Friendships, Photography and Fun - Favorite Photo Friday

{Beautiful Natalie, just after being photographed by her mom.} 

 

If you read my previous post you'd remember that our friends (Grace, Liam and Natalie)

visited us for 5 days, (here from Florida).

Grace (mom) had a new 35mm lens and wanted to take it out for a try.

She already knew plenty about light and how her camera worked.

Her photography is beautiful.

I did show her a couple of things...one of them being as far as what I do to get children

to relax and have natural smiles and expressions in photos.

And it's not hard...we have conversations, I listen, we talk and I ask questions.

Many times the best expressions are between the talking (and that's my opinion).

Natalie did awesome by the way!

Grace(mom) also wanted to get some photos of Liam and Natalie

and then Liam by himself.

I'm hoping in a blog post she'll show some of those adorable photos

that she captured.

My husband Dan was a great assistant as far as distracting the two boys while 

Grace, Natalie and I were working on photos.

Dan and the little boys took a walk around the back of the park and found some

big sticks. They started making what looked like a tepee.

Eventually the girls joined in.

The kids called it a 'nest.' As in a birds nest.
The girls added leaves and flowers.
They were all so cute together making this thing, and
it was serious business for everyone.
The boys had to choose just the right stick.

While they were here visiting, we went to the Madison Farmer's Market,

 Grace(mom) and I went out to dinner by ourselves, 

they helped us celebrate my Grace's 10th Birthday on Monday 

and they got the grand tour and saw  Southern Wisconsin's

rolling hills, beautiful barns and farmlands.

Oh...and cows of course. ;)

In the evening time the kids raced around the backyard playing tag with neighbor children

and they caught fireflies. Fireflies don't seem to be in Florida I guess.

Of all those things, I think this one...with our 4 children building that funny 'nest' was my favorite time

and I'll always remember how much fun we all had.

In our quaint little corner of the United States.

I call it 'Mayberry.'

And it really is.

Thank you Grace, Liam and Natalie...you made some wonderful Summer memories for all of us.
Maybe next time...Florida?

Liam (5.5 yrs.), Will(6.5 yrs.), Grace (10 yrs.) and Natalie (9.5 yrs.)

Love those sweet smiles!

27/52 and Favorite Photo Friday - a low key 4th

{A small hometown Midwest July 4th}

Low key is a good word to describe our July 4th,
no traveling near or far, just hangin' out at home in the a.c....
except for when we were out in the 104 degree temps to watch a parade.

These two were armed and ready with bags for C A N D Y.
Yes, candy was their mission for the day.
My mission was to keep all of us hydrated and capture a few photos.
I have to say I was impressed that there wasn't a whole lot of complaining about the heat.

After lunch we made our way to the pool for an afternoon of swimming
and playing in the water. (Those photos for my next post).

 

Evening time was the sparkler show.

Quite a few local fireworks displays were cancelled due to the extreme heat and drought
but we managed to do our own thing and have fun.

Hope everyone had a safe and happy 4th!

Camera settings for the sparkler photos -
50mm 1.4 lens
F/1.8
1/100 sec.
ISO 1250

It's a slower shutter speed than I would have liked and you can see a little movement
but I still loved them.

24/52 and Favorite Photo Friday - road trip

{Summer in Wisconsin}

No Wisconsin road trip would be complete without seeing canoes (so many lakes here)

and wildflowers, as we drove to our destination.

One of my goals for the Summer with my kids
is to have them try or experience some new things.

They're experienced travelers. 

Both have traveled with us quite a bit and their passports have gotten a fair bit of use

for people their age.

They've been pumpkin and apple picking, but no strawberry picking.

My last strawberry picking experience was in Northern California many years

ago when my oldest was a little guy.

Thankfully it was pretty cool for this time of the year (in the 70's)

and we didn't have full sun beating down.

Both kids hung in there and were troopers.

Grace was totally into it and she was a bit competitive.

I helped Will get his berries.

 I had to explain to him that we only pick the red ones (he was gathering any and all, 

even the green ones at first). 

They were all fair game.  ;)

Will found a heart shaped strawberry and was showing it to his sister.

(These small berries are so sweet, no sugar needed).

You can tell our little adventure was a big success...
I'm thinking blueberries in July when they come into season?

Favorite Photo Friday - first and last day

{School's out!} 

"School's out forever

 School's out for Summer 

School's out with fever 

School's out completely." 

~ Alice Cooper 

(The top image was taken the first day of school and the lower one, this morning.

 They're growing up aren't they?

Miss Grace is growing her bangs out and looks like she's 12 here to me instead of nearly 10).

I can't believe how quickly this school year has flown by.

There have been challenges for our family and we've come through them, things are looking up

and that feels great.

When they arrive home today at 12:10 pm Grace will officially be a 4th grader and mr. Will a First grader.

Bittersweet. 

I couldn't be more proud of these two!

Welcome Summer!

Favorite Photo Friday - a little talk therapy

{Penny for her thoughts}

 

I have learned after 27 years experience of being a mom 

that sometimes important conversations pop up out of nowhere. 

And many times when you least expect one.

When my oldest son was a teen, it was usually as I was driving and he was in the back seat.

I can't say that I can remember word for word what those car conversations were

but they were meaningful to both of us and important to him.

Nick is now an adult, on his own and he and I are still very close.

A few days ago I took Grace out for some photos and noticed

she seemed preoccupied with something,

and when she smiled she was tensing up the muscles around her mouth.

