Pop!

After writing my last blog and expressing my frustrations I took a deep breath and picked up my camera again. Sometimes it's painful to snap pictures knowing they are mediocre. Knowing they look just like the last ones I took. (I'm getting really sick of the interior of my house.) But I know it's the only way to improve. Then I turned to the internet in search of some new editing techniques. I really like the 'clean edit' look. The kind that look so clear and crisp like you didn't do any editing at all. And that's when I had my breakthrough. I found a tutorial on how to make eyes pop. Here's an example:

This is so fun! It does take several steps to achieve so I really need to work on being a better editor (only selecting the cream of the crop to work on). Still, you'll be seeing a lot more twinkle in my children's eyes from here on out :) Also, I will get back to posting more blogs about our everyday lives with less mention of the photography soon. I just like to document my journey periodically, and for me, this is a huge step in the right direction!

Ugh.

Today is just one of those days where I'm experiencing a lot of frustration with my photography. I don't even feel like I'm qualified to use that term yet. Photography. I know this is normal, and I know that all I can do is just fight through it. Just keep taking pictures. Try to keep learning. It's just that there are so many resources out there and so many opportunities to spend money on this hobby that I don't know where my time and money will be best invested. Most of the time I'm truly exhilarated by the plethora of information available to photographers online. But today I feel overwhelmed. I feel inadequate.

I know this will pass. I only write this to remind my future self of where I came from. I also want to make a public vow (I use the term public loosely since I'm pretty sure only about 5 people read this) to help others like me once I figure out what I'm doing. I want to help other moms who want to capture life's moments with creativity and beauty.

Another Weekend

Another weekend has come and gone at the Williams house. We had a pretty uneventful, yet satisfying weekend. It did begin with a bit of excitement when we had reports of a huge storm coming on Friday evening. I told the kids that we'd have to eat dinner a little early and then we'd hang out in the basement for a while.

Luckily, the sun came out by the time we finished eating, and we were spared any wind damage. It did get me thinking, though. The weather has been so crazy, so destructive the past few years. I love spring, but I do not like the spring storms that it brings with it. I've decided to have some things stored in the basement to make the decision of should-we-go-downstairs-or-not easier. This year I'm not messing around. If there's any chance of tornados, we'll be camping out in the basement. Something tells me the kids won't mind a bit.

We found ourselves with no plans at all this Saturday so Mark decided to take the big kids swimming.

That was the plan anyway. Unfortunately Charlie's pinky toe got in the way of these plans, or more accurately, got in the way of the locker room door when they were headed to the pool. The poor little guy cut it up pretty badly. They cleaned it up and decided that he wouldn't need stitches so Mark took him and Taylor out for ice cream instead. We've been nursing the injury all weekend.

Taylor didn't let the change in plans stop her from wearing her swimsuit for the rest of the day. She pretended that this basket was a boat complete with paper towel holder oars. I love her imagination and her amazing ability to create new games on a daily basis.

Meanwhile there was a lot of this going on this weekend. Electronics and Napping.

In an effort to spruce up our Saturday, I suggested movie night with popcorn. Everyone was up for it so we decided on Judy Moody and The Not Bummer Summer. I was surprised by how attentively Charlie watched it (even when his popcorn was gone!). Morgan was good, too. She doesn't get to play in the basement much so she was very engrossed with the toys down there.

We found ourselves all on one couch for the end of the movie. My heart was swelling. I love any time we are all five together, but put us all snuggling together on one couch and it's almost too much joy for one mama. I love this family.

After church on Sunday, Grandmama came to visit and the kids couldn't be happier. Taylor decided to style Grandmama's hair, and had fun trying out her new braiding skills.

Then it was my turn. I think she made it her mission to use every ponytail holder and bow she owned.

This week is looking like it will be a fun one. Complete with a visit from Uncle David, three parties and Donuts With Dad at Charlie's preschool. With parties and pastries who can go wrong?

One of those days

I woke up this morning feeling great. You know those days when you feel like you can take on anything? You just know that whatever comes up, you'll be all over it. I love those kinds of days. So let's start with pictures from this morning. Morgan has so many expressions. Now she entertains herself with them. Her newest trick is making herself laugh. She starts out with an obvious fake laugh and then it metamorphosizes into fits of genuine laughter. These pictures were taken seconds apart.

The mother who was supposed to volunteer at Taylor's school had to stay home with a sick child today so I filled in. This meant skipping the gym this morning, but I knew Morgan would have no objections. She loves kindergarten. And kindergarten clearly loves her.

She loves feeling like one of the big kids.

But it can take its toll on her!

Now let's skip to last night's pictures. I think this is largely why I am in such a positive mood today. Because I was able to create images like this:

After stumbling upon a new website (Clickin' Moms) I was inspired to set up a photo shoot in my kitchen. I hung up a sheet right by our french doors and placed a small reflector on the other side. My set up looked like this. (I didn't have a wide angle lens, but the top of the sheet was on the edge of my counter and the other side was clipped to a chair.)

I didn't even have to tell Taylor to wear something cute. In fact, I can't remember the last time she wore regular clothes after school. (There's a whole blog post brewing dedicated to her ensembles.)

