Happy Easter!

Julia found an egg...

...then her presents from the Easter Bunny!

 They found all of the "hidden" eggs...and actually sat down for a picture!

 Jack using his new camera to take a picture of Julia...obviously a close-up!  I already see a small problem with the camera...Julia wants it!  Jack has been turning the camera the wrong way and has taken tons of pictures of himself!  Too bad he deleted all of them while he was taking a "nap" this afternoon...I wanted to see what they looked like!

Egg Hunt #2

There was a HUGE egg hunt at Jack's school 7000+ eggs...

Grandpa & Julia enjoying a snack before the egg hunt...

Grandma & Jack doing a craft project...

I'm ready to go, but I will be nice and let you take a cute picture of me before the egg hunt starts...

Checking out the loot...

It's been a long day...

Miss Julia - 19 Months

Little Miss Julia you are 19 months old today (even though this picture is from the 23rd...oops!)!  As with this picture you are always on the move and always happy!  

You would love to stay at school with your big brother.  When we drop him off you head to the tables to play with the toys or go check out the books.

You love Elmo and Mickey Mouse and love the seek and find books so you can point them out.  You are doing a great job pointing out objects in picture books.  You are starting to say a lot more words, a few new favorites are bow and door.

You love to play outside in our backyard and go down the slide at Jack's school playground.

You are a little bit opinionated when it comes to getting dressed...as I fold the laundry you will pick something out that you want to wear RIGHT NOW!

You love to help with the laundry (taking clothes out of the washer and putting them in the dryer), but the funny part is that you copy what I do...you have to shake out the clothes before putting them in the dryer.

Room Mother

As Jack's classes room mother I was in charge of the auction gift basket...this is our cupcake themed basket and it turned out pretty good...if I do say so myself!

Opposites Day Eight: Light

Today's challenge was to use spot metering...which I did do on all of today's pictures.  I just wish that I could remember all of Beth's tip and tricks while I am taking pictures of a uncooperative moving child and changing the camera settings.  The first thing I didn't do correctly..."Position your subject so that his face is away from the direct sun.  No sun should be hitting his/her face to reduce chances of overexposure".  To even attempt to get any pictures at all I had to toss the watering can in the yard so that Julia would run and get it and then  I had a few seconds to take a few shots on the run back while frantically changing the shutter speed...

Not the best location for a picture, but it sure would have been nice if she looked at me during the three seconds she stood still...

ISO 100, f/4, 1/1250, no flash, spot metering

Returning the watering can...

ISO 100, f/4.5, 1/320, no flash, spot metering

Cute new skirt...

ISO 100, f/4, 1/1000, no flash, spot metering

Easter Bunny & The Trip to the Mall I Would Rather Forget

Let's just say that the Easter Bunny and photos didn't mix.  This is the best and doesn't Jack look happy!  Julia was terrified of the Easter Bunny.  I was beginning to feel bad for the Easter Bunny...the kids removing eggs from the display and running around like wild children!  But the day got worse...Jack was so naughty at the mall I don't even want to think about it!  There was even a major tantrum/meltdown in the car on the way home...as I asked...

Were you naughty today at the mall?  Though tears Jack yells....yeaaaaah!

Are you tired?  Yeah!

Are you grumpy when you are tired?  Yeah!

Are you sorry for being naughty?  No!

This little gal was as happy as could be...hanging out at Barnes & Noble...

Opposites Day Seven: Shadows

These are officially the lamest shadow pictures (I will try and get something better and more exciting than this) - the sun didn't make an appearance  until early evening and the shadows of the grass was just about the only thing I could find to take a picture of...

ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/400

The same grass this morning with SNOW...I really dislike snow in April and I highly doubt the sun is going to shine anytime soon to help out with some good shadow pictures...

 ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/1250

Opposites Day Six: Loud

Normally LOUD is not a problem at out house, but I was really have a difficult time finding just the right photo opportunity...

These necklaces cause lots of arguments as both kids want to wear them...all of them...and for some reason they are difficult to share - the photo is a little blurred from movement and the low shutter speed, but for some reason I still liked it...

ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/6, flash

Julia discovered the music player...and the volume control...

ISO 400, f/4, 1/13, no flash

After a bunch of photos with a yellow hue...I did end up turning on the flash - 

ISO 400, f/4.5, 1/60, flash

Egg Hunt

This morning we had an egg hunt after church service (unfortunately it had to be inside as it was snowing when we left the house this morning and VERY windy).  Jack was really into finding the eggs, but Julia had one egg and that's all she needed.

This is the result of...if you look at me and say "cheese" you can have a piece of candy...

Carnival!

We had so much fun at Jack's school carnival last night...

Jack & Dad helping tape the principal to the wall!

The little diva won a necklace to make her outfit and the duck pond...only thing is she was not too happy about giving up the ducks!

Jack playing an egg tower game with Mrs. S.

Julia running off with parts of the game...

