Baby Bump

My niece, Shannon, is expecting Baby #2 in the next couple of weeks. I'm always ready to practice photography and thought it would be fun to capture her baby bump. I sent Shannon a text asking if she wanted some maternity pictures and she said she would love it, but I couldn't take any bare belly shots! Not to worry, I wouldn't want someone taking pictures of my bare belly  without a baby bump!

Balancing those alphabet blocks on her belly was a little more difficult than it looks. First, laying on her back was making it hard to breathe, and then she's trying not to laugh and lift up her head as I'm stacking blocks on her belly. Notice the "r" just trying to hang on there.

Payton is usually excited when you talk about her baby brother, but she wasn't so excited when we wanted her to be a part of this picture taking session.

Oh, there's a little forced smile while holding Baby Connor's shoes.

There's the most common look of the session.

Start playing the Ultrasound DVD of her baby brother and she is enthralled, that is all she was interested in. I still think the mini session was a success and documented that baby bump well. This is my favorite picture of the day.

Macro-licious Part 2

I had to send my rental lens back on Monday. You could probably say there was a little bit of separation anxiety on my side. I was never able to get that perfect snowflake picture that I wanted (I think the recent storm was a heavier wetter snow, you need a lighter dryer flake, bummer!) and the other problem with renting this lens in the winter is that it makes it a little difficult to get a shot of those pesky insects. I had dreams of a ladybug on a flower petal. Despite those little setbacks I still had fun. 

The next few pictures are probably my favorite. Did you know that a water droplet acts like a wide angle lens and captures the detail around it? I saw this post right before I decided to rent a macro lens and thought it looked like a neat technique to try and master. Here are my results. Which one is your favorite? I created a little poll on the top right side of my blog. I'd love your feedback.
A.

B.

C.

D.

Like I said before, this lens will definitely be on my ever growing "wish" list. Wish me luck!

February Snow Day

Mother Nature can be so cruel, teasing us with 50 degree days and then all of a sudden we wake up to this.

To say that I'm ready for spring would be an understatement! After living my entire life in Utah one would think that I should be well adjusted to this weather, ha! I guess it's about time we get our older bodies back up into the mountains enjoying these winter days skiing and boarding. At least Harley was out enjoying the snow.

Hey Dad, maybe you could go a little lighter with the next shovel full.

That's more like it!

More pictures? Okay, let me strike a pose.

I better run! I hate that camera and she just keeps trying to take my picture.

The benefits of having the right equipment around. Could you imagine snow blowing our long driveway?

 It also comes in handy helping the neighbors out. Our neighbors are always so appreciative and Bob enjoys helping out when he can.

If I just peek around the corner and watch Dad over at the neighbors, maybe she won't see me!

Safe at last, right next to Dad being his constant Shadow!

Macro-licious

I rented a 100mm macro lens for a week to play with. When I'm browsing miscellaneous photography sites the macro pictures always look so fun to try. When a 40% off coupon popped up on my Facebook home page I decided what the heck, you know how things always seem much more reasonable when they're on sale. Last weekend I had fun experimenting and if I don't post them on my blog to share with you it will just seem like a waste as they sit on my hard drive collecting digi dust!

And if you thought this lens only produces great macro shots, think again. Harley was nearby during some of my shooting so I turned and took this shot of him. I think this would make a great portrait lens too. 

The reality of renting such a great lens is that now it will have to be on my want list. Hopefully this weekend I'll be able to get some snowflake shots if it snows before I have to send it back!

Brush with fame

Brigette and I headed to the Salt Lake County Library to meet this woman and of course to get our books signed.

This is a brush with fame for me and if you follow the blogging world you would understand. This is Ree Drummond but better known as The Pioneer Woman. I've been following her blog for the last few years. I found her blog link on a photography forum, but soon found out this woman knows how to cook and write as well. In 2009 when her cookbook was released she held a book signing at the King's English bookstore in Salt Lake. They had no idea what kind of following she had and was not prepared for the masses of people. After waiting outside for about 4 hours I finally gave up and left my cookbooks to be signed by Ree, not quite as personable but it was still an autograph. Now it's 2011 and she has released her latest book, Black Heels to Tractor Wheels. As soon as she announced she was coming back to Salt Lake  I knew I had to try one more time. The King's English was better prepared and were handing out tickets a week prior to the book signing. I scored! I got two tickets (they would only give out two per person, dang!) in Group A, which meant  I would be in the first grouping to have books signed. 

She answered questions from the audience for about 30 minutes. She is just as funny and real in person as she is on her blog. Any questions and comments were welcomed, here are a few. Is Ree your real name? born Ann Marie but brother Mike started calling her Ree Ree and has gone by that ever since. What is Marlboro Man's name? Ladd. How do you stay so thin using all the butter in your recipes? This is when she came out from behind the podium to point out how she masks that mid section and to make clear she is just a normal stay at home mom who relies on Spanx! It was requested that she post more pictures of Marlboro Man's backside in chaps and she was happy to fulfill that request. And, let's not forget about the Ethel Merman impression.

Remember how I scored on the Group A tickets. This is a picture of all those poor souls who will still be waiting for their turn while we are on our way home having time to stop for dinner at Pei Wei. 

So what do you say when you finally get to meet that person you think is famous? I'm not quite sure, I left most the talking to Brigette, since she is my spokesperson in these types of situations. I do remember some little chit chat about long hair and ponytails to cutting her hair short, just your typical small talk with strangers.

That's it, we were in and out of there in under 2 hours. She is an amazing woman who has taken the typical ranch life and has made a small empire out of it while staying down to earth.

Always in my heart

I've been thinking about this boy a lot lately, maybe it's because this week would have been his 25th birthday. I had intended to post on his birthday but when I went to scan some pictures I had stashed in my special Gaven folder I couldn't find it. I know where it was and I remember moving it to a safe location to scan later, now my problem is finding that very safe and special location. It made my heart sink when I couldn't find it but I've decided to make do with what I have on my hard drive because as my niece's blog stated yesterday he touched many lives and it's always nice to know he's in our hearts. 

This sweet little guy had the most ear piercing high pitched scream I have heard. Whether he was in the middle of a tantrum or laughing, that pitch would make anyone cringe. I couldn't have imagined at that time what a sweet and caring disposition he would have.

We were in Park City for a family weekend when Gaven caught this fish at a nearby pond. Look at how happy he is with his great catch. There's only one small problem with this catch, the fish was already dead. I can't remember if his dad told him this small fact, but we all had a good laugh.

What teenage boy do you know that would suggest to his family that they should spend family home evening watching his aunt play indoor soccer. Yes, that was Gaven's nature. He thought it was important for them to come out as a family and support me in a Monday night game at the ATC. Although I'm not the type that likes my own little cheering section it really touched me that he thought it was important.

This is probably one of my favorite pictures of Gaven with my parents and his boy cousins. They loved Gaven and looked up to him. I'm sure Gaven would have been a great example for them today. 

It's been almost nine years and it still seems just like yesterday. You were my little buddy that I could play fight with and you would always let the girl win. You were a true gentleman at only 16 years old. You touched many lives and I'm so proud that you are my nephew! 

Love always,

Have you ever wished your life was as simple as a dog's life? You would find pleasure in the simple things and love unconditionally. Accepting what life has given you and enjoying every moment without regard to the aches and pains you live with daily.

At times it's tempting to wish that life was that simple, but then you would miss out on life's lessons and that's what it's all about. Looking forward to the future and the season's of life.

If you happen to see this guy around, wish him a Happy Birthday tomorrow!