Through the Eye of a Lens

Out in the Texas Country....

2008-09-03T08:01:00.000-07:00

Seriously ~ I could take pictures out here all day long... My little subjects weren't as excited about it as I was!! HA! There were sooo many great backdrops!

playing with TTV

2008-07-28T21:29:00.000-07:00

Cool huh??

Another Baby G.....

2008-05-25T06:31:00.000-07:00

1st day in this great big world......... Baby G...

Welcome Baby G

2008-05-25T06:27:00.000-07:00

Lots of babies.... Welcome to the world baby G!

ahhh the bluebonnets

2008-05-05T09:50:00.000-07:00

favorite picture opportunity... The blue bonnets...

8 going on 16...

2008-04-03T21:19:00.000-07:00

Wow... Where does the time go?

Can't wait to meet you.....

2008-03-22T13:03:00.001-07:00

Kids Valentines

2008-02-07T06:21:00.001-08:00

Well, we have been swamped as usual but I really wanted to design Valentines for my kids this year... This is what I came up with... Gettin' ready for the big day of L O V E !

He looks guilty doesn't he???

2008-01-02T16:55:00.000-08:00

Sneaks out of bed to play video games ~ hubs and I fell asleep on the couch and woke up to find him at 10pm!!... I had to snap this photo before the obvious happened!

One of my New Years Resolutions...

2008-01-01T20:01:00.000-08:00

Take some time to put on some make-up - for crying out loud your almost #0!!!

makes me smile

2007-12-07T21:17:00.000-08:00

I have been trying to find a way to display some of my favorite pictures that really aren't 'portrait' like... just candids... I think I am going to do a bunch of these for the hallway or maybe gameroom. I got this idea from another photog and just tweaked it for my kiddos... These pictures really make me smile!

creek in the dark...

2007-12-05T14:26:00.000-08:00

My husband took this at night... really dark! with the shutter wide open for a while! that is a picture of the water flowing over the driveway/bridge entering the property!

A girl and her dog...

2007-11-26T20:22:00.001-08:00

The happy 'P' Family...................

2007-11-05T14:19:00.001-08:00

Okay... Make a crazy face!

2007-11-03T20:40:00.000-07:00

These kids cracked me up! I got so many great shots of them... But this one really makes me laugh outloud!! I promised their mom I would also post a picture where they are acting like model children!! Thanks A and Z for a GREAT time!!

And here is one of the many 'model' shots I got!!

Sisters ~ After a fight!

2007-10-26T11:27:00.001-07:00

Phew...

2007-10-08T20:32:00.000-07:00

Where has the time gone??? Haven't taken many pictures lately but trying to pick up the camera more often these days.. Going through some more of our beach photos trying to pick some out for prints to frame... Came across this one - Hailey just loved collecting shells.

By Hailey

2007-09-23T19:18:00.001-07:00

This image was taken by my daughter... It is a great capture of her brother's personality... I just love it!!

playing with Conversions

2007-09-08T18:49:00.000-07:00

She looks just like my sister!

2007-08-27T20:16:00.001-07:00

Trying to get back in the swing of things... August was a blur... BUT - I did take LOADS of pictures! So I promise to start updating more regularly ~ IS anyone still out there?

Ahhh those are the days....

2007-08-20T22:12:00.001-07:00

Just a shot from my beach chair... It brings back the memories of youth doesn't it??

Cream Puffs!

2007-07-26T19:06:00.001-07:00

I am hungry tonight! LOL ~ this image is 'speaking' to me!

Portrait

2007-07-23T20:51:00.001-07:00

for my photography class... a friend's almost 3 year old daughter!

Fun with Frogs!

2007-07-21T19:41:00.001-07:00

Ahhhh Young love! (No frog was hurt in the making of this image)

Baby wishes...

2007-07-15T23:24:00.001-07:00

Taken at a friends baby shower today. We made a wish and lit a candle for the baby...

Children's art

2007-07-13T07:48:00.001-07:00

Rain Rain go away...

2007-07-09T20:48:00.000-07:00

Getting out from under water here in Texas... Hard to take pictures with good light when it has been so dark and gloomy..

Like Mother... Like Son...

2007-07-09T20:18:00.000-07:00

Loves to take pictures with my camera... I got him sidetracked with Pop Pops camera!

