six cousins and some gorgeous sun...

this morning we started the day early...alarm had to be set as we usually do not rise before 8:00  in our house.   we wanted to get some family portraits done before it got too hot.  and here in florida....it gets hot very early!!  we have been planning to get some pictures of all the cousins on my side of the family. we found a day that worked for all of us, although one very important  new cousin was still missing. my sister, who lives in georgia,  delivered her first baby a little over a month ago.  so the newest little one of the bunch was not a part of our photo shoot but we will capture her the minute she arrives in town to meet us all...no worries!   the rest of the kids ALL live on the same street now!  what a blessing it has been the past month enjoying this new NORM for us.  the kids all had fun together and we were able to get one shot with all of them...(we wanted to do a surprise for my dad's upcoming birthday--shhhhh, it's still a secret).   it is very hard to get six children ages 11 months, 17 months, 23 months, 4, 7 and 7 1/2 to all cooperate for any one picture.  but it was a fun challenge!!  so grateful this crew all has each other.....they really are such blessings to us all!

 

and i just couldn't leave you without a couple "after -takes"...sort of reminded us of the trash the dress sessions for brides....but trash the outfits for babes!

project 52 l week 29 l indulgence

it's week 29 of project 52 with my friends at the bloom forum. this week's theme is indulgence : what is your favorite indulgence, one thing you treat yourself to?   i am thrilled to have found our hometown has just the place to treat myself (and the kiddos) to my favorite indulgence... 

head on over to Linsey Stuckey's blog and see how she indulges herself....she always has some gorgeous colors in her work!

project 52 l week 28 l texture

welcome back for another week of project 52 with the bloom forum.    we are now into the second half of the year and exploring new themes each week.   i have enjoyed this project so much as it gives me a new challenge each week. this week our theme was texture:  what is your favorite texture ...touch...feel?? 

both of my textures were summer related.....so, what are two of my most favorite things?  barefeet running in the grass and barefeet in the sand at the water's edge!!  oh, isn't summer the best?   hope you enjoy!

now head on over to Austraila and see what the talented Lucy Jane, Adeliade Photographer has captured!!

project 52 l week 24 l movement

welcome back to project 52.  i cannot believe it is week 24. i wasn't sure if i would make it this week, but i've vowed to not miss a week in this 52 week project.  this week's theme is movement: use your shutter speed to either blur movement or freeze it. this week i didn't really follow the theme, technically...i didn't use my shutter speed to either freeze or blur movement, but instead i had a different approach. today we will be moving from what has been our home the past five years here in north carolina and heading to our hometown in florida.  and yes, we are estatic to live close to our families and old friends, but it is so bitter sweet. this week was so emotionally hard. i have made friends here that are as close as family and saying goodbye was very difficult.  in addition, its sad to leave the familiar places and routes we've been on the past five years....it is just sad saying goodbye. 

but without further ado, i say goodbye to this sweet place..camp lejeune.   i will miss you...i will miss all of the people and this community.  its a place where friends will do anything for each other.... a place where wives bond and stick together while husbands go away for months at a time...a place where kids can still run from house to house to play together....its just a sweet sweet place to live.  

now continue on with our blog circle and see what the super talented Julie Livermore, Rawlins, WY photographer has for movement!

project 52 l week 23 l growth

welcome to week 23 of the bloom forum's project 52.  another week has flown by....its hard to believe we are almost to july. this year we have focused on many fun themes. some of my favorites were: light filled,  love, and black and white. 

this week's theme was growth: have you grown in talent, faith, family? do you have a growth chart in your home for your kids? plants? 

 for this theme i decided to focus on the  growth i have had the past year as a photographer. i have spent a lot of time learning as much as i can.  i have made two big changes this year.  i have switched to shooting  in manual mode and in RAW 100% of the time.  previously,  i would shoot in portrait mode or AV priority mode.  taking this step was crucial to the creative process of photography as many of you can attest to.  secondly, once i felt like i had mastered my canon rebel and learned all i could from it;  i upgraded to a full frame camera.  after months upon months of research  i chose the nikon d700.  this camera has now allowed me even more creative control and i love it!  in addition to these big changes, i have used this year to learn photoshop CS5 and really all the wonderful things it has to offer.   i have spent countless hours reading, researching, asking questions and just learning as much as i can.  in august i will begin an 8 week workshop with the bloom forum and i cannot wait.    for any of you moms (or dads) wanting to learn to take better pictures, my advice to you, is read all you can on the matter and practice. i take 100's of pictures each week just to practice.   i am also grateful that God gave me this passion and gift.  i hope to share it with as many people as i can for HIS purpose and glory!

now for this week's images...

first i used my canon rebel xsi and 50mm lens and set the camera on portrait mode. i took this picture, did no editing in photoshop (only lightened a tad in picasa) and i was done.  in no way is this to show that the rebel is not a great camera...it is.  you can get amazing pictures with it, but this is to show the difference when shooting in manual and learning the advantages of good editing.  and this picture isn't bad, but it isn't great either.  first of all, the focus is not sharp.  second, the lighting is not optimal. i always found what my camera detected and set the lighting at was usually darker than what was the ideal setting.... 

next, i used my nikon d700 and 50mm lens.  these were shot in manual mode at the following settings: 1/500s, ISO 250, f/1.4.  i made a few edits in camera raw and then edited in photoshop.

 

 i believe i still have SO much to learn in photography.  technology is forever changing, so i believe there will always be something new to learn.  i share this because many people believe they will go out and buy a DSLR camera and will get professional results right away. they are then disappointed and frustrated.  they get into the trap of telling themselves "if only they upgraded to a better lens or another camera." take time and really learn your camera and all the potential it has.  the entry level DSLR's are wonderful cameras.  there are great books to read.   practice, practice, practice, and try new things.  you will be pleasantly surprised with the results you will get. 

now head on over to the amazingly talented blog of  Tabitha Patrick a Port Huron, MI Photographer and see what growth she captured!!!

party of 5 l welcoming baby nathan

i have been waiting to do this shoot for months...it is hard to believe this sweet baby boy is already 1 month old.  (you can see this beautiful mama pregnant here).  i will never forget the night my friend holly came over for dinner and shared her news about her pregnancy.  her husband had already left for a seven month deployment, so when they found this out  it was a welcomed and much joyous surprise for all of them.  our families weathered the deployment together and became the best of friends in the months our husbands were apart.    they are such a special family and are just dear to my heart.   it is such a blessing to now see them all together and in love with their newest family member.   i am excited to share this preview of sweet nathan with you.  thank you for entrusting me with my first "newborn session".... enjoy!

project 52 l week 18 l protection

welcome back...it's week 18 of project 52.    this week's theme was protection: who is your protector, where do you feel safest, what makes you feel safe?   i cannot wait to see what everyone has done for this theme.  as i pondered over the theme many thoughts came to mind.  i remember when i was a child and i would get scared in the middle of the night; i'd go straight into my parents room. first it was their bed , but as i got older, i made my own bed on their floor.  just being in their presence brought me the comfort i needed.  now, my two oldest children do the same thing.....my son also has to have his blue blankey and with that cuddled by mama he feels safe.   this led to me thinking about what makes me feel safe now?   i know i sleep much better when my husband is home.  there is a peace inside of  me having his presence in our house.  i feel like our family is safer but i also feel the peace knowing he is safe.....BUT ultimately...my protector, my feeling of comfort....all comes back to God and my belief in Jesus Christ.   without HIM, my life would be full of fear in many ways.   this is also something i've worked on the last year..to fully trust in HIM and try to let go of so many fears i tend to naturally have.  and this isn't always easy.  i admitedly am a worrier.  for this week's picture, i was inspired by another member of our circle, Rachel May, and her amazing post on sacrifice.   it was beautiful, and i wanted to to capture the cross as a reminder and symbol of my ever constant Protector.

i'll leave you with this video that our church played on Easter Sunday.  it is a wonderful reminder that NOTHING is too big for Jesus.   we do not have to fear because HE is always there.

continue the blog circle and head on over to see the amazing work of  Linsey Stuckey, Houston, TX, photographer.

project 52 l week 17 l floral

another week has flown by .....and this week our project 52 theme is : floral -your favorite flower, maybe you just got an arrangement for mother's day?   i knew from the start what flower i would chose.   in the yard next door to me is a beautiful hydrangea bush. for the past three years i have enjoyed picking flowers from it all late spring and into the summer.   they are gorgeous and by far one of my favorite flowers!     and a few were in bloom just in time for this week's project.  

