Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Girls' trip to Portland

My beautiful cousins-  I'm not the only shutterbug ;)


Coast






My momma loves pretty flowers


Shipwreck

More pieces of the shipwreck

Jetty

VooDoo Doughnuts is an institution.  The peanut butter Oreo doughnut was awesome.  The voodoo doll doughnut had yummy raspberry jelly inside.  Yum!

Mom and me at the rose garden


Purple- my favorite!


Thursday, August 9, 2012

Just another rainy day

July was a very wet month for us.  We got over 3 inches of rain!  Anytime it rains, we all head outside to play.  It doesn't happen very often so we have to enjoy it while it lasts.

Our neighbors across the street came out to watch the rain, too.  I think they kind of look like ghosts.  


Branch down!  We heard it hit and went outside to investigate.  Good thing we have a new roof!

Our street was completely flooded.  A couple hours later, it was gone.

The boys were soaked after playing in the rain.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

1st day of Kindergarten

I'm behind with my personal photos.  Big surprise, I know.  Logan actually started school three weeks ago.  He loves it.  When asked, he says his favorite part is recess.  He's doing very well in reading and math.  It has been so fun to see him learning new things.  Jason and I are so proud.


Breakfast with Daddy before school

Ready to go!


Ryan and Logan  (Ryan's not quite awake yet)


Spiderman backpack (the other characters are not important)

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Playing with Photoshop

I am still learning new tricks in Photoshop.  There is so much I can do with it.  It's so much fun.  Here are a couple recent assignments I've completed.  The ballerina is my beautiful niece, Ally.  This photo was taken at her ballet studio during family day back in May.


Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Ryan's 3 year portraits

I am a little late posting these photos.  We took them at Freestone Park in early June.  I've been learning new editing techniques and my photos are turning out even better.  It's so exciting to learn new things.  Anyway, here are a few of my favorite shots.  It is hard to believe my baby is THREE!  Where does the time go?  (Don't even get me started on his big brother starting kindergarten next week.  Geez!)





He's such a handsome kid!  :)

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Lesson 3

Frames and textures.  The options are endless.  This is another image from Ryan's photo session earlier this month.


Friday, June 22, 2012

Lesson 2

In this lesson we practiced using templates to create a digital scrapbook page. 





All I did was add the photos, the journaling box and the text.  I think I might like digital scrapbooking if I could create the entire page myself.  Hopefully that is the next lesson.

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Lesson 1

I am so excited!  I found a FREE online Photoshop class.  There are five lessons that combine photo editing and digital scrapbooking.  Sound like anyone you know?  I am loving it.  A lot of it is review but I am learning new tricks and shortcuts.  I thought I would share my final projects with you.  The first lesson was photo editing and converting to black & white. 

I used one of Ryan's portraits from his 3 year session.  How is my baby THREE?!? 


How cute is this kid?  We had fun during his photo shoot.  Oh, and I learned to resize for the web.  Go me!

Friday, May 25, 2012

Devan & Charlotte



Another mini session.  Devan was in Logan's Pre-K class.  I had fun with him and his sister.  Such cute kids! 

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Baby E

Earlier this month, I set out to do a series of mini sessions to practice working with less time for each session.  This big boy was one of my favorites.  He's got the best dimples.



Saturday, May 19, 2012

Logan's End of the Year Show


Logan's preschool put on an End of the Year Show earlier this month.  They were all SUPERSTARS!  The Pre-K kids had a speaking part.  Logan's line was "We are all growing up".  Yes, they sure are.  He learned so much this year.  He tells me he's ready to go to kindergarten but he's a little nervous.  I just tell him we'll check it out first at Meet the Teacher Night so he'll know what's going on.

His last day was May 10th.  I think I was more upset about it than he was.  I love the preschool and all the moms.




Mrs. Marlinga was a fabulous teacher.  It takes a special person to work with that many preschoolers.  She was fun, patient and had a passion for teaching the kids. 

Friday, May 18, 2012

T-ball

Everyone in my immediate family played softball at some point.  Abby and I spent many Sunday nights at the park while my parents played co-ed softball.  Abby and I played a few seasons of softball with the city of Chandler.  Abby also went on to play on the freshman team in school.  So naturally, my mom thought the boys needed to play t-ball at her house, too.  One day while we were all playing, she suggested I put Logan in a t-ball league.  (It might have been a little stronger than a suggestion.  You know how moms can be.  ;) )  It was perfect timing.  The town of Gilbert's Parks & Rec league was about to start.  Logan was a Red Dragon.  (He suggested Red Spiders but was out-voted.)

I love his shades.  That silly hat was an adult sized hat and it made his ears stick out.  Not that he cared at all.

Warming up before the game.  Yes, the ball is pink.  Not sure where that came from...

Playing outfield

His attention span is still a little short for the games.  He really liked practice better.  He was always doing something.  You know, other than waiting for the ball to come to him. 

His last game was Monday night.  His coaches (the most patient couple on EARTH) gave him "the best storyteller" award because he was always telling them his stories.  Not surprised much, are you?  That's my boy.  Anyway, I am not sure if he'll play again.  We are going to let him decide.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Artistic or just creepy?

While I was shooting a mini session a couple weeks back, we came across a dead bird.  Poor bird.  But we were at an art campus and apparently someone felt the need to give this bird a chaulk outline.  I couldn't help it.  As morbid as it felt, I still had to snap a couple photos.  Was someone trying to be funny?  Or perhaps make a statement as to how the bird died?  We will never know.  And now you get to wonder along with me.


Rest in Peace, birdie.