Fun with Photography -- Eyes

I have been looking online for tutorials and lessons to learn how to better use my camera. One of the sites I have been on is called I Heart Faces and last week I entered their contest with photos all focusing on eyes. My favorite pictures that others take are often focused on the eyes that have a brilliant light or a "catch light" to them and they really "pop". This is not always possible but I found the best time to look for the light shining in the children's eyes when outdoors is early morning or at dusk.

I am starting to get the hang of it but it is all in the positioning. Indoors it only works next to a window using natural light.  When you start noticing it, you'll catch on. I have found of course that many photos have the eyes enhanced using photo editing and now that I have PhotoShop Elements 8 (John bought me for my birthday!) it is quite fun to play with. Here are my two favorite eye pictures. Too bad they aren't of my own children! Mine aren't sitting still enough lately to get crystal clear eye shots. And when trying, we all zoomed in and took pictures of each others eyes including my own and I discovered that close ups of my own eyes really show wrinkles and that I do NOT like to see! (Pete told me that it doesn't show when I have my glasses on) :)

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="See the sparkle in his eyes?"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="He isn't smiling here but I love his big blue eyes. The pilot cap he wears to keep his hearing aids in really brings out the blue."][/caption]

Bye Bye Crib :(

We are at a point in our lives that we have not been since we had George. We have had a crib and at times have had two cribs setup in our "nursery" for almost 11 years. Typically when our baby turns 2 or not too long after they move into a big bed out of necessity as a new baby needs the crib. When Pete and Re-Pete moved it was to a full-size mattress on the floor. And then we got bunk beds with a full-size on bottom. When Tank moved it was to a twin size bed that my Grandpa had made for George. When Missy Blue moved we were fortunate to receive a new bed for free!

And now, Seppy is 2 1/2 and this is the first time we have not needed the crib at this moment. We tossed around keeping him in a crib but when a friend had a toddler bed she no longer needed we decided it was time to move him. And oh how Seppy loves "my new bed!" He still shares a room with Missy as she does not want to be alone. I think they both would like to move in with their big brothers but there isn't enough room for 6 in that room. And so, it was with a few sentimental tears that I took down the crib (or as Sep says -- Mommy broke it) and packed it away. (For only the time being I hope.)

New HairDo for Missy

I took Missy Blue to have her hair cut yesterday. She was THRILLED to say the least! The entire time she sat in the chair her face was beaming I had a hard time not laughing. The cut is a little longer than her shortest pieces so they layered it at the bottom to blend it in. When I asked if she liked it she said, "I've been waiting for this a LONG time!" Indeed, she has been asking for short hair for quite awhile. She looks adorable as I knew she would but I think it will take Daddy a bit to get used to his girl without long hair. He kept asking her last night who she was because he didn't recognize her. :)-

Missy Cuts Her Hair :(

I was in the bathroom when I noticed a chunk of blonde hair in the garbage can. This was not just a little bit of hair but long strands.



Strange seeing as I had seen Missy playing with her dolls and didn't notice. I ran to check her out and it wasn't obvious at first being that her hair was in pigtails. But then realized that she had cut portions of each. Thankfully she could not cut all the way through her pigtail or I believe she would have. I was crying and laughing as I asked her why she cut her hair. "It was sticking up!"  I told her,  "Maybe next time you should ask Mommy to comb it instead!"

In brushing it out I think it might not have to be as short and maybe it can be layered. But not entirely sure being that on one side the length is pretty far gone. Hopefully we can keep it to her shoulders at least. When I called John, he was NOT happy! Daddy likes long hair and especially Missy's beautiful blonde locks. Oh my! I know other children do this and Tank did at this age but for a boy it isn't as big of a deal. I'll post new pictures after we decide what to do with her hair. I must say that I am VERY thankful that all she cut was in the length as it could have been much worse!

[caption id="attachment_782324" align="aligncenter" width="288" caption="You can see the side is cut to her shoulder and some strands are a bit shorter"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_782325" align="aligncenter" width="288" caption="You can see how thin and short it is on the left side."][/caption]

Wordless Wednesday -- Portraits

(Okay a few words of description) -- A friend asked if I would be willing to take their family pictures. They have been married 5 years and have 3 children now and so she thought it would be fun to have pictures taken where they got married -- at the home of her parents. I jumped at the chance to get more experience taking pictures of others. My kids are easy as they've had a camera in their face from the beginning. I had so much fun! I ended up taking over 1000 pictures so it was hard to narrow it down but here are a few of my favorites.

Archives

Do not edit this page

Wonderful Weekend - Full Heart

We had a wonderful weekend full of activity! Friends who moved away from the area five years ago came for a wedding and stayed with us for almost 4 days. We had a house full of 17 people all-together and we LOVED it! George and their second-youngest son have been good friends for a long time and so they really enjoyed being together. They were so much fun and such a blessing to us.  Friday the guys spent time doing yard work even rota-tilling a spot for my garden (a hard job with our rocky soil) and helping out in any way they could. My kitchen cupboards were washed down and our high chair which had gunk in every nook and cranny is now shiny and clean again. We had good late night talks and were on the receiving end of much helpful advice from people who have "been there" and we can see the fruit in their children. The boys (they have six ages 4 - 18) all played frisbee, laser tag (with nerf guns) and stayed up longer than they ever have then camped out in our motorhome. A once in a lifetime few days for them.

Saturday our Pastor's oldest son got married and I cried my way through. John and I used to babysit for their children and so it is strange to see him now old enough to begin a family of his own. Oh my! George told John later on that when it comes time for him to get married maybe they should put me in some room in the back that has a window to watch. :)- But it was a beautiful God-honoring wedding and how wonderful to see young love and and how their faces light up at the sight of each other, helping us to put a little spark back in our own relationship. (Not that it was dead or anything but you know -- we all need a little something to remind us now and again).

Yesterday we celebrated my Grandpa's 90th birthday! He sees it as just another day but to us it is a milestone of years spent in service to our Lord. He is a gentle and quiet spoken man. A man of prayer. It was wonderful to honor him in that way. Someone told him maybe he'd have another 30 years and he said, "I don't want that many!" That was a comfort to me to know that if and when I reach that age that maybe I won't cling to the things of this world so tightly but will be ready to see my Savior just as my Grandpa is. What a special man!



Today we said goodbye to our dear friends and wondered what we will do with ourselves now that the house is "quiet". But we are making plans to visit them at the end of the summer. Thankfully we did have a family picnic here today and that helped to perk up the kids spirits (and ours as well for that matter). We enjoyed beautiful weather and a good time with family. Today we had our veterans, my two Grandpa's and my Uncle, sit around the table and discuss their memories of war while my sister recorded it. It was over an hour and was so interesting to hear. It is also so good for the children to hear and I am glad we will have it on a DVD to watch and remember.

[caption id="attachment_782302" align="aligncenter" width="214" caption="Tank shooting a water balloon with a sling shot"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_782303" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Trying to catch balloons"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_782289" align="aligncenter" width="212" caption="My Grandpas - WWII Veterens"][/caption]

My heart is full and overflowing that tears just flow as I reflect on our weekend. I am so thankful for many people in my life and how God has blessed us over and again more than we ever deserve.