Foto Story Friday #111

Monday morning, as a gift for my friend, I took her baby's photos.  Here's a little peek at here little girl.

Monday evening, Shantel and Savanna wanted to dye their hair.... red!  So we did and they look so cute!

Tuesday bright and early, Troy and I loaded up for a trip to Billings.  Troy had a dr appointment.  We spent the night with friends and Wednesday afternoon he went in for elective surgery.

He had the gastric bypass.  he is doing good and we should get out tomorrow, Sat.




Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

Foto Story Friday #80-- Activities

Recent activities around here:
Savanna played some basketball............. lots of learning the basics and then 2 nights of intramurals.
We have been working on some puzzles.
This is the first one we finished and we are on to another.
Tuesday the twins had a Christmas program. Of course it would be too easy to put them, next to each other, they were separated by one little girl. Thankfully the teacher stepped in the middle.... well she might not appreciate this shot of her, but it effectively blocks the girl!
Last Thursday, Robby had his Christmas program. They did a great job and Robby was one of the few who could be heard and understood in his speaking part.
My oldest decided this year to go out for the wrestling team. He is having a good time learning all the basics and putting them into practice. Problem is, that his first home meet was the same night as Robby's concert :( I was not able to watch his 2 matches, I was VERY bummed. Troy and Grandpa both got to see them. This week he has his only other home meet and we will miss it...... Shantel also has her Christmas choir concert this week, same night as the wrestling meet :(
Why do they make me choose? This week we are choosing to not attend either (we are sending the kids and grandparents, as we have to be elsewhere.)

Hosted by Cecily and Honey Mommy

Foto Story Friday # 79-- decorating the tree and lighting is my boon!

It's that time of year again when we get out all our pretty things and celebrate the birth of Christ. We normally tend to put off all the decorating, but our children are all excited and Scott started to ask if the tree could go up last Saturday. On Monday, we went in search of Christmas decor and located everything except the tree (yeah, I know we just use a fake one, we're lame). Having promised Scott that we would put up the tree I was obligated to go purchase another. We remembered that last year the tree broke and we threw it out (it lasted us about 12 years- not bad for the Kmart special!) Finally, after dinner, we opened the box and set to work.
Scott could hardly wait for the lights to be tossed on before he placed the first ornament.
EmmaLece was right behind him placing hers on.
Robby too was thrilled to be decorating with his ornaments.
BahHumbug, aka Savanna, placed hers in the very back and vowed to not put another one on. (I forced her to place 5 ornaments and she put them all in the back away from sight.
Shantel still enjoys decorating the tree and put several of hers on.
Cody, decked out in his wrestling sweats, happily placed a few as well.
The finished product. Really, I have such a hard time getting the right settings for capturing the right amount of light for the desired effect. While the tree is clear and crisp, you can not tell that the lights are on and you loose something in my opinion.
So I turned off the lights and the flash and got the tripod. Still not exactly what I was hoping for but you can see the lights!
Wishing you all the the Merriest of Christmases and may the Peace of the Babe born in a stable settle in your hearts at this time and throughout the year to come.

