Boys will be boys...

I love these boys so much!
Mommy wanted some new brother shots
& I just love taking pics of these guys.
It's one of the perks of being their Auntie.
Taiter was a trooper.
Roaster would have none of it.
He was really quite disgusted with us,
which is very abnormal, for him.
I know we didn't end up getting exactly what Mama
was hoping for, but I love 'em anyway!



































Is this not the most hysterical thing you've ever seen?
I think Mama was sporting the same look Taiter is.

Yummy Tummy

Does it get any yummier than this?






No way.

Amazing...

Camden,

Amazing…that’s what you are.

You have brought me more joy than I ever thought possible, yet you have the power to frustrate me beyond belief, in a mere instant. You melt my heart over and over again... every time you flash me that dimpled smile and say, "My love you, Mama," your little voice choked with emotion. You bring me to tears when you allow your stubbornness to overrule your desire to please. You make me laugh when you utterly refuse to try the slide because "that's CRAZY!" and I love that you think a rooster says, "talk-to-you!" You are a wonderful big brother, always protecting and nurturing, even if you do like to tease, just a little. I am so very proud when you treat everyone as if they're your best friend & when you greet everyone with excitement & genuine delight. I'm in awe of your pure heart and giving spirit. You are the reason I know I must be a better person and I strive every single day to be the mama you deserve, because you are the son I could never deserve.

And I love you so very much,

Mama

To crop or not?

I have to admit I'm pretty anal when it comes to cropping my photos. Crystal took the words right out of my mouth when she said one day that the art (& all the fun) is in the crop.
I firmly believe that a crop can make or break a photo.
I will not even edit photos for someone unless I know what size they will be printing them in.
I'm always telling everyone, "Make sure you order the size that corresponds with the size I include in the description of the photo!" It makes me shudder to think of the time wasted should someone mess this up! (:

Here's a glimpse of the process when I crop a photo...

This is the original.
Gwyneth has started posing just recently & this is one of my favs.
(along with her Shirly-Temple-dimple-pose, but I have yet to capture that one)




















I usually start with a basic crop. Here I just got rid of all the distractions in the background and "zoomed in" on her a bit.




















After seeing it this way I thought maybe it would be better with a tight crop to show off that adorable expression that I love so much...




















And I do love how I can see every detail...the pouty lips, chubby fingers, pink bows & curly piggies.
But the quality of the photo just isn't good enough to crop this tight. I was shooting at pretty high ISO and didn't nail my exposure, so I got a lot of grain...(which shows up even more after sharpening and resizing for web)Yuckers!

That's better!
I also love how the "ruts" in Mom & Dad's old road kinda frame her now.










I like how this shows off a little more of her dress.
An $80 Ralph Lauren that I scored on ebay, new with tags, for $.99-Oh ya!














And finally a couple artsy, tilted ones...




















I love to crop off the hems of dresses at an angle like
this. I just think it looks so girly and flirty!
(Plus, it's an easy way to get rid of that nasty scab on her knee!)




















Now I just need to choose a fav!
I'd love to hear your thoughts!

S'more...

Ooohh, now I'm hungry...

Don't they look like such sweet lil angels?
Doesn't this look like it was so much fun?
A nice leisurely stroll with my three little beauties
to capture the perfect, loving sibling shot.

Looks can be deceiving...
and in this instance they most certainly are!
I'll be forever grateful to 2 very dedicated
aunties for helping my get these shots of the
little monsters!

Here's to 30 minutes of pure torture,
for all who were involved.

And that's all I'm gonna say about that!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

We love you so much!

Mama's Sweet Girl

Like I said before, the boys have been driving their Mama batty by staying up several hours at naptime every day playing and being just plain naughty.

I think it's been a really good thing for Gwyneth though, because it's given us several hours together each day, just her and I. She really seems to thrive when she has me to herself, which makes me wonder if "quality time" isn't also her love language.

And, if I'm being completely truthful, I think it's been good for Mama, too. This girl has really put me through the ringer for the last year or so, and I am just now starting to really fall in love with her all over again.

I'm so proud of how hard she's been working to control that fiery spirit of hers. I know it's not easy, let me tell ya. And I love how much she needs to be by my side, every second. And how she mimics my every move..."reading" her book, a big novel, just like Mama's...rolling up her pant legs...examining her fingernails...typing with her fingers perfectly splayed across the keyboard, trying to be just like me. I love her twittering little voice & the way she's started chattering non-stop. And I even have to smile when she pushes her brothers back and shouts "my Mama!" (though, she does get in trouble, I assure you).

Now, we have plenty of time to play and practice "our" photography each day...