I heart Faces: Black

It's been awhile since I have posted and it hasn't been any updates on my part. I promise that will happen soon. Life has definitely taken over. Anywho, I'm here today participating in the I heart Faces: Black challenge. I get discouraged when I don't get noticed but then again i'm still new to photography and learning. So i'll keep entering and challenging myself!

I took this photo this past weekend and was very proud of the entire shoot. A girl I used to babysit (ugh I feel old just typing that) is trying to get her portfolio started and asked me to do makeup and headshots. We had a lot of fun and this is just one that I took. You can see the rest here.

I heart Faces: Props

Just the other day I was sitting on my couch watching TV when I looked over at Preston laying on the floor by the patio screen door playing with his cars. The lighting was perfect as the sun was setting and I jumped up and grabbed my camera. This particular photo took my breath away in an instant. He wasn't posing. He was sincerely irritated with me and ready for me to put the camera down. I feel like his eyes say SO much and the car is the perfect little prop. So subtle but yet to me tells so much!  To date, this is one of my favorite photos of him!

I heart faces: Soft and Sweet

I wanted to enter one of my favorite photos of my sweet, beautiful neice Emma for this weeks challenge. It's all about what we consider soft and sweet and she is everything and more! Of course there were plenty to choose from but this one just strikes me those beautiful sweet eyes of hers!

I heart Faces: Wind

I decided to enter this week since I just finished having a mini-photoshoot with Ariel this past weekend. The wind was insane. This was my favorite of her...how calm everything around her seems. We had alot of fun playing around and i'm so glad to be able to spend time with her as she gets older. She really is growing up to be such a beautiful young girl!  I couldn't be more proud!

"kwinkle kwinkle wittle starrrr"

Pumped up a notch.  My child sings this 100 times a day right now. I never ever get sick of hearing it!  Some days it's fast and loud like this. Other times slow, soft and sweet. Enjoy. I know I did.  

Please excuse my messy house.

Hold your applause.

;)

Emma’s Birthday photos

I met my sister-in-law this morning for a birthday photo shoot for my niece. I can’t believe she will be ONE in less than a month!  Time flies! I’m happy with how they turned out but know I still have lots to learn and work on! 

Here are a some of my favorites!

 

And my personal favorite…

I’m anxious to see which picture she chooses to put on her invitation!  Emma is such a good little baby and so pretty! 

life through my phone

I realized that I take so many pictures on my cell phone to document things here and there and never post them. So here goes…

Timmy  surprised me one morning by leaving the house after me and racing to beat me to work with these on my desk. No special day needed. I love it when it’s just because.

My newest necklace from The Vintage Pearl. It was a late Christmas present. Love it!

  Came home one day to find Preston and Timmy snuggled on the couch. I love how Preston has his arms folded. One of my most favorite things to do is watch him sleep. So sweet.

This kid is hilarious and recently obsessed with this magnifying glass. I LOVE this picture of him.

Not sure if any of my readers know this but I LOVE James Dean. The dork in me likes to get him some type of cake each year on his birthday. I stopped for a few years because life happened but this year I remembered and the girls at work BEGGED me to go get cupcakes from this local cupcake shop around the corner. Who can say no to cupcakes!  So in honor of James Dean…HAPPY 80TH BIRTHDAY!

Timmy and I both have the EVO Droid and LOVE it. Preston does too. That kick stand on the back comes in handy when he’s begging us to watch “Choo choo phone” on it. He likes to watch Thomas and Friends YouTube videos.

My friend Lysa invited us over for dinner last week for my favorite dish Pho!  Her mom makes the BEST!  Trust me when I say it was sooooooo good!

 

  Here Ariel is pointing out to me her very first official pimple. I love that she has such a sense of humor about it. I still freak out when I get one!

Preston had a boo boo at Daycare. He’s very lucky that he didn’t take his eye out. He is going through his “clumsy” phase where he trips, falls and bumps into everything. He’s a tough boy though!

This is Preston at the Dr’s office laying on the floor trying the read the children’s bible that they had in there. Just thought this was cute.

My desk at work. Let me point out a couple things. 1st of all…see that stack of papers on the side. It’s never ending!  My boss, well lets just say she isn’t there anymore for embezzling reasons. Well the last 3 weeks at work have been torturous!  It’s like I take 1 step forward and 2 steps back. There is more stuff stacked on the other desk in front of me. 2nd, I did get a BRAND SPANKING NEW COMPUTER!  See that big ole monitor!  Love it and makes my life that much easier because it’s lightening fast! Please pray for me though. My eyes are starting to go cross-eyed from staring at all this work!

And lastly I actually let Ariel hold the camera and take pictures this past weekend. She instantly fell in love and I think i’ve introduced her to her next hobby. I think i’ll let her play around with my P&S though. I really liked this photo though. She looks like a natural!

I love my android camera apps. They have some really cool ones that allow me to take some really awesome pictures!  Hope you enjoyed them as much as I do!  :)

Animals, animals, animals

Since the weather has been so nice, I decided to take Preston to the zoo this weekend! The weather wasn’t as warm as saturday but still in the mid-60’s and perfect walking around weather. I love having a zoo membership and being able to take the kids whenever we want. Even though our zoo pictures always look similar, it wouldn’t be the same without taking them. And of course I get to play around with my new camera and lens.  :)

Preston was in a GREAT mood today!  Couldn’t have been any better if I had prayed for it.

Showing me his best “Monkey” impersonation.

That wraps up our weekend of beautiful weather, good moods, and family fun. I hope everyone else had a great weekend as well!

A birthday celebration and spring like weather

This weekend was absolutely PERFECT!  Especially after what could be considered the WORST work week ever! I’ll save that for another post though.

We celebrated my Twin Neices 2nd birthday on saturday. The weather was in the high 70’s and so perfect. It was my first day busting out my flip flops in awhile and much needed. I hate wearing shoes. Seriously.

 

I love that I caught this. Gracie was too cute feeding Maddie icing…that is until Maddie bit her. lol

With lots of family around, I was able to test my new lens out and see what it was capable of actually doing. Needless to say, i’m extremely happy!

These next photos make me giggle. Preston was sitting on the swing with his cousin Adam they were such hams.

Preston is observing Adam’s arm…see below.

How funny is he trying to copy Adam here. SO cute!

and my FAVORITE of the day. Adam’s face says it all!  “Dude…what are you doing?!!!” Preston is such a sweet kid and is always loving on everyone. I love that about him. This is still so funny though.

The birthday party was a success and the weather couldn’t have been more perfect! I’m so ready for spring!

Learning as I go

It’s no secret that I have a new found love of photography. I have been given plenty of opportunities to practice with family and friends but have stuck mainly to my own kids. Once I purchased my new camera, I made up my mind that I was going to force myself to shoot in full manual. I downloaded a photography app on my phone that gives me great tips and i’ve been practicing ever since.

Well this past weekend, I was able to really put what i’ve learned so far to good use by taking my twin neice’s birthday photos. I can already see a difference in my pictures. I am so pleased with how they turned out and can’t wait to take more pictures soon!

Here are some of my favorites!

 

 

I love these two little girls so much and was so glad I was able to capture some of my best pictures yet!