For A Moment Photography

Helping kids and helping Mommy

After several days of sifting thru Presley's things (while she sleeps) here is our donation pile.  We donated everything toys, bottles, crib sheets, wipe warmer, summer clothing new and gently used...  I hated to put the stuff in garbage bags.  I didn't want it to look like we were getting rid of trash, but I didn't have big enough gift bags to reuse...  One bag was filled with new clothes Presley never wore or had duplicate gift outfits (no gift receipts)...  These donations will be going to Arizona Adoption and Foster Care in Tempe. 

Here is Presley newly cleaned out and organized toy shelf.  These are the toys she loves and plays with (plus one basket upstairs)...  Not only does the fact that we have order make me happy but the fact that her unused stuff will be used and loved by local children in need...

During my cleaning I ran across these candles, Presley was helping me and she wanted to smell them.  Then she told me she wanted to put them in the powder room (she only 2 yr.)...  Sort of interesting because I do put candles in the powder room during gathering and holidays.  I did give them to her and I went about my cleaning and sort of forgot about the candles.  Then when I went into the power room to clean the sink, I saw this.   Presley had taken taken pieces of toilet paper to place the candles on...  I was amazed by her, that was very thoughtful, I assumed she would just dump them on the sink...  Yes, I'm her Mother and I am guilty of loving every little thing she does.

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First and Last

I couldn't decide what I was going to write about tonight.  I have all these ideas but i just wasn't really into any of them...  To mix things up I just took the first photo I have saved on my computer and the last photo and I'm going to write about both.  My goal was to show my growth as a photographer over the past year.  The only problem turned out I didn't take the last photo...  But it still works, I will explain later...

The first photo is of my daughter in the kitchen sink.  I had just got my new camera and I was still somewhat fumbling around...  Presley is nude but because the focal point is on her head all the other baby parts are blurred and blocked.  I look at it now and still love it but would love to see a bit more of her face, had I just got down a bit lower.  I have this photo on canvas (2ft by 3ft) hanging in the powder room.

The next photo is of me (obviously) at my local camera shop, Tempe Camera.  I've been going to the same place for 10 years now and bug the guys there regularly.  I have been having some problems with my flash so I went in for some help.  Usually when you're trying to figure out a problem with a camera, you need something to photograph.  So, the camera usually gets turned on you the customer.  This always makes me uncomfortable, I know their attention isn't on me but it always freaks me out.  And usually for good reason, I just try to ignore the camera and  that tactic usually results in a photo that looks more like a mugshot.  Then I'm horrified to look at it for the next few minutes while they walk me thru whatever problem and then I can't focus.  

So the reason why this photo works with my "growth" project.  Now when they turn the camera at me I look right at the camera and smile.  I'm pushing myself to get more comfortable with being in front of the camera....  I layered a texture on the photo too...  I'm trying to do that more often (totally off subject)...  Ok good night.

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Clean Car

I have to admit this is not the most exciting post.  But I wanted proof that I do (did) have a clean car.  Before my lil' one I use to have a spotless car.  Now I just try to dump what I can when I can.  I have to admit my love for flaky croissants is part of the problem.  Not so much me but it's a guilty pleasure I do allow Presley to partake in...

Presley also loves to pack a hand bag (actually anything that holds her stuff) when we leave the house.  So I end up with tons of toys and bags floating around in my car...  

Today after unloading the car from a trip to Costco we cleaned up!  Presley was very excited to roam freely as you can see.  At one point she was in the front passenger seat while I was cleaning the driver seat.  I then moved the driver seat up to vacuum behind it.  She looks at me and says, "Thanks, Mommy"  and jumps in the driver seat...  

The cleaning only took me 15- 20 minutes, so the bad news is I guess I should do this more often...

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Rockin' Horse

This horse was Presley's Christmas gift from her Daddy.  I had asked him to build her a doll house.  After some "discussion"  he decided a rocking horse would be easier.  It was going to be his gift to her so I just stayed out of it (I still wanted the doll house).

I have to say, I like the horse.  And on Christmas morning we couldn't get her off the horse to open any other gifts...  The original horse was actually a cherry color (same color as the hearts on the horse) that we both were not happy with.  Mark had asked me to paint the horse and then talked of doing it himself but in the end Mark asked his Mother to paint it...  

