Camera Play Time

I wanted to make sure that I could at least somewhat use my new camera before we went to Iowa. I was excited that it arrived the very next day after I ordered it! (No, I did not order it with overnight shipping...)

These girls got a workout in while I was practicing... I asked them to dance while I took pictures. Then I asked them to dance FASTER while I took more pictures. They tired of dancing... so I asked them to run while I took pictures. Then I asked them to run FASTER while I took even more pictures. Here are two of the pictures that I think turned out pretty good, especially because they were taken without using the auto modes. I have a fondness of black and white pictures.

Catching up!

We have been traveling and keeping busy with everyday fun adventures, so today was a day to catch up on some posts (guess who got all THREE kids sleeping at the same time?!?!). We recently returned from our trip to Iowa to visit family, so I will be posting about that later. But we have also got a new toy!

I felt like I was stagnating a little bit... getting old (I still can't believe we're a family of FIVE!) and not really progressing any of my own skills. Having kids and being a stay at home mom demands of a lot of your time and some sacrifices... definitely worth it, don't get me wrong. I just don't want to be 50 and feel like I haven't developed any personal skills (except patience) in the last 25 years. I see how much the girls are growing and learning... I wanted to join in on the action! So I decided to pick up photography (and run a marathon--you have to make it challenging right?)! I figured that photography would be a great skill to have and also a good way to journal my wonderful family! It will increase the quality of pictures for my scrapbooking.

 I recently purchased a Canon T2i which I have been wanting for quite awhile. It is amazing! I am still learning how to use it, but it does wonders when taking pictures of the kids. I was satisfied with our point and shoot outdoor pictures (unless they were jumping on the trampoline or moving rapidly). Our indoor picture quality was what really motivated me to get it. I have been reading several books on technique and composition. Hopefully, I can get up to speed on using it effectively.

One neat trick that I learned, is how to take pictures through bars or screens (it will be nifty at the zoo!). I took both of these pictures through an upstairs bedroom window. You can see a screen in one, but not the other! Awesome!



More of the girlies!

 We have been grilling out since the weather has been so nice. The girls decided to do their own cooking.

 Ashes, rocks, saw dust, and at one point, even a shoe made it onto their menu.

 We are loving the 70 degree weather! During the day we will often take trips to the park. The girls love to run (almost) all the way there. They are going to be track stars. Maybe we should have signed them up for the AF marathon instead.

 Our cute girls swinging their legs in sync.

It wouldn't be a true trip to the park if someone didn't get a little injured. Claire was proud to show off her owie for the camera. What a tough little girl! 

Yum?

 Theodore was a little taken aback by the idea of eating food.

 Once the rice cereal got into his mouth, he was all for it.

By the end of the bowl, he was still leaning forward, diving into each bite. What a big, hungry boy!

Our Winker

Marie has been working on her winking skills. She is getting better!

Claire's Hair

 This is Claire before her very first haircut.

 She was a little nervous about getting her hair cut. She kept telling me that it was going to hurt because she has learned that scissors cause owies.

 Her hair is super cute! She no longer has a mullet look.

Our Claire bear is getting too big! She can almost identify all of  her ABC's since she has been working on them with Marie. Those girls are so much fun! Theodore is far from getting a haircut, but he does have some nice locks. He will probably have to get a haircut before he turns two though.

Steam roller!

Theodore is loving his new mobility. He can roll from one side of the room to the other. Here he goes:

He made it up... now for the follow through... (sometimes the girls will help roll him over if they don't think he is working quite fast enough)

 Yay! What strong little lad. He recently had his 4 month check-up and he weighed in at a lean, mean 16 lbs! His dry skin is getting a little better too, so he isn't scratching himself up so much anymore.

Look at that satisfied smirk. He knows he did a job well done. You're great Theodore!

After church smiles!

As soon as we get home from church, it is food time and then nap time. Nap time always leads to happy girlies. While we were letting the Theodores catch some extra zZz's, the girls and I had fun playing with the camera. They always like to take pictures and then see themselves afterwards.

Hopefully their faces don't get stuck this way...

They can stay this way though! Too bad we don't get Sunday naps everyday!