Daddy, you are SILLY!

Guaranteed fits of giggles if Daddy is around!

Happy birthday to Kara!

Fun candles, but I didn't light them. Saving those letters for other messages I might want to spell out in pics. lol. I have a "Feliz Cumpleanos" one too (Happy Birthday in Spanish)...just so I could have extra letters. It's official....I'm crackers!

Guess who came to dinner!

Celebrated Kara's birthday together last night! More cute pics over the next few days of Hannah in her grown up plaid skirt. Hate that I chopped off her feet in this, but there's never much time to frame with a toddler. I do like the leading lines tho' and I love how happy Hannah is to be at Grammy and G-Pa's. We are blessed!

Homage to Impressionism...

No, you don't need new glasses and your monitor isn't on the fritz. lol. This was shot for the challenge of "deliberate blur". I had fun with this challenge. Without a clear focus point, it forced me to think in terms of light, color, composition. I love impressionistic art and I really like what's happening with the light in the window here. I'd like to try this technique in a colorful garden. Hope I remember when it's time for Dallas Blooms!

Hangin' out...

This is one of those shots where I waffle back and forth between color and b/w. Opinions? Kinda crummy light on this day....super cloudy. And this is a composite of 3 pics. Never did get one shot with all 3 looking at the same time. lol.

Time...

Shot for the challenge of time. To be honest, I have no idea what that quote is supposed to mean. It seems a little odd to me, but it went perfectly with the image so I used it. lol. I love when the ferns come up...makes me hopeful that spring will be here soon. Not that we've had much of a winter, but I still love when the plants all "wake up" and the world gets green again. I'm already dreaming of the Arboretum. I've always thought ferns unfurling look like the scroll on the top of Kara's cello. Guess that's why my flickr friends call them "fiddle heads". The Aussies even say they eat them. Seriously????

He's a keeper...

Yep....he brought home flowers 5 days BEFORE Valentine's Day! Aren't these unusual? They were labeled "garden roses" and seem to be more hearty than hothouse roses. This was taken on the 5th day and they still look completely fresh.

Big sister lovin'

Still lovin' Abigail's stick up hair and Hannah's sweet loving ways. Won't it be fun when Abigail actually starts to interact with her?

Dimple...

I love that dimple...don't you? We don't see one on Abigail yet, tho' it's supposed to be a dominant trait. Hmmmm.....we'll see.

Impish...

No description necessary...just some cutey cuteness comin' at ya!

M is for magenta and macro...

Shot for the "begins with M" challenge. This is a super close up of the tiny flowers on my salvia plant. I love how the little hairs are sparkling. And, of course, I love the color!

If I can't hide behind my camera....

...I'll hide behind this tree!! lol. Shot for the challenge of "self portrait". I find these extremely challenging, so I forced myself to do it. Aside from the obvious dissatisfaction with personal appearance issue, focus is a whole other challenge. I mentioned that to my photography group and someone gave a great suggestion. Set up your tripod where you want it, take your camera in hand and stand/sit where you want to be in the photograph. Using autofocus, focus on the tripod from that location. Then without moving, slide your camera into manual focus. Take camera and mount on tripod and theoretically, that SHOULD work. I haven't tried yet. But I'm hoping it will make it easier the next time I have to do one of these. I'm not really into self portraits, but they can be a good way to practice lighting, etc. when you can't find another willing model. I actually kind of like how this one turned out. Go figure!

I see you with that camera...

Weird, I know...but I was liking the reflection in Sassy's eye. And her pretty eyelashes! lol Just think how awesome this would have looked if I'd used my macro. This was my 35mm lens.

Sassy....