The photos above are of the newly painted horse.  She is perfect!  I'm really glad grandma Su was the one to paint the horse.  Mark grew up on a farm, Bullrock Farm (name is painted on the saddle).  During the summers they (his family) ran a girls horseback riding camp and he rode competitively.  So a horse coming from Daddy seems fitting.  

Grandma Su is an artist and her knowledge of horses gave her (the horse) so much more personality.  Mark told me that it is common on an English saddle to have a name plate, which is a detail I love.  It's the prettiest rocking horse I've ever seen.

Dad dropped the horse off at home while Presley and I were out.  It was obvious Presley had missed her horse for the few weeks she had been gone.  I think the new decor is exciting for her too.

Presley's horse does not have a name yet.  I have a feeling she might be named after Dad's first horse Sally.

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Cousins

 

Last night Presley's older cousin Dominic spent the night so we could take a road trip to see their Great Grandmother Ruth.  We've done this several times together with my Mother and Sister-in-law.  It's a long day but it's worth it to see them with my grandmother...  

My grandmother, for as long as I can remember enjoyed dressing up and never goes without her makeup.  When I was younger I remember watching her get dressed, put on her makeup and pearls then sit down for lunch in her small kitchen...  I always make a point to have Presley dressed nicely when we visit, it's a tradition I enjoy.  Last time we visited I had Presley in pony tails, my grandmother said she likes her hair better down.  I honestly think she was just saw that Presley didn't like them...

Presley just adores her cousin Dominic and wants to do whatever he's doing.  It's really fun to see the two of them together.  For the amount of time they spend together they really got along quite well.    

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Yummy

I'm a weirdo and I photograph everything.  Half the time I cook I photograph it before I serve it...  I'm a total dork but you never know what's going to turn out to be a great photo until you try.

The first and last photos are of my favorite ham and brie open face sandwich.  I wasn't sure if my daughter would have the same feeling.  But I gave it to her and she loves it.  Oh and blueberries are her absolute favorite fruit, maybe that helped.

The other sandwich is a italian turkey with provolone on sour dough with marinara sauce.  She liked it until she saw the seasoning on the turkey it freaked her out.  By that time she already had most the sandwich.

I don't know if every kid is willing to eat like this.  But she did tell me she didn't like it before she ate both of them...

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Brighten Your Day

Just to brighten your day.

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Rub-a- dub-dub

The weather has been a bit warmer then we would like this week.  Our afternoon walks are for now out of the question, (yeah it's only March).  Morning are still comfortable so I really don't have too much to complain about.  I just haven't made the mental switch to get up and get out.

At 5pm it was obvious Presley hadn't had enough outside time.  So while I cleaned Presley and Daddy went outside to splash around.  They both had a great time...  I had to pop in for some photos for course.

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Sea Glass

Cobalt Sea Glass Love Poem
Cobalt Sea Glass Love Poem

E.B. Reid

By the time we found each other
the moshing Atlantic had already
made your jagged edges
soothingly smoother and invitingly bluer.
I treasure your penny size self
more than sapphires
and yet the notion of you sometimes
scares me more than drowning.
With each passing day
I learn to accept and trust
that when I grasp you in my hand
you can not cut my palm
and I will love you
until the moon no longer rules the oceans.

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Just a Slide

After my posting last night I had decided I would blog on photo stuff, my views were very low...  But here I am today blogging about photo stuff.  I always make plans, rarely follow them.  Maybe my catchy headline will bring them in (joke ha ha).  

Here is my much loved Lil' Stink Bug sliding at the park.  I love this sequence of photos I think the story they tell is pretty clear.  As you can see she did get scared while going down the slide but kept doing it.  The last photo is her telling me I'm too close.

I probably shoot 50 photos a day 6 days a week, sometimes 7.  With digital there is no reason not to.  I've really improved my style and caught unexpected photos I love.  As I've said before I take my camera everywhere, today we were taking Presley to Doctor (bug bite, but she's fine).  I actually thought should I take my camera? Then I thought, nah...  

Well doctor took longer then expected then we had to go to pharmacy so we stopped on Mill for take out while we waited for Rx.  Oh my St. Patti's Day mayhem!  I was soo bummed I didn't have my camera.  Mill was so alive, I really think I could of got some great photos...  Bummer.  So the moral again tonight take your camera everywhere and take lots of photos.  

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