In the Instant

Ever since I got an iPhone last summer, I've had so much fun taking pictures of our everyday moments. Stuff I wouldn't have caught lugging my DLSR around. I love that thing, don't get me wrong. But it's not going to the grocery store and on walks with me.

Some of these moments may seen uninteresting to the outsider, but to me they are priceless little square reminders (well, most of them are square anyway) of the days I spend makeup-less, in sweats with my hair in a ponytail and up to my elbows in kiddos and crazy times.

It's not always fun and cuteness squared...there are lots of iMessages sent to my hubby saying I'm currently pulling my own hair out, or reporting someone's latest tantrum or absurd stunt, and begging him to leave work before someone (probably me) runs away from home. But it's all worth it, and even the cray-cray with them is something I'd prefer over working 9-5. (Ok, that's true most of the time.)

The last shot is for Tones on Tuesday, Communal Global, Sweet Shot, and Happiness Project, 

Check out more shots at Wild Wonderful Wednesday, Wordless Wednesday,

Something Borrowed

I recently convinced my little sister to let me borrow one of her lenses (an 11-16mm/2.8 Tokina). I love my 50mm/1.4 ohsomuch, but wanted to play around with something a little different in case I ever happen to have enough money to buy another lens ever again. So. Expensive.

I love the wide angle look that this lens gives, and definitely want to go more wide angle next time I get a lens. (This particular lens doesn't exactly see eye to eye with my Mark II since it's full frame, but I could make it work at 15-16mm.) It was fun to play around with and get a different perspective on my kiddos playing.

Getting a different perspective is usually a good thing, in photography or whatever. Shaking things up and changing things around makes you see things in a way you might have previously missed. Getting down on the kids' level and opening up my eyes (or my lens) always makes me see them as the precious little people they are.

I realize that these sweet kiddos aren't even mine to keep, but I'm just borrowing them for a time; they're a precious gift I've been entrusted with. With a new perspective comes a renewed sense of how important it is to  teach them constantly, be patient with them always, and love them fully. They aren't going to be little forever, but the lessons and the love that I pour out on them now needs to last them a lifetime.

Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.  

Proverbs 22:6

The third shot is for Simple as That, and Sunday Snapshot.

The last shot is for Scripture and a Snapshot

Going Cold Turkey

So this week I decided to bite the bullet and actually put a serious effort into potty training Tirzah. I mean, I have so much free time on my hands, I could use a little excitement in my life. 3 kids just isn't cutting it.

So most of this week we haven't really gone anywhere. Just been hanging out here, playing in the yard, and running back and forth to the bathroom. Not sure how most people do potty training, but I do what I call the insanity method, where you just go cold turkey on the diapers. She's not allowed to wear diapers again and she knows it, not even at night. I did this with Merrick and he was good to go in about 3 days, he never wore another diaper and has had maybe 3 accidents at night total. But I'm not even gonna admit how many times I've looked longingly at the diapers in the closet.

So far she has had a little bit harder time than Merrick, but I've heard girls have a harder time potty training. She is making progress though, and was accident free last night and most of today. She has managed to pee on me more times than I'd like to admit, though. Always on my feet too. Awesome. While watching American Idol the other night, someone mentioned having an alter ego, and I found myself angrily wondering what they needed an alter ego for. They weren't even getting peed on all day.

I know it'll be worth it since I'm not paying for diapering two butts...one is plenty, and J has a few more years in diapers before I'll be doing this again thank goodness. But for now, duty calls...if anyone needs me I'll be running back and forth between the bathroom for the next few days.

Check out more shots at Oh Snap, Photo Friday, Fabulous Friday.

The last shot is for Give Me Your Best Shot, This or That, and Show Off.

Happy Hunger Games

I am constantly reading. I read probably for nearly an hour every day. (As a mom of 3 action-packed children, you  may wonder what hours of the night I manage to do this reading.) Answer: I read on the treadmill while I run. Yes, reading while running is something you have to get used to, but it is possible, and it gets me through all the long miles I log on the dreadmill. It's even easier now that I have the Kindle my husband's parents gave me for Christmas...I love that thing.

I recently blazed through all 3 of the Hunger Games books. They were easy reads and kept me really interested, so I was thrilled when I saw they were making a movie. I didn't think I was going to be able to go (can you say ka-ching? Movies are so expensive) but an extremely thoughtful individual saw me whining about it and gave my hubby some money and told him to take me on a date! :)

I really enjoyed the movie, and so did Billy. I thought it was a better book-to-movie than Twilight, which has always been a bit cheesy (even though I love it) and I'm hoping they'll put the other two books on the big screen, too. (Anyone know if that's in the works?) As always...book > movie, but I thought it was really well done. If you saw the movie and/or read the books what did you think?

The first shot is for Tones on Tuesday, Communal Global, Sweet Shot, and Happiness Project, 

Check out more shots at Wild Wonderful Wednesday, Wordless Wednesday,

Wedding Season

When you are growing up, you always think of time in semesters. As you get older and out of school it's kind of all one big blur. But lately, and the more client work and weddings I've been doing, I've started to think of it as "wedding season" and the off season.

My sisters and I do a lot of work together, especially weddings, and we started off the "season" with a bridal session for a sweet girl we've had the opportunity to grow up with, and watch her grow into a beautiful bride. She was definitely glowing, and it was not a hard job to capture all that "I'm getting married!" excitement.

It was a pleasure to work with her and her family, as always. I did a family session for them back in the fall, and they are so awesome to work with. She and her new husband have been married for 2 weeks as of yesterday, and I hope that these two weeks are just the beginning of a fantastic life together.

Check out more shots at Monday Rewind, and And Then She Snapped