Sunday, March 28, 2010

I Heart Faces Dramatic B&W Photo Challenge



It's "Dramatic B&W" photo challenge week at I Heart Faces. It was easy for me to choose this week. 
Andrew raced his car in the Pinewood Derby last weekend.  I didn't get a good picture of him, but really like this one of his friend showing his "medal" to his younger brother.

Head on over to I Heart Faces to check out the other entries.

Nay-Nay 2

When I posted below, I forgot the reason why I had decided to post pictures of you, Nathan.  You have said a couple of incredibly cute things in the past few days. 

When I came downstairs the other day you were busy sweeping the kitchen floor with a small broom.  I asked you what you were doing and you said, "I brooming".  :)  I asked if you were sweeping the floor and you said, "I broom my chair".  So cute!  You're becoming quite the little helper.  Whenever I go downstairs to do laundry, you run as fast as you can to catch up and help.  You delight in throwing the clothes into the washing machine... mostly because you like to watch the "bubbles" that the detergent makes.  You also like putting the clothes into the dryer, squeeling with delight every time you find an article of clothing that you recognize.  It's amazing how much a pair of pajamas, a sock, or favorite shirt can cause so much joy.... oh, and undies...  you're a boy... you think the boxers and undies are hilarious. 

Another "funny":

When I picked you up from your early intervention group last week you hopped in the car and looked around and said, "Hey, where my peoples?".  I said, "You mean Andrew, Elizabeth and Alex?".  You replied, "Yeah, my peoples."

I love, love, love this age.  Though you can be determined to be contrary, you are incredibly cute.  I love the hilarious things you say and the way that you view life.  I love the laughter and the sweetness.  I even love your pout and your stomps of frustration.

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Nay-Nay

This guy
is way
too cute!
I love his curly hair, his long lashes, his infectious smile.  I love his curiosity about the world.
I love the way he points his finger like in the picture below when he sees someone coming that he knows and loves.  (In this case, it was his speech therapist Emily.)
I don't, however, love the lessons learned from his older siblings... spitting and sticking out his tongue... smiles and all.

Friday, March 26, 2010

Bouncing Fun

This big guy
And this little (but getting bigger way too quickly) guy
Along with the other two big "little people" in our family (who refused to be photographed)
have been spending hours each day jumping on the trampoline... best present they've ever recieved, I tell you... hours and hours of entertainment, exercise, enjoying the sunlight and outdoors..
Nathan's a serious ball player, I tell you.
Got to love this hair!  Do you think it's time for a hair cut?!

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Focusing on "Angles" - I Heart Faces



This weeks photo challenge on I Heart Faces is "Focusing on Angles".  I didn't have much time to look through my photos, but love this picture of Nathan and his cousin.  Malia had a lady bug on her hand and Nathan thought it was hilarious.  He couldn't stop smiling and laughing.  The photo isn't technically very good, but I think it shows the emotion well.... oi... I really need to learn how to edit my pictures!

Hot Diggity Dog

Last Saturday was Andrew's first ever Pinewood Derby.... a family affair.  Andrew and Papa Bear worked a long time to create a "hot dog" car and Elizabeth helped pick out paint colors.  Andrew was so proud of this beauty!
We were all happy that the hot dog not only looked good, but raced well.
You can't tell from this picture, but Andrew really enjoyed the races.
And this little car managed to break a track record once.  Another car broke this record by the end, but Andrew was proud nonetheless.... and so were we.
This is Andrew's best friend showing off his medal to his younger brother.  I didn't get a picture of Andrew with his medal... because, you know.. he loves pictures so much!
I remember so clearly attending pinewood derby races with my brothers.  I remember my step-dad and brothers strategizing for weeks about the best way to make the car, how to make it heavier, how to lube up the wheels.  I remember the excitement of racing day.  I'm guessing this is the first year of many years of "racing" for us.

Friday, March 19, 2010

I heart Faces Constructive Feedback Friday


I heart faces is hosting a constructive feedback Friday on it's blog. It's for amateur photographers to get help editing their photos. You all know that I take dozens of pictures, but don't have a clue how to edit beyond cropping and doing a couple easy things in picasa. I want to get MOTIVATED to learn lightroom and photoshop elements, which I own, but haven't ever used.


So, here's the picture that I would like help with.  I took it this past Fall using my Olympus E-510.  I like it, but think the color is off and my niece would prefer the "blemishes" be removed from her face.  I like the symbolism of the road behind her as she is a senior in high school and heeading off to college soon.

In this photo the aperature was f/5.6, shutter speed 1/250 and ISO 100.  Focal length was 42 mm.  I "edited" in picassa - basically just cropped it.

Please give me some motivation to break out lightroom and photoshop elements.  Show what some good editing could do for a picture!

THANKS for your help!

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Annie

Elizabeth is performing in her first musical (Annie) in May and today I had the opportunity to spend the day "playing" with my camera and trying to take pictures of the cast members.  I can't post most of the pictures as I don't have permission, but I thought I'd share these of Elizabeth and her friend.  I have such a long way to go to get great shots, but I am slowly making progress (I think).... now if I could only figure out lightroom and photoshop elements!!!    

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Baseball Buddies

This Guy
Absolutely ADORES
This Guy
Apparently they both like sticking their tongues out.
Brothers
Baseball Buddies
So Serious
So Much Laughter

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Ball Player In The Making

Someone adorable
Thinks he ought to be playing t-ball
He carried around that glove and ball
Most of the day
And insisted on wearing Andrew's old shirt and pants
Love this face he makes

Monday, March 8, 2010

Spring Has Sprung

This
is gone for now. 
There are signs Spring is coming.
The trampoline is up.
Mama is glad to be able to send the kids out to play.
Thrilled they're bouncing somewhere other than the couch...
Lovin the bright smiles...