tiki torches...

...love 'em.  But they are not for indoor use, just in case you were wondering.  ;)

button

Yep, I sorta took the week off posting.  But here's my creative exercise post...I chose a button (maybe because I have a long list of sewing projects I haven't been able to get to?)

top row (left to right):  negative space, foreground interest (sort-of?)
bottom row (left to right): light, framing, foreground

I didn't do any artificial lighting, but the use of shadows was a little different for me - I guess I never realized that I tend to use a lot of front/flat lighting.  I need to do more with shadows to add some dimension...

start your engines...

A friend from church made this for my oldest, and it fits perfectly with his race-car themed room.  Cute, huh? ;)

family portrait - july edition

at our annual 4th of July tradition - see our personal blog for more...

In June...

we all got the stomach flu.
Walt went backpacking for two days with his buddy Paul
we had our nine year anniversary (which we still haven't celebrated sans children)
rollerskated
gymnastics camp for the oldest (while the younger sister cried, "and me! and me!")
6 month appointment for the baby - over 21 pounds
sports camp at our church
barely walked a 5k for father's day
postponed our father's day camping trip due to illness
rode horses
played with friends
mommy finally got her hair cut - yea! :)

he keeps getting bigger...

...despite my attempts to freeze him and keep him my baby.

Isotopes game

I miss the days when I could take photos of him unaware, and without silly posing for the camera.  Oh well, who will be laughing when this ends up in the slideshow at his wedding? ;)

The oldest was a little short on t-shirts that weren't midriffs, so we went shopping to get a few, and he's now very opinionated about his t-shirts apparently.  Batman, and one of an eagle and flag that say "Mommy's Little American Hero."  Perhaps a little too Texan for us, but he got that one if I got to pick out a few solids and stripes. ;)