An amazing photography giveaway at Crave photography

just a little shout out about the amazing giveaway going on a Crave Photography. She is giving away your choice of lens - a nikon 85mm or a canon 85 mm. Also lots of other prizes. truely an amazing giveaway.

2012–A new year

With the start of the new year, I am again going to attempt to jump in the wagon and try to capture at least one image each day.  Bethany over at Hissyfits photography is starting a sort of blog hop called “The Everyday”  I will be joining her in an attempt to capture at least one picture from each day for the entire year.  Nothing fancy, some may be unedited, some phone pics and some a edited masterpiece (well, as much of a masterpiece as this non-pro mommy photog can do).  I think I will be attempting to post them weekly to make room for jumping back into posting on a regular basis.  It’s been to long.  Nothing like the new year to start this over!

Here’s an image of Rylee with the Christmas tree this December. 

Book Review: Restless in carolina

A quick review for this book.  I don't normally like to review novels, but I chose this one because it looked interesting. 

At first I struggled to get into the book.  It wasn't catching my interest.  However, that soon changed.  The books story line captured me and I was finally able to read and stay in the story.  From the tree-huggin girl to the non green developer the book was a great read.

Like I said though, the book was a tough start but ended on a good note.  Definetly one that you have to keep reading to find the joy in it.

photo shoots galore

 

I know, I know…Pretty impressive title for someone who is nothing but an individual who enjoys taking pictures and editing them.  I’m by far not schooled in photography, nor am I in Photoshop, but non the less, I love experimenting and snapping pictures. 

I started out snapping some pictures of my cousin for her senior pictures. 

Soon after I took some pictures of Rylee’s friend Haven.

I must admit that this little girl cracks me up.  She did awesome.

And finally, just last night, I snapped a few pictures of Mya and her sisters.  They are so much more comfortable with me after being around me for a year.  They did wonderful too and are super cute of course.

Last but definitely not least, I snapped a few shots of my Rylee.  Some time this week I am headed back out with her to take some birthday pictures.  Think lots of bright pink, light pink and aqua colored balloons.  I am super excited.

Tie Dye Party–The actual Party

 

The party is past but I have been slowly working on uploading pictures and have since had 3 friends 7 family photo shoots to work on also. To say we are still busy is an understatement.  So these pictures are mostly straight out of the camera – no editing done – meaning most are dark and off centered, but oh well.  Better to get them up then not. 

 

Getting ready to open presents

birthday cupcakes

The weekend was super hot.  That of course didn’t stop the kiddos from wanting to be outside all day long.  It was the perfect family birthday for Rylee.   She loves camping and absolutely adores her cousins.  With all the activity and fun, we totally forgot to make our tie-dye shirts that we had brought along.  Oh well.  Our party was perfect.

Tie Dye Party

 

We are gearing up for Rylee’s 3rd Birthday here.  Of course, her birthday doesn’t fall until the end of next month, but we are doing a combined party with her cousins Brooke & Logan.  Brooke will be 10 and Logan will be 3.  We are having a tie dye party for them.  It should be fun.  We will be having a ‘friends party’ for Rylee around her actual birthday also.  You know, a overtop, girly, pink and aqua, camping party complete with smore’s, campfires, bean bags, and an outdoor movie showing.

These were some pictures from our photoshoot.  You would be so surprised at how difficult it was to get a little certain boy into a tie-dyed shirt and on top of that, attempt to get him to smile and look at the camera.  It took some major rump shaking by my sister.

July update

 

I basically forgot all of July and about jumped straight into the end of July/August.  Whoops!

July was full of fun activities.  But just like June, July sped by.  It’s almost August already.

We began with the 4th of July.  We stuck close to home and had some great sweltering hot fun at the parade and Uncle Sam Jam (USJ).  Rylee loved getting the candy from the parade and jumping in the jumpers at the USJ.  She also enjoyed the craft area where she made an awesome flag necklace.  Fireworks were also a favorite.

We spent one morning picking strawberries at the strawberry patch.

We also took in Phil Baker, Story Times, and Friday Features at the library.  The zoo has also been visited a few times in the past couple of weeks when the temps weren’t too high.  We have really enjoyed spending time with friends that come over while their mom works and frequenting “moms club” events.  Pool time happened quite often as we had a warm spell with temperatures into the 90’s and heat index’s well over 110.  Talk about some hot and humid weather. 

 

Camping was put on the back burner for a while because we decided we could easily sit in the air conditioner at home instead of in the small camper.  We are packing up to go camping soon though, so more camping pictures will come soon.

We took a tour of Dairy Queen here in town this past week.  Rylee loved seeing all the stuff and especially loved walking in the giant fridges and making her own ice-cream cone. 

Sprinkles

waiting for the tour to begin

inside the giant walk in fridge

making her ice-cream cone

eating her self-made ice-cream cone

 

We are in full planning mode for Birthday parties here.  We are having a “cousins tie-dye party” for the summer birthdays and also Rylees “friends” party at the end of august.

I will also be taking some senior pictures of my cousin soon so more of that later too. 

We have Rylee’s CF appointment tomorrow.  Hoping for growth, continued clean cultures, and not too many tears during the blood draw. 

Where did June go?

 

It seems like just yesterday was the beginning of “our summer”.  School was out, I said goodbye to all of the kids I had been watching except for miss Mya and Mr. Miles.  And now, the summer is 1/3 over.

We have kept busy all summer so far.  We took walks to the park.

 

 

We participated in the Bike Rodeo for the summer reading program.  We also have participated in story times, Bingo, Friday Feature Movies, Reading Logs, The Zoo man, the Juggler Man, The transportation Fair, and the Puppet Show.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We spent a rainy day taking in Excite, which is a indoor bounce house and play area.  Rylee absolutely loved this!  they had a ton of big bounce houses, a toddler area with climbers and play houses and a bubble machine. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have ran through the sprinkler and played with our outdoor toys a lot.

And we have been to the zoo 3 times so far.  Of course we have rode the carousel, fed the goats, walked over the bridge, and really enjoyed the museum inside.  When we go to the zoo we almost always get to go get ice cream afterwards.  Fun summer treats.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And on top of that we have finally headed to go swimming pool numerous times, the children’s museum, and lots of parks.  And so that was where June went.  We also participated for the 3rd year in our Great Strides Walk for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in June.  I will have to do another post with the few pictures we got from that day.  

So to say the least, June has been a tad busy.  And so far, July hasn’t slowed down one bit.