Opposites Day Five: Quiet

Today's challenge was to photograph "quiet"...yeah right!  Our photographs were taken at the library, which was in fact quiet...until we showed up.  

We were to work on the composition of our photos with leading lines (I have not tried this one yet) and using the "rule of thirds" (I cheated and cropped this one a bit)...

ISO 800, f/4.5, 1/50, no flash

I just liked this picture...sometimes the backsides are just as cute as the front...

ISO 800, f/4.5, 1/50, no flash

Airplanes, Driving & Golf

J & J LOVE playing outside...the first question in the morning from Jack is always, "is it nice outside today?"

Jack watching airplanes with his binoculars...yes, he is using the wrong side...he likes to make them little!

It's best to golf with your binoculars...makes it easier to find the ball...

I didn't get a picture of Julia golfing today, but she loves to put the ball on the tee and knock it off with the bubble wand (it's actually the tube that the bubbles were in).  Julia's new words for today...bow and door - she loves how they sound!

Opposites Day Four: Out(side)

Today's theme is out(side)...

I LOVE taking pictures outside (especially when it's warm and sunny!).  I have only been using the manual mode for a few months now (since my first photography instructor told us that we were smarter than the camera...yeah right...actually he would be happy to know that I am beginning to believe him).  Honestly, I think I am beginning to take a lot better photos in manual than using all of the auto settings.  I think I know just enough to be dangerous...

ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/800, no flash

It was a "bit" windy...

ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/1250, no flash

After taking tons of photo with moving subjects...I found that it may have been more difficult to photograph still objects.  I am having a difficult time finding just the right location and lighting to take this type of picture.  These photographs really don't work for me....I think they look better in person than in the picture; however, a "lively" model isn't always the answer...  

ISO 200, f/4.5, 1/1000, no flash

I just took this picture and I think it turned out better in the shade than the one above in the bright sun...now, I just don't like the windows in the background...

ISO 200, f4.5, 1/400, no flash

Opposites Day Three: In(side)

Today's theme is to take pictures in(side)...not a problem, except this little guy wanted to go outside after breakfast this morning!  At three the simplest thing can be traumatizing and after playing outside all weekend (it was actually sunny and in the 80's yesterday!) he thought we should be playing outside RIGHT NOW...

 ISO 1600, f/5, 1/160, no flash

Is she still taking pictures...

ISO 800, f/5, 1/80, no flash

Maybe if I cooperate she will let me go outside...

I think I even got catchlights in this one, but I also think the teary eyes helped the effect!

ISO 1600, f/5, 1/160, no flash

Opposites Day Two: New

Today's theme is to photograph something new - that would be Julia's skirt that I made last week.  Once again it was raining, so I was able to practice indoor photos.  I tried to get the best light by taking the photos by the windows and doors; however, my subject was almost always on the move and not very cooperative (she wanted to sit on my lap while I was trying to take her picture)!  

I am using a Canon EOS Rebel XSi and the first picture was taken with 18-55mm lens and the others were with 55-250mm.

 ISO 800,  f/4.5, 1/125, no flash

I really wanted to try some photos outdoors (so I ventured as far as the front porch) - here is a new house across the street from us...Jack calls it the "G" house...

ISO 400, f/8, 1/100, no flash

ISO 400, f/5, 1/30, flash

ISO 400, f/4, 1/160, no flash

Another party...

We went to another party at Chuck E Cheese last night...this girl LOVES to CHEESE it for the camera!

Pint-Sized Picassos

We went to Pint-Sized Picassos this morning!  It's only on Thursdays and Jack normally has preschool, so spring break was our chance.  Crafts and painting...what a morning, and the best part...no mess for me to clean up!

Then to the mall for lunch...Julia on her date with Isaac!  She just loves him, probably because he is so much nicer to her than her big brother!

Opposites Day One: Old

Our first assignment for the month long photography class from beth v photography (there's still time to join the class!) - to photograph something old...that would be the yellow chair that came from my Grandma's house that used to be my Dad's when he was a child...love it!  It's a wet dreary day in Michigan and I feel that it's always challenging to take good pictures indoors.  It's difficult to get good lighting (I even moved the chair so that it was closer to the window) and no shadows indoors.  I cheated a bit and did use the flash on some of my pictures...these are the best of the 150+ photos that Jack and Julia humored me with this morning...

ISO 1600, f/6.3, 1/20, no flash

I get really excited when they both look at the camera at the same time! 

ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/60, flash

A bit overexposed (I probably should have moved the ISO down!), but I still love it and can probably fix it up a bit in Aperture!

ISO 400, f/5, 1/60, flash

These monkeys were easier to photograph than the two monkeys in the pictures above...

ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/15, no flash

This picture does not fit the theme of the day; however, while I was taking Jack's picture I turned around and found little Miss sitting in the middle of the airport on the train table...

ISO 400, f/4.5, 1/60, flash