Last week, Bob and I went to visit friends who live sort of in the country. They've done a recent remodel and were kind enough to let us see so we could get ideas for the work we hope to do here. It was fun getting out of the city! This is their horse Sassy. I have no idea how to take a picture of a horse... lol...I was too close here and needed a more wide angle lens, but I like how you can see her heavy winter coat. I've never seen that before (not that I get to see many horses...lol). My favorite memory from that day was when Sassy's owner got treats out and called the 2 horses. They were far on the other side of the property and came skidding around the corner into the barn (picture puppies on a linoleum floor). It was hilarious!!! Yep, Sassy and Sabrina are really just a couple of overgrown dogs...really BIG ones! I hope to go back later in the spring to wander around with my camera. Thanks Connie for having us! Your "babies" are beautiful!

Another oldie...

but a goodie! Finally finished up all my editing from the hospital and I'm working on Abigail's "when I was born" storybook. I LOVE LOVE this photo of the first time Nathan showed Abigail to Hannah. Isn't her little face just the sweetest? She's listening to everything Nathan is explaining so carefully.

Happy Valentine's Day...

Love...it's the real thing! (yep...another cliche!)

The little things...

I am so captivated by the small details of life....so much so that I sometimes miss the big picture. But I would hate to miss moments like this! Hannah's first time to touch Abigail. Jenny and Nathan have done a great job teaching Hannah to be gentle. Instead of telling her not to touch breakable things, they tell her she can touch with one finger. And, without anyone telling her, she reached for Abigail the same way. Sweet baby girl! And yes, I know my pics are all out of order lately. Still working on those hospital pics. lol

Nothing fancy...

...and I love it.

Fancy pants...

I like this point of view too...still posting some of Abigail's newborn shots. Now, that I'm not doing the challenges every day anymore, you're bound to get an overdose of Hannah and Abigail. lol. BTW...I finally finished Hannah's 2 year photo memory book. Can't wait for it to arrive. I showed Hannah a digital copy on Friday and she was SO excited about each pic. :) I'll be starting on Abigail's "When I was born" book as soon as I finish editing hospital pics.

More monkey fun...

Forgot to post this last month. This was from the night Abigail came home from the hospital. After we took her monkey pic, Hannah climbed up to read monkey a story. So cute. And the book she's reading is all about getting a new baby sister. Sweet!

And the outtake...

Only her second time for monkey pics and already, she's bored. lol

Three little monkeys...

Hard to believe it's already time for Abigail's one month pic. Hannah wanted to get in on the act and we just went with it. Cuties!! Love Abigail's "deer in the headlights" expression. She's still fascinated by the ceiling fan. lol

Only you can prevent forest fires...

Shot for the challenge "Handle with care". This song made me think about how carefully we need to choose our words:

Our tongues are like matches
Our ears are like trees
Our words are like sparks
On dry summer leaves
It doesn't take much
For the flames to rise
And turn a soul
Into a forest fire
(Forest Fire by Josh Wilson)

Even the Bible says, "And the tongue is like a fire." (James 3:6)

How many times have I cut someone down with my tongue only to regret it later. I wish I could take my words back but, sadly the damage has already been done.

BTW....SO thankful I didn't burn our house down getting this shot! I wasn't sure how quickly the matches would catch and thought it might get out of control...but it fizzled as soon as I took the shot. Old matches I guess. lol

Joy...

The posed pics are fun, but I've decided I love the natural shots more.

Channeling her inner diva...

Too funny!

Quiet as a mouse...

How cute is this hat (and the little girl wearing it)?

Eyes wide open...

Our intention was to try for more of the cute little sleepy newborn photos, but Miss Abigail woke up, so we just ran with it. :) 3 weeks old here...


As I was editing this, I kept thinking how much she reminded me of Hannah...so I dug up an old photo our friend took 2 years ago. In fact, these photos were taken exactly 2 years apart (to the day). Go figure! What do you think??? Do they look like sisters, or what??

Hannah at 6 weeks

Oh the places she'll go...

Again, a little different....but I was trying to get creative. lol

Dream...

I haven't decided yet if I like this one. Kara thinks it's weird. lol. Opinions???