photos from a new perspective

I came to the conclusion recently that I have a bit of an obsession with taking photos of the kids looking up. Not just any photo pose, mind you, but one where I am underneath and taking a shot straight up the nostrils.

It's probably not a "proper" pose, but it intrigues me. There's something about little kids and their fascination with anything up high: trees, planes, clouds. They look up all the time! Call me weird but I love it. I probably have three dozen photos just like these.

It's okay, I know I'm weird. Now when you see me worming around on the ground with a camera, at least you'll know why I'm down there!

back to school

Today was our first day back to school after a leisurely summer break. A first day of school juggling three elementary students in different grades and a rambunctious toddler goes something like this:

I kick everyone out of bed and make them get dressed and assembled for school pictures. An opportunity to torture children with the camera would be a pity to pass up.

Alexei is in 5th this year and has an attitude to match.

Ibis is in 3rd and has mixed feelings about the whole thing.

Coral is starting kindergarten a year early and is an eager beaver.

Hobie is 20 months old and enjoys dumping toys on the floor and getting into the trashcan.

I have the brilliant idea of staggering the start times for each kid; in my mind I was envisioning kindergarten opening for business at 8:30, followed by 5th grade at 9:00 and 3rd grade at 9:15. It goes well for the first 5 or 6 seconds, until Hobie realizes there's no 20-month-old class.

I set him up with some crayons and paper for a brief respite from his screams while Coral works on her very first official math page.

She breezes through phonics and I get the big kids started on their math lessons; the new Go Math books are really awesome. Then Hobie decides that a brand new box of crayons is way better than a few stinky old half-chewed toddler crayons, and he almost has them. So close!

After a snack break, Ibis finishes math and science, Alexei enters plant and animal cell diagrams into his science journal, and Coral creates her very first self-portrait journal entry.

While Hobie raids the garbage can and finds a pudding cup tossed in at snack time. Mmmm, garbage....

Then the big kids try out their new Handwriting Without Tears books (liking it so far) while I chase Hobie around as he gleefully unfolds all of my freshly stacked laundry.

We are officially back in business.

mmm, chocolate!

I've been hanging on to a certain chocolate bunny lollipop since it made its way home with us on Easter; well, actually it made its way home with us times four. The other kids' lollis were in various states of decrepitude but there was one pristine bunny remaining. I missed out on playing with the studio setup with any Easter props, so today was my chance. The subject was very willing!

To say he liked it would be putting it mildly. This was a definite first for him. He was feeling very protective of his treat!

Then he was feeling rather thankful and amazed at this gift from the chocolate gods. Who knew the day would be so amazing? Who knew such things existed?

Finally, he was rather contemplative. Why have I never had this before? he wondered. Who's been holding out on me?

He has no idea of the plans I have in store for him.

the S. family photos

On Saturday I had the honor of taking photos for Miss E's upcoming second birthday. I'll admit I'm a little bit biased about E's family, because this is our third time taking photos together and they are always SO much fun! This time they wanted to have photos of E riding on the ponies at Disney's Fort Wilderness. It was a real challenge with the varied lighting conditions and very bright sun but the weather could not have been nicer and she was just darling! I got so many great photos that we all love. Here she was in her beautiful dress made by her mama:

Then her mama wanted to take some fun, footsie photos on the beach at the Fort Wilderness lakefront. I'm not sure how Miss E felt about it!

Finally we captured some sweet, happy family moments of the three of them. They are all such naturals!

I can't wait for our next session!

seriously

He's so serious lately. Every move is met with pursed lips and a look of concentration.

Playing house.

Climbing the little slide.

Okay, technically those were feet. But they were serious feet.

"Hiding" in the slide, watching the big kids.

Watching the big kids again from atop his perch.

So serious all the time!

But every once in awhile, I catch him off guard.

And yes, it is February 2nd in Florida, and it is 80 degrees outside and the grass is growing.

Life is good.

sweet things

And that is what Sundays are all about.

he's a Wrangler man

Next month, we will be participating in the fair. For ten days, we will be making the daily trek out to the fairgrounds to see our 4-H displays, show our animals, show off our little guys, eat ourselves sick on cotton candy and funnel cake, and bankrupt ourselves to the carnies. One of the highlights of this year is the so-called Baby Show, a long-standing tradition in our county. This will be our first year cajoling a one and three-year-old up on stage in western duds to be adorable amongst other young competitors ages one to three. I'm pretty sure every kid gets a prize; this is the county fair, after all.

