The Paper Mama Photo Challenge: Fall

There is something I like about this photo and to me there isn't anything more like fall than a windy, cold walk on the beach with sweaters, jeans and sneakers. It was chilly, but beautiful and I really had a great time. When Lorelei decided to climb the rocks (which normally I wouldn't have let happen...but) it was an obvious photo opportunity. I took a nice handful and this is the one I chose to share with you for The Paper Mama's photo challenge "Fall." I may share more of these photos later in the week. You've seen a couple from this day for Sky Watch Friday, Flowers on Saturday, Macro Friday and even the challenge Me and Mama. I think I'm getting the hang of these photo challenges by preparing early!

Have fun and take a look at other photo entries after clicking the button below! That's where I am heading as soon as I am done here!

Simplicity: Light

These shots were taken during the Apple Festival while Hannah and Lorelei were riding their ponies one at a time with their Daddy by their side. (Lorelei rode a second time on a larger horse and without dad!) It was a beautiful morning and I really enjoy both photos both with just a bit of difference in their edits. I hope you liked them! Thank you for stopping by and be sure to take a look at Simplicity for more captures of Light and even take some time to look around Faith's blog.

A Trendy Treehouse Touch Up: Watering the Garden

Hannah patiently awaits for her watering can to be filled back up. Lorelei and Hannah were watering Grandma's garden and themselves at that. I had fun with this edit and really tried playing with the curves. Can I say how much I love that tool! I also saturated the color and changed the hue and of course brightened the photo. I also can't edit without adding contrast. I hope you like this edit and capture! I'm also using this for the Trendy Treehouse: Shutter Love Tuesday for Babies. Is Hannah still considered a baby? (Hannah at 16 months.) 

After:

Before:

For more Trendy Treehouse Shutter Love Tuesday shots of babies and Touch Ups please click their button below and have fun!

Shutter Love Tuesday: Pumpkins

Hannah amongst the pumpkins deep in thought. It was so cold she mostly stood still and watched the others. She occasionally looked around for the other kids, but was mostly content to be still. I later found out from my husband that he did in fact give her an orange pacifier on purpose. I'm bias, but I think she's super cute.

Also, I'd like to say that I have a lot coming up and I'm stealing a moment while the girls have an early lunch to type up stuff right now. I've been a busy and tired momma and I still want to share so much with you. Here's hoping I have/take that chance. I've also just received a new book in the mail so I started that last night.

For more pumpkin shots please check out some more Shutter Love Tuesday posts by clicking here. Thanks for your patience with me and I hope you liked my calm and cold Hannah amidst the pumpkins.

You Capture: Togetherness aka Heroic Pumpkin Climbing

"I've got you! I will save you" She exclaimed. Today at the pumpkin patch we had a wonderful time with friends and right at this moment Lorelei (on the left) reached over the pumpkins to help her friend over the "hill" of pumpkins. "I've got you." She exclaimed. It was adorable and they really were in it together.

I hope you like my expression of togetherness and please expect more pumpkin patch photos from me throughout this week. Again we had a ball, even though it was in the forties. Yikes.

Please check out You Capture for more lovely shots of togetherness.

Simplicity Photo Challenge: Mood

I'd ask you to guess the mood conveyed in this photograph but I think you'd guess displeased. I took a lot of photos this day so you'll have to excuse my archive grabbing today, but the mood of this photo makes me sad for her and it's also so cute at the same time. Lorelei was displeased about the waves coming up and almost getting her pale, shovel and sweater. She grabbed them all and ran. For more photos from this day please click here.

I Heart Faces: Smirk

Okay, so my Miss Lorelei isn't the one in focus, but she is the one in the middle with that adorable little smirk. Am I bias you think? The kids were having a blast making each other laugh. Lorelei was blowing on their friends cheek to make him giggle and one response to their friends joy and laughter was a cute little smirk. I hope you liked it!

For more recess pictures on the kids first day of at home preschool see Mellow Yellow: You Make Me Smile.

For more cute little smirks please check out I Heart Faces.

The Paper Mama Photo Challenge: Fingerprint

Today is a new day. A new day with a new challenge over at the Paper Mama. After Chelsey over at the Paper Mama posted new challenge themes I was on it. I started taking shots of fingers and toes right away. I "accidentally" ended up with quite a few. Whoops. Well, in the end I have chosen some of my favorites to share with you. Please enjoy and don't be afraid to tell me what you think. Comments are always welcome! 

My Pick:

Mischievous Fingers and Toes:

Hannah is digging in daddies flower pots.

More Little Piggies:

Dancing and Dirt Stompin' Toes:

Water Splashing, Teamwork Fingers (and toes):

Beachy, Rocky Toes:

Watery Toes:

Sandy Toes:

Okay, so I like the "Dancing and Dirt Stompin' Toes too! For more fingerprints please head over to The Paper Mama and link up your own photos! 

Sky Watch Friday: Fly Away Home

Thank you for stopping by and please feel free to share any thoughts. For other Sky Watch photos please take a  look here.

