Winter Sweetheart

Celebration

Got this shot at my cousin's wedding this weekend.  

 Hope you enjoy!

A Couple Recent Favorites

Just sharing a couple favorites from recently....

Thanks for looking!



Nature's Show

What are my kids so intently watching?

Dinner time for our friend, the spider, who builds his web each day off our downspout:

It IS pretty cool:

Just stay out of the house, little spider:)

New Additions

Haven't picked up my camera much in the last two weeks.  Been exhausted and nauseous.  But for good reason...a new addition coming to our family next spring!  Our family is excited but it might take me awhile to get in my groove again:)

Speaking of new additions...this little birdie hatched on our front porch this morning.  I caught it on camera while the Mommy Bird was away gathering some food.  Thought I'd share. 

Been away...

Sorry there haven't been any posts in awhile...

just got back from here:

Hopefully I'll have a chance to post a few more images from our trip later this week. 

Celebrating Independence Day 2010- Fireworks

Played with my camera settings during fireworks this weekend. 

Learned a lot. 

Have a lot more to learn. 

But got a few shots I really liked. 

Wanted to share a couple with you. 

Hope you enjoy...and hope you had a fantastic 4th of July!

My babies...

I did a spontaneous photoshoot of my own kiddos because I wanted some new pics to give my hubby for Father's Day. 

He loved them & they turned out just the way I wanted, so I thought I'd share.

And my favorite:

These kids sure do melt my heart. 

Country Roads, Take Me Home...or to the Cabin:)

Shot out the back of the Gator, on a ride, a few weeks ago at Grandpa's Cabin. 

 Loved this shot & it, to me, shows how relaxing it is spending time out there.

I'm Back!

It's been awhile!  I have been so busy that I haven't been online much at all...and then I got a new laptop, so I've been trying to figure all the new 'stuff' out:) 

 Looking forward to sharing some recent photos with you though!

I got this shot this morning when the kids and I were outside playing.  I loved the bright colors & the little grasshopper resting on the flower.  Hope you enjoy it too!

Sneak Peek- L's 2 Year Photo Session

This weekend I got to shoot sweet "L" for his 2 year portraits.  He is such a sweetheart.  He & his parents are troopers...they walked all over the park in yucky humidity.  But I think it was worth it.  Here are a few from his session. 

Just for Kicks

My son, B, had his very first Tae Kwon Do belt test last night...and broke his first board! 

I thought this picture was pretty cool & wanted to share.

iheartfaces: Faces & Flowers

This week the challenge theme at iheartfaces is all about flowers & faces. 

This is my son, T, blowing dandelions and making wishes.

I love the carefree moment it captures.

Wonder what he was wishing for...

For more "Faces & Flowers" click on over to:

Happy Mother's Day!

The reasons I celebrate today:

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there...especially mine!

A Sprinkle of Orange

Saw this flower at the Deer Park today. 

I think it's a type of Peony, but could be wrong. 

LOVE the deep orange color. 

It brightened my day. 

I hope it brightens yours.

iheartfaces: Smiles

The challenge theme this week at iheartfaces is simply Smiles. 

We all have a ton of pictures that show smiles.  It's hard to choose one to enter.

I picked this one because it shows, not one, but 5 smiles...and never fails to make me smile also!  Technically not perfect but I love the moment it captures.

Click on over to iheartfaces for more grins:

Something Different

Today I was playing around with "T" outside and we were being really silly. 

 At one point he had grabbed one of the traffic cones we use to slow down traffic

if the kids are on their bikes. 

He was using it as a megaphone, of course. 

Isn't that what they are really for:) 

 I was snapping away at his giggles

when he peered through the opening at me and I got this:

Just thought it was a cool effect.  And it is so him.

iheartfaces: Collage

This week at iheartfaces, the challenge theme is collages. 

I have been playing around with a few free actions for collages recently from CoffeeShop Actions  and documenting "A Week in My Life" on my family blog with Ali Edwards and a few friends.

Yesterday my two boys were playing together so nicely outside! 

They were having a ball...and not fighting (which is VERY rare these days)! 

So, I grabbed my camera and snapped away. 

My oldest was teaching a game he learned in PE at school...Line Tag.  

It was nice to just enjoy them being together- without having to break up arguments every 10 seconds:)

PS-  It didn't last long.

To see some amazing collages, click over to:

A Few More...

Family

This afternoon I had a practice photo shoot with my brother, his girlfriend and her little boy. 

 Although the sun was straight above and there is no shade this early in spring, we got some great shots. 

I LOVE this one so thought I'd share. 

What do you think?

Spring Has Sprung!

Took a walk with the kids this afternoon to try to get some shots of the flowering trees in bloom right now.  Felt good to play around with my camera on something other than people for a change of pace. 
I am saving for a macro lens so these are all with my 50mm. 
Any comments/constructive criticism welcome:) 

I, for one, am glad to see Spring arriving!

And my favorite:

Just Sharing

I took this shot today and fell in love with it.  Just had to share.

iheartfaces: Angles

This week at iheartfaces the weekly challenge is "Angles". 

I have been experimenting with different camera angles and perspectives the last few days to play along.

I've had a blast and gotten a ton of good pics but am definitely still learning:)

The photo I picked for my entry this week is of my son 'T'. 

He loves to imagine and I caught him in the middle of his fantasy play. 

 I was laying on the ground shooting up at him and also tilted my camera for this shot. 

I think I like the effect the combination created. 

 was shooting into the sun so I practiced with my light meter (in camera) on his face and went with the hazy sunshine look in editing. 

 What do you think?

For more inspiring shots with creative angles, head to:

iheartfaces: Bundled Up

I LOVE winter.  I love snow, cold weather, being stuck in the house & wrapping up in a warm blanket...everything.  However, this winter was LOOOONNNGG.  I am so glad spring is finally showing signs of arriving.  I'm ready to forget all things cold for awhile...

But now....iheartfaces has chosen "Bundled Up" as this weeks challenge theme.  I definitely had plenty of pictures to choose from, with all the snow we were blessed with this year!  And looking through them all...I kind of love winter again.  Playing in the snow, all bundled up, is the best! 

The photo I finally chose is my daughter E and her Daddy.  She is such a Daddy's Girl!  I love the way he's looking at her.  And I love the look on her face...like she knows he's wrapped around her fingers:)  She's all bundled up but it's Daddy's love that's really keeping her warm.

For other "Bundled Up" entries, click on over to:

iheartfaces: Jump for Joy!

Wow, two Orlando pictures in a row. 

I wanted to get out this week and get some brand new shots for the challenge at iheartfaces...Jump for Joy.  But it just didn't happen.  I took lots of photos but nothing that fit the category. 

Then, I remembered this shot from August. 

My oldest nephew humored me and jumped for this shot while we were enjoying Cocoa Beach.

  I think it shows his personality well.

"Hop" on over to iheartfaces for more joyful jumping shots:

iheartfaces: Outtakes

When I saw this week's challenge was 'Hilarious Outtakes",

 I immediately thought of this picture from our vaction in Orlando this summer. 

I seriously pull this picture out whenever I need a laugh. 

We were trying to get a picture of all six kids in front of the vacation house.  

This is what happens when you try to get my three kids plus my three nephews to hold still for a picture:

I LOVE how the oldest "D" is posing so nicely while chaos is going on all around him:) 

If you want to see more laugh out loud outtakes head on over to iheartfaces: