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week 27 :: red, white & blue

i continue to work on capturing images (although behind in uploading them all?!?) for the 52 week photo project, you can read more about this project here or click on the link-  

<<<over in the sidebar under categories. 

but, here is my photograph for this week's theme  ::  red, white & blue

IMG_3731web2

i have to say the most challenging part of capturing this image-- was the wind.  the wind wasn't that strong and i definitely needed it to give the image a bit more impact.  but the timing-- to snap the shutter just as the flag billowed, um not as easy as i thought.   so there you go... a blowing flag, for this week's theme - red, white n' blue.

 

 

 

Posted at 11:58 AM in photography, photos :: 52 weeks | Permalink | Comments (0)

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i've been thinkin...

 

about alex.   

he's a graduate now.  a middle schooler.

yep, i've been thinking.

 

because we went from this...

Alex's first day 004cropweb
beginning of elementary school, kindergarten year 9/06

to this....

IMG_3286cropweb2
end of elementary school, fifth grade year 6/2012

in just six short years. 

 

oh, mY.


Posted at 07:59 AM in alex, i've been thinkin' | Permalink | Comments (0)

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last day of school

we are here.  june 21st.  we have arrived at this moment. the last day of school.  the end of another school year.  

the end of third grade for miss ally.  and the end of elementary school for alex.  *deep sigh*

where does the time go?   i know i sound like a broken record but it is flying by at warp speed now.  and i'm desperately trying to hold on, to be present, to be 'in' each and every moment, to soak up these childhood moments as we go, but this speed?  i just can not get used to this speed.

but that is what summer months are for, right?... to slow down the pace, to have lazy mornings together, unplanned days, time to just see how our days unfold.  i truly look forward to spending summer with the kids, with craig and our family together.  

we have a tradition of taking a photo on the first day of school and a few years back i started taking the same photo on the last day of school.  it always amazes me the amount of growth during the school year.

just look at these faces.  here they are back in september on the first day of school...IMG_6743flick

and here they are again june 21st on the last day of school...IMG_3286web

it's quite something to see the physical changes that happen during just nine months of time. 

a few random thoughts...

first of all these kiddos both have sensitive eyes... this was a sunny morning but we were not in the sunshine.  in fact, the sun was up behind me and to ally's left.  but both the kids had a really hard time looking at the camera.  they kept saying how bright it was, that it was too bright and hurt their eyes!?!?!  is this a by product of living in the nw-- we have so many gray overcast days that their eyes are overwhelmed by the sunshine??  what up?  so, i had to use the very technical 'close your eyes count to 3' strategy, here...IMG_3277web2

in order to achieve the final image.  which explains why miss ally has a somewhat strained smile.  but we all know what her lil' grin looks like so we're just rolling with it.

speaking of miss a... she has the most beautiful and unique hair color.  it is definitely 'strawberry blonde' and the red has really been standing out these days.  she also changed up her hair a few weeks into school.  for years, she wore her hair down and with a headband but this was the year of the ponytail.  almost everyday she pulled it back into a pony with a different colored/patterned clip in the front.  this was her 'go to' school style.  

in addition, this was the year of jeggings for her... she would have worn them every single day to school.  but they did need washing from time to time.  so, she mixed it up with leggings n' tunics, skirts n' leggings too.  along with a favorite long striped sweater in the winter months or pink polar fleece pull over.  and we can't forget her brown faux suede 'ugg' like boots. she has become quite the fashionista with her choice of bold patterns and bright colors.

as for alex, he's a dude and would just throw on the first thing he touched whether it was hanging in the closet, from the dresser drawers or off the floor (if we let him).  he is one low maintenance guy.  except for getting him to wear a coat or sweatshirt out the door and then having him return home with it!  this was an ongoing 'area of growth' for him this year.

speaking of growth... that would be his hair!  always growing, always thick and always in need of a haircut.  we had a hard time keeping up with his haircuts and for some reason he's always in need of one on the last day of school.

these two are definitely growing before our eyes.  we now have a middle schooler and soon to be fourth grader.   

yep, it's moving at warp speed--but, i'm hanging on with all my heart, to take this amazing ride alongside of them.

 


Posted at 10:43 PM in alex, miss ally, traditions | Permalink | Comments (0)

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week 21 :: temptation

i continue to work on capturing images for the 52 week photo project, you can read more about this project here or click on the link-  

<<<over in the sidebar under categories. 

but, here is my photograph for this week's theme  ::  temptation

Pastelcandyweb

okay, this is another photo from the archives but i could not resist.  this is an all time favorite image and truly, i don't think i could represent temptation any better.  it's so very hard not to take just one of these bright happy colored chocolates.  

well, maybe just one more...

