Read me a story, or not.

I thought this series needed a separate post. ;) It's a true snapshot into our family.

A: "Hey, Suzy, whatcha doin'?" Andy adores Suzy and wants to be near her constantly. For the most part, she enjoys it and is more tolerant than I would expect.

S: "I'm reading a story, Andy, would you like me to read it to you?"
A: "Oh, yes, this looks like a great story."
S: "Just wait until you see what happens next!"
S: "Whack! Never mind. I am now instantly bothered by you, Andy."
A: "O.K. No problem. I'll just play over here and give you some space. Sheesh.. girls. So moody."
This happens more than I can tell you at our house... So funny. So true.

1,000 frames

After playing with Erin the other day, I decided that I would play around a bit more with natural lighting. Frankly, it scares me. I like to be in control and it can change in an instant. I'm getting more comfortable the more I shoot, so I figure I just need more practice. And I do have two perfect models. ;) All of our north facing windows are pretty shaded, but we have this one that faces south that is so so. I took the screens out when we got shutters and Rob opened the windows for some fresh air since it was so beautiful outside. How cute is he?
My "little old man outfit" as Rob calls it. Andy will likely be walking soon. He pulls up on EVERYTHING.
I wondered what would happen if I stepped outside and stood in the flower bed. I literally crawled right out the window. It got interesting. And fun!
Please pardon the mess. I didn't really expect any of these to turn out, I was just playing around with the settings on my camera. But, how fun is this? I might frame these as an updated "many faces of Robert Andrew". I Love this little guy so much.
This is his new, "Hey! I want that! look".
My sweet little guy. I love this face, and he makes it often. He loves his momma. We were playing peek-a-boo here.
Playtime with Daddy.


He loves to poke me in the face. I'm not a big fan.
Suzy wanted in on the action and so she read me a story.

Then she drew me a picture. I love how the light reflects off the dry erase board.

Suzy and I headed out to the park that evening for some sunset pictures. Here she's in the shade of the play scape.


She has some faces as well...

Next, we headed over to the side of the park where there is a great patch of wild flowers. I love yellow and blue. Unfortunately, my model was pretty much done with pictures at this point. No sitting still here!
I tried out my reflector with the gold tones up, I LOVE the light and effect it gave. I just couldn't get a good face. It might be because she was "done" and the fact I was trying to hold the reflector, M&Ms and camera all at the same time. ;) I needed a buddy.



We went back out again early Monday morning to see if I liked the morning light better. I think I do! If anyone is up for an early morning session in some wildflowers, please let me know! I need a buddy. :)



On a side, Suzy insisted on wearing her pajamas because as she stated, "They are super cute, Mommy. Good for pictures." She cracks me up.

Natural Light Portraits

Last Sunday, I woke up early after the Buffett concert to take some natural light pictures with Cheryl's friend and neighbor, Erin. Turns out, she's got a speech degree and teaches a classroom for kids with Autism. She's wanting to start a photography business and asked for some volunteers. Photo op? Well, don't mind if we do! I'm not sure if she got any good ones or not, but I really enjoyed meeting her and she inspired me! These are the shots I took. I was really just wanting to visit at the time. But, she inspired me so much, I came home and took another 1,000 photos of the kids! Crazy! I gave you a few teasers at the end of this post and I'll post more in a day or so when your eyes recover from the massive quantity of pics I'm posting recently. :)
Suzy and Andy now play this adorable game where he waits for her at the end of the slide. Absolutely melts a momma's heart. I just can't tell you how blessed I feel that my kids seem to be such great friends already.
Here I am, baby brother!
Now, get out of my way. ;)
Here I come again!

I love the sheer joy and excitement in Suzy's face.
A few more little candids...



Then, here's a few more I took later that night and the next morning. Thanks, Erin for the inspirations! I FINALLY got the shot I've been trying for with my nifty fifty. Only took about four months... ;0

Buffett 2009

So this past weekend was the Buffett concert in Dallas. We try and go every year with my sister, Laura, and her husband, Tom. Once again, it was a ton of fun and we had a really great time. How can you not have fun at a total escapism retreat? I'm so excited for my Dad and Lyn to get to join them this year up in Indiana. Here's just a sampling of some of my favorite things we saw...

Can you guess what I dressed up as? Hint: I had rings on my fingers...
And bells on my shoes...


I had Scarlet Begonias, tucked into my curls. He knew right away, I was not like other girls, (other girls....) Well I ain't often right but I've never been wrong, seldom turns out like it does in the song. Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest places if you look at it right....

Man, that song is just chuck full of great quotes. My favorite part is when the wind in the willows plays tea for two.....

I was the Scarlet Begonia girl! :) (Look it up on itunes...)

Anyhow. No one knew who I was. No one. I was called pretty lady, Mother Nature, Hula girl, all kinds of stuff. I guess it didn't help that it's actually a Greatful Dead song. However, in my defense, the first time I heard it was on a live Buffett album and I didn't know it wasn't an original Buffett for years.

The best part, was when I gave away one of my rings to a little girl about 6 or 7 years old. She was so grateful and thought it was so beautiful. As I walked away, I heard her whisper, "Mommy, that lady is so pretty...." Ha - take that Mother Nature. From now on, I'm wearing that wig wherever I go! ;)
Laura and Tom bought this motor home from my Dad and completely decked it out - Buffett style. Even the inside is carribean and Tiki bar. It was so fun to be a part of this group. Seriously, don't you wish you had been there?



A little more detail.
My sister who is just as crazy as I am. I love her. :) If nothing else, we will always have Buffett.
Rob dressed as, "Rob". My uber sweet husband who tolerates my craziness. He was originally the party pooper, but turned out to be the party trooper after the guy behind us poured a ton of beer all over him at the concert. That and he drove most of the way up there and back in one day and generally tolerated the entire mess in good spirits. He loves me. ;)
My brother-in-law, Tom, is the chief medic fireman (or something cool like that). Basically, as Laura puts it, he plays fireman on the weekends. ;) So, his outfit was ultra cool and authentic.

.
sThese were some really cool fins hats. Super creative.
At the concert, they had different colored lights that they put in the hats and walked around to the music in formations. It was really cool. All I had was my little point and shoot, so this is the best I got here.
The golf carts get decorated all funny and then you drive around to see what other people create.
Must be friends of the pirate above.

Priceless...
Loved the fins on these dogs.
This is the typical Buffett crowd. 50 somethings. It's so fun to see these totally professional people go crazy.

All aboard the party bus!
Loved her glasses. So Austin...
At one point, my sister had three drinks in her hand. Wine, Jell-O shot, and beer.
A creative way to make a bar out of a sailboat. Hmmm... future decorating tips for the current toyroom?
How in the world did they get this boat up there?
Carmen and Elvis.
For Diana.... You were thought of!
This was a new one this year. I thought it got major creative points. It's a show us your boobs cut-out. How funny is that? No, we didn't see any takers. But we heard crowds who did.
Incredible.
What is Buffett without Carmen Miranda? She was the best one I saw.
Loved his shirt.
A special ed bus... classic.
A highlight for me was getting to meet Nadira Shakor, my favorite back up singer. She is AWESOME! Amazing voice. I got a signed copy of her new cd.
Suzy really wanted to wear my shoes and flip flops. I made her wait until after the concert and she was sooo excited. She calls it her angel wig.
We've taken over 1,000 photos the past two days (two more big posts coming soon...). So, she wanted to take a photo of me. I love how the camera is backwards.
Hmmm.. why can't I see anything?
Phlocking hilarious... ;)