm, Boutwell Magic Glasses

Check out that blue sky!! I swear I didn't enhance it. That's what it came out of my camera like!! It was a gorgeous night.

Well, enjoy that baby! I really wish you didn't live so far away so I could come hold him tonight!!

Day 32 - Neighborhood Collage

Felt like doing a collage today. Took a walk around my neighborhood not knowing what I'd find. It was fun.


50mm & PW Fresh & Colorful Action on all of them

If you want to see each photo REALLY close, I also uploaded a ginormous version of the collage here.

Day 31 - I Cooked!

I cooked a yummy dinner tonight. So yummy I thought it deserved a photo. Random, I know.


f/2.8, 1/30, ISO 200, 50mm

Do you like my failed attempt at twice baked potatoes? They were still delicious but red potatoes don't really work for twice baked potatoes! haha.

Any baby yet?? I keep thinkin' about you.

Day 30 - Girl in the Glass

I totally forgot to post yesterday!! OOPS!! Lost my head. Here's my reflection photo for Hope & Believe's challenge this week.


f/5.0, 1/15, ISO 200, PW Sharpen & Define

This is me. :)

Day 29 - Comically Boring

I'm a cheater today. It was a busy hectic day. So, this is a pic I took on Saturday. Its from my backyard. I thought our antenna on the roof with the peeking mountain and little puff of cloud was hilariously mundane.


f/20.0, 1/60, ISO 100, 50mm, PW Soft & Faded

But, hey its reality!

Day 28 - Neighbor's Flowers

My neighbors flowers along our shared fence in the front yard just started to bloom. They are gorgeous. I mean, they are pink! You know I love them.


f/3.5, 1/800, ISO 200, 50mm, PW Fresh & Colorful

Hurry up and have that baby already!! :)

Day 28-Ham & Cheese

Bear is such a little character-I turned around to see what she was doing & this is what I saw



What a Ham & always willing to smile & say, "CHEESE"

P.S. I have one week left until my due date & I really hope this baby is coming soon!

Day 27 - Hand in Hand

Josh and I went on a photo adventure TOGETHER today! Something we've never done before. He took most of the pictures, but I set this one up with the timer. It's for the photo wall I'm working on. It will take a long time to collect enough photos, since I'm still learning, but I knew I wanted one like this.


f/3.5, 1/100, ISO 200, 50mm, PW's B&W w/TTV Frame

Does the rock in the background bug you? I think I'll have to re-do it. I want it more symmetrical, with a piece of Josh & a piece of me on each side and no weirdo rock in the background. Doh. The only time I actually want symmetry!!  Oh well, we'll have to do a take 2 some time.

Oh well - I still like this one.  Just not for my wall.

Day 25 & 26 - Random Findings

Most times when I get in my car and go for a "photo adventure" (as I like to call them), I have NO IDEA what I'll find to shoot. Today I needed to find at least two somethings to make up for my lack of photo yesterday. Here is what I found . . .

This guy was hanging out in someone's backyard protecting a few apple trees. He's across the street from our church and I never noticed him before!


f/5.6, 1/640, ISO 200, 50mm, Professional Retro

A little further down the road I found a really rustic orchard and this awesome beat up old car in front of it. I think I'm going to go back and take some pictures of one of the boys in front of it. I'll have to be brave and see if I can find out who the owner is an ask them. It wasn't exactly by a house or anything so that will be interesting . . .


f/5.6, 1/640, ISO 200, 50mm, Professional Retro

I had to block out the license plate number, so try and pretend thats not there.

So that was my tiny photo adventure today!

Day 24 - Window

Ok - I totally forgot to post this yesterday. It was a CRAZY day!! Sorry. This is the last photo from our KC trip that I'll post. I'll actually go out and take some new pictures today and get caught up this evening!


f/11, 1/50, ISO 400, 50mm, Urban Acidify

Day-23 Pair of Lips (my pic for Hope & Believe)

This is my picture for the challenge from Hope & Believe's blog. My sweet little bear never sleeps with out her beloved blanket. I Found her asleep in the front room, on top of a big couch pillow, and she had spread her blanket over the top before resting her little head. Look at that cute pair of puffy little lips. I thought she was probably breathing through her mouth, but nope, no air-maybe they are just too puffy to stay shut?!