You are boring meeee!

2007-06-27T10:30:00.001-07:00

This one really melts my heart!

2007-06-17T14:35:00.000-07:00

My daughter is going to have a really hard time when her little BFF moves 1/2 way around the world... It has been difficult being 2 1/2 hours away!!

Best Friends...

2007-06-16T15:04:00.000-07:00

They really do love each other!

2007-06-13T18:17:00.000-07:00

Sleeping beauty

2007-06-11T06:24:00.000-07:00

Just couldn't resist this opportunity! or this angle!

More summer dessert fun!

2007-06-08T13:22:00.000-07:00

Summer dessert!

2007-06-06T18:12:00.000-07:00

Gotta love Popsicles - UMMMM GOOD!!

Oh Baby

2007-05-29T20:12:00.000-07:00

Love how this came out!!

FUN in the "WTTPSP"

2007-05-28T19:52:00.000-07:00

Sorry so lame with uploading pictures.. Picasa and Blogger aren't working so well together anymore... so it takes more time! UGH!

Two Feet!

2007-05-24T23:01:00.000-07:00

I just LOVE LOVE LOVE Baby Feet!!

Happy Swimmer!

2007-05-16T21:02:00.000-07:00

Go Tigers!

2007-05-13T17:38:00.000-07:00

Cousins

2007-05-13T17:34:00.000-07:00

Are you sure it is okay if I go in??? I love listening to them talk... somehow the 4 year old gets the 2 year olds language... They had lots of fun today!

Young Love!

2007-05-11T20:06:00.000-07:00

What's a girl to do..

2007-05-07T21:34:00.000-07:00

When they won't even look at you and they are hiding in trees.. Just keep taking pictures I guess! We were jumping in and out of lighting situations... I am practicing photoshop so I am going to see if I can fix the lighting on her face.. This was not a little girl who wanted her picture taken!!

Friends

2007-05-06T21:48:00.000-07:00

Hailey's Very Best Friend in the Whole Wide World ~ Came to see her this weekend. They immediately ran to her room and we hardly saw them the whole time.. She REALLY misses Lindsay! Hailey was all bummed after they had to leave to go home! I really hope that they'll always be close. I know what a blessing great girlfriends can be!!

Playing with Greens!!

2007-04-24T15:27:00.000-07:00

Playing around in the backyard

Makes me laugh!

2007-04-19T21:20:00.000-07:00

I just never knew you can actually by these faces to 'decorate' trees! Too Funny!

Love Those Sweet Moments

2007-04-18T20:55:00.000-07:00

Getting through Easter pictures

2007-04-17T21:05:00.000-07:00

as you can tell ~ we had Artic Winter for our Easter Spring Fling!! Fun was still had by all!

Hay Caitlin!

2007-04-16T20:50:00.000-07:00

Fun and Muddy

2007-04-15T15:28:00.000-07:00

Saturday was brrrrrr cold, wet and windy.. It didn't stop the girls from braving horseback riding, the zip line, a challenge obstacle course or trying out some archery! But it did get them dirty and muddy. I love this picture I snapped from far away as a little girl tied her shoe through the mud so she could continue on the obstacle course.. :)

Great times!

2007-04-14T22:00:00.000-07:00

Hailey and I had a mother/daughter camping weekend ~ We had such a wonderful time! Here she is laughing with a friend on the swingset. I had my 75-300mm lens on so she didn't even know I was taking pictures of them! That is my favorite thing about this lens! The REAL moments I can catch! :)

Catering to the sick!

2007-04-11T19:40:00.000-07:00

Kyle is not feeling great these days... He is not interested in solid food at all (which is VERY unlike him!) So he has been on an all ice cream and yogurt diet! Here his sister 'set' him up with Ice Cream from the container (b/c it was almost empty after all), a small spoon, his kitty cat, something to drink and of course a tray to enjoy it all on... On the couch in front of the TV! This is NOT something that the kids get to do so this all transpired while I was on the phone with Aunt E... But of course had to snap some pictures before I relocated the feast back to the kitchen!!

Playing with Adobe

2007-04-10T06:24:00.000-07:00

It's Bluebonnet time again!

