Silhouettes

I've always wanted to know how to take a silhouette picture.  I came across this easy tutorial a couple months ago and bookmarked it for when I'd have the opportunity to try it out.

Being at the beach last weekend was the perfect time to try it out!

I learned something really funny though.  I see all these awesome beach silhouettes and the sun is in the background setting over the ocean making the sky look amazing.  Um yeah, the sun doesn't set over the ocean on the east coast of Florida!  Bummer!  So, these aren't the best because the background is obstructed.  BUT I did figure out how to make it happen and it can be done anywhere, not just at the beach.  So yay for learning something new!

Embrace the Camera: April 14

I'm embracing the camera this week.  I think I skipped the last couple.Here are a couple from our beach day.  Complete with tan lines from the day before.

And I let Heath snap a couple on the beach at sunset.  I much prefer my spot behind the camera!

Necklace from Allora Handmade.

And I made the petal pusher pin.

Exciting Stuff!

Do you see that?!  It's my new photography business logo!

It's kind of exciting.  Ok, A LOT exciting!  My newest venture.

I've been dreaming of doing this for a while and it's all finally happening.

I'm still in the process of getting things in order, but it's coming along.

I do have a Facebook page set up.  You can see a link to it on the right side of the blog.

Feel free to like my page!  I'll be posting session pictures over there for now.

A new blog/website will come eventually, but that's a ways off yet.

Many thanks to my family and friends who have cheered me on and supported me along the way.

The Weekend

My birthday weekend had a rocky start.  Our original plans of staying at Gaylord Palms fell through.  Without a Plan B we shipped the kids off and went shopping and scrambling for what to do next.  After a while we found out that the family beach house was vacant for the weekend so we got some dinner and made our way back home to pack up.  We made it to the beach house about midnight.

Saturday I did this all day....like it was my job.

Grabbed a floppy hat at the GAP outlet during my shopping.

We had dinner at one of our favorites....The Garlic.  It's so good!

Then Sunday morning the kids were delivered back to us and we enjoyed an awesome first beach day of the year.  I have a feeling we'll be beaching A LOT this summer.  Now that Peyton's walking and more independent the beach is so much easier than last year.  She didn't mind the sand and enjoyed sitting in the water even.  Hunter must have been so excited to swim because the 68 degree water didn't phase him.  He must have really missed swimming.

Don't let this sour puss face fool you.  She was having a great time.

He looks so grown up!

Four year olds....

Happy Birthday to Papa today!
Thanks for letting us enjoy the beach house over the weekend!

Happy Birthday to ME!

My family is healthy again.

I've spent the last 10 days dealing with a lifetime's worth of puke and poop.

This was the longest, craziest virus we've ever had.

Everyone had it, but each person handled it a little different.

I'm ALL DONE.

I hope someone hears me.

But today is my birthday!

Heath made arrangements for us to have a little staycation at the Gaylord Palms hotel over a month ago and  thank God he did because I NEED it.

We leave tonight.

I plan to eat, shop, sleep, and lay in the sun.

On Sunday the kids will come join us at their cool pool.

Ornery

Amongst our many neighbors there is just one other little girl Peyton's age.

Teagan is the happiest little thing.

And Peyton is the orneriest little thing.

Playing outside usually consists of the little ones trading snack cups and wanting what the other has.

Teagan would like a goldfish.

Peyton is not happy about that.

She tells her 'nooooo'.

Then decides to share.  Here, have one up the nose, friend.

Look how sweet Teagan is.  Peyton still with the attitude.

Such a turd.

Lilies

When I took Hunter up to Uncle Ronnie's last weekend I saw this big patch of white flowers on his property.  I immediate thought that I needed to bring Peyton back for some pictures.  Uncle Ronnie had the same idea, too.  When I went back to get Hunter a couple days later we took a couple pictures.  She wasn't so sure about them.  She wouldn't walk through them, but she sat on a stool long enough for a couple good ones.

Let's have a little FUN today!

The Ellen Show was in town taping a couple of shows at Universal Studios.  Back in February me and my friend Robyn requested tickets online for the show.  She scored two guaranteed seats and I got two standby tickets.  She asked me to join her in her guaranteed seats and I was more than happy to!  I gave my standby tickets to Heath's aunt and cousin.  It was a long day, but so fun!  And let's not talk about the hurdles we jumped through to be there....a baby that won't take a bottle and a throwing up husband the night before.  We made it happen though!  

We waited from 11:30am until 3pm when the show started taping.  Heath's aunt and cousin got there at 9am and were some of the last to get a seat at 3pm.  I'm so glad they got in after waiting all that time!

I've never actually created a bucket list, but I'm pretty sure this would be on it.  Attend a live show taping....check!

Show airs on Wednesday, April 6.

My orange dress totally scored us an aisle seat!  And Ellen danced right up our aisle.  I could have reached out and touched her.

Balloons and Lollipops

This is Allison and Jack.  They're the kids of some of our good friends and we happen to be Jack's godparents.  We had lots of fun with the balloons and lollipops.  The lollipops were saved for last, of course.  The kids were so good and took direction so well.  They deserved those lollipops!

This will be the last photo shoot I put on this blog.  I'll be creating another one so stay tuned...
And we'll be back to regularly scheduled pictures of my kiddos :o)