Wow, I can't believe I have already missed a whole week of posting!! I have just been so busy trying to get everything ready for this baby, trying to pack, and doing the daily tasks of being "mom". I actually have been taking pictures, but I can't seem to find the extra time to sit down & play with them on PS the way I like to. If I had a better camera, or could figure out how to use mine better I wouldn't feel like I needed to spend so much time editing them. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to just go right on over to Costco and blow the money on an awesome camera, but I just can't justify it. The most frustrating thing is that I have read the manual that comes with my camera, but even the little tricks that I should be able to do aren't working. It is very discouraging at times. So...I am still here, enjoying your pics & slowly posting my "work". I am glad that you had such an enjoyable trip & can't wait to see even more of your fun shots!

Day 23 - Fountain

In our hotel courtyard there was a BIG fountain and of course the little ones LOVED it!!

This is Rae splashing her Papa (her grandpa was VERY nice and took to her look at the fountain over and over and over and over).


f/2.5, 1/6, ISO 400, 50mm

And Baby E loved it too.


f/1.8, 1/80, ISO 400, 50mm

Hope everything is ok! I know you're busy but its been a long time since I've heard from ya! Any baby yet??

Day 19, 20, 21 & 22 - Kansas City

Well, I'm back from our trip. As we were driving through KC from the airport to our hotel I was so excited to get out into the city and take pictures, but our short stay there did NOT allow for as much picture taking as I thought it might! I was bummed. BUT I was able to get some taken of Baby E and Rae. I don't know why, but I was thinking I would take more photos of them, have more interesting shoots and get better photos of them than I did. So I was a little disappointed. But dang these girls are cute.

Rae is only 2 so getting her to cooperate was a trick. BUT once she started to cooperate it was like SNAP SNAP SNAP MAGIC!!


f/3.5, 1/250, ISO 100, 50mm

This was my trick. I said "Oh Rae!! Are you a pretty princess?! You ARE A PRINCESS!" and she'd start to do amazingly adorable things like THIS!!!


f/3.5, 1/200, ISO 100, 50 mm, PW Fresh & Colorful adjusted

Ok - I have to whine a little. The lighting in the big courtyard area in the hotel, where we did most of our hanging out over the weekend, was gorgeous but had HORRID light for picture taking. It was SO HARD to get good settings and not have every picture be blurry or have bizarre colors. Especially taking pictures of busy toddlers! SO many amazing pictures ruined with motion blur!!! But every once in a while I got a good one.


f/1.8, 1/15, ISO 400, 50mm


f/1.8, 1/15, ISO 400, 50mm, Urban Acidify

And what about Baby E? Well, poor Baby E got a fever while she was there!!


f/3.5, 1/4, ISO 400, 50mm, PW's B&W

So when I was taking her picture when she was feeling a little better, she still wasn't giving us very happy faces. But I did get SOME good shots of her.

I've just been informed that JOSH took this one!  Oops.  We were handing the camera back and forth when this one was taken and I could have sworn this one was me.  OH WELL.  Good job Josh.


f/1.8, 1/100, ISO 400. 50mm


f/4.0, 1/250, ISO 200, 50mm, PW Fresh & Colorful adjusted

She wouldn't give me very many sweet faces (poor sick baby) so I settled for some non-face shots! haha


f/4.0, 1/250, ISO 200, 50mm, PW Fresh & Colorful

We were even able to get a shot of the PAIR of them together! (Yes, a pair - just for Hope & Believe!!)


f/7.1, 1/80, ISO 200, 50mm, PW Fresh & Colorful

I posted a few others on my regular blog if you want to see those too. And no, I didn't ONLY take pictures of these babes! But I gotta save some stuff for tomorrow!! :)

Can't wait to see more photos from you Les!!

Rub the belly for me! MWAH!