Something wasn't quite right.

 I put down my camera and we just talked...about school, friends, Summer, etc.

Eventually I found out about a little 3rd grade drama going on with a friend at school.
Thankfully Grace wasn't being bullied.

We talked about some solutions and what she could do.

Hopefully we'll continue these conversations.

 Edited with Florabella's Classic Film and Honey Haze actions at low opacities,

from her Classic Workflow collection. 

Favorite Photo Friday - time is flying by

(Grace is wearing Sophia Jane Boutique's shabby flower clip

that matches perfectly with the Matilda Jane Serendipity line)

In a little over 2 short months she'll be 10 years old.

Double digits.

My baby girl is growing up so fast.

And at almost 10 we're seeing a few glimpses of 'tween-dom'.
 (My made up word)
With some attitude changes now and then...perhaps it's a bit of those hormones kicking in...

And though I'd love for time to stop for quite a while,
I'm embracing it all.

Sweet Grace...my artistic, compassionate, caring, and kind daughter.
She is a dream come true!

19/52 and Favorite Photo Friday - it's showtime!

{Spring Recital}

I'll admit that this is one of my favorite times of the year,

and also some of my personal favorites as far as photos that I take
of my children.

There were some funky lighting situations... but I made the best of it and took

my time enjoying these moments.

(Grace and her friends waiting in the hallway before going on).

Last year at her recital I got thinking 

that there probably aren't too many people

that get to see this magical little 'world' that lies backstage at a dance performance.
The air is charged with excitement.

It is incredibly special to me.

(Older ballerinas watching Grace's class perform on stage.These girls were so encouraging to the younger ones).

And for Will...this was his first Spring recital.
The waiting part was a little hard for these guys
in the boys (5-7 yr.) hip hop class. They couldn't wait to show the audience what they could do.
The boys had 2 performances on Saturday and they did awesome!



(Waiting to go on...Will was the first onstage and led his group out).

Months and months of practice come down to this....
and finally it's their time in the spotlight.
My husband and I couldn't have been more proud of our two!

Grace had strep throat the week of the recital and missed both rehearsals as a result.
The photos of her were from Friday night of the ballet, "A MidSummer's Night Dream."
She was part of the lavender field.
Unfortunately she was too sick to dance on Saturday
and didn't get to perform in the ballet again or in her jazz and tap dances.
She was a little disappointed but is really looking forward to dancing again next year.
And thankfully she's healthy now.

Will's hip hip group danced to "My Girl" by Mindless Behavior.
He loved being on stage for his dance and also the finale (his first one).
He's still thinking about hip hop for next year but may possibly switch to gymnastics.
This boy can move!

And Happy Mother's Day a little early!

18/52 and Favorite Photo Friday - recital week

{Sunday at the dance school, waiting to get photos taken}

It's taken 9 months
of learning and practice
for Grace and William to get here, and recital time is nearly upon us.

I'd forgotten to bring my big camera (twice) to the dance school, so

 used my iphone to quickly get a few from this week and the above one was my favorite.

We've had a lot going on, add to that Grace has strep throat

and missed 4 days of school.
The antibiotic she's on has finally kicked in.

Right now I'm thinking she will perform Friday night and Saturday if she's up to it,
but we'll see.

Thankfully Mr. Will has stayed healthy,
keeping my fingers crossed with that one.


Below is Will at his dress rehearsal...unfortunately the end of the video
isn't there. He did a series of cartwheels and a round - off.
That's my boy! ;)

Have a great Friday!

17/52 and Favorite Photo Friday - looking out my front door

{Beauty}

Early Tuesday morning after coming back from walking

our pup Zoe, I grabbed my camera and went out
the door again...to take some photos.

It didn't take long for me to find beauty in the ordinary, the mundane, and the things

I sometimes take for granted that I see and look at every day.

These photos remind me to appreciate and celebrate what is around me
each and every day.

(I imagine I looked kind of funny laying on my belly in the grass, 
capturing the dandelions gone to seed. Ah...what we'll do for a photo).


Happy Friday!

Favorite Photo Friday and 15/52 - Spring picnic

{Grace and Lydia}

I've written about Grace and Lydia before,

but to refresh your memory these girls first met at age 3 and 4 and
hit it off immediately.

Over 5 years later their friendship is going strong.

This week I had some thoughts about doing a little themed session with them,
so brought a few props along to an orchard that isn't far away.

Lydia will be turning 9 soon and every year as her birthday approaches,
I take photos of the two girls together.
It's a beautiful keepsake for them and their mommas.
They girls enjoy each other's company so much
 but haven't had the good fortune to be in the same class in school.
That doesn't seem to matter as we live only 2 houses apart and they get to spend lots of time together.
They're best friends, confidants, supreme gigglers, lovers
of sleepovers, American Girl dolls, cupcakes and sweet tea!
Oh...to be 9 again.

It was so fun to photograph these 2 on this beautiful Spring afternoon.

The apple blossoms were starting to open on the trees.

I can see where the term 'Spring green' came from, the grass and new leaves are such a vibrant shade 

this time of the year.

Oh, and as far as shooting my first 'themed' session, I was very happy with the results!

(The props weren't purchased for this, I already had the items in my home and thought they fit well with the theme).

Lisa hosts Favorite Photo Friday, so please be sure and see what she's up to...

and all of her beautiful photos.

Have a great weekend!