 

Posted at 12:04 AM in photography, photos :: 52 weeks | Permalink | Comments (0)

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week 19 :: up

i continue to work on capturing images for the 52 week photo project, you can read more about this project here or click on the link-  

<<<over in the sidebar under categories. 

but, here are my photographs for this week's theme  ::  up

image number one, up:IMG_2072web2

image number two, looking up:IMG_2075web2

the images above were taken during another impromptu game in our backyard with the posse.  you see, we've got the yard for running... 3/4 the way around our home is an uninterrupted expanse of lawn perfect for games of chase.  through the years there has often been a posse of kids playing hide-n-seek, red light green light, running through sprinklers, water wars and any game with running, tagging or tackling.  so on this evening the game of choice was 'spud'.  

'spud???' you say, well this is a game that was created by our neighbors (the three tallest kids in photos).  the game begins with everyone secretly drawing numbers. then the 'it person' throws a ball up in the air as they call out a number- as demonstrated in the photos above.

now the rules thereafter are a bit confusing for me, although the kids have them down pat.  but there is definitely going after the ball, there is also 'freezing' involved....IMG_2057web

IMG_2082web

there is also throwing and tagging others with the ball.  and there is always a lot of falling and a lot of laughing....IMG_2073web

and did i say there was a lot of chasing....IMG_2089web

love the faces here....IMG_2090web2

classic photos- such a fun group!   IMG_2096web

IMG_2098web

a fun evening for all.

Posted at 11:51 PM in photos :: 52 weeks | Permalink | Comments (0)

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4 of us :: twelve times ~ april 2012

IMG_2438web Mission Beach, CA

ta-dah....all of us together, a little misty and wind blown but we're all in the photo! here's our fourth photo for the 4 of us 12x project.  i started this project two years ago, trying to capture all four of us in a photograph each month- not an easy task.  You can read more here or here and you can also see past images by clicking on the 4 of us :: 12x category

<<<over in the sidebar.  

but please note: all images before jan 2012 are a bit wonky... i updated the blog to be bigger but my older images weren't sized for the new, larger dimensions.  ugh, oh well- you'll still get the picture right?  um, that would be a lil' photography humor?!

 

as for april highlights...

  • baseball practices and little league baseball games 
  • watching alex's team- the duke's continue to win
  • craig coaching ally's softball team
  • watching ally's team- the bandits continue to win
  • coloring eggs for easter and eating them!
  • alex performing in the school's talent show
  • volunteering as an art docent - teaching once again
  • our last overnite at grammie's house in olympia
  • spending easter weekend together
  • visiting the lollipop tree and gathering with family friends
  • a neighborhood game of spud in the backyard
  • an impromptu trip to san diego for spring break
  • walking the boardwalk and a pizza dinner on the waterfront
  • watching the pelicans dive bomb local fishing boats-- then hand feeding the pelicans!
  • spending the day at the san diego zoo-- what a day!
  • spending the day at seaworld-- another amazing day!
  • feeding the seals, the underwater tour, watching the beautiful orcas and watershows
  • feeding and playing with the dolphins-- getting really wet
  • biking mission beach together on beach cruisers-- a 20 mile bike ride!
  • celebrating with a sushi dinner- twice
  • returning home to sunshine and a neighborhood weeding posse with ice cream sandwiches for the gang


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week 17 :: trees

another image for the 52 week photo project, you can read more about this project here or click on the link-  

<<<over in the sidebar under categories. 

here is my photograph for this week's theme  ::  trees

IMG_0963flick

okay i have to admit this photo was taken last year but it was right around the same time (4.11.11 to be exact).  with our crazy weather and kiddos schedule i had to use a photograph from the archives- but isn't that green gorgeous!  

now for a lil' photo lingo.... when the background is softly blurred it is called bokeh (rhymes with mocha).   so in this photo, the tree branch, buds and leaves in the foreground are all in focus.  but the rest of the image; the second tree branch and green background is out of focus - this blurred portion is the bokeh.   bokeh can also be just the circles of light, as in this photo here - they add a fun effect/emotion to the photograph.   So, in this photo here there are both circles of light and blurred background- twice the bokeh.   Which bokeh do you prefer?  

Don't you feel smart now ;)


Posted at 10:11 AM in photography, photos :: 52 weeks | Permalink | Comments (0)

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