The kids still had a few days left of school at the start of the month. They were fun days, like field day. Like they way they gave me active poses to commemorate the day?
I also took them to get their eyes checked the last week of school. Charlie's eyes are good "for now."
Taylor, on the other hand, was told she needed to start wearing classes full time.
She took the news very well.
I've been shooting a project 52,with my friends over at Clickin Moms. Each week we have a different theme. The following photos were from our 'abstract' week. I really had fun with this.
Finally, it was the last day of school. I took a quick shot of the kids in the morning.
Morgan had already begun her summer vacation and spent the morning helping me make french toast.
Then I snapped a quick photo of the kids enjoying their first popsicle of summer!
We decided that this summer would be our Summer of Creativity. We invented COE time. It stands for 'create or else', and although it sounds threatening, it is just a time to sit and create.
Charlie and Morgan had an outdoor recital at the West Chester clock tower.
Charlie finally got to perform hip hop.
Morgan's dance was a tap routine.
Afterwards, there was a dance party.
Their cousin, Addison, was happy to join in on the fun.
Then we went to Daddy's softball game. (See him on first base?)
I've been trying to capture more photos of these two together. Morgan's grandpa routinely watches her a couple of afternoons a week. As a result, they've become good buddies.
This is a shot I played around with a little in photoshop. I used it later in the week as my first entry in The Daily Project, a group photography blog that I am now a part of (more on that later).
Finally, we went out to dinner at 9:30 that night! (Taylor was away at a campout with AHG.)
We still had several weeks of softball and baseball this month.
We also managed to squeeze in a visit with our good friends, the Glendons.
Charlie had a lot of fun playing cornhole.
Here's Daddy teaching Charlie to 'skin the cat'.
And Taylor on top of the world.
We were very excited when the outdoor pool opened.
Taylor and Grandmama planted strawberries again this summer. We've already picked quite a few of them!
My photography forum also lists monthly creativity exercises. This month involved overhead shooting. That's what inspired this shot of Morgan entertaining herself in the dirt.
These two have been tossing in the yard every chance they get.
Here's another shot I later posted in the Daily Project. I call it 'Almost Bedtime.'
Here's Morgan and Charlie helping me with breakfast.
We took a day out of our summer to volunteer at Matthew 25 Ministries with other AHG families. It's a wonderful organization that helps provide disaster relief to people in the US and all over the world.
June 8th was a big day for me. When I first joined the CM photography forum over three years ago, I learned about the CMPro status. According to their webite "CMpro is a women’s organization of professional photographers and highly skilled artists whose work demonstrates creativity, vision, and artistic and technical excellence." I decided that I wanted to one day reach that level. In order to be accepted as a CMPro, you must submit 150 images. They are then evaluated based off of the following categories: The Exposure Triangle, Color and White Balance , Use of Light, Composition and Posing, Processing Cohesion and Polish , Technical (focus, DOF, etc), and Creativity, Expression and Intention. I had applied last summer and missed by one point. I reapplied this summer and made it! It felt great to accomplish a goal I had been working towards for several years and to receive validation that my skills have improved to a professional level. Of course, I had to take the kids out to celebrate.
More overhead shooting. The kids were making a game for Aunt Julie to present to her on her birthday.
Charlie and I have had many bey blade battles already this summer. "3, 2, 1. Let it rip!"
Uncle David finally came back in town and this time he brought his lady friend, Kristen!
We welcomed her Williams style- with lots of good eats and card games.
They came to both Taylor and Charlie's games that weekend.
I spend one evening photographing some of our blooming buds in our flower garden.
And of course, I had to photograph this beauty in her new glasses.
As a CMPro, I am now able to participate in their group photography blog called the Daily Project. I highly encourage you to check it out if you want to appreciate photographic talent and diversity. Here's another I posted on the DP:
The kids enjoyed swimming in this pool at a recent graduation party we attended.
Mark enjoyed the diving board.
Charlie must have jumped off the diving board 100 times that day.
We also started swim lessons this summer.
Charlie attended Laffalot camp for the second summer in a row. Here he is on Crazy Hair Day.
I had the pleasure of photographing the dancers at the children's dance studio again for their big spring recital.
Once again, they had a big fan fare.
I call this one 'anticipation'.
Morgan and her cousin Addison are really becoming quite the pair. Morgan is very patient with her cousin which results in quite a harmonious paring.
Here's another from my project 52. This was the monochrome week.
Taylor attended Sunset Camp for the second summer in a row. It was an outer space theme and they did the coolest things including looking at the sun through a telescope and launching rockets into the sky.
This was just me playing while waiting in the car in the rain one day.
For Father's Day, the kids made Mark a sign and cards.
The kids gave Mark his favorite candy- peanut M&Ms.
Charlie also made him a comic book!
Later in the day, we went to Grandpa's house for some more Father's Day Fun.
I do not yet have photographic proof, but this little one is now swimming on her own!! Once again, we celebrated with ice cream. I couldn't be prouder of her.
Poor Taylor was stung by a bee (or more likely, a wasp) one evening when she was minding her own business outside. Luckily, it was only this swollen the first night.
I interrupt this blog post with a chocolate break. (Food photography was the theme of my next p52)
I mentioned that the kids made a game for their Aunt Julie. It is based off the game Clue, but the characters are birds. They named it Blue. I was extremely proud of how well, they designed and executed their vision for this game.
We celebrated Julie's birthday at Aunt Jessica's house.
She was so sweet to pose for this shot before the actual singing and candle blowing. I wanted to try a shot where the candles were the only light source.
I like the way Grace was trying to hold Charlie back from blowing out the candles.
She's such a lucky aunt.
Notice anything different about Mark?
Grace and Taylor spent weeks working on this card for Julie.
They interviewed all of her family and compiled a list of 43 things we love about Julie, 43 qualities about Julie, 43 memories of Julie and 43 things we know Julie loves. Can you guess how old she turned?
And here Julie is opening her game created by Taylor and Charlie.
Anything at all?
At the end of the night, the girls treated us to a fashion show.
Last week Taylor and Charlie attended Vacation Bible School at their cousins' church.
Can you spot Charlie?
A quick Chipotle break.
Morgan got to play on this playset while her big sister warmed up for her last softball game of the season.
She's not yet able to do monkey bars on her own, but that is the only thing she is unable to do.
Before climbing this she told me "I've never climbed one of these things before, but I know I can do it." That note of confidence made me smile.
Taylor's team posed for a photo after their last game.
Ever since the kids went bowling with the cub scouts, I knew it would be a great family activity to do one day. Last Saturday was that day.
Charlie was such a great big brother and helped Morgan each time. (The bumpers helped too!)
Taylor experimented with her form in hopes it would improve her score.
Yesterday was a loooooong day. It started with rain which cancelled our plans for swim lessons. Then I decided to make muffins for breakfast and let the kids help.
Then the kids invented some sort of boxing training game.
Then we decided we'd each get to choose an activity that everyone must do. We put our names in a hat to determine the order.
Morgan was first and chose to bake cookies.
Charlie was next and chose a bey blade tournament.
Taylor was next and chose a restaurant game.
Finally, it was my turn and I selected music making.
It was a fun day, but extremely draining. I'm honestly in awe of the endless amount energy children possess.
Today was a bit simpler.
We went to the gym, to the library, and then to Aunt Julie's house to play Blue and have dinner.
And there you have it. Our June recap posted just one hour before July arrives!