Then Taylor suggested we head outside for some more shots. She was getting way into it!

I'll let you guess which poses were her idea.

Afterwards came my favorite part. Taylor set up my tripod and set forth creating her own pictures. Using yours truly as her model.

Makes a mama proud (sniff,sniff).

It's so fun to be able to create these images that I think capture the unique beauty in each of my children. So far, Taylor's the only one who will actually cooperate and pose for me. Given Charlie's stubborn streak, I don't know if he ever will. For now I'll settle for images of him dressed up as the "King of Green".

Guess who's the Queen.

We are family

When glancing at the handful of photos I have to share today, one word came to mind. Family. Family is the single most important thing in my life. I reflect on it a lot. I remember at an early age realizing how cool it was that my immediate family has known me my whole entire life. I thought it was so neat to realize that my parents, grown ups, knew me so well. Better than anybody. Today, similar thoughts have me spiraling through such surreal revelations. I just love how families are made up of so many different personalities, ages, and well, characters. People who may never have been friends in other circumstances are bonded together with such love. I try to explain to my children just how lucky they are when it comes to family. Not every child has so many grandparents who are so engaging, so energetic, so willing to meet them on their level.

Mine have five grandparents like that.

Then of course, they are also blessed with the most amazing relationships with their cousins. They may not have many cousins, but boy did they ever luck out with the ones they have! To have a cousin so close in age, the same gender and living 5 minutes from you is rare, and each of my children have a cousin like that.

I remember when Grace and Taylor were so young Jessica and I would fantasize saying "one day, they'll be able to play on their own and get along without our refereeing." Well that day has come. The girls love to disappear in each other's rooms and work on a project. Their latest endeavor was this book they made while their Grandma was in Chile.

The boys are the same way only instead of projects, it's secret spy missions or super hero adventures. And let's not forget their mutual love of all things electronic.

This is an old photo from the summer. Nowadays, they seem to prefer ipad, ipod touches and nintendo wii.

The baby girls have yet to bond in friendship, but their day is coming. If Addison is lucky, maybe Morgan will even share her cool hat from Chile!

If the children don't appreciate the value of their cousins, it's even harder to explain how lucky they are to have siblings. I know from experience how easily that is taken for granted until you are older. Still, my heart smiles when I see them playing with each other and looking out for one another.

Last night Taylor, Charlie and I played volley ball for a half an hour (or as Taylor refers to it, Bally Ball). They were so sweet trying to serve it to each other and cheering for one another.

They really have fun together when the stars align and the bickering stops.

Of course this kind of sibling love is not easily captured on film. When asked to hug each other for a photo this is what I get.

Still, they can't fool me. The love is there. And that's why I'm smiling today.

Why are you smiling today? I'd love to hear about the blessings for which you are grateful. Please share in the comments below.

Cohesiveness is overrated

After our exciting Valentine's Day, things have gone back to normal. I'm realizing that it's also important to have routines and repetition in our schedules. That's what makes the little things I do to shake things up so much more exciting. Today, though, I am tired. I have a week's worth of photos to show, and I'm just not feeling up to writing much. So instead of trying to write one cohesive blog, I'll just post the pictures with a preceding description of when they were taken. Enjoy, friends.

Morgan had a doctor's checkup last week. I took advantage of the blue wall to take some sweet portraits. Seriously, her pig tails just beg to be photographed.

Afterwards, we went to a park. I didn't think I'd be writing that this winter. I also didn't think I'd be saying this, but I miss the snow! Give me a week's worth and I'll be set.

On the way home, I snagged some pictures of my neighbor's horse. I love living in this area. We get to see farms, open fields, horses, cows, goats, even lamas on a regular basis. My cynical friends like to point out that surely one day these farms will disappear and be developed. True, but not today. And guess what, they'll be here tomorrow, too. One day, I'd like to do a photography project and take pictures of all the neat places just miles from our home. One day I will.

Charlie went on a field trip this week to Stan the Donut Man. The kids had so much fun as they rolled up their sleeves and played with the dough.

He also went to a birthday party at Run Jump and Play. Morgan tagged along as well.

Taylor's been a big help this week. One day I asked her to keep an eye on her sister and make sure she didn't follow me up the stairs. She found a sure fire way to keep Morgan rooted next to her.

She also helped me out a lot when a little stomach bug took residence in my belly on Sunday. She did her best to entertain the others and even got them drinks when they were thirsty.

She and Charlie got along so well when they were playing with play-doh and pretending to be bakers.

Three more pictures to sum up last week:

Taylor perched like a bird while Grandpa reads to her.

Morgan clutching her blanket. She's becoming quite fond of that thing. (I'll get a better picture of it soon.)

And Charlie being Charlie.

Grandmama came home this weekend from her exciting vacation and spent some quality time with her grandkids (even got to sleep with them!), but I didn't take any pictures. I was too busy, having dinner with a friend and going to the apple store (a multi-hour outing). Still, it helped make the weekend special.

Tonight will be special, too. My mama is home from her 10 day trip to Chile. She has been missed, and tonight we will all dine together (with my sister's family) and show her just how much.