Hobie is officially ready to go. He has his hat, his Wrangler shirt, his jeans, his boots, his big shiny belt buckle, his real spurs, and the chaps I made for Alexei eons ago.

I think he's pretty darned adorable. I love that he loves the hat at thirteen months old. I'm hoping this is the one who decides being a cowboy is the way to go. You can't tell me he doesn't look like a natural!

I'm working on Coral's chaps; this version is hot pink and I'm thinking of adding some cute suede flowers and rhinestones and such. We're also waiting on her shirt and belt to come in the mail, but I think that will complete her ensemble. I've been taking step-by-step photos as I make her chaps, and I will share that with you as soon as they're finished! It's an easy, inexpensive project that you could replicate for a leadline class, a Halloween costume, or just because. I can't wait for you to see!

project 365 and Pioneer Woman

This is my first year doing a Project 365, and I have to say it's a lot of fun! Today's photo was a direct response to the Pioneer Woman's newest photo challenge - food photography. If you like taking photos and haven't checked it out, you should. PW posts a new challenge frequently, they're always fun and great practice, and very easy to enter!

This was the culmination of baking a batch of chocolate chocolate chip cookies today. Mmmmmm!

snapshot Sunday

Just sharing a few of my favorite photos from today. We took the kids over to the lakefront for a walk and to expend some energy on the playground - living in Florida, this is the time of year to do these sorts of things.

The city added a canal and fountains along the lakefront a few years ago. At the time I was rather ambiguous about the whole thing, but I've come to appreciate it.

Amazingly, all four kids were smiling and looking in the general direction of the camera at one time. Miracles do happen.

While the big kids ran around, Bearby (aka Hobie) tasted the playground for the first time. He was really excited!

Wish I could do a pull-up.

something's fishy

Register for the fair : check.

Sand and paint kids' toybox : check. (Well, sort of. The can of paint totally lies. "Covers in just one coat!" my rear. Three white coats later and I'm still seeing red and green.)

Make peanut butter cookies with Coral : check.

Coral? Where did you go? And what on earth are you wearing?

Okay. I suppose the tutu complements the boots and spurs. This looks like an entry for Trish's new Tutus and Sneakers blog contest for sure.

Now, without further ado, my sneak photo attack on our new fish tank. So far we've only managed to kill one fish.

Thinking that looks familiar?

How about this?

It's all starting to make sense now. Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?

Yep, and there are fish in there, too. Four of them, in fact. Every time I tried to photograph the other two, they darted over to the other end of the tank.

See? They're those red and blue blurs to the left.

Because we needed more living creatures in this house. And a Spongebob fish tank.

"Enjoying the Park"

Today, we had a bright idea. Ibis was reading about people from long ago and today, and this particular page caught our fancy. Seeing as we're in Florida and January is the good time to be outside, I figured why not?

Since we were headed to a scenic location, I suggested Alexei bring along my backup camera to practice taking photos. He's enrolled in his first year with the 4-H photography project, and he's planning to enter four photos and a photo story into our county fair next month. I'm sincerely hoping that one day he doesn't drop my camera into a lake. Or himself, seeing as we have gators.

Please don't fall in. I really don't want to go in there after you.

This was my favorite scenic photo that he took of our local East Lake Tohopekaliga (pronounce that!)

I also sat with him and showed him how to adjust the camera's focal points. The beauty of an LCD screen is he can see his work on the spot, we can critique and adjust, and he can recompose his photos all in a matter of seconds. How did we live before digital photography?

I think he did a decent job.

Of course I brought my camera along, too. I never seem to get my fill, and find that I am always learning something. Frequently, that something is that I need lots more practice.

Sometimes, it's that taking photos with 4 kids tagging along is a colorful experience.

Occasionally, I have a sense of deja vu.

Or I take a photo just because it looks kind of neat. How would that look hanging over the sofa?

And then one reminds me of the tasks I have waiting once we're home.

Time to go, kids!