God's Blessings

Friday, July 18, 2008

Getting Practice...

I don't normally post pictures of myself, but I thought this was kind of neat.

This first photo is of me, taken by my mom, probably around 1983-ish.

This second picture I took of myself (when I was suppose to be getting ready for work and decided it was more important to figure out lighting and avoiding make-up reflection when photographing people). Anyway, don't they look very similar? If I would have planned it, I would have put my hand in the frame and added a Pat Benitar headband for kicks. Anyway, I thought it was cool, and should be shared. I don't normally take pictures of myself...well, I do...but not to post on my blog.

Here's Conner in the morning, using his baby as a pillow...Just thought it was cute!

Here are a few photos around town. I was practicing, but not feeling very inspired. It was hot and I can't seem to get creative with my current camera...I tried anyway. Still having fun...still need to learn a lot!

I felt like a peeping Tom taking this picture, even though that is my sissy reading the book there.

Here I'm trying how to meter the light with two extremes...I think I did okay with the exposure.

This was a pretty fountain. I didn't have enough light and if I had a camera that I could adjust the apurature I would have blurred out the background and brought more focus on the fountain.

These next few are just of ordinary stuff...but I like them anyway.

I love the roof on this building. You can't really see it's brilliant colors or design from this angle in the photo, plus I'm dealing with full sun at noon. I'll have to try and take this building again from a different angle and at a different time of day. It really is cool!

This picture was taken from inside our public library. I've never visited this library in town, but now that I know how much better the views are, you can bet I won't go back to the other dungeon like library in town.

This last picture is not that great, but has a great explination to why I've added it. I had great ideas for this sign...maybe shooting up through the flowers, getting a three dimensional view of the chef and his puffy hat. Well, to my shock, the owner of the restraunt came flying out the back door barking at me...I guess I just lost my imagination. Huh, wonder why? Luckily, it was the last picture of the day, or it probably would have been the only one of the day! I hate getting yelled at. Anyway, I worked everything out with the owner of the restraunt right away, but still, when someone comes barking out the door yelling "what are you doing"...you cower a little. I think the guy thought I was up to no good, but I explained I was just taking a picture of his cute sign. He was fine after that! Maybe even a little proud of his sign. So, that was my first experience with people not liking photographers. I guess in the future I'll be very careful...I just didn't think a sign on the outside of a building was a big deal??? I know that people need to be asked permission, especially when taking pictures of kids...but a sign...that's just plain silly!

Enough of my rambling...Thanks for stopping by!

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Happy 9th Birthday Madison Rene' - One of the Best Blessings Ever!

Today Madison turns nine! I can't believe how fast the time has gone by. It seems like just yesterday, Rob and I found out that we would be having our first baby. Look at her now. She's nine and going into 4th grade. I can hardly believe it! Here's some pictures of her growing to be a beautiful nine year old...

Here Madi is just a couple of days old. She was born 8lbs. 8oz. (I don't have small babies). This beautiful dress was from my Auntie. It was a premie size, so I had to squeeze her into it right away. It sure didn't fit very long!

Madison was our baldy! She was completely bald at her first birthday and had very little hair by her second birthday. We joked that these ribbons on her head might be the only hair she would ever have. We love this picture also because of how she tucked in her lip. She would do that for us over and over, just to make us smile.

Madi's very first word...after mama and dada of course, was SHOES. I thought this picture was appropriate. A girl after her mama's heart. I love shoes too!

This is Madison on her second birthday...still not much hair, but we could at least put in little clipies:)

These two pictures are of Madi on her first day of swim lessons. The white tape over her head was to protect her glued puncture wound. She fell at school that day and had to go to the doctor, who glued her head closed. His only instructions were to keep the area completely dry for a couple of days. Well, there was no way I was going to break that little girl's heart. She had been waiting to go to her lessons for weeks and this was the first day of class. So, I did what any mom would do...I covered the area with a couple of bandaides and a lot of waterproof tape. Looks goofey, but it kept the area completely dry. Vio'la!

Madi get's her first set of wheels at three! Daddy always finds ways to spoil his babies...earlier than necessary.

These are just a couple of cute shots I took of Madison in Costa Rica one year. I love these shots of her.

Madison got her face painted at Epcot in Orlando Florida. This was utterly, the best face painting ever...and she has had it done a bazillion times! Only problem was, after the paint came off, she looked like she had a really bad sunburn around her eyes or like she had been beaten. She was so proud of that face paint. I can still see her prancing around the park, proud as ever!

Here Madi is on a zip line in Costa Rica a diffrent year...I think it was 2005. I was prego with Conner, we had to tell the guides that I was just gorda (fat), so I wouldn't miss out on all the fun. We had a blast. Madison even got to stop and watch monkeys jump right over top of her halfway down the line. I'm a little jealous.

Here's my little sand princess in Oahu, Hawaii last year. We had a lot of fun at this beach...but as a warning...water shoes are a must! Don't forget, or you'll be sorry!

My little Flapper Girl at Halloween a couple of years ago. Isn't she beautiful!

Clowning around in the back yard...This is a standard Madi-Girl Pose.

Remember those wax lips from when you were a kid. Madison got these in Arizona at a Cowboy park. This is a complete blast from the past for me. I think they even had those candy cigarettes.
My Silly Girl! Another typical Madi-Girl Pose!

Blowing Kisses...Right back at you Madi!

I love her contagious smile!

We love you too Sweetie!

My little Limited Too Model on Picture Day.

Madison in Big Bear this past winter

Madison after her Baptism and First Communion this Easter. Her and her baby brother were lucky enough to be baptized together, since their mom fortunately is flaky! It was a beautiful event!

Making Daddy Proud!

I'm the luckiest mom alive! I hope you enjoyed seeing and learning about my wonderful daughter Madison Rene'!

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Lucy Graduates from Doggie School

Yesterday, Lucy had her Doggie School graduation. They learned a few new tricks and practiced some old ones, then they got to play, play, play...until they couldn't play no more!

Instructor Cheri Baynard with Lucy the Wonder Pug-Pug

Unfortunately we were missing one of our stars...Pogo (Lucy's cousin). Pogo had to stay home because her mommy and daddy and big sissy had to go to open house. Sam, Pogo's big sissy, is my niece...well technically my cousin (Sam is my cousin's daughter). Anyway, she just started kindergarten. So, yesterday was a very big day for her. I can't wait to hear all about it.

We missed the Marasco gang at school today, but hopefully we'll get to take the advanced class together again. It was fun! Here's the other two stars Lucy the Wonder Pug-Pug & Richie the English??? Bulldog having tons of fun after the ceremonies.