Photography 101

If there is one thing I have learned so far...

It is this...

Using your own kids for practice does not work, but when someone else would like to use your kids...


It CAN work.


Here is just a little of what they got.

Day 3: Lesson 3

NO CRYING!!!!

Day 2: Lesson 2

Well...

Today was slightly better than yesterday.

There was no objection by Thomas today. He was only disappointed that his friends would not be in class today, but he quickly got over it.

My little Taylor was cracking me up and I just wish I had it all on video for you to see.

She cried everytime it was her turn...again!!

The funniest thing about it though, is the fact that although she cries, she does everything the teacher tells her to do.

So...

I would say we have improvement.

I actually took the camera out of my bag today, but was only able to pick it up once.


My little munchkin practicing her kicks.

I actually remember when Thomas did this for the first time, four summers ago.

Wow time flies!!

Day 1: Lesson 1

Well today was our first day of swim lessons.

I had expected a few things prior to start time:

1: Thomas would be excited right up to the minute it was time to start and then he would say, "Mommy, I don't want to do swim lessons today. I will do them tomorrow!"

2: Taylor would say nothing at all!!!!

3: Taylor would be totally fine when I first put her in the water!!

4: Taylor would TOTALLY freak out when it was her turn.


Well....


I should have put some sort of bet on myself.

All of my predictions were spot on.

I had intended to take some pics, but it wasn't happening today. I had a 2yr old latched onto me anytime it WASN'T her turn.

I am pretty sure she kept hoping I would not make her go back in.

Unfortunately for my kids...

I am not that nice!!


Hopefully tomorrow will be just a little better.

$$$ Tree Tuesday (On Wednesday)

Now my plan was definitely to hit the $$$ Tree on Tuesday, but...

I postponed my trip this week because the Grand Opening of the store right next to my house was today.

There are only a few more stores that I need by my house and I won't have to travel more than a couple miles for virtually anything.

As usual our trip to the Dollar Tree today...


Did not disappoint!!!

Of course there is nothing nicer than a completely organized, fully-stocked store. I really could have purchased a whole lot more, but if I am going to show you the greatness of the Dollar Tree week to week...

I thought I better hold off on some things.

Anyway...

Today was mostly a mommy day, but I did pick up a couple things for the kids. One thing...


These elastics for Taylor's hair. 500 little itty bitty rubber bands, in a variety of colors. These little things are perfect for little girls' hair.

I totally hit the jackpot with my next little find.


6 rolls of 5/8" grosgrain, solid ribbon. 5 yds on each!!! I bought the colors that I thought I would use most, but there were actually quite a few more to choose from.

Now these are not something that everyone needs, but...


If you do any sort of shipping like I do, this is a great find. Of course I can't really take credit for the find. My wonderful mom is the one that originally told me I could find these at the Dollar Tree. An 8 pack of brown envelopes.

Now I had mentioned last week that Thomas got to pick out a puzzle, but I did not show a picture.


He got to pick out another one today. He absolutely loves these little puzzles and that is A-OK with me!!


Now the next couple things are not from the Dollar Tree, but I couldn't let them go unseen.





I found these at the $1 Spot in Target. Another wonderful little area that cannot be passed by on each of my weekly trips to Target.

If you haven't noticed I have a sick obsession with ribbon!!!

My Little Marilyn

I pretty much take my camera everywhere if I remember. Of course that doesn't mean a whole lot with two toddlers.

If you only knew how many days I have taken pics with the intention to share and...

When I press the upload button...

Not so good!! Delete...Delete

So on Saturday, with camera in toe, I took the kids to the park for Thomas' end of the year picnic. I had really hoped to get some pictures of Thomas and his school friends, but because it is virtually impossible to hold him still at a park and because almost none of his friends showed up, I came home with mostly pictures of Taylor.

For some unknown reason whenever we are at the park Taylor sticks very close to me. So, since Thomas was nowhere to be found I just stuck with her.


It took a bit of convincing (based on how many kids where there) to get her on the play structure, but I finally did. She spent a good 10 minutes cleaning up the woodchips. I could devote one whole post to my kids and their dislike in dirt.

Anyway,


Don't mistake this for the first of many trips down the slide, she sat in this same spot for a good 20 minutes after the cleanup. Working up the courage to take the plunge I guess.


Now how much more ready could she look for this slide? This slide that is no more than 2 feet off the ground.


