Top 11 of 2011

Happy 2012!

A little 2011 recap might be in order.  Especially since I haven't posted in such a long time.

But first:

I'd like to share my top 11 photos of 2011 of my kids.  Mostly of my youngest as she lets me play around with her and the camera a lot more than the others do.  Plus the expressions on her face are priceless.

1.  I love this fall sky and her happy smile.

 2.  My rustic beauty!

3.  My daughter that - (shhh...) took this picture of herself - and I for a split second thought it was a picture of me when I was younger.

4.  Trail Breakfast :: Family camp ::  what a cutie.

 
5.  This is what happens when she sticks her face in my camera... I get lucky!

6.  Father and son...

7.  June bug dress!  I love most of the pictures from this "photo shoot" but this one is the bestest.

8.  My middle child reading up on her history.  Lincoln memorial.

9.  Emma

10.  Princess

11.  Her eyes

Well, there you have it.  I would have put about 11 more pictures on here if I could have.

Looking back on these photos reminds me that this past year wasn't all that bad.  I'm so glad that I was able to catch the moments that I did.

My Favorite August Picture

Family Camp 2011

I was able to take some time for myself and take a walk with my camera.

  I only had the kit lens with me but the kit lens is not too bad.  I don't have editing software so I only touched up the fill light, highlights, and shadows.

Its fun to take pictures of flowers.  I think that I should have moved over a little (or waited for the cloud to move over) to make the cloud off to the right of the picture more and more blue to appear behind the flower.  Each picture I look at carefully teaches me something new to look out for next time.  Hopefully I'll remember this the next time I'm shooting the sky!

Want to see all the other August favorites?  Go here:

Noticing the Gifts:: First Day of Homeschooling

Sometimes I am so surprised by where God takes me.
I still can't get over that I am here in Minnesota, that I'm a wife and a mother, and that I have five kids!
I'm still amazed at how God carries me through and accomplishes things in my life that I can't imagine doing on my own.

I'm also often surprised by the beauty each day holds.  I'm so thankful for how the camera can capture that beauty and since I've been practicing taking pictures I seem to find beauty more and more.  I see "the most perfect picture" when my daughter runs up to the open doors of the ballet studio and squeals with delight.  I see how the light reflects off the water at the lake, I see the sun falling on the table...

I see the beauty in school supplies!

And it's not just beauty for beauty sake.  It is a reflection of our Heavenly Father's beauty.  It is His goodness and love and do you know what?  It is everywhere!

I'm so thankful that:
34. He is with me and taking me to new places every day.
35. He helps me to plan.

36. And clean.

37. and prettify.

38. and pre-test.

39. And just love schooling at home.

I love these pictures because they make school look so

peaceful

simple

and

CLEAN.

  My last post might have worried you a bit.  You might have thought that there was no way I was going to start school today.  YET, I was able to clean up (with God's help - seriously it was like someone else was cleaning for me!) and things were organized just in time.

oh, so that was number 40 up there:  He got me organized just in time.

So to be real let me just tell you that today was not perfect.  There was some yelling from mom, a crying three year old, a broken glass in the sink, a bathtub full of seashells, chocolate frosting all over the kitchen, and a lot of TV watching.

Yet, I'm thankful that:
41. Ben is learning to read.
42. My daughter is learning to cook.
43.  I am able to leave the house on short notice ALONE!

Remember that our God is good and that we are his beloved children.  We are His children!

And yes, I did say a bathtub full of seashells.

My Favorite April Picture

I'm so excited about this new-to-me site.  Click it up a notch is such an amazing resource.  If you have been wanting to learn how to take better pictures this is the place to go. 

And guess what?  Courtney is hosting an April photography contest!

I decided to take a risk and put one of my pictures out there.  The photos entered in the contest so far are beautiful!

I picked this one because I love how the smoke from the fire softens things up.  I love the warm afternoon sun.  I love the color of the chair with the purple flower in my daughter's hair.  I love that I took it in manual.  Oh, and I love my daughter!

So what do you think?  Seriously, tell me the truth!