  continue with our blog circle and see what beautiful flowers Kimberlee Edwards Photography | Cary, NC Photography has in store for you.

on another note...check back this weekend, as my husband is returning today from his almost 9 month deployment. I'll be sure to post our reunion pictures soon!!!  

project 52 l week 13 l nature

it's week 13 of the the Bloom Forum's Project 52.  i am  participating in this fun project with 20 other ladies from all over the world.     last week we covered the theme fur.   up this week is nature:  spring should be in full bloom, what is beautiful in your view?!  it has been gorgeous the past few weeks here in coastal carolina. many trees are in full bloom and this week our azaleas began blooming as well. the weather has also been delightful!  i was able to get a few pictures to share with you of our beautiful surroundings this week.  i hope you enjoy.

"i love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in."  ~george washington carver

 now head on over to Lynn, Bugsmom Photography, NJ blog and see what beautiful nature she captured. 

project 52 l week 6 l bokeh

it's week six of the bloom forum's project 52 .  you can read more about this project here.  this project has been such fun as it has really made me stretch my creativity each week.  this week's theme was bokeh.  bokeh is defined in photography as the blur,or the aesthetic quality of the blur, in out-of-focus areas of an image, or "the way the lens renders out-of-focus points of light."  i have to admit shooting wide open is my favorite thing to do. i love it!! but it can be challenging .  this week's picture is of my oldest daughter down by the river .  this was shot in the late afternoon with my 50 mm  lens at 1.4. it is focused on her right eye  and you will see, from there, the focus gets softer.  i love the natural feel of this picture--her hair is a mess, no fancy outfits, accessories, etc. i just look at it and see right into her eyes as if looking right into her soul..by far my favorite type of  moments to capture  of  our children...

 

don't forget to head on over to Tabitha Patrick Port Huron, MI Photographer's blog and see her beautiful bokeh!

project 52 l week 5 l food

 Welcome back to another week of Project 52 with the Bloom Forum.  You can read more about this fun project here.  This is week 5 and the theme of the week is :   Food--show us what you like to eat. This was a hard week for me.   I am not someone who has a lot of experience taking pictures of food. I do love to cook and I love to bake, but I can't say my final projects are always photo worthy.  Then there was the decision of what food to pick?   I love so many things....ice cream, cakes, cookies, most anything on the grill ???  But I finally came to my decision.  I picked chips and salsa!   This is a staple in our house most every week.   I love making fresh salsa and the whole family loves to eat it, so I thought it would be a perfect food to pick.

 And my favorite little guy got to help with the preparations...

Now head on over to Michelle's page and see what she has cooking!  

( warning: I do most of this to taste, so these are merely approximations)

1-2 cans of diced tomatoes (depending on how spicy you like it--you can get Rotel, garlic and onion, zesty mild green chilies...just to name a few of the different variations in canned tomatoes)

a small handfull of cilantro

a squeeze of a lime

minced garlic (to taste)

Adobo (to taste)

oregano  (to taste)

pinch of crushed red pepper

Blend it all in the food processor. 

Taste it and add more of anything needed.

  

project 52 l week 4 l love

Welcome to Week 4 of Project 52 .  You can read more about this project here.   This week's theme is Love: What does this word mean to you? What best defines it in your life? 

 I have been thinking about this theme all week.   I could have done so many pictures to represent LOVE in my life.   Most images that come to mind are of my children and my husband or of family and friends.   But as I thought about this all week, I had one image in mind that just kept coming back.  It was actually a picture I took a little over a month ago while in Florida visiting our families.    

This picture is of  my husband's parents...who are like second parents to me as well.   I am very close to my own parents, but have been doubly blessed because I married into an extraordinary loving family as well.   My in laws have been married over forty years and when I look at this picture I see the true definition of love and commitment shining through.   My father n law was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's. It has been heart wrenching to watch the changes in him due to this disease.  My mother n law amazes me day in and day out with her strength, her patience, her devotion and her trust in God.    Besides being an amazing wife she is a mother to four boys.   She is truly one of the most giving people I have ever met.   So, today, she is my definition of LOVE..the undying love for her husband and children. A woman who gives of her heart in whatever manner she can.  

As 1 Corinthians says:  Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud ⁵ or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. ⁶ It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. ⁷ Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

I hope and pray  my husband and I will share a love like this for over forty years as well. 