Naaa, not quite ready yet. I think I will hold up the line a little longer. I mean it isn't like this is the only slide in this park.


I think this was the "I am ready, mom!" shot. Of course the camera had to be put down at this point, it is pretty hard to take a picture when you have to wait at the bottom of the slide to catch this little girl.

But once I got her down the slide once...

It was "Gen mommy! Gen mommy!" (as in: again mommy, just in case you do not speak toddler)


And right before I convinced her to move up to the big kid slide...

She gave me a little windy, Marilyn Monroe shot.

When she wants to be,

She can be a really funny little girl, my Taylor!!

Preschool or Bust?

We had a very busy weekend (mostly mommy working), but nevertheless I am just now having time to sit down and blog.

Summer has officially begun in the Moore household.

Thomas had his last day of school last Wed. and then his end of the year program on Friday. He was super excited all day long and did great in his program.

His class sang a song called Skinnamerink. Hilarious because it is a song that my sister and I remember from when we were kids. There was this show on Nickelodeon called Sharon, Lois and Bram...

Anyway, when I heard him sing this song for the first time it made me laugh.

His class sang the song, but because they are such smart little kids...(Yes that is me bragging about my son, I get to do that because I am the mom)...they signed the song as they sang it.

One of the many things I have loved about this preschool is the things he learns besides your normal preschool stuff. He has learned some basic Spanish and sign language. Both wonderful things to know.

He made me proud and I cannot wait for many more moments like this.

$$ Tree Tuesday...

I know I have said it before, but...

I {HEART} the DOLLAR TREE!!!

What is it about a place where EVERYTHING is just $1???

It is just great!!

Anyway, I thought I would share my purchases from our trip today.

Most of my trips I avoid this stuff...



But today was a weak moment for me. I LOVE Fiddle Faddle!!! For those of you that have absolutely no clue what it is... it's caramel corn.

Delicious, not good for you, CARAMEL CORN!!!

Our trip today was really just for the kids though.

The Dollar Tree is the perfect place to take the kids when you have told them they can pick something out the next you go shopping.

No worries about them picking out some crazy, expensive toy...EVERYTHING is $1!!!

And the thing is...

This is great for kids. They don't care how much things cost, they just think it is cool to pick out something all on their own.



Taylor picked out the book. Oh how we love books in this household. A perfect little board book about counting. Thomas actually picked out a puzzle (not pictured), but another great find.

He has been really into putting puzzles together and the great thing about a puzzle from the $1 store...

Mom does not freak out if a piece goes missing.

More importantly though..

Puzzles really help Thomas out with his patience. He has known!!! And... puzzles take patience.

I splurged and let them also pick out two coloring/activity books and a set of crayons. Nice fat crayons, which are great for little kids.

And...

For mommy...



A ruler, post-it notes and a 10-pack of mechanical pencils.

3 things that are must-haves in the office/craft room, but I never think about until I need them and don't have them.

Now I do!!!

Silence can only mean ONE thing

See sometimes, there are these rare occasions, when silence does NOT mean your kids are getting into trouble.


In my household, if I cannot hear Thomas and Taylor it usually means the worst.

Some examples include, but are definitely not limited too...

The time I walked into Taylor's bedroom to find that they had used markers and completely colored her brand new bike... BLACK!!

Or...

The time the dog came running out of Taylor's room after being held captive by them...oh and she (my dog that takes lots of abuse) was covered in baby powder.

Or...

The time they emptied an entire package of baby wipes and packed them into Taylor's backpack. Only a mom knows exactly how many wipes this really is. A LOT!!!


I really could go on, but I won't.

I will simply say that the silence today...

Ended up being a good silence.

I came out of my office to see what they were doing and this is what I found.



Each of them playing with their own game AND quietly I might add.



Occasionally they would share with one another whatever they had done on their machine.



Thomas being very enthusiastic as usual and Taylor taking quite an interest in what her big brother was showing her.



I tried to get as many pics as I could without interrupting, these moments do not last long enough. Unfortunately Thomas caught me spying on them.

The moment ended as quickly as I had found it.

And...

As I blog about what I stumbled upon...

They are right back to the terrors I know too well!!!

Screaming at each other over who knows what.

Finally Finished

I am finally finished with my little practice photo session with my good friends the Harding's.


I have been using these pics to play around with as I fumble my way through my photoshop book.


I cannot tell you how much I am stressing the word FUMBLE.


