Camera practice and Mamarazzi outtakes...it's all about the eyes!

I have been taking an online photography class for the past month or so. Photography like many endeavors is interesting in the fact that the more you learn, the more you learn that you need to learn. (Got that??? Go ahead, read it again...I'll wait...).

So while I am pushing up my sleeves and battening down the hatches for a lifetime of learning, I am THRILLED that I am shooting in manual mode MOST of the time now. I can make basic adjustments...and I can (sometimes) figure out how to manipulate my camera to take an okay shot. It takes me a long time. I still have to start at the beginning and THINK through everything I need to do...but it is getting better...and I will keep practicing. It has been very exciting for me to master even these basic parameters. It's been awhile since I've been a student (:-)) and I forgot how much fun it is to learn something new!!

This month the theme on the Mamarazi blog is {EYES}. I was determined that I would only submit a photo that I took in manual mode. It has been a bit difficult. I have tried on three different occasions to capture the right shot of Lia's beautiful eyes...and well, she has not been the most patient with my slow fumbling around with the settings that ensues. These were a few runner ups. To see the one I chose to submit, click here.

Today she is 4...

We threw open our door and ushered in the big "4" this morning :-). We have been celebrating for almost a week but the festivities will culminate tonight with a quiet party a trois, with a cake I made myself (chocolate just as requested!).

Happy Birthday sweet girl...we love you more than you could ever know!! You make every day a miracle.

More Longwood Goodness

Just a few more pictures from our visit last Friday. I could have spent three days there!!

Longwood Gardens ~ Winter

After our visit to the summer splendor of Longwood Gardens back in August, we vowed to visit again during the Christmas season. Today's unseasonably warm weather and sunny skies (not to mention that my camera is back home and firing away better than ever!) made this a perfect day to do just that. We were not disappointed. It was truly a feast for the eyes...holiday magic around every corner! Like my friend Lisa, I am still fussing about Christmas card photos...and have gone through at least three different versions of this year's warm wishes...but I THINK I may have gotten our shot today! These are just a few of my favorite images from our visit. I actually had a hard time editing myself and keeping this post at a non-yawn length! :-) Enjoy!

So this is love...

Yesterday was a big day for us. Lia had an extended audience with the big jolly guy. Since most people were at home, preparing for Thanksgiving I assume, we had Santa to ourselves for quite some time. He was one of the kindest, sweetest Santas I have ever met...and Lia was equally smitten. She spoke to him in soft, reverent tones, alternating between telling him that she loved him and the occasional Christmas request. She promised him gingerbread men for Christmas Eve...so I better dust off my recipe and get baking!! It was just one of those unplanned moments that turn into lifelong memories...a nice little start to this most special of seasons.

We have so very much to be thankful for today. Wishing you all a most wonderful of Thanksgiving Days with lots of turkey, pumpkin pie...and dreams come true.



(This photo is scanned...thus the blurriness :-))

Wordless Wednesday

"Oh yeah...it was totally me...all me" Monday!

So here it is...the debut of my version of "Not me Monday". :-).I promised to share pictures from the one time I tried to cut Lia's hair myself. Honestly, I was just trying to even up her bangs and get them out of her eyes. It was a horrible mistake. Apparent after the first snip. I am taking full responsibility...and in fact hope that these photos serve as a public service of sorts to other sleep deprived mothers who might, in a moment of cloudy thinking, feel that they want to just "even up" their child's crazy hair. My message is simple. Put. Down. The. Scissors. Walk away. Take deep breaths and your child to a professional. Yes, we lived to tell about the harrowing hair situation we found ourselves embroiled in back in the spring of 2006...but it did cause days..weeks even...of angst and tears...and a whole lot of embarrassment when I finally got up enough courage to take poor Lia to someone who could fix my large error in judgement.

Here she is...so proud of feeding herself...and darling despite how badly I botched her little "trim"!



Look at her...so innocent and happy...with no idea of the "situation" going on with her hair...



And finally, one of my favorite pictures from July 2006...the bangs had been fixed and were starting to grow in...the only time Lia has ever rocked bangs...gosh she looks cute with them!!



So there you go...a little coming clean for me...a little Monday amusement for you all!! Hope it's been a good one!!