Hosted by Cecily and Rachael

Foto Story Friday #76 -- Desire for greatness

I think we all have a desire for greatness inside us. I look at others and see their greatness, but it is much harder to see the greatness in ourselves.
I desire to make great pictures.
What exactly makes a great picture: Clarity? Beautiful subject matter? Seriousness or humorous? Knowledge of lighting and proper use of equipment?
Photography is a form of art. Beauty in the eye of the composer of each shot. Sometimes we can convey our perception of beauty to others and sometimes it falls flat.
Here are a few examples of the way I see my surroundings, what inspires me and things that contain beauty. (Of course, my kids are beautiful and inspiring!) I love a good showing of colors in the sky but sometimes I try and look elsewhere for the beauty and inspiration that surrounds me.
Humorous:
From the recent construction on my street, which thankfully is complete, I was inspired and humored to find this port-a-pot........... the first I's seen on a single trailer like this. It is truly a portable potty!
Beautiful/ Curiosity:
I like to improve on capturing my human subjects. Robby gave me that mischievous grin and this turned out to be a favorite photo of him taken at a volleyball game.
Beautiful/Growing up:
The fleeting tween years and the ever changing portrait of childhood fades. ANd maybe I need to look with my eye before I look with my camera....... how could I miss the strand of hair?!
Humorous:
Typical kid doing dishes, listening to the iPod and chewing gum..... bigger and bigger until it pops! Which it did all over his face!
Beautiful:
Photo night put on by the young men and young women at church. Props can help a person to loosen up. Learning lighting..... need lighting!
Dreaming/Inspiring:
Old time photos taken at Kmart........ shooting from the hip. The photographer was not well pleased to see that I had a camera hanging from my neck. She grumpily informed me that I could NOT take pictures of her backdrop they are protected! Well you can see that it is located in a store and they are stetting up and I didn't even try to conceal that is was a photo shoot. Props. Yeah could sure use some cool props.
Beautiful/ Sneaky:
In my ever growing attempts to take good people shots, I do have 6 mostly willing subjects. Everything worked that time!
Thoughtful/Beautiful:
Mostly this child doesn't stop moving and trying to get and acceptable photo of her proves to very difficult. She was busy looking off into space and I got my chance.
Inspiring/Thought provoking/Beautiful:
Patiently awaiting his turn and wishing his mother would not point that camera at his face, I got lucky to look up and see this glimpse at teen life. What was he thinking? Was he wondering if he could ride the rails on his board? or was he simply wishing the "photo shoot" were over?

So what inspires you? what is beautiful to you?

Hosted by Cecily and Sue

Foto Story Friday #67 --my girls

Because no matter how you add it up 6 times even the cheapest package is too expensive! And because I really do want to get better at this photography thing, I took my kids out for a little photo shoot. I had a great place in mind and I wanted to go in the early evening..... but time moves faster than 7 people, we arrived a bit later than I wanted.... As it is I give you my daughters:
EmmaLece the youngest, but very strong willed.

Savanna determined and in charge!

Shantel finding her niche.
Each beautiful in their own ways.


Hosted by Cecily and Izzy 'N Emmy

Foto Story Friday #42 Dinner Chefs

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Dinner Chefs.
A few weeks ago, I didn't want to cook {OK, so that is a pretty much daily occurence round here! :) } my 10 1/2 yr old and my 9yr old took matters into their own hands. Savanna and Robby went to the freezer, pantry and fridge and pulled out the ingredients for shepherds pie. Then they set to work thawing, chopping , opening and cooking dinner. The following photos tell their tale of these two upcoming chefs!









It was very tasy and I didn't have to do a thing cept snap photos and supervise! Good job kids you will not starve! :)

foto-story Friday #20-Fall music concert

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Tuesday was the first middle school {5th - 8th} concert of the year.  Due to the pink eye running rampant through our house my trumpet player was unable to participate.  He and Robby who also was afflicted stayed home.  The rest of us headed out to enjoy an evening on song and musicians.  

The line up was as follows:

6th grade choir {4 songs}

7th & 8th grade band {3 songs}

5th grade choir {4 songs}

6th grade band {3 songs}

7th & 8th grade choir {5 songs}

Can you see Savanna in the brown shirt and black pants?  

Unfortunately, Savanna was standing in a bad spot relative to where we found seats .... as you see, a tall girl was in front of her.

About half-way through the 6th grade band, this sweet little boy's eyes started to get heavy and his head started to droop and next we knew, he was out like a light!  When the song was over and the crowds began clapping, Scott clapped along with them never missing a beat and still ASLEEP!  He slept through Shantel's choir performance.
Shantel was right upfront for the first song as it was an all girl song
Shantel was farther away in the full choir, but still visible.