April 20, 2009

Week 15 of the photo challenge at i heart faces, was to take a self-portrait (hand held, no tripods or remotes). Whose very bad idea was this?? For me, this has been the most challenging theme yet, by far. I have taken and quickly deleted hundreds of pictures of myself and have come to the realization (as many of you may have also) that looking at my own pores, blemishes and wrinkles blown up to 200% on a 21 inch monitor does not help my own self image!

As much as I want to claim that these pictures bear no resemblance to me, I guess this is what I look like, kind of. Except that I wear glasses. I had no intention of taking off my glasses, so I took a bunch of shots of me with my specks on. Then I noticed in almost every picture, there was some refraction of the green background through my lens and onto the side of my face. Very odd, and distorting. So I ditched the glasses and started over, again, the next day.

So here I am, in all my 38 year old glory. I kept all the wrinkles, all the age lines, and all the smile lines. So for all of you whom I have "met" but never "seen", here I am.

This is my entry for i heart faces ADULT category, theme: Self-Portrait

This is my entry for i heart faces KIDS category, theme: Self-Portrait

Go check more self-portraits at i heart faces.

April 19, 2009

We often see Hawks on our property. Jared spotted this one perched on the top of a dead tree, as we were making our way home on our very bumpy dirt road. I leaned out my open window and snapped this pictures just seconds before it flew away. It was the only picture I was able to get.

April 18, 2009

I took this picture today at Jared's game. I like it because it looks like he's having fun. That may sound odd, since Jared loves to play baseball, however he often has his serious game face on when he plays. He looks happy to be on the field in this picture.

April 17, 2009

I know I posted this on Free Range Kids, but you will all have to humor me. I have caught the stomach flu/bug that all three kids had the other day. I am in no state to be fiddling with pictures.

April 16, 2009

Boys making a splash!

April 15, 2009

The tradition continues.

April 14, 2009

While we try to teach our children all about life,
our children teach us what life is about.

April 13, 2009

The i heart faces contest this week has an "amateur" category. I absolutely fit their definition of amateur: "You are an Amateur if you love to take photos, have been working on getting better at photography (ie. reading books, taking classes, studying online photography sites, etc.), but are not up to the level where you feel comfortable charging people for the photos you take for them yet. You also feel like you still have a lot more to learn about photography!"

This is my entry for i heart faces amateur category, theme: Easter/Spring

Kate had to climb the tree to get one of the last eggs (kids don't think to look UP when hunting for eggs). However, she took her eye off the goal for just a second and as such, dropped the egg!

April 12, 2009

April 11, 2009

April 10, 2009

April 9, 2009

He is sitting on top of the monkey bars. I have climbed the ladder on the side of the monkey bars to get up to his level. By the way, his t-shirt says, "Danger is my Business". If he isn't up a tree somewhere or on top of the car port or climbing something, it hasn't been a good day.

April 8, 2009

April 7, 2009

The girls after church.

Jaremie has done such a terrific job resuscitating my dead computer and bringing it back to life. Then he has reinstalled everything from programs to settings. It has been a bit of work and has taken up most of his time the past week. So far, so good! No more viruses!

April 6, 2009

This is an example of the challenge I have shooting blondies in the sun; their hair gets blown out. Any suggestions?

April 5, 2009

This is my entry for i heart faces KIDS category: my friend and I

This is my entry for i heart faces ADULTS category: my friend and I

Go check out the photos at i heart faces.

April 4, 2009

Did you know that a Princess Dress helps you hit the ball farther and run the bases faster? It's true! You heard it here first.

April 3, 2009

Hello, baby grasshopper. I will call you Lizzy. You will be my best friend. I will hold you tight and love you.

April 2, 2009

I am having some, as of yet, undiagnosed computer ills. I will not be able to post until my handy tech guy figures it out (go Jaremie, go!).

April 1, 2009

Anyone who says sunshine brings happiness
has never danced in the rain.