2007-04-09T19:29:00.000-07:00

Love the bluebonnets! Convinced some brave friends to drive aimlesslly into the country in search of the 'perfect' field of bluebonnets... I was about to give up when we came up on the most beautiful field just FULL of them! The kids ran around and we snapped as many as we could!

Phew

Kyle insists that Hailey sit on his lap!! Guess he is just sick and tired of always having to sit on her lap!!! Wouldn't let her go either!! This was cracking her up!!

New Starts....

2007-04-08T21:15:00.000-07:00

RUN!!!! HERE COMES MOM WITH HER CAMERA!!

Spring ~ Something about it just makes me want to start fresh! (not that today felt much like spring with record lows!) And of course starting fresh always helps for Monday. :)

I feel like I am starting to get my house in order and getting back to my 'ole self! So ~ I am going to 'start again' going to the gym! I am going to 'start again' to feed my family with healthy planned meals! and I am going to 'start again' making my self use my camera everyday!

Hopefully that means I will be updating this blog (and my other one!) more frequently!

Happy Easter Everyone!!

Moving Announcement

2007-04-04T19:29:00.000-07:00

My friend Farrah... I mean Sarah!!..

2007-03-27T22:51:00.000-07:00

:) LOL! You know I love you! From a recent 'shoot' Sarah and Ms. M! Working the model hair! :)

Playing around!

2007-03-26T12:55:00.000-07:00

Good Friends!

2007-03-22T12:23:00.000-07:00

We are getting moved in... Still living in a bit of Chaos but I am starting to see a faint light at the end of the tunnel! I continue to be amazed at how blessed I have been with such good friends! This arrived on my doorstep right after we moved in ~ what a thoughtful gift!... I just loved it! I love my friends!!

Bread ~ that this house will never know hunger
Salt ~ that life will always have flavor
and Wine ~ that joy and prosperity will reign forever!!

Hannah Montana

2007-03-12T14:02:00.000-07:00

At the Houston Rodeo... I took my daughter to see Hannah Montana... I thought it was a great show and the girls had a blast!..

I'm Back... but leaving!

2007-03-09T15:47:00.000-08:00

So much is going on right now... We have had a busy last few weeks.. and they are about to get busier as we are moving in 6 days! Yeah! We are very excited about it! I have taken a ton of pictures ~ just still going through them all! Here is a picture from the Houston Rodeo! I took H. to see Hannah Montana. It was a great concert and the girls had so much fun! I'll post more picture soon... Then I will be off-line for a week or so! Then hopefully I'll be back into the swing of things!

Computer problems...

2007-02-28T14:43:00.000-08:00

We are having some computer problems so I can't get online at home (where all my pictures are!) I hope to be back up and running soon!

:) K

I finally did it!

2007-02-24T19:35:00.000-08:00

I ordered myself a gallery wrap of MY kids! Even though I do love this in color, I ordered it in B&W because I normally tend to favor those!! It was harder to pick the picture to use than I thought it would be... I am sooo excited and can't wait for it to get here!!

Ahhh Cooperation.. :)

2007-02-23T11:58:00.000-08:00

Sat for a minute...

2007-02-22T20:58:00.000-08:00

..... and then he was off!... He LOVES his Lellow shirt ~ It is his most favorite!!

light was great....

2007-02-20T15:03:00.000-08:00

daughter was not... Today we had PERRRRRFECT light... But were my kiddos going to cooperate... OH NO!! I got a decent one of my son but most looked like this... ~ mainly b/c she doesn't like the shirt!!

My parents...

2007-02-19T12:07:00.000-08:00

are just the most wonderful people... I really could write a whole post on just how good they are to me, my husband and my kids... Somehow they managed to raise 4 children all with our own needs/strengths/weaknesses and we all felt special in our own way. Now that I am a mother I really hope that I can instill in my children what they gave to all of us... Although I am not quite sure I know how most days! :)

These flowers were from my parents to my whole family for Valentines Day... They have just bloomed and are really soooo very beautiful. I am trying to photograph things out of my comfort zone... I really like to photograph kids and families but flowers don't move! HA!

My son's favorite pastime...

2007-02-17T20:43:00.000-08:00

He loves to drag chairs around the house so he can play in the sink (or turn on/off light switches)... It is exhausting keeping him from all the chairs in the house... he loves getting wet... ahhh boys!! He even tries to wet and do his hair...

