Light and Dark (Sunday Snapshot & 2/52 Project)

Penny for her thoughts.

As light is a precious commodity here in Winter

as it doesn't last long and we can have some grey, overcast skies.

When I see the opportunity to use a little window light, I use it.

Taken last Wed. before we left for ballet.

I love the way the light falls off her face

and the dark gently wraps around her as if to give her a hug.

The Nutcracker (Sunday Snapshot)

 

 

 

  

 

It's one of those traditions that started over 25 years ago, before I had children.

I've had this love for the Nutcracker for many years and would attend productions pretty much everywhere we lived.

 

 

This is the 6th year that Grace and I have attended our local Nutcracker
put on by the Madison Ballet.
We've gotten where we both can anticipate each and every
dance and are never disappointed.
I'm hoping it's a tradition we can continue and maybe
next year bring Will (if he's up for it).

Taken shortly before we left yesterday.
Grace was playing with two of her Nutcracker ornaments from

the little tree in her room.

Merry Christmas!
We are getting a white one with a big snowstorm that's
hitting Wisconsin just as I write this.

 

 

 

(Sunday Snapshot) - Spring Recital

"To touch, to move, to inspire.

This is the true gift of dance."

 

~ Aubrey Lynch

 

8 months of hard work, practice, practice and more practice to be ready for their Spring Recital.

Every year is different but to me it's always magical
and full of joy and pageantry.
I love every single thing about this little dance community
and school.

At each Spring recital I'm taken back to when I first met
my two youngest children, and can't help but think of how many obstacles they've overcome.
What never changes is how proud and honored I am to be their Mom.

{Older ballerinas waiting to go on stage}

Grace plans to dance next year, Will is not so sure,
maybe try karate? (that's what he tells me). ;)




 

(Sunday Snapshot) - my greatest gifts

There is no way to be a perfect mother... but a million ways to be a good one.

~ unknown

 

 

 

God could not be everywhere, so He created mothers. ~ Jewish Proverb

 

 

 

Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother.
~ Oprah Winfrey

 

 

My greatest gifts have been the days I became a mother.

I still have moments where it's hard to believe that I got be a mom

 a second and third time after many years.

Personally I've never felt a love so profound

and it doesn't matter if your child comes from your body or through adoption.

I know of no stronger bond than between a mother and her child.

 

My Mother's Days have never been about expensive gifts

or big meals. I usually receive the most perfect handmade

cards and drawings or pictures and we all spend time together as a family.

 

Happy Mother's Day to all Moms and Grandmas, and the mothers who wait for their

children.

We remember the mothers who are now in heaven.

And as always on Mother's Day I honor and say a prayer for the two birth mothers in China who

gave me my two youngest, and say thank you.
However motherhood comes, it's always a miracle!

 

 

 

 

 

Captured of Grace in her ballet costume this week,

her Spring dance recital is coming up soon.

It's our little tradition to photograph her.
(In past years indoors and this time outside with some beautiful light).

 

 

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!

Sunday Snapshot - exquisite

{Grace - age 9 and 1/2}

The inspiration for these images
was my daughter Grace's
beautiful ballet dress.

My mother is a talented sewer, and it's from her that
I've gained a true appreciation for fabric, and love of color and design.
The pattern of the tiny beads on the top of this dress is exquisite
and I loved capturing the detail.

I originally thought I'd keep these images all in color 

but felt black/white suited them just as well.

You can see so much

 of this gentle, sweet soul (who is Grace)

in them.

These were taken early last week
when we had some time one late afternoon.
I used the beautiful north window light from different perspectives,
using light facing Grace, from the side and behind her.

Taken with my Nikon D700,
the portraits were taken with my 85mm 1.4 lens
with settings of:

 f/1.4
ISO - 320
 1/200 sec.

For the other images I used my 35mm 1.4 at:

 f/2
ISO - 1000
1/250-1/500 sec.

Edited with Florabella's bl/white 'Vanilla' action (one of my favorites for bl/whites).
I opened up the action and tweaked it a bit with the contrast and light, leaving the tones the same.
In the very first image I also added a little bit of 'White Haze' from her 'Hazy Skies Collection.'
I liked the effect.

For the color versions, I used Florabella's 'Classic Color' action with a touch of  'Soft Warmth'
on a couple of them.

For the last one of her profile,
 I did very little other than crop the image (it didn't need much)
and increase the contrast a bit. I love the simplicity of it.



As for personal favorites, I have two... they're the first one and second to last images.

Grace and her brother Will performed this weekend in their dance school's recital.

I'll blog about it later this week.

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!

52/52 and Wordless Wednesday

Nutcracker

(My sister and I had similar jewelry boxes with a twirling ballerina when we were little.)

It's a tradition that dates back to when my oldest son
was a little guy and we'd see the Nutcracker in
the San Francisco bay area and later in Chicago.
And yes he dressed up and looked adorable!

Grace and I have made it our little tradition since she was 5.
She chose the dress all by herself, and it's very 'Grace.'

Each year before we leave for the Nutcracker,
I take her picture in front of our Christmas tree.
This year I tried something different and captured Grace in her room
with one of her favorite dolls.

(I gave her a ballerina and nutcracker ornament to remember this special afternoon.)

At the age where her favorite things are Barbies, American Girl Dolls,
playing with dear friends,
her ipod touch and listening toTaylor Swift,
I'd like time to stop for a very long while.
I relish these days with my daughter.

A moment in time captured of my little girl who is 9.


Merry Christmas.
I have one or two more posts this week.