I think this is the shortest post I've ever put up. My Hannah just woke up. Look back later and hopefully I can get up the original to this shot. I think you might be surprised. Thanks again!


UPDATE:


Check out the SOOC (Straight Out of Camera shot)

Do you see that tiny little butterfly? That's what I cropped for my Sky Watch shot for today. What do you think?

Macro Friday: Opposites

I have two macro shots to share today (you may pick your favorite). The first shot is something my kiddos love and the second shot is something their mommy loves. Please enjoy!

My kids Love These:

Who am I kidding, I love these too!

Crayola crayons oh how we (heart) you! We color and we tare. We break and we tape. We are not always gentle and we (Hannah) may take some bites out of you, but you are always there. Oh, how we enjoy your color and how you brighten our day. Thank you for being so much fun in such a simple way! (A bit out of character for me, but fun and what's wrong with the occasional rhyme or poem anyway.)

Momma Loves This:

Yet again, who am I kidding? My kids play with this at every chance.

A little background on my "Love" up above. Yes, this is a picture of my beautiful (actually brown) coach purse. The back story is that my husband got me this a few years ago for Valentine's Day because I used to foolishly (when I had the time) drool over the pictures on the Coach website but never (EVER) purchased one (and never would have. Super Expensive!) So he splurged for me and bought it as a gift and he told me I deserve something extra every once and a while too (something else about me: I DISLIKE spending money). As you can see, it's getting a little worn, but it shows how much I love it. The best things in life are worn and comfy (at least in mine).

Thank you for stopping by and please feel free to share any comments you might have!

You Capture & RAW(e): Your Choice & Snacks

This is Hannah, my 15 month old snacking on an apple at the park. Miss Hannah started snacking on apples after her big sister Lorelei handed her the apple she was munching on some time back. I definitely have to watch what Lorelei shares, but she sure loves to share her snacks and has been that way since she was a baby. 

I love this photo and I am very happy to share it in its "straight out of camera" form. The photo is so simple and serene plus I enjoy it's natural contrasts. This photo is linked up at You Capture for "Your Choice" and RAW(e) for snacks. I hope you liked my unedited Hannah snacking down on her apple.

I Can't Decide on "Edit Off" or Silly Slide Fun Edits Challenge

I have been challenged by Jennifer at A Beautiful Life today. We were at the park yesterday and she grabbed the camera and took some great shots of me and my girls having some fun on the slides. We were racing! So, even though I entered in a Before and After today over at Pixel Perfect I couldn't very well say no to an "edit off." (Not a good description eh.) So here it is. Please take a look at my before and after shots and than go over and take a look at Jennifer's edits at A Beautiful Life.

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

Make sure to leave a comment for Jennifer when you stop by to thank her for the challenge. We can host more if you enjoyed this one. Let us know. Thanks again for stopping by and keep in touch and make sure to take a look at my Pixel Perfect Before & After Shot for today.

Before & After: Hang On Kids

The edit I'm sharing with you today is from the park just yesterday. We went out with Jennifer over at A Beautiful Life to the park and really enjoyed ourselves. I think we got some wonderful shots between the two of us. This is my favorite shot from yesterday. I'm not sure how the edit turned out, but the kids are just adorable. Zeke was the first one hanging so by the time Lorelei got up there he was ready to get down, but the kids were just having a blast together. There is Jennifer to the side and baby Kiah at the bottom while Hannah is with her Momma. Please enjoy my before and after. Thanks!

After:

Before:

For more Before and After shots please take a look at the button below. Click it and have a good time!

Simplicity Photo Challenge: Water

So I almost went to my faucet and took a picture of dripping water because I am honestly not sure if my lake photos are getting old or not. I love them and I love being lazy enough to open up the door and take a few shots (while the kids run out quickly onto the patio and I swoop them back up to get away from the wind and chill of the morning). I mostly take morning shots simply because I think it's more beautiful. The color seems to be more refreshing and vibrant. I did edit these photos a little bit by brightening them up and saturating the color (a bit more in the first than the second. I believe I took a little shadow out of the second to show off the beauty of the lake color). So here they are, my lake shot for the photo challenge water. My favorite and pick is the first shot. I tried to at least get you a different angle. I hope you like!

My favorite of the two:

The more traditional straight on:

(Okay, with a little angle in there. I had to get those clouds)

For more water shots please take a look at Simplicity. Click below:

(And yes, now that I look at these photos together I'm not sure which one I like. Hmmm..I'm not a good decision maker....can you tell?)

TMMAPC: Favorite Photo

This is one of my favorite photos from the last week. I just love that look Hannah is giving me. Yay! I might even use this photo for The Paper Mama's Brown Challenge tomorrow. We'll see, but for now it's my favorite.

Check out more photos over at Linkie Lueville, TMMAPC! Enter in your own favorite photo if you'd like. Have fun!

Macro Friday: Beach and Woods, My Two Favorite Places

These are a few close ups/macros from the last few days I wanted to share with you. I hope you like them. I don't have a favorite, I seem to like them all for different reasons. Please enjoy!