Don't forget to head on over to Jen's page to see what LOVE meant to her.....

project 52 l week 2 l black & white

Here is week two of our 52 week project! To read more about this 52 week project you can go here. This week's theme is black & white. Black & white images are great for showing emotion, and really focusing on what is going on in an image.   

The weather has been cold and rainy a lot this week...so I thought it would be the perfect time to practice shooting with window light.  The picture I picked for this week is of my oldest child watching the snow from her bedroom window. It is sweet and simple.  

During the week, I used this time to take a few other shots around the house using natural light.  These next two pictures are of my youngest daughter.      The first one has some flaws technically, but I still LOVE this shot of her.  I just love that face .  And the second one just makes me smile, because it shows her personality and her love of life.

 

Don't forget to follow our  Blog Circle. It is such fun to see what the other gals in the group come up with. Next,  head on over to Lucy's blog  and see her black and white entry---you won't be disappointed!

operation purge and organize

The last two days have resulted in four bags of "stuff" to get rid of in our playroom/art closet.   It was something that needed to be done when we moved into our house two years ago-- but shortly after moving in  I began having terrible all day nausea with the pregnancy of our baby girl, then this little baby girl came into the world 7 weeks earlier than expected (and our world turned upside down)  and then my husband began the many mini-deployment trips leading up to the big departure day last Summer....so here we are two years later and  life has gone on and the room has stayed unorganized.  It feels so good to have started this project..which all leads me to today's picture.  The baby, who is now, not so much a baby, is right there, in the midst of life, wanting to be just like big brother.  I cannot believe it.

a frame a week wednesdays l week 3

This week's features...

 During one of our many cold days spent inside, E decided to coordinate a puppet show.  This is a pretty common thing with her. She is always coming up with some type of performance for us.   This  time all the dolls and stuffed animals sat in the audience with me.   Very cute!

Next just a tender moment of C in her room.    Love when I can catch these memories...

Finally...one day we did get out and enjoy a nice "warmer" day at the park...I had to include C again, b/c she was having a blast with her walker.  Then there's M and I just thought I HAD to remember him and his love for Pony and Lucy...his pals he brought to the park --the pals he's slept with as long as we can remember. 

my kind of saturday

I love  Saturdays, but Saturdays that include nothing we have TO DO, are the best.  A morning of homemade waffles, a suprise snow shower, hot chocolate by the fire, jammies on all day, and lots of relaxing...

A true Florida girl at heart...filling her sand bucket full of snow!   

So excited to get out and jump in the snow....in their jammies!!! 

They may have their disagreements, but there is a lot of love between them!

a frame a week wednesdays | week 2

This week our house was filled with a couple of  fun surprises... The first was a snow storm that brought much more snow than we expected.  We all ventured out and enjoyed this fun filled day!    The second surprise of the week was E lost her very first tooth!! She was super excited as she lost it at school. She bolted off the bus with it to show Momma!  It was so special to see her filled with so much excitement.

 E had a blast in the snow...she definitely lasted the longest of the three.

C didn't know what to think...she actually did laugh and smile alot but she looks so un happy in most of the pictures!

M's faces say it all...he had a love hate relationship with the snow that day!

Next up.. the before and after of E's tooth.   (I know , it's supposed to be a frame a week, but I just couldn't narrow it down this week)

Then so excited as she got off the bus..

And one last picture from the week....just loved this one of sweet C at bath time!

gingerbread cookie

  mmm...today I met my close friend Angela for lunch and she surprised me with this scrumptious gingerbread cookie shower gel from ULTA.  What a fun way to start the holiday season.  I was so happy to have this time today with A as we have been so busy this fall that our times together  have been far and few between. 

 Have you ever had that friend who knew what you needed before you even did?  The friend that  is always  there to pick up milk when you are down to the last drop, take your children when emergencies arise,  bring you a smile when you need it the most?   Well, Angela has been that friend to me since we met almost two years ago.... I can't thank her enough for all she has done. I will forever be grateful!  We've shared so many laughs and endured many times together as Moms and Marine wives.   She is one of the most gracious people I know--I am so glad that our children met each other at school and started our  friendship!

On a side note...I went to ULTA and picked up the peppermint shower gel as well. These things are so yummy!!  I guess it really is the little things in life that can bring us smiles!