Day 18 - On the Other Side

Ok I really AM a Bird Lady!! I didn't even know there was a bird on the gate until I put the camera to my face! The birds are the Bird Lady's friend these days! AND it was a REALLY cool bird!


f/3.5, 1/100, ISO 400, 50mm

This is at the back corner of our yard that peeks into our neighbor's pretty yard! :) 

Well, I leave for Missouri tomorrow morning at the crack of dawn so I won't have a post for Friday or Saturday but on Sunday night I'm sure I'll have TONS of new photos to post!! 

'See' ya Sunday.

Day 17 - Bird Lady

Funny story. I stepped outside for a little "picture walk" around the neighborhood and I didn't even make it past my driveway. I almost tripped over this little guy.


f/3.5, 1/1000, ISO 400, 50mm

I'm ALWAYS trying to take pictures of all the birds in our yard, but they never let me get anywhere near close enough. But this little guy must have been injured or something because he didn't move at all. He just looked at me, chirped, and basked in the sun. I couldn't believe my luck! I crawled ALL around him trying different angles, light, etc. expecting him to fly away at any moment, but he didn't move! It was so fun. As soon as I stood up to go back inside, he turned around hopped onto the grass and into the shade (where I wouldn't have gotten a great shot of him) and flew away.

Later, I noticed him hopping around the front grass again. He must be hurt I guess. Poor guy. But I sure appreciate him sitting in the sunshine and being my little model!

Day 16 - Call Me

I promise I'll actually go outside and take some more interesting photos tomorrow! I didn't go out at ALL today! This is my retro phone. I love it. We don't even have phone service, we just use our cell phones. But I still love it for decoration.


f/1.8, 1/15, ISO 400, 50mm, Urban Acidify

And even though it doesn't tell a great story, this a bits & pieces picture for Hope & Believe's challenge! :)

Day 15 - Princess Pez

For Mother's Day Josh gave me a full set of Disney Princess Pez. Fun huh? (Over the years we've sort of just made each other start collecting Pez!)


f/1.8, 1/160, ISO 200, 50 mm, PW Fresh & Colorful, TTV Frame

And yes, they are in order starting with my favorite. It was just a more interesting looking shot having Aurora in focus instead of Ariel.

Day-15 Fresh from the Dryer

I had just taken this blue blanket out of the dryer & Tiger was so excited to be wrapped in it & enjoy the all over warmth. She looked sort of like Cookie Monster! I wish I could have gotten a few more good shots.


Overlay 54% in PS 4.0

Sorry I have been out of the daily loop-here are a few pictures from the past few days that I meant to post, but didn't get around to. Enjoy!!

Day-14 Carefree

I have been trying to take the girls to the park or on an outing of some sort as often as I can. I don't know how soon I will brave taking 3 kids out and about-hopefully the adjustment will be quick. Tiger loves the curvy slide & She would go down over and over again each time seeming increasingly carefree. Oh, to be a kid in the summertime again!


Overlay 53% in PS 4.0

Day-13 Secure

This picture is a tiny portion of a bigger picture, but when I noticed the other moment I had caught I had to crop in on it. We were at the Zoo & our little Bear seamed somewhat unsure about some of the larger animals. She held on to her daddy's hand as she stood looking at the elephants in amazement. I love to see my hubby's big strong hand holding our little child so secure.


Brush Strokes Filter in PS 4.0

Day-12 Imperfect Perfection

The lighting is all wrong, the girls aren't sitting the way I had "instructed", & I couldn't figure out how to edit the car from the background. However, I find myself looking at this picture as near perfection because of the naturally happy expressions on both of my girls little faces. A moment in time to realize that true happiness does not require perfection, and that I can find perfection & happiness in every imperfect moment. (Does that make sense at all?)


Pin light 84% with PS 4.0

Day 14 - Birthday BBQ

We had a big BBQ at our house today with all of J's family. We have a BUNCH of birthdays right in a row at the end of May/first of June, so we decided to just have one big party and celebrate 'em all.

My pictures ALL came out very ordinary and not creative. :( I was disappointed. But here's a few anyway.


f/5.0, 1/200, ISO 200, kit lens, Bitchin B&W

f/5.0, 1/2000, ISO 200, kit lens, Super Fun Happy


f/5.6, 1/60, ISO 200, kit lens, PW Fresh & Colorful

Turns out we have a sandbox! I sort of remember our landlord mentioning it when we first saw the house, but totally forgot about it until the kids found it this afternoon. They were entertained for a LONG time. So nice!!

