52 Weeks of ME- Week Eighteen

Theme of the week:

Rule of Thirds

If you aren't familiar with the photography "Rule of Thirds" you can go to the tutorial I did AGES and AGES ago. You'll surely get a kick out of how young Sugar Bear is in it. :)

I really didn't have a plan this week, and quite literally just nabbed this shot when I had the time, but I do like how it turned out. One of these days, I'll actually wear some makeup. At least put a little bit of lip gloss on. It just isn't me to wear that stuff, so I think it is pretty telling that in the past 18 weeks, I haven't taken a photo of myself done up. I do think I've been in this shirt once, if not TWICE before. ummm....yeah...it is pretty realistic as well. I tend to wear the same clothes over and over. I'm a lazy dresser.

I have to share a bit about these little bunnies. They are the offspring of our precious OSHEE Minoshee! We are over the top excited about these little honey bunnies. WE added a male Holland Lop to our mix this spring, and these two babies are purebred Holland Lop, and we can't wait to see how they turn out. So far, they are a crack up. Compared to our other baby bunnies, the are really quite chubby little bun buns, and I love it. Their fur is short, and silky. I can't wait for their ears to lop over. ♥ Sadly, there were 5 in the litter and only these two survived. We are quick smitten with them.

Be sure to head on over to visit Jessie and Cara to see all the fabulous ladies taking part in this cool project.

Little Life....in gentle hands

This photo just melts my heart. For me, not only does it showcase the beauty of children and animals together, it really defines so much of Sugar's personality. She is such a gentle soul.

All in all, I can't ever get enough of my little Sugar Bear's hands doing things....anything, really. I'm actually thinking of doing another project inspired by hands. :) We'll see!

Our Ivy Is Growing Up

For more Wordless Wednesday, go HERE and HERE and HERE.

OH Sugar Bear

My dearest Sugar Bear....

How many times have I wondered what it would be like to have more than one of my special girl?

Oh how I've thought about how wonderful it would be to have my love for you times 10. ♥

There are just so many reasons to wish that there were more of you in this world. It would definitely be a better place, because.....

You are so very funny!

You are always willing to GIVE...and SHARE!

You are gentle.....loving....and HAPPY!

You are my little MONKEY GIRL.....

and even though I wish there could be more and more and more of you....I'm so very blessed to be the mother of the ONE AND ONLY YOU! ♥ ♥ ♥

Hoppy Easter!

We've got Easter Bunnies....yes we do!

We've got Easter Bunnies....how about YOU?

We've got Easter Bunny butts......TOO!

Tee hee!

Happy Easter, Everyone! ♥

52 Weeks of ME- Week Seventeen

Theme of the week:

Multiple Exposure

I was pretty excited to see this theme. I've done a multiple exposure shot before, but I wasn't happy with the outcome, so I was more than eager to try again. While I did mess up a bit on the editing of this, and if I felt more energetic, I'd go back and fix it, I rather like the result. Next time I just need to up the aperature more. I shot this at f3.5. I totally should have done f6 or so. This was such a fun experiment. What a hoot.

Oh and yes indeedy! Sugar Bear just HAD to get in on this action. She planned each and every one of these poses. Soooooooooooooo fun to work with her on this.

We did a few more...but I don't have them edited yet. I can see many many more of these in our future.

Be sure to head on over to visit Jessie and Cara to see all the fabulous ladies taking part in this cool project.

My Week 28

April 10th I just had to document the most recent milestone for Sugar Bear. While I was away last week, Grandma taught The Sugar how to tie her shoes, and SHE.IS.SO.PROUD!!!! Like seriously PROUD.PROUD.PROUD. She beams when she does it. It does my heart good! ♥

April 11th my little honey bunny had to accompany me to an evening presentation I was doing for work. She spent half the time listening to what I was talking about (oral health for infants and toddlers), and the other half drawing me the most heartfelt picture of a rainbow. She knows I've been hating on all the rain we've been getting, and wanted to brighten my day...and boy did she. ♥

April 12th we couldn't wait to get home and check on the baby bunnies. You can't let more than a day go by without giving them so love or you'll miss their entire babyhood. These little buggers grow like weeds. This is "Lovers". Sugar named it that because he/she is so very snuggly. I crack up when she says, "Come here lovers. Give me some love." ♥

April 13th caught me continuing to try to focus on signs of Spring. I know I'm not the only one to say this.....but gosh darn it...."That Groundhog LIED!"

