Friday 27 January 2012

Adventure Boy


Little Mr almost 3 plans our next adventure with the help of his wind up torch.

Thursday 26 January 2012

Cake Smash

I think that this is a bit of an American tradition for 1 year olds.

It really obviously isn't something done in New Zealand very often if some of the comments on my facebook photos are anything to go by.  It's like people think I invented break dancing or something.  Alas I have had to come clean and admit that the smashing wasn't my invention.... I still did make that beautiful cake and that beautiful little girl though. <3 <3 <3.

Anyway, this was lots of fun to do but if I was going to do it again
(1)I wouldn't make the cake (my mixer started smoking then died)
(2)I wouldn't do the icing (Mr Husband is far better at icing than me but alas he spends his days 'working' versus me who just 'plays' all day) and
(3) I wouldn't do it at my house, pink frosting (using the authentic American term for icing) between our floor boards was a bit of a pain to clean.  (mentioning my dirty wooden floors for the second time on this blog) I should have broken into my parents house and done it there.  That would have confused my mother when she saw the photos on facebook....

I wonder how little Miss 1 will behave at little Mr almost 3's birthday party next month after her mother has suggested this is how we eat birthday cake. ♥ ♥ ♥ 

Tuesday 24 January 2012

1 year, 1 week and 1 day old

Little Miss is now firmly little Miss 1.  She took one small tentative step on the eve of her first birthday but we have had no further steps since then.

Trying out my Lightscoop.  Still some tweaking to do yet in my settings but my indoor photography certainly looks a little better.... Any Lightscoop users out there with suggestions?


Little Miss 1 year, 1 week, 1 day old.

Tuesday 10 January 2012

Once, Twice, Three Times a Little Lady

If I confess immediately that the purpose of this post is for me to show off a little is that better than just pretending I am not showing off?

As I have previously blogged (blah blahed) about, one of my goals for this year and the purpose of this new blog is for me to develop my photography skills.  This includes my knowledge of Photoshop Elements which is the editing software I use. 

I have learnt so much already this year which great and this photo montage thingie is one of the new things I now know how to do. 

Anyone doing the MCP Project 2012 challenge will recognise these.  Also check out thecoffeeshopblog.com for details.

Now I just have to learn some more about formatting my blog posts.  Anyone want to help me with that one?

Monday 9 January 2012

MCP Project 2012 -January RESOLUTION

RESOLUTION: the act of resolving; a judgement, verdict, or outcome; determination.


I have made a couple of resolutions for 2012.  One being to develop my photography further and others which I have kept secret.  Developing my photography further sounds like an unmeasurable resolution however I am participating in a couple of projects to help keep the focus on this resolution.  The theme for the first month of the MCP photo Project 2012 (a year long photography project I am participating in) is resolution and therefore fits well where I am at the moment.


RESOLUTION: 
 BK (Before Kids) Mr husband and I were a couple of degrees more sporty than we are now.  Like much of the resolution making population we have discussed making resolutions to move a little back towards this sporty lifestyle in the simple act of running. 

However little Miss almost 1 is pretty resolved to learn how to walk at the moment.  This raises the question for Mr Husband and I.  Do we put on the running shoes and get out there pounding the pavement?  Or, watch the miraculous transformation and the massive sense of achievement plastered on little Miss Almost 1's face as she cruises around the furniture with a huge desire to let go and chase her brother little Mr Almost 3.

Taking this photo I learnt a number of things.
1.  My floors are really dirty.  Another job to put on my list of things to do.
2.  Little Mr Almost 3 thinks taking photos of shoes is pretty silly and thought kicking over the pile was more fun.  I had to be quick but I bet real photographers don't have this sort of pressure.
3.  The new Asics running shoes Mr Husband purchased are a really ugly colour.  Honestly who works in their design department?  At least he probably won't get stepped out for his shoes.
4.  I know we will fit in a little running this year even if it is just running around after the kids and at the moment that is enough for me.

Disclaimer:
My running shoes were returned to the garage after this photo was taken and I know little Miss Almost 1 will never learn to walk if we put these shoes on her but they look really cute in the photo.

Other photos.





Saturday 7 January 2012

Summer means swimming.

 The kiddies received a pool for Christmas from Uncle Beebs and Aunty Chris.

I don't think anything says "summer" like an inflatable pool on the back lawn.

Bliss.






Friday 6 January 2012

Resolutions? Take more photos and be in more photos.

So I love taking photos of my little people and often their Daddy but there are few photos of me and the little people. 

I know sometimes I can be a little precious when people are taking photos of me worrying about how I look, the composition, background, set up blah blah blah but I don't want my little people to look back on their childhood and ask where their mother was..... 

One of my resolutions this year is that I hope to both take more photos and be in more photos.  My Christmas gift of a remote for my camera may help me achieve this.

When my mother recently turned 60 I followed a great tradition and made up a photo board of her documenting her life, family and achievements over the last 60 years.  I found a great photo of her and myself as a baby.  I love the way she is looking at me perhaps wondering who I will become.  I love the way I look so happy in the arms of my mumma.  I don't so much like the 70's comb over on the guy in the background but you can't have everything in the age of film photography. 

This is a shot which I would like to reproduce this year (minus the comb over).....however here is a photo of my and my little girl in the meanwhile.  So I don't like the set up or the background but check out out cute little H-Star looks and I was having a great hair day so at least those are some positives.  H-Star I promise there will be more photos of us to come this year. 

And my other resolutions for this year??? well that would be telling.