My day

2007-02-15T18:53:00.000-08:00

Not much else to take pictures of today... ahhhh Hard to 'focus' on the right spot with this subject ~ Wish me luck tomorrow!! :)

Fab date night for valentines with hubby and friends... Way to go Troy ~ See the family blog (link to the right)

Be mine....

2007-02-14T14:44:00.000-08:00

One of my Valentines.. Happy Valentines Day.. I am off for a 'surprise' date with my hubby....

Creative ways to get my kids to eat veggies..

2007-02-13T14:26:00.000-08:00

Veggie Chips... They love the green bean ones! Real green beans that are crispy ~ what an idea!

Mardi Gras mess... ;)

2007-02-11T17:27:00.000-08:00

Valentines Day..

2007-02-10T20:42:00.000-08:00

H. posing for some shots with her $1 box from Target...

Bored

2007-02-08T21:03:00.000-08:00

I am bored and in a slump.. I am sick of taking pictures of my kids.. nothing is in focus these days because I am always in a rush!! AHHHH I can't hack it! how am I going to come up with something fun for another 10 1/2 months.. This is the most boring blog ever ~ I am pretty sure there is no one reading this! Okay - I am done with my pity party... *sigh*

This is a ladder on the play structure at the park I have been to 4 times this week! We are having beautiful weather!!

more fun at the park..

2007-02-07T20:59:00.000-08:00

Color or B & W... These are both SOOC ~ except for the conversion!

Piggies in the park...

2007-02-06T20:36:00.000-08:00

Yes, this was actually taken today at the park... I love Houston in February.. Don't talk to me in September though!! Here is Mr C. relaxing in the afternoon sun! I keep forgetting to check my settings when I finally get outside this week... Left it on ISO 1600 ~ UGH!! I was all about messing with my ss and f stop... Some days I don't know where my brain is.. *sigh*

Tagged!

2007-02-05T20:45:00.000-08:00

Okay so everybody has been tagged so it was finally my turn! LOL! So here it is ~ 6 weird/unusual things about me (It was hard at first but then I had to narrow it down!)

1. I can't eat meat and fruit together!
2. Whenever I pump gas into my car I have to have the price end in double digits (22, 00, 99 etc)
3. I lost weight with both of my pregnancies! (25 lbs w/#1 and 16lbs w/#2)
4. I have lived in 10 different states.
5. The sight of wet bread makes me ill!
6. I love peanut butter, banana and mayonaise sandwiches (miracle whip actually)!

I guess I need to figure out who to tag next.. hmmmm?

1st attempt at a 'masculine' valentine card

2007-02-05T20:43:00.000-08:00

Keep in mind I am sooo just learning photoshop!!

Its a miracle ....

2007-02-03T18:21:00.000-08:00

They are both looking at the camera at the same time!! :)

Be Mine.....

2007-02-01T16:06:00.000-08:00

Playing with the reflection ~

ISO 100 ~ ss 1/1250 ~ f/1.8 ~ 50mm

She doesn't look sick to me...

2007-01-31T18:18:00.000-08:00

My daughter ~ love her but she exhausts me mentally... Her stomach ALWAYS hurts.. Her life is sooooo hard, no one likes her, everyone hates her and I am sure she is on her way to the garden to eat worms... I feel like a horrible mother today.. and not much better photographer ~ I need a long, hot bath!!

Weeeeee.....

2007-01-30T20:25:00.000-08:00

Sorry I have not posted ~ lots going on here... I have just been swamped! Here is my son K swinging high! He loves it so much. Hard time focusing when I am on the ground pushing and trying to take his picture!! but I love the expression!

100's day...

2007-01-28T20:09:00.000-08:00

H. had to dress up like a '100 year old' lady for 100 days at school! She wore knee highs aka 'fake skin'...

So excited...

2007-01-26T20:35:00.000-08:00

about his new mittens and hat... Even though it wasn't super cold today ~ He just had to wear them!!

ISO 100 ~ 50 mm ~ 1.8 ~ 1/1000

Yeah... The rain is gone

2007-01-25T21:28:00.000-08:00

Some sun peaked through this afternoon ~ Kyle was soooo happy to be outside again! I think my film speed was to high...

