fall photo shoot 2014

This past Saturday was a beautiful, cool fall day here in Ohio. I always enjoy taking the kids to the farm to get their photos taken. These were shot during the evening. I use a Nikon D80 with a Tamron 18-270mm lens. I prefer natural lighting when possible. The kids and I had great fun, and many thanks to my mom for helping the kids to smile for the pictures. Of the 132 photos taken, these were my final and favorite pictures.


In black and white:

In color:

Together. (Getting multiple children to stand still, smile, and pay attention can be quite a feat.)

my boys

During Peru there were two little boys that I connected with in two different villages. Even though I just spent a day with each of them, I miss my time with them. It is a little hard to know I probably won't ever see them again, because even if we return, we probably will not return to their villages (the local missionaries do the follow-up with each village). So I share my love of these little boys with you….

Junior

In the first village, I had noticed a mother sneak up the side of the hill that was covered in brush to watch as the children played Peruvian dodge ball. She had an infant baby with her, and her son, who looked to be four years old. I noticed her son couldn't walk right and he couldn't talk either. He watched the other children play, and sometimes came to the top of the hill to crawl around before his mother would call him back. As I watched, I felt a tug in my heart to go talk with the Mother. I introduced myself the best I could with the little Quechua I knew. She told me her son's name was Junior (pronounced "hoo-nee-or"). I felt a connection already as that is the nickname I call my brother. I motioned to Junior's mother to see if I could hold him, and she had such a surprised look on her face that someone would actually want to hold her son. She nodded "yes" and I picked up little Junior. It broke my heart that because a little boy was handicapped, his mother would be surprised someone would notice him, let alone want to hold him. We are so blessed here in America, in more ways that we ever know.

Holding my little man.

Junior and his mother.

My second little boy was in village three, and I had the opportunity to hold him after he had fallen asleep in his big brother's arms during our children's program. He gladly let me hold him so he could color. I had time to sit with this sweet little boy and his sister later while other children were playing ball. She called him Hermano, "brother". He was such a sweet little guy. And I loved his sister too.

Holding my little guy from village three.

He's awake. His sister is helping him look at the camera.
Typical older sister. Haha.

Aren't they just beautiful children?

She took such good care of him.

Sitting with his sis.

So if you get the opportunity to hold a child, don't let it pass, for there are children all over the world who would dearly love to be held.

mother's day

I know this post is a week after Mother's Day, but I'm still a thankful mom and wanted to share about my day. Elauna filled out a paper during Sunday School entitled, All About Mom. Here goes:

My mom is really good at: painting. (I'm thinking painting walls or tables, not fine art!)
My favorite thing to do with my mom is: play games
I think my mom is pretty wearing: dress and necklace
It makes my mom happy when I: listen (she nailed that one!) :-)
I know my mom loves me because: she cuddles with me

Her little paper was the sweetest thing!

Me and Sis

With Mom and the kids at hospital after Dad's triple bypass.
Thanks to so many for the prayer coverage.

Mom and I went to see the Dayton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra.
My friend Parker was playing the french horn.
They are incredible!

So there it was: Mother's Day in a nut shell.

money well spent

I don't know anywhere else you can spend a penny and get your money's worth. Each time we go to Meijer my kids all wait in line for their turn. Three cents. And they think they've gone to the circus or something.

beauty in the details

I was walking with my kids this evening while Jeremy was planting the fields. They picked dandelions and waived them in the wind and watched the seeds blow. They would bring me a few of their favorites…mostly just the stems by the time they made it to me. I picked one myself and really marveled at the beauty and complexity of the dandelion….a common weed.

summer breeze

I should say this summer has gone by like a breeze. It has been so much fun spending the time with family, especially the kids, who have made this summer so enjoyable. I tried something new at the lake this year - wake surfing. It is like surfing right behind the boat - no straps, no lines - just the board, you and the wake. Jeremy of course picked it up the first time. But it was fun. Other highlights included building a cabin in the woods (not for us), camping, going to local events like the Darke County Fair and the Heritage Festival....and just doing things we love like having cookouts, campfires, and driving to my favorite ice cream joint for the best ice cream ever. All this while working and building our house. And homeschooling. What a blast!

Claire at the lake.

With my AZ cousins at our favorite pizza hangout.

Keeping warm on a cool morning.

Going for a hike. She found her own walking stick.

Elauna, Frederick and Claire after helping on the cabin.

At the Darke County Fair.

Happy kids.

Jeremy getting me ice cream at my favorite ice cream shop!

Elauna just before her tooth was filled....again.

Campfires and good company.

Camping with the kids.

going retro

Jeremy and I have a few outfits from when we were kids, and we let the kids wear them if they want to. Elauna has been taken with my little "sailor" dress from when I was her age, and she really enjoys wearing it. The hat is one my uncle brought back from Japan for me, and my mom recently brought it to my house and Elauna was elated that she could now match my picture. It was her idea to get matching pictures.

I found one of Jeremy's shirts for Frederick to wear, but I couldn't bring myself to put him in the knee-high red socks and short white shorts. (So 70s though). Wasn't my hubby a cute little boy? :-) I did not have a picture of me in the green dress with the white eyelet bodice that Claire is wearing. I added leggings and a white sweater since it was a little chilly that day.

Elauna in my outfit

me age 4 1/2

Frederick in Jeremy's shirt

Jeremy age 2

Claire in my dress. I didn't have a picture of me in this.

easter fun

My hubby asked if I was going to post anything soon....I think he was hinting I have been slow to post updates. I wanted to post some pictures from a few of our Easter events. Our church hosted a community easter egg hunt and the kids were able to "hunt" themselves. The little kids were especially cute. There was a photo shoot area that I manned, and I made a shabby-chic backdrop out of burlap, sheer, and some pennants. Elauna loved helping me tie the ribbon and strips of fabric to the jute to make the string pennant. I cut triangles out of coordinating fabric to make the other. My friends made cardboard cutouts of vintage Easter bunnies and eggs, and I think the look of it all was super-cute! We had 100 kids show up for the Easter egg hunt....pretty fun stuff!

the backdrop

yes, she is smiling.

the "big" kids

pretty typical: holding hands and pulling ears

tiny princess

handsome boy

picking up some eggs

Easter morning I made a sunrise meal for our church family. We had about 50 people attend the breakfast of egg strata, cream cheese glazed rolls, blueberry muffins, pickled eggs, and fresh fruit. We used nice china and the tables were set in white linens with victorian bird cages with fresh white flowers arrangements. Some people never get an opportunity to sit at a nice meal and feel like they are special: what better place than to feel that way with your church family. My family was a great help as always. I still don't know how I would pull off an event without them.

To end a perfect weekend we had Easter meal at my parents, and let me tell you, my mom is the world's best cook. She never ceases to amaze me at how she makes everyone feel so special and well fed. She did a mini egg hunt for all the grandkids, inside, since it was raining. It was neat for everyone too, because it was the first weekend my brother was home from Thailand. 

my girls

miss claire

miss elauna