Day 565

Back to the pool...
Another scorching hot summer day calls for another cool down at the pool this evening. Even though some of these are grainy and may have some motion blur here or there, I prefer not to use flash outdoors and only do so in a controlled situation. Besides, I know when I look back at these in 10 years time, I will love the blur and the feeling of being there and not say to myself, "gee, I really wish these had the washed out look of flash photography." lol.

Day 564

My top three...
I have had a coupon for a free 16x20 canvas and tonight I decided that I needed to get an image good enough to print one. Hmmm, what might I want to have printed on a canvas? I thought and though and came up with my three favorite things...
By the way, for those of you who have asked me what the hardest thing to photograph is, the answer is always the same, my own children!

Day 563

Nuffin...
Another day that ran away from me and no pic. I really thought I could balance this whole summer thing and I was so very wrong. Usually I do very little shooting in the summer and the kids' activities are minimal. HA! This year, everything collided and I am still drowning. It is my fault really, T has offered a maid many times but I just can't get over what I consider to be my *responsibilities* and the fact that the house would need to be somewhat straight for any help to know where to begin. I know, I need to get over it and I promise, I am getting close!

Day 562

Evening shade...
I love the pool in the evenings. We have a nice breeze and can sit and enjoy the kids playing without melting or worrying that M is frying her skin cells. And don't even get me started on the gorgeous warm glow of sunset light. LOVE IT!! These first two are my favorite images from the evening, they just scream summer to me.

The bokeh was a little off in this pic because she was a little too close to me, but omgosh I still just love this image even though daddy's little football looks way too old in it.

Just look at C, he's like a different kid since before his swim lessons!

Day 561

Tired...
No pic today, I think I took more than my fair share yesterday...lol! We had a day of birthday parties and my poor toe needed some rest so I tried to stay off my feet as much as possible which didn't leave much room for the camera.

Day 560

They do...
I know I said I was trying not to post images from sessions on this blog, but I think I should get a pass on wedding days. Wowzers today was a scorcher, even for Houston, late July. Making matters worse was that I had broken my toe yesterday and have been suffering with bronchitis. Not exactly the perfect mixture for shooting a wedding, but with the help of T and my friend, Christie we made it through unscathed and with some pretty kickin images if I do say so myself! So for today I decided to post the first and last images taken (by me). There are lots more on business blog so check it out too!

Day 559

Love, Daddy...
Well, it's rare that T picks out a birthday gift for one of the kids, that job is usually mine. But this was no ordinary gift. Mr. C was desperate for a tv in his room and I thought T was the best qualified parent for the job. I knew he would need something that would mount to the wall since floor real estate is at a low in his room right now. Boy howdy did Daddy come through for my little guy. He got a 23" 1080i HD flat panel tv...rock on! Needless to say, his sisters were slightly perturbed but, you know what they say, good things come to those who wait, girls! Not to mention that being the youngest has it's perks.

Day 558

So he thinks he can dance...
I just love it when my C does his "robot". I don't know if its his smile or what, but he just melts this mommy's heart. Even our teenage neightbor thinks we should video it and send it in to the show to get a chance for free tickets to the show.

Day 557

The big six...
Would someone please do something about this time that keeps marching away? SIX??? What the heck happened? My baby boy cannot be six, there is just no way. Do I really have to let him grow up and get on a bus in a month's time? Whaaaaaaaaaah :( I just wub this little guy so much it hurts! For his dinner tonight he wanted the easiest thing ever...angel hair pasta. We even went out and picked out a cool cake that we think was made special just for him cus it sure is perfect! Happy Birthday my sweet schmoopy.

This happened a little earlier in the day, but how could I resist posting it?

Day 556

Yep, I was right yesterday. The yucks have definitely set in and I have got to get over this by Saturday evening to shoot a wedding. The last thing I want to do is be coughing and sputtering all over the entire wedding party! Hopefully I will be back tomorrow!

Day 554

Ugh, up too late and I can feel the cruds coming on so no post today. Sorry!!

Day 553

At the movies...
This afternoon we took the kids to see Journey to the Center of the Earth, in 3D no less. The kids thought it was awesome especially L who told us many times that it was the best movie she had ever seen. C was scared a couple times but as long as he was sitting with me he was fine.

Day 552

Way 2 cool...
My iPhone came in yesterday...Whoo hoooooo!!!! Don't you know as soon as I was finished with my session, sweaty and all, I went straight to AT&T to pick it up. I got the white one and T got the black but his isn't in yet. I played with it all last night at dinner (how rude) and T got my e-mail set up. After we got back from our very late dinner (M had a vbs program), I got all my music loaded up around midnight. OMGosh, this thing is so wicked awesome (that's my best impression of C). Speaking of my little man, how long do you think it took him to figure it out? Less than 30 seconds! I am always amazed by my kids who are rarely intimidated by new technology which can be attributed (I think anyway) to the genetic gift they received from their father and to the simple utter open-mindedness that comes with childhood.

Day 551

Bittersweet blessings...
My boo is becoming a big girl, going this way and that with her little girlfriends. Soon will be the days like M when we see her as a blur, only home to eat and shower and maybe get a quick hug (and of course money...lol). L has truly yearned for her time to spend the night with friends and have them over to play girly games and giggle and those days have arrived in full this summer. The phone rings now more frequently for her than it does for me and she is ecstatic when she hears us call her to get the line upstairs. As her mom, I love to watch her grow and see how happy she is, but I also wish I could just slow it down a little. My heart breaks to think about how short the time we have left with M is and yet I would never hold her back from the joys of being a pre-teen with tons of friends and activities. It's a tightrope they never tell you that you'll be walking, when to hold them tight and when to let them go. I put it in God's hands and know that when she wants us to wrap our arms around her, she is never afraid to tell us and we are always there to provide.

Day 550

Tragic...
These sessions never ever get easier. I have done many and each one seems more painful than the one that came before it. At this particular hospital, the nurse who handles these cases and I now have a rapport and she is such a caring and compassionate woman that I feel a sense of ease when I see her waiting for me, but that is little consolation when I enter the room's of these families. I did not find out the specifics of this loss, only the pain and agony in the little Ella's mom's eyes as she looked down on her baby girl. The room was crowded with those who have all waited for her to arrive and mourn her loss now. I know that she is in a far better place at home with her heavenly Father.

Day 549

Barely...
Another busy day and I was racking my brain to figure out something to shoot for today and I realized that the clock was about to turn over to tomorrow...oh no!! So here it is, my pic for the day.

Day 548b

OMG! No more braces...
Holy cow, R got her braces off this afternoon and I barely recognize her! She looks so much older and more mature now...whaaaaa. She just gets purdier and purdier every day. I told her that I would post some of the pics I took tonight for her dad, so here they are!

Day 547

Drive...
Ran errands today with one of my bffs and then our daughters each brought one of their bffs over to my house and we had a house and car full of kids! At least we got to go to Sam's by ourselves..whoo hoo! After dinner we took all the girls (five of them) to Brewster's for ice cream and then to Blockbuster to pick out a movie. In a nutshell, I have been driving all day, not that I mind of course, anything to cruise in the new car, but the down side is watching the instant fuel economy gauge was slightly painful though...ouch (obviously I was parked when I took this so there was no actual measurement).

Day 546

Two words...
Rock. Band. followed closely thereafter by the word, Advil. Mercifully we got in way too late for them to actually torture us with it, but make no mistake first thing tomorrow morning we will be "rockin out." Oh wonderful.