Foto Story Friday #129-- the week

Last Friday a very special baby and her bran-new parents came over for a little photo shoot.

 Just love baby toes and little shoes!

 Such a precious blessing.....

 given to make this wonderful couple a family.

 Daddy love

Mommy kisses!
Last Saturday, was the girl's choice formal, Co-Ed.  Shantel really REALLY wanted to go and we discussed it and said she could go to the dance but not with a date, as she is too young for dating.  She bought a solo ticket.  I did her hair and her nails, she just stayed home and ate dinner with us, then we took her to the school to meet up with her friends.

 A princess ready for the ball!

 Kicking it before the dance with one of her buds.

 And yet another bud.
At formal dances here, they have a grand march..... right out of a fair tale, like Cinderella.  They announce each girl and her escort.  Shantel was escorted by the neighbor kid.  They march across the stage meeting in the middle and he hands her a flower, takes her arm and they march down the steps.

 It was pretty cool!  I'm fairly sure this was the first of many formal dances we will attend the Grand March for!

 Shantel and her besties!

 This sweet girl has recently had to move to another town and she was able to come back and attend the dance.

This bud came to the grand march but not to the dance.
Of course we had a few pilgrims round here....

Don't ya love these outfits?  Freshly made at school!  Em was worried about having to dress up as a pilgrim, so she wore an Indian dress to school! :)
Tonight, we had the light parade, cold but fun.

 The reason for the season.  A float sponsored by one of the churches.

 A classic Christmas story.

I loved how they covered this old truck in lights.
After the light parade we went to Grandma and Grandpa's house.  It is time to let Nana know it is OK for her to go home, if it is time.

We gathered together this evening to tell Nana that it is OK with us if she is ready to return to her Father in Heaven.  Before we entered the room, we sat down in the living room where Grandma and Grandpa explained how Nana has not really eaten the last few days, despite their efforts to feed her and that she is unresponsive to touch or talk, and that it just might be time for her to return Home.  Some of the kids were not really hip on going into the room and basically saying good-bye.  I was able to convince them to step into the room for a photo.  (Robby was sleeping over at a friend's house.)

 The big girls quickly left as the "it's OKs" were said.

 Em loves her Nana and she stepped up to the bed and took Nana's old frail hand in her young strong one and just held it for a few minutes.

Scott stepped up next to her, but didn't touch her.  She was breathing and sleeping and we're not sure she knew we were there.  I think this helps us to let her go, when she is ready.

 As I type this I am having to do as Shantel and wipe my tears.  Shantel's friend was there to comfor her and Savanna.

EmmaLece grabbed a tissue and snuggled up.  When Grandpa went in to check on her later, Em was right there to see if her Nana was still breathing.  Life lessons are hard on the young and the old.  Each of us is allotted our time here on earth, we must love and cherish those placed in our timeline.

P.S.  Nana was called home today, 11-27-10.



Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

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 #85-- January Birthdays

The beginning of January brought Shantel's birthday.
We only have a couple of shaped cake pans, and I'm not cool enough to just create an awesome cake. Shantel decided she would have a PoohBear cake for her 14th birthday. We made the frosting and Cody, Shantel and I chose a color and decorated it all together. It was fun. I'll let you guess who did which color.
After dinner and Grandma and Grandpa's we had cake and now she awaits her gifts. She designed a pair of Chuck Taylors which should be arriving any day.
2 weeks later it was Robby's turn to pick a cake pan. He went for the Mickey Mouse one. While he did his dishes, I frosted and decorated the cake.
Not too bad considering we used the left over frosting from Shantels and attempted to get acceptable colors.
Make a wish, Robby! He awaits his gifts as well. He designed a pair of custom Etnies. They will take 6-8 weeks to arrive.
Next birthday is in May!
P.S. Look what just arrived:
Shantel is one happy custom sky-top owning girl!


Hosted by Cecily

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