April 14th wasn't a typical Thursday. We had a potluck at work on a Thursday....A THURSDAY! We were shaking it up people. The theme this month was "ballpark food". tee hee...it was definitely interesting. I brought cotton candy...but only because everyone else took my other ideas. Lucky for Sugar Bear.....there was lots left for her. She loves cotton candy. ♥

April 15th was a fun day. Sugar didn't have school....and I had to travel a bit for work, so she joined me, and we had a wonderful "girls day!" It couldn't have been better. We played a game on the drive where we yelled out "flowers" every time we saw some. We are DESPERATE for flowers around her. We were out of control and giggling the whole way. This tree was so stunning. I just had to take some pics even though I have taken so many similar pics over the years. JUST.COULDN'T.RESIST. ♥

April 16th was a relaxing day at home....minus the vicious cold I came down with, and the injured hand I acquired the day before. Yup...minus those two things...It was pretty awesome. I took this quick snap of my neighbor's kitty cats. Sugar and I were in charge of feeding them for a few days. I was so glad to have the opportunity to do my friend a favor. She has done so much for me over the years.

Whew...so I'm all caught up on this project. Yes, I hurt my hand....my right hand...and it is killing me. It hurts to type...it REALLY hurts to mouse.....and that has held me back this week.

Week 27

April 3rd was AWESOME! We had nice weather, and took the time for a super fun walk/bike ride on our road. It was a first for Ivy, and all together too long coming for Sugar Bear. We usually get out on these walks a whole lot sooner in the year, but we have just had so darn much rain.

April 4th was a typical Monday, until we got home and I had to dash around the house packing for both Sugar Bear and I. Sugar would be spending some time with her grandma, and cousins while I attended a conference. I always pack some movies for my girl to watch at Grandma's house. We love movies...and own a lot.

April 5th found me in the central part of our State at a resort. It was wonderful, crisp clean air, and gorgeous views. A friend traveled with me, and we listened to a book on CD. I haven't done that in ages. It happened to be a book I read last year. It was so interesting to hear it read to me. I'm not sure I like it. The reader had her own opinion of the characters, and her tone reflected that. I didn't agree, so it was strange. A character that I had read as strong...she read as whiny and needy. ugh.

April 6th was the first day of the conference. I always enjoy looking at what the vendor has displayed. These feelings bears where cute.....but the angry bear scared me. tee hee

April 7th was another day of conference, and then our boss made us an awesome dinner in our condo. He is an incredible cook, and it is always a treat to be served by him. We had fun as a group playing games like "Apples to Apples". :) good times.

April 8th was part conference, but mostly time spent driving home. We woke to a dusting of snow all around. I love it. We get such little snow around here, and it is so fun to photograph when it is a rarity.

April 9th was a delight. It was so wonderful to be back with my family, and to see how much our baby bunnies had grown....which is A LOT! Seriously....between the puppy and the bunnies....the cell growth in our house is NUTS right now. :)

So, I know I'm really behind in my blogging, but that's okay....cause I'm getting other stuff done....and I'm still takin' pics. I'll get around to posting them soon.

52 Weeks of ME- Week Sixteen

I did not follow the theme for the week. I wanted to, but alas, I was sick this week, and just didn't find a way to grab the shot I was thinking of. So....it was only fitting to take a photo of myself doing what I've been doing an awful lot of.....

yup....this cold is the pits. It's okay, though. I'll get better, and things will feel all that more wonderful. :)

Be sure to head on over to visit Jessie and Cara to see all the fabulous ladies taking part in this cool project.

From :( to :)

While I've been in a bit of a :( sort of mood this week, I strongly feel that focusing on the :( is NOT going to help. So.....even though I've been too busy to take pictures...edit pictures....blog about the pictures....I do have a few minutes to think of things that turn my frown upside down.

-baby bunnies

-cotton candy

-a friend showing appreciation for something I did.

-a fast growing puppy who is ALWAYS excited to see me.

-potluck

-a bubbly bath with my girl.

-a wonderful parent/teacher conference

-listening to Sugar Bear tell me all the exciting things she is learning in her math class.

-knowing that Sugar's daycare provider loves her ALMOST as much as I do.

-daffodils.

-a bridge that was closed....and adding 30 minutes of driving every day to my life....being opened A WEEK AHEAD of schedule. WOO HOO!

-Ice cream

-a new lens for my camera. ♥

-the perfect rainbow picture drawn by my Sugar while she quietly, and patiently listens to me give a 30 minute presentation at an evening meeting for work. She is the BEST!