I thought I would share a couple of the pics. The one bright side to all of this is my subjects were so easy to work with. Beautiful family makes for some nice pictures.


Now if only they had hired an actual photographer.



My hope...

To look back on these photos REALLY soon and look at them in disgust. Only because my work will have improved...

That is so me dreaming.

Can you tell???

Next time I will listen...

I am not quite sure if anyone told me this, but I am pretty sure if they did...

I DID NOT LISTEN!!

My wonderful mom bought me "the photoshop elements 8" book and I am trying to read it.


Operative word...

Trying!!!


Kids do not exactly understand the concept of "quiet time so mommy can read!"

So...

The evening is when I am forced to read. Which would be fine, but then I am fighting sleep rather than my children. I am not sure which is worse.


When I was younger and I had all the time in the world to read and go to school, I chose not too.

"There will be plenty of time to go back and finish!!!"

Those might have been my exact words.

So I would like to apologize to the person or persons that told me I would not have the same time as I did back then. And furthermore I would like to give a little golf clap to those of you successfully parenting and going to school simultaneously.


It ABSOLUTELY is not as easy as you make it seem.


Truth be known...

I can't even manage my daily life and keep up with the blog.

Not what I was trying for....

But I will take it!



Sixty or so pictures taken...

With the hopes that on Mother's Day there would be some cooperation...

And mom would get one, just one...

Good picture with her two wonderful munchkins.

But...

Nope!!

Zilch!!


It was a wonderful day though (more on that later) and I am happy that I got this ONE and only photo.

Only if you peeked in my backyard...

Would you have seen me in a swimsuit for the first time this year. I thought I would try to get a bit of color on my oh-so-white body today.

The kids were absolutely ecstatic that we were pulling out the swimsuits...

Secretly I think they thought we were going to an ACTUAL pool, but oh no, not yet my friends.

Although it was supposed to be a high of 99 today, it is still WAY to cold to be diving into my moms pool. It has to be pretty darn close to bath water before I am walking right in.

Think what you want,

Whisper if you will,

But once you have lived here for a year or longer, you will be right there with me.

I did however, feel bad for my kids so I did something that would keep them busy for as long as I needed...



I turned on the watering system.

Hey...no making fun of me!! I could have gone and bought an actual sprinkler, but to be honest I was already in my swimsuit and the mere thought of packing the kids up to run to Target to buy said sprinkler was just way more work than I was wanting to do.



Besides, if there is one thing I have learned in my four years of parenting is this...

Kids do not need the biggest and baddest sprinkler, they are totally content with a small little sprinkler head that pops out of the ground.

Case and point...



They had a blast!!

And they have been bugging me to do it again tomorrow.





I might actually have some color on my legs yet. Oh and it should be no surprise that the only people getting their pictures taken today were my kids. Photoshop couldn't have helped my white, pasty legs.

A Small Taste

So as I touched on earlier, I am lacking the ability to do multiple projects at the same time and therefor I have neglected my blog.

Well I thought I would share a little of what I have been doing.

I mean just in case you care...

I mean I hope you care...

But then again it isn't going to stop me from telling you anyway, but...


I'm just sayin!


Anyway, thanks to my wonderful mother I received a special order for hair clips. Of course it makes me happy ANYTIME I sell a hair clip, but when someone picks me for a special order...

WEll...

It was nice.



My other project is rough and needs a WHOLE LOT of help, but I will share a tiny bit. My dear friend Sarah convinced me take pictures of her family. I tried pretty hard to get out of it, but after much persuasion I decided to use it as a learning experience.


Oh and a quick side note: I HAVE LOTS TO LEARN!!

Anyway, this is one of the many pictures I took of her girls.




As if just taking the pictures isn't intimidating enough...

Well try learning photoshop. I have been listening to online lessons for photoshop nightly. To the point my brain is on overload.


So that is just a bit of what has been going on.

Just a bit...

I have lots more to show and tell, but I will save it for tomorrow.

A Mental Note Regarding Multi-Tasking

It has become apparently clear to me that my wonderful ability to multi-task at work... well it stops there.

This would be the reason for my blatant abandonment of my beloved blog. I get on a tangent involving something else and the next thing I know...weeks have passed and people are still staring at the some boring post

Don't get me wrong...I have the best of intentions to be able to do all of the things on my plate at the same time.

But...

It never happens.

Yes I admit it!

So please bare with me. I am getting back on track and hope that my readers (if I have any) are still out there.