New Hiding Space

We just got our basement fixed & the kids just love it! Kira even found a few new hiding spots.  After she ate lunch today she just went off on her own.  This is where we found her.... in her favorite new hiding place!

Kira's Playdate

Today Kira had her first playdate.  I babysat my friend's daughter, Kaylen.  Kira was just so amazed with Kaylen.  Her face just lit up seeing her new friend.  She kept touching the bow in her hair and saying its cute.  I haven't really seen Kira engage with other kids and it was wonderful to see how far she has come along.  Her eye contact is so much better than what it was 6 months ago, and hearing her trying to have a conversation is music to my ears.  They played so well together, and for once it was great not to hear any yelling and crying because that's usually the case when Kira and Ryu play together.  Thanks Kaylen for such a fun playdate!

They are just too cute!!!

The Hunger Games Trilogy

I received this trilogy as a gift from my cousin Laura, even though my mom got it for me as well, but she understood and I returned it to get some other much needed stuff.  Anyways, I am halfway done with the second book and I absolutely love it!!  It is a good series, subject matter not what I's usually into, because I don't like any future, post-apocalyptic stuff, but it has so much more than that.  I should have listened to Jessie and read it a long time ago.  I'm trying to finish the series, since they are casting for the movie already.  My brother always teases me that I only read books that will be turned into movies, but hey...is it my fault that the books I read are just that good?  Next book on the list....Water for Elephants.

Grandma Sue's Birthday

It was great to celebrate my mother in law's birthday with everyone.  To top it off it was a really nice day, teasing us a little that spring should be here by now.  Like my SIL it's always nice to see the cousins play together.  I love taking pictures of them & how they interact with each other.  Hope you enjoy these!

Rosie & Ron's Wedding Shower

I got a chance to practice taking some photographs at Rosie & Ron's Wedding Shower.  You all know how I love to take kids pictures, so I apologize in advance if you see more kids photos than the actual shower.  Like my SIL said, it's a little tough to blend in, so I totally looked like a paparazzi.  I just love photos that tell a story.  Hope you enjoy!!!

Assigntment 3: Filling the frame

This weeks assignment is titled filling the frame.  Our teacher wanted us to take a picture, and from the picture "zoom" in on what would make the picture more special.  At least that was my understanding of the assignment.  He wanted us to "fill in the frame" without having to may distractions in the photograph.  I also learned where the term "snapshot" came from, it's basically taking a picture just to capture the moment, so there can be so many distractions in the photograph and most of the time it's taken from a far trying to get everything in the picture.  So guess that's what our parents and grandparents probably took. I always hated that you couldn't see the people, and I think sometimes the people are more important than the background.  If anyone has ever noticed, most of my photographs are closeups of my kids, and I usually fill the frame with people.  My husband always takes pictures from " a far" and says that you can always zoom in later.  My teacher actually suggested not to do that on this assignment and to get closer to your subject.  So that's what I did.  And to my husband....I told you so!!!

New Lens

35mm lens,  f/1.8, 1/200

 I was fortunate enough to have a friend selling a camera lens that I was interested in.  I met up with Conrad for lunch and we caught up on lots of things.  I was nice to have lunch with an old friend!  I love my lens!  It's what I was looking for, for all the close ups I like to take.