photo classes

Many of you know I took photography classes almost one year ago. While I have always loved art and photography, it was always a kind of crapshoot to see if I could get the perfect picture I wanted using the auto modes on my camera.

I took my classes from Nicole Hill Gerulat who is a professional---check out her blog---but who was totally open with her knowledge and information. Which is actually very rare in the photo world. And she didn't charge ridiculous prices. So she asked past students to do a before taking the class and after the taking class blog. So here's mine.

I chose Hayden to be my example. These pictures were taken about one year apart. Both are straight out of the camera....no photoshopping at all!

The before picture is shot in natural light. I think it's ok, has potential, but the color is not great, the eyes don't shine much and show his personality, wrong angle, wrong lens, just not great.

So after learning some great fundamentals about exposure, white balance, lighting, etc. Here is the after shot. Also shot in natural light, my camera on full manual mode, with a white board angled by him to bounce back light to bring his eyes and face to life. I love this one much better.

I will never go back to anything but full manual mode in my camera now. While I still need LOTS of practice, I feel much more in control of how my pictures will turn out, and I get much better shots of my kids---which are my inspiration and my favorite things to shoot!

If you ever want to learn more about photography check out Nicole at http://www.nicolehill.blogspot.com/, she's a great teacher! It will change your photography life forever!

Principal Pride

McKinley's school does a little award ceremony each Friday for kid's who are entered by their teachers for doing something great. McKinley got to do her Principal Pride today for a "great job with her vowels". We got to go early to school for her award ceremony. I love how proud she is of herself for doing 'quality work'.

McKinley and her principal Miss Leavitt

The Graveyard Book

"I want so see life. I want to hold it in my hands. I want to leave a footprint on the sand of a desert island. I want to play football with people. I want--everything."

--Bod

by Neil Gaiman


Summary: The story of a boy whose family is murdered before he's two. He wanders into a graveyard, which saves his life, and he is raised in the graveyard by it's inhabitants, who grant him 'freedom of the graveyard' as long as he is within it's gates.



My thoughts: I know the description sounds a little strange, but I really loved this book. It is a definite highly recommend. I reeeaally hope there's more to come about this boy 'Nobody Owens' and all his adventures. And what about Silas?!

Memorial Day

We decided to stay around here this Memorial Day due to some obligations going on during the weekend. It was a good day just playing with my family. Here's what we did....

Giant bubbles (my new favorite thing)

Dutch Oven Chicken and potatoes (no pictures because we ate it too fast)

Rock throwing, short walk, and picture taking at Daybreak's lake

Fireworks (I knew that Evanston trip would come in handy)

Marshmallow roasting on the fire, and ooey gooey chocolatey melty smores!

(oh, and I bought these lantern lights for our party)

I could eat toasy marshmallows all night I think.

Graduation Day

...went off without a hitch.

Sawyer sat still and paid attention, and actually tried to sing the songs! I think it helped to be far away from the other boys.

These little graduation things always make me a little sad though. He's growing up so fast! Before you know it he'll be graduating from High School and leaving home :(

Kent doesn't get it, it's a mother thing I guess.

Temple

I was a medical volunteer at the temple open house today. This month's open house's are for church officials, special guests, and dignitaries. So, at 2:00 the temple was put in lockdown and everyone cleared out (except us medical volunteers) so that President Monson and his guests could come (along with his personal security). I was so excited, but being the good girl I am I stayed in my little out of the way room like they told me to. I could hear them walking in the hallway just outside the doorway. I was so close to meeting him, argh! The temple was beautiful and I got to take a very thorough tour so I would know where to go should someone need help. I just wish I could have run out into the hallway!

Better than Disneyland!

Last night we made a last minute excursion to Evanston, Wyoming. I know, it's very exotic! We stayed in a 'fancy' (Days Inn) hotel and went swimming. McKinley told me "This is better than Disneyland!" She is happily low maintenance :)

There are no pictures because, well, there's not much to take a picture of in Evanston.

Happy Birthday McKinley!

6 years old today!

where does the time go?

Snips and snails

the pretty little "flower" Sawyer gave me

My boys love the dirt, and bugs. Today they were once again playing out in the dirt finding worms and potato bugs. After repeated coaching that these creatures are not allowed in the house, we came in for nap time/shower time. Hayden went down for a nap. I finally jumped in the shower to get clean. My little buddy Sawyer brought his cars in too. A few minutes into my nice, warm shower, out plops a nasty worm from one of the cars. SO GROSS! Hayden woke up a little while later and I went to get him out. He was kind of playing with his pocket so I had to check it out. There was a pocketful of squished up worms. NASTY! Later we were cleaning out my car while McKinley was at gymnastics when Sawyer picked this beautiful flower and wanted to put it in my newly cleaned out car. I told him no, and he got a sad little face and said "but you love it." Then I let him put it in.

Those crazy little boys.

M-I-C-K-E-Y

by McKinley

I think this kid needs to go to Disneyland....one day.

t-ball

The look on this kid's face is priceless when he finally hits the ball off the tee and comes running toward the base. And that is what makes all those Tuesday and Thursday evenings of wrastling the three kids down to the rec field worth it.

a book again

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Summary: follows the story of a shepherd boy from Spain in his journey to find treasure at the Pyramids in Egypt.

My thoughts: I'd heard a lot of hub-ub about this book so I decided to read it. I liked it. It had a lot of beautiful 'lessons' in it. There is a lot of spirituality in this book...I was a little surprised that it would be on a high school reading list since there is so much Christianity and God in the book (I thought it would be taboo in public schools these days).

I recommend it. It was an interesting read.

And I love this quote from the author: "The secret to life, though, is to fall seven times and to get up eight times."