My Neighbors

I must say that being in a wonderful neighborhood makes all of the difference in the world.  I am so fortunate to have wonderful neighbors and I am even more grateful that my neighbors have kiddos about the same age as my girls.  Well today I was wanting to get out there and start taking pictures daily regardless of my mood or what subject matter was available.  I was floored that Audrey wanted me to take her picture but I was so thrilled that the neighbor friends wanted in on the photos.  It was such a treat to have so many people wanting to jump in front of the camera for some real cheese'n!

This is how it all started.  Audrey setting up the shot with all of the halloween/fall stuff.  Of course, getting her to look at the camera is still such a challenge.  I have to be quick on the trigger for this one.

This is her friend Samantha.  She is such a sweet heart.  I think it is darling that she is starting to wear dresses like Audrey.

Wow...both are so beautiful!

It is such a joy to have such sweet, wonderful girls for Audrey to play with.

Samantha's Mama is such a hoot.  I love her energy and optimism is infectious.  

Love this shot!

This is not a great shot but I love how all the kiddos love babies and Baby Avery is too cute for words!

I hope you all get out and meet your neighbors.  God put them next to you for a reason.  I hope they will be a Blessing like this group has been for my girls and me!

Say Cheese!

A beautiful smile for a beautiful day!  Enjoy!

Have an amazing day!

Coloring in the morning

Hello...I know it has been a while since I posted anything.  I have been going through some stuff and it has had a ripple effect in my photography.  I am working through it and hoping I will get into the swing of things where I am taking pictures daily again.  So, to get things started below are some pictures of my sweet girls doing their coloring thing.

I just love how grown up Audrey is looking.  She is the sweetest person I know.  Today I was laughing at her singing a silly song and it remind me how my Mama would and still do laugh at my silliness. I really do hope that she will be close to me like I am to my Mama.

So pretty!

Lauren...she is such a hoot!  She is her happiest when she is playing along side her best friend...Audrey!  I do not know what this girl is going to do when Audrey goes to school next year.

I just love the tenderness of this shot.  They are so happy together!

Had to take a picture of the pretty marker for Audrey!

So much focus...

I love to see little hands working.

This shot cracks me up because she was showing her coloring but then she remembered the cool cover of the coloring book and became mesmerized.  So funny!

Thank you for taking the time to look at my pictures.  Thank you Babe for encouraging me to get my pictures out there some more.  I love you so much and you were right.  Seeing these simple shots of my girls being who they are makes my heart smile and that is the reason I love photography.  It is capturing the world around us and all of its simple treasures!

  

Dress Up with Lauren

So, I had mentioned last post that I have not been feeling very confident in my photo taking skills and that feeling is still lingering.  But today I got a real treat from Lauren that made the photographer in me feel alive.  You know, looking to the left and to the right of what others are doing will always make you feel inadequate.  But...when you shoot from the heart...magic happens!

 

I love that you can read Audrey's name on these shoes.  It is the perfect representation of Lauren trying to be just like big sister.

Pic a boo any one?

Oh yes!  This one is my new screen saver!

I just love the bright eyes!

Yes...she was having a blast playing dress up!  I love you Lauren!  You are such a beautiful, funny, lively, sweet girl!

I hope you all find some magic in your day!

The Daniels Family Practice Photo Shoot

So...I know I have been really quiet in the blog world.  Mostly because I have not been feeling very confident in my pictures lately.  And because I have not felt confident about my photographing abilities, I have not been excited about picking up my camera to capture my daily life.  It really is a downward spiral of yuck!  So, thankfully the Daniels family let me do a practice shoot and nothing will get you out of photo funk like a capturing pictures of a BEAUTIFUL family!  Of course, it was so very hot and we did not spend a lot of time taking pictures but processing these pictures made my love for camera rise from the depths!  Oh...thank God!  I have missed my dear friend!  So, below are some of my favorites!

In this shot, I was singing the ABC's to keep the kiddos motivated that we only have this one song and then we are all done.  I love that Zeke is singing along!  He is such a hoot!

I love the individual shots of the kiddos they are all so beautiful!

One proud Mama!  She is also a very good Mama.  I love the way she works with her kiddos! She was the only one to get them all to smile!  

I love this family shot.  

Seriously!  Can they be any more adorable?

I love this shot of the kiddos together!  

I love this shot as well!

This shot was the one that got me excited about photography again!  Thank you Daniels Family for spending a VERY HOT hour to get this PhotoMama excited about photos again! 

Men and cars

I admit, I really do not get men sometimes.  I try hard to understand my Babe's excitements about certain things and yet you can not even get a "that's cool" on something else.  I think God did this on purpose so we work hard to be there for one another even we do not understand.  Well, my sweet Babe was racing his car and you could tell he was loving it.  Of course, all of the other men there that were beaming as well.  I took some pictures to capture what it was like, but cars are not my normal subjects.

#14 was Kris's car.  He was of the few 4 door cars out there racing but he loved pushing his car to its limit.  From a photographer's standpoint...I need to work on panning.

This is a better shot of the track and the other cars on the track.  The sky was so beautiful that I was trying to capture that as well.  

Kris is coming in from the track.  Can you feel the testosterone?  

Here is a shot of other cars coming in from the track.  

Some men even pump in special gas for the race.  Crazy!  Oh...Audrey said that this car had wings and kept watching it to see if it would fly.  So cute!

After the race...Look at all of the different cars that  came to race.

Well Kris had a wonderful time and Audrey loved telling Daddy that he drives like Lightning McQueen.  It was really sweet.  I loved seeing Kris get excited...even if I really do not understand the fascination with racing.  

Have an amazing day! 

Taking Initiative

What a wonderful word!  I have been praising Audrey for this word these last couple of days.  She still has a hard time saying the word but she fully understands its meaning.  I took some advice a while back that as a parent, you want to highlight the positives and down play the negatives to get the results you NEED out of your children.  I have for a while been praising Audrey for being sensitive to Lauren's needs and wants, and celebrating when Audrey does a sweet deed for anyone.  I try not to go on and on when she does something wrong but really ham it up when she gets it right.  Yes, I am that silly Mama over there clapping her hands and yelling WoooHooo when Audrey cleans up her mess at the grocery store.  I am a pleaser by nature and understand the importance of giving accolades when ever possible!  What can I say...I love making people feel good!

Well yesterday, I asked Audrey to make up her bed and I told Lauren to go and make up her bed.  You know...trying to keep things somewhat fair when chores are involved.  So, I hear Audrey explaining the steps required to making a bed to Lauren.  Then after making her bed she tells Lauren, "Look let me make your bed for you so we can love on Mama.  This will make her heart so Happy!"  Can you believe this kid?  Amazing...

This shot is right after I over hear her talking with Lauren.  I tell her that I want to capture Audrey taking initiative.  

Here she is showing me how she did it! 

The word of the day...initiative |iˈni sh (ē)ətiv|

1 the ability to assess and initiate things independently : use your initiative,imagination, and common sense.
I love Audrey so very much!  Thank you for being my big girl who is doing some amazing things!
Have an amazing day everyone!