ISO 800 ~ f/5.6 ~ ss 1/250 ~ 50mm

Kyle's idea

2007-01-24T16:04:00.000-08:00

Tried to take some creative shots inside today... as we have had nothing but RAIN RAIN and More RAIN! I am much better with natural light... Kyle wouldn't let me take pictures of anything I wanted to ~ he insisted on taking a picture of his car... while he said cheese of course

Iso800 ~ f/3.2 ~ 50mm ~ ss 1/20

Bathtime fun!

2007-01-23T20:00:00.000-08:00

ISO 1600 ~ 30mm ~ ss 1/30 ~ f/5.0

Can't seem to get these inside shots sharp looking... although I didn't have the right lens on either to get my aperture below a 4.5....

Homework...

2007-01-23T05:59:00.000-08:00

Sorry no post yesterday ~ Internet was down in the afternoon!

Here is H. doing her homework... Low light ~1600, f/5.6/ ss~1/60, 50mm
I am going to start posting my settings if I can remember so maybe it will help with my exposures!

yummm.. Hot Chocolate

2007-01-21T15:56:00.000-08:00

She was enjoying sooo much I just had to take a picture and then she glanced up!

Model behavior

2007-01-20T21:12:00.000-08:00

Since most of my 'clients' have been children, toddlers etc ~ It was a nice change of pace to shoot a high schooler! She didn't move and did what I said! What a novel idea??? She wanted to enter a modeling contest so she needed a picture with a plain background, clothes etc. Not a lot of room for any creativity but still fun to shoot!

BLOGGER IS DRIVING ME CRAZY!

2007-01-19T18:09:00.000-08:00

It keeps eating my photos... Ever since I 'upgraded' to the 'new' blogger ~ Is anyone else having problems? I am fed up!! I have tried for hours to upload pics today and it took my photo from yesterday down after it has been there for over 12 hours??

What's the deal?

Ugh!

2007-01-18T16:55:00.000-08:00

My last couple of days have not been going well... and tonight, my tried and true Taco Soup Recipe which is so easy my six year old could make it ~ I ruined! It is full of black burnt bits and is gross.. I just feel like screaming!! I am trying to practice my exposure inside w/out a flash but even at iso 1600 and f/1.8 I can seem to get anything in focus... so I opted for my Taco soup~ at least it wasn't moving!

H with her hat!

2007-01-17T19:31:00.000-08:00

Finally got this to work! Blogger is soooo frustrating me!!!
This picture looks blurry on Blogger and not on my screen ~ I am not having a good day!! :(

Look what I found

2007-01-16T14:28:00.000-08:00

Found big sisters MP3 player... even funnier ~ He figured out how to use it and he's only 2 ~ not sure yet what my excuse is?? Sorry I missed yesterday.. the day got away from me! :)

Okay.. blogger is really starting to P*$%#^!! me off!! I never had any problems until their 'upgrade' or whatever! UGH! I can always see the picture but if I log in from another computer it isn't there! FRUSTRATING!

Rare moment these days..

2007-01-14T19:01:00.000-08:00

of my kids getting along ~ even if my son isn't too keen on the kissing idea. Rainy day here ~ I am bored with pics in my house and need to venture out!!

Composition..

2007-01-13T20:54:00.000-08:00

Dreary day full of birthday parties... Trying to find s/thing in my house and make it look interesting!

Introducing my son's favorite truck!

poor dog...

2007-01-12T13:11:00.000-08:00

My all hats under $2 sale today at the mall... but alas.. I had time to play with my camera but all subjects were sleeping.. so guess who I found? Biggest Challenge was focusing while she was trying to run away! These images at leasst make me laugh!! blue hat - .49 at Children's place, Green hat $3 at Children's place. I got 2 at old Navy but Casey was not interested in wearning them after this torture! Happy Weekend!

2nd Try

2007-01-11T22:48:00.000-08:00

Trying something new...

2007-01-11T16:33:00.000-08:00

This was a pretty waterfall.. I don't really like the composition of it but at least I know that is what I don't like about it! LOL!

Those Eyes!

2007-01-10T16:17:00.000-08:00

Practicing with some backlighting! I have NOT mastered that! Any CC ~ My hard hat is on!
ISO 800 ~ f/5.6~ ss 1/100 ~ 50mm