Day 13 - Bird on a Wire

There's something I really like about the silhouette of a bird on a wire. Lucky for me our backyard is full of wires and often times lots of birds.


f/3.2, 1/4000, ISO 400, 50 mm

Day 12 - Littlest

Sooooo . . . I didn't take any pictures today! What I expected to be a couple hours of shopping with my mom somehow turned into a marathon 11 hour grueling search for a decent outfit. I'm NOT exaggerating. 11 hours.

So - I'm cheating and posting a picture I took the other day. Love this one of Smiley. Lookin' up at his big brother.


f/8.0, 1/60, ISO 200, 50mm

Day 11 - Rusted & Busted

Do you know that little garden shop on State Street just north of Center? It always has that cool old rusty bike in front of it, and at Christmas time they wrap the bike in big funky Christmas lights? Well, I felt compelled to go take pictures of said bike. I didn't get many taken before the shop owner came out. She didn't exactly tell me to stop but she didn't look pleased. So, I went in and pretended to browse. Awkward . . .


f/3.2, 1/4000, ISO 400, PW B&W


(same)

Day-11 Pouring Rain

We had this massive down pouring of rain last night with the gigantic lighting, booming thunder, & so much rain that it wouldn't go through the rain gutters. (I have to admit I was a little nervous-still the kid in me I guess?) I caught this picture of the water spilling off the sides of the roof ledge. I was hoping to get an awesome shot of some lightning but no luck!


I used the burn tool in PS on the rain gutter so that it wouldn't be the main focus

Day-10 Bear Cave

Our neighbors gave us this pop up tent & so far my little Bear spends most of her time in it. She stuck her head partially out one of the crawl holes long enough for me to get a semi-fuzzy shot of her saying, "Pee-Pole" (reffering to the little people she was playing with) I hope the fascination doesn't wear off too soon, it is fun to look through the top down inside & see her playing quietly in her new "bear cave"! (yea, sorry for the day late post again)


I used the Dark Strokes Filter-I think

Day 10 - Double Fortunes

We ordered Chinese tonight (not in a cooking mood!) and after we ate, as we were sitting watching SYTYCD, it occurred to me that I should take some pictures of the fortune cookies! After the show, I created my little set-up, cracked open my fortune cookie, and what did I find? DOUBLE FORTUNES!!! I've never had double fortunes in my life! Guess I'm double lucky!


f/1.8, 1/50, ISO 400, 50mm, Urban Acidify

Ok here's what my fortunes said. #1) "Now is a good time for a new collection or hobby". Umm, a hobby like PHOTOGRAPHY?? And #2) "You desire to discover new frontiers. It's time to travel". I ALWAYS want to travel!! Such good fortunes.

Can't wait to see what you've been snapping today.

Day 9 - Indy

As soon as I walked into Mr. Man's house today he HAD to show me what he built in the kitchen. I didn't know what to expect, but he had this whole Indiana camp set up.


f/6.3, 1/40, ISO 800, 50mm, PW Fresh & Colorful

He was so proud that I wanted to take a picture of it! :)

Day-9 Trying hard not to "think pink"

After having two girls in a row it was a real hard switch to make when shopping for baby stuff. (it didn't slow me down for long hehe) When I hung some of his stuff in the girls' closet it seemed really odd to see all of the white hangers with little blue outfits squished between all the pink hangers. No more thinkin pink!


I really messed with this shot longer than I should have & it came out a little messier than I had planned. I used a couple of different tools: smudge, dodge, burn, & almost all the light settings. I also played with the color temp & saturation. phew-see I told you I spent too much time!

Day-8 (a day late) Close Up

We got some new end tables a little while back & I love the design on the front of the drawer. I thought it would be fun to get a different perspective on them by getting really close!!






I love how it gives the illusion of angled lines when your eye can't see them end-cool!


I may have already told you that I fell asleep on accident while putting the girls to bed & didn't get a chance to post this last night. I guess I shouldn't wait until the last minute to post! hehe Whoopsie.