-sweet pea scented hand lotion.

-finding the chap stick I lost 3 months ago in the pocket of a coat I hadn't worn since then.

-hearing a wonderful birthstory and being instantly taken back to the day I first met Sugar Bear.

-watching videos of Sugar Bear when she was younger.

-knowing that summer break is only 7 weeks away for ME and 8.5 weeks away for Sugar Bear.

Life is good, folks. :)

Easter Bunny

Shutter Love Tuesday~ Bicycle

Grabbed this shot the other day. Ivy wasn't so sure of her first walk around the loop, and kept wanting to sit right next to Sugar Bear's bike. In fact, she wanted to climb under it whenever the bike stopped moving. What a silly pup.

Can you believe how big Ivy is getting? They grow so very fast.

52 Weeks of ME- Week Fifteen

Theme of the week:

Out Of Focus

I had all sorts of great ideas....but really didn't attempt any of them. While I was away from home most of the week, I just didn't find inspiration. Or maybe it's more accurate to say that I was distracted. I did take a few moments (okay...maybe it took me like 10 minutes or more) to grab a shot of myself relaxing in front of the fireplace. I wish I could tell you that it was a super relaxing moment...but honestly...it was hard work, and did not turn out like I had hoped, but I got tired of trying. Instead of my feet being in focus, I wanted the fire to be in focus, but gosh darn it...my camera would not cooperate, and I got real tired of crawling back and forth to see what I got. In the end...my shot isn't horrible, and I learned a bit in the process, so it's all good.

Be sure to head on over to visit Jessie and Cara to see all the fabulous ladies taking part in this cool project.

Water loving friends

If you missed the previous post....go to yesterday's post to get all caught up on the awesome time Sugar Bear and her friend, Danny had at a water fountain. They started out....trying to not get wet...but soon....we just let the fun happen....and it was a treat to watch. Sugar Bear and I were a part of this family for 4 days, and this day....our last, I could really see Sugar Bear opening up to them. BUT...as you can see...she was still a bit apprehensive.

They played and played....ran and ran....and giggled and giggled in the water. While Danny....uhhhhh....took a little rest...

We won't even ask what he is doing here.....tee hee

Sugar Bear got her water dancing groove on. :)

Such fun for me to edit these pics and be able to visually see Sugar Bear relaxing into a comfortable friendship. ♥

Too Bad....it was our last day in Sunny California. :( But we'll be back....I just know it!

A squirting good time

Yes, I do realize that I have NOT posed about our Disneyland trip, and it has been a MONTH....oh my gosh....A MONTH since we have been there. My how time flies. I promise I'll be getting to it eventually. We just had such a wonderful time, and Disney, to be totally honest....wasn't the BEST of it. Today, I wanted to share some of the pictures I took on our last day in Orange County. Don't ask me where we are in these...as I don't know. I just know we stopped here to kill time before getting dropped off at the airport. It was PERFECT! WE don't have one of these fountain type play feature things in our town, so this was a new experience for Sugar Bear. It all started off with the two littles trying not to get wet, but we didn't really care if they did. It was hot, and I'm sure it was super refreshing.

There is just something about water that brings out the JOY in people. I honestly could have watched them play in this fountain all day.

It took concentration to get the timing right, and not get squirted.

But it was pretty fun when you got it wrong, and were surprised with a squirt. :)

Danny was a good helper, he tried to help Sugar figure out when to go.

He was definitely more daring at first.....

But it didn't take long for Sugar Bear to get in on the action.

I just love the sport of it all. Editing these pics made me smile all the more than actually being there. I enjoy seeing what I captured. Those moment in time.....the things I can't see unless stopped in the middle. I love her little legs and feet in this shot. She is losing the baby legs...and getting some athletic muscular legs.

Another fun pastime as trying to step on the holes in the ground to keep the water from squirting up. This could be risky.

The running.....the splashing.....the jumping, and squealing. Love it all.

And again....these feet....and legs....how I love them so. I like that I can feel her joy...even though I can't see her face in these shots. So many things to see all at once. I'm grateful to have the photos so that I can study them and see all that was happening that day.

You know what I didn't notice the entire time we were there? Only when I was editing the pictures did I see it! How could I have missed the fact that my girl had her sweet little fingers crossed as she ran through the fountain? Hoping and wishing to make it to the other side without getting squirted.

Go on....go back and look. Her fingers are crossed in all of the ones where her hands are in view. I honestly had no idea, and I wonder if Carol noticed either.