365 in 2015 - End of Week 47

I'm a couple weeks behind posts for my 365 project. I just couldn't seem to get excited about doing the rest of November's pictures. I figured out why while I was doing the ones for this post (from the week of November 15th - 21st): I just didn't take very many, and I only liked a couple of the ones I did take. I'm still posting them all here because I feel like I need to and I'm so close to the end! I am definitely ready to be done though. One thing to note is that I have kept my camera on manual mode almost exclusively since October! I've learned more and more things the more pictures I take and I really wish I had done that earlier this year! As will be obvious with this post though, I still have a lot to learn!

Fun Fabric: I found this lovely Christmas print at Joann's and decided to make a tree skirt out of it! This is the first Christmas I get to use it! (I made it in July, but never took pictures of it.)

Comfy spots for homeschooling: The kids needed to watch a short video for their history class. They enjoyed laying on the bed to watch it! 

Sharing: The girls played so nicely with Cheyenne's glowing art board! The took turns coloring on it and creating different people. 

Baby love: Paige loves her cousin Patrick! And I just love those smiles! 

Sweet moments with friends and cousins: The kids enjoying a sweet moment at co-op on Thursday! 

Windows: I was just extremely thankful that this thing was not INSIDE my car. Have you seen those stories about people jumping out of their cars or something crazy like that? Yeah, that could have been me! (You should have seen how I acted with it on the outside!!)

Naps: Shelby decided she needed one on her own. Which is why she is on the floor....behind Jon's chair. Notice she put her skirt on backward! :-)

365 in 2015 - End of Week 43

I'm still following along with The Unexpected Everyday for the remainder of the month of October. I'm actually caught up with this post with my 365 posts! Now to just catch up all my other pictures from summer on.

SS 1/50 | f/10.0 | ISO 6400

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Tip 18: Get Down Low

Prompt: Capture the relationship between your child and their pet. 

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Since we don't have a pet, I decided to try to capture one of my kids with their (stuffed) animal. I'm still having trouble getting the lighting right within my house. I'm not sure I can very well as our house is usually darker,

SS 1/40 | f/10.0 | ISO 200

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Tip 19: Silhouettes

Prompt: Find an area free from distractions and capture your child's silhouette.

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I knew I wouldn't have the time or right location to try for a better silhouette, so I tried this shot on the church playground. It didn't turn out how I hoped it would, and I'm not sure it could have.

SS 1/1000 | f/5.6 | ISO 800

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Tip 20: Different Vantage Points

Prompt: Capture your child's curiosity while exploring.

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Shelby loves the swings! 

SS 1/40 | f/11.0 | ISO 3200

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Tip 21: Manual Focus

Prompt: Photograph something that represents who your child is at this age without them actually being in the frame.

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All my girls love to draw and color. The older two are particularly enjoying taking an art class this year. It's been an inspiration to them doing more drawings at home!

SS 1/125 | f/5.6 | ISO 800

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Tip 22: Backlighting

Prompt: Photograph your child while they are quietly reading.

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I tried to use a window at church to get some light behind Shelby. But I didn't think about the cars being in the parking lot and in the way. So I moved to the side to avoid getting a car in the picture, but it changed the way the light hit her. Oh well. I do understand what it means to use backlighting, even though I didn't do it well here.

SS 1/30 | f/4.5 | 3200

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Tip 23: Looking Into the Frame

Prompt: Encourage your child to tell you a story and photograph their facial expressions.

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This was about as far as we got trying this prompt. Cheyenne just giggled and giggled and couldn't do anything else after that.

SS 1/25 | f/14.0 | ISO 100

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Tip 24: Slow Shutter Speed

Prompt: Capture your kids running past you, around you, or on a bike or scooter.

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This challenge was supposed to create motion blur within a picture. While I'm starting to understand how to do that better (which I would have liked to know better for when the fair was here), I don't care for it with pictures like this. I'd rather have Cheyenne in focus.

365 in 2015 - End of Week 31

Well this past week was the final week of my word challenge with Bethany. And boy am I glad it's over! I must say that after the first two weeks, I just couldn't find any motivation to pick up my camera or try to find neat things to take pictures of. So this week's pictures actually include several phone pictures instead.

Some of Faye's neat decorations!

The "Blessing" sign on top of my piano, as well as the runner I made to protect the piano.

From last week's trip to Six Flags - on the Mindbender with Paige (she LOVED it and rode it with me four times!).

At Ken Scott's Super Reader Magic Show and the library. We enjoyed this so much we saw it twice!

While not exactly words, I thought this would count! 

The kid's name paintings on their bedroom doors. These are a little old, but we like them so much we haven't bothered to try to replace them yet!

Saturday was Clayton's birthday and we celebrated by doing a few fun things with with his best friend. The kids had a great time bowling, although the boys were upset to be beaten by first Paige, then Shelby! (They used those little ramps the whole time, which certainly didn't hurt any!)

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Click here to see Bethany's post from this week.

Random January and February Pictures

These are random pictures from January and February that I liked, but didn't put in any other posts.

Paige got her shirt stuck halfway off....and started giggling like crazy!

Cheyenne fell asleep in our bed with her ever present blankie.

Chey being shy.

Clayton showing off his new cowboy boots (not sure what's with the faces).

Gathering sticks for the fire pit.

Shelby noticed me trying to get their picture and turned around.

Cheyenne playing on the piano as soon as it was delivered!

At the Gwinnett Fairgrounds.

The most vivid and full rainbow I think I've ever seen. It was so clear and gorgeous! I wish I could have gotten a better shot of it!

Shelby doing a breathing treatment to try to get over a long lasting cold.

Paige's silly face.

Shelby cuddling with her blankie.

Shelby being grumpy.

Cheyenne's artwork.