Over The Teeth and Through the Gums..

I was out of town and just had the few moments to upload this. I knew what the challenge was and was so excited when my daughter presented me with this gem while vacationing!

An Unexpected Treasure

Hiding in the top of my garage was this ancient box of treasures. One of my most interesting finds was this set of Depression rose glass. This is one of the teacups that I gazed at, wondering at it's delicacy and beauty.

1/40s

f 2.8

ISO 320

Simple cropping and lightening in Picasa.

Just a Taste

Because that's what you do when you finger-paint with pudding!

Bedtime...

Since my husband works until midnight, five nights a week, this is my night: a chilly bed, untouched on his side, lights on, and a book to keep me company. Naturally, night on those other two days of the week means...something else ;)

Water Play

"I'm not playing around, Miss L. You're in big trouble. You stay out of the cookies. Don't you grin at me like that...it won't work...oh, with those eyes and that grin...oooh, I love you!"
1/30s
f2.8
ISO 200
minor tweaking in picasa to even the light.

My favorite thing here, besides the grinning girl, is the one droplet ripple right between her and the soap. It just looks nice to me.

Old Time Curlers

This is late because I was having an asthma attack on Sunday night, when I'd planned on getting to 'fixing' my photos from my daughter's birthday celebration. (That's also why I don't have any Superbowl pictures...I was too busy trying to heave out a lung.) This was taken Friday night in prep for her 'Fancy Nancy' birthday party. (See my blog for more on that!)

I took this to picasa and after cropping, tinted it brown, then made the true colors come out by half. (If that makes sense...)

Homemade Giving

This year, a few of the gifts we're giving are homemade or gifts of time. This particular one is a tree skirt for my sister in law. (I don't think she checks this blog, but if you do, Katie, please act surprised anyway.) It was a really fun gift to make, from a pattern my mom used for her own, and for mine a few years ago.

Grateful for Family

...especially these three. And of these three, especially the on in white in the middle. Even though he was born 2 1/2 weeks early, Carson (who joined our family 2 days ago) is healthy and happy, as are both our daughters. What more could we, as parents, be grateful for? (Oh, and, he's the reason I didn't get a native picture up...give a girl a break!) ;)

Greatly Grunge-y

We're not going to talk about *ahem* who's bathtub this is or how it got this bad (or why it's stayed that way for over a week). But it definitely fits the bill.

Bright Idea

Well, it is for me, anyway. Since our baby will be born the first week of December, I'm fairly certain that I won't be able to get a whole lot of that last-minute Christmas stuff done. This is my Christmas List. Well, it's my list of people to purchase for, what they are getting, if I've gotten it, and if it's wrapped yet. *I strategically took this picture so it shows only my kids' sections; that way my family who look here won't get an accidental sneak peak. That's bright, too, right?

Elphaba and Nessarose...as Children

I fell in love with our leaf-strewn streets and sidewalks and took my girls out in their similar witch-y costumes. My older one actually has a green face (like Elphaba), but it's quite obvious that my youngest isn't maimed.

Kid at Heart

There's just something fun and exciting when Gramma climbs on the trampoline with her girls.

CC welcome!

Smile? Not Gonna Happen

In and of itself, this picture is unremarkable, I know. However, I'm proud of it because I always, ALWAYS have been taking my pictures on the same setting, in natural light with no flash. This one was on my ISO setting in a dark room, using flash and still turned out cute.

Growing Family

My family is expanding! (And so is my belly!) Self-shots can be really hard. I had to take about 25 of myself to get it the way I wanted. And then I liked it so much, I decided to wash it out a little and now I love it. For this particular photo, the reason it made the cut was because I managed to get it to center on my belly, with my face nearly out of the picture.

CC Welcome and desired!

Step Back

This was taken a week ago, but I really think it makes me feel Rachel. A lot of the time, I don't get the picture I want and get frustrated. Rachel makes me feel calm and good about whatever picture I've taken, and that reminds me that I need to step back, see the whole picture, and enjoy it for whatever it is.

CC welcome!

School of Spirit

This place is definitely a school to me. It struck me even more this week, as my sister in law got to go here for the first time yesterday, and will be married here tomorrow. It truly is a place of great learning!

Shutter speed: .003s

Apurature: f/7.1

ISO: 125

Took it to picasa, warmed, added saturation, and cropped some.

Also, since I gave that teaser....oh, about a month ago, I'll spill. ;) The baby in this belly of mine is a BOY! I've got a lot of learning ahead of me for that, too!

Colorful, Fresh Bouquet

I also chose to do some color, so here is a fruit 'bouquet' from my sister in law's shower this after noon. The bouquet was made by one of her cousins.

Bridal Bliss

In three weeks, my sister in law is getting married and I took the chance after her bridal shower today to take some portraits for my 'choose your own challenge'.

Blue...or Pink?

We find out next Monday! (As in, a week and a half) So, you can tell it's been on my mind!
Shutter speed 1/20
ISO 400
Aperature 2.8

Personal Inspiration

"Make a list of important thins to do today.

At the top of your list, put: "Eat Chocolate".

Now, you'll get at least one thing done today!"

Helps me, anyway.

Shutter Speed: .125s
Aperature: f/2.8
ISO: 400

Took it to Picasa and tinted the whole thing just a tad brown...chocolatey.