Exhibit

The images below are on exhibit at the Washington D.C. Temple Visitors Center from now until June 20th. It is going to be a beautiful exhibit featuring botanicals photographed on the temple grounds.

Every picture tells a story....well I wish you could have been there to see what was taking place while I was taking these. You certainly can't tell by the images.

I had Talia and Simone with me.

The wind keep blowing off my carefully placed water drops.

I would be laying on the ground and I would hear Simone say, "Potty, Potty."

Talia was running around with a 9 foot piece of black fabric on her head, like a long veil.

They were both suddenly starving.

I was balancing on a wall that was only 4 inches wide, trying to manually focus my macro lens.

I was only there about an hour, at NOON! The worst time of day to shoot!

( I don't know if the titles are going to be part of the exhibit,
but I thought I would share them here.)

"You are joyful and true. "

"The spirit of God like a fire is Burning"

"Scatter Sunshine"
(My favorite hymn.)

Reflection
(Do you see the silhouette of the temple in the water drop? If you don't I may kick you.)

Assembled in White
(10 white flowers.
I have 8 brothers and sisters, and one flower to count as my Mom and Dad. Okay, I may be stretching that idea, but I still like it. =)

Released

Today has been an emotional day.

I was released from my calling in church today. It's been two and a half years since I was called to serve in as the first counselor in the Primary Presidency. I loved this calling, and I loved serving the children in our ward! What an amazing and overwhelming responsibility it has been. We had over 100 children in our ward before the ward was divided. I can honestly say that love every single one of these little ones! I wanted to make sure they knew that I loved being in the Primary with them each Sunday, but when I started to tell them that I began to cry. Geez. =) How do I feel about being released? It is Bittersweet. I really am so busy, and a lighter load is a very welcome thing right now. Then at church today I saw the kids and the people I got to work with so closely, and my heart ached. I will miss it.

On to another emotion....Elation!

I got a COMMENDED on my ballet exam, which is the highest ranking. I did not expect that! I was praying just for a simple pass. The exam was for the Cecchetti Grade 1 Teacher exam. I will not lie....it was so so so so difficult. Everything I studied...I was not asked. Things that I thought were second nature to me, were not when I was being watched so closely by the two examiners. I still loved the exam process...my cheeks hurt from smiling when I left the room. I was not smiling from happiness, I was smiling to try to lighten the MOOD in the room. It was so serious!

Well- I have got to get to work. I photographed Talia's dance school yesterday. Correction--OUR dance school. I am a dancer again! Saying that make my heart sing!

You know, I love my life right now. Life is good!

Amazing.....

(Took this last summer.)

The most amazing thing just happened.

Wyatt was walking up the drive way. The girls were on the steps. I saw a beautiful black and blue butterfly land in the flowerbed. I pointed it out to the kids so they could see it before it flew away.

Wyatt said, " Nobody move." He tip toed over to it.

I said, "What are you doing? What are you going to do if you catch it?"

"I'm going to pick it up. Watch."


He stooped down, put his hand gently under the front of the butterfly, and picked it up. I couldn't believe my eyes. It stayed there for quite a long time. Then I ran to get my camera, and it flew away.

Then he said," That was a black tiger swallowtail butterfly. I know it was."
"I saw it's proboscis too."

Really? Where does he keep all this information? I love this about Wyatt. Tell him a fact, and he'll remember it!

My children in a garden....

I am really far behind on blogging. I still need to blog about Easter! I am going to try to get caught up.

This week....

I have and IEP meeting for Wyatt.
Ballet class.
Swim class for the kids.
Lyrical class.
My first ballet exam. (Grade 1 teachers exam.)
Scouts for Wyatt.
Ballet for Talia.
Fencing class for Wyatt.
I have to get ready for an ALL DAY shoot for the dance school on Saturday.
Proofing
Orders to place.

All that on top of the regular stuff.



Here are some images that made me smile. (Or sometimes cry, because they are getting so big.)

How to...

I lost my wallet.

K- stop laughing all of you on facebook.

That would make it my keys, my phone, AND my wallet in a span of a month.

Found keys. (Ran over in the middle of an intersection for a few days, bits and pieces remained.)

Found phone. (Inside a sleeping bag.)

Wallet? Well I needed to go buy some necessities for Wyatt's baptism. I took a small key chain debit card and went to Target.

After shopping I found out that little debit card was an old number.

I started to wonder if my wallet had actually been stolen.

I logged on to my bank from my phone to check for any large purchases.

BOY, THERE WAS ONE!!

Someone had a hay day at the Mac store.

I called Lincoln.

His reply?





"Thanks for ruining your Mother's day, " in an irritated voice.

Oops.



I cried.

Then he came home and found my wallet under the drivers seat in my van and gave me my present a few days early.

I love my new ipad sweetie! Even though I ruined the surprise.


So my title...you can fill in the blank.



How to ruin a great surprise
or
How to loose your stuff.

Pine cone family

Simone has inspired a new tradition in our family.

If she sees something small she'll say "baby" and show me.

Next she points to a bigger one and say "Daddy?".

Then she'll look for another to be the "Mommy".

She does this with grapes, trees, pancakes, poop, flowers, and shoes.

Funny.


I thought that was a great idea-- So I am going always be on the look out for 5 things to photograph on each of our vacations.


Here is our pine cone family.

"Mommy?"

Camping

We got two cabins.


We did all the camping musts and then some really creative new things.

The first night we roasted hot dogs and set up our camp.

We watched a movie projected onto the side of our cabin while we ate smores.

I endured large "only in Maryland" size bugs.

Pots and Pans singing breakfast songs sound even sweeter when you are the one listening to that music. Delicious! Thanks Ben and Rileigh.

Then we went to the beach.
WHAT?

YES! THE BEACH!

This was an unexpected little detour and I am glad I packed our suits at the last minute.

I was giddy walking with my toes in the HOT sand.
Lincoln was sneaky and went and got me a giant strawberry lemonade.

I LOVED THAT! It was divine.

My eight year old on his birthday, in one of his favorite spots on this entire earth!
(Happy Birthday Buddy!)

Could you just die from the cuteness?

THAT hat.
THAT suit.
THOSE curls.

My little shell collector.

Back to camp.

We sent the kids and husbands off so we could decorate the camp and make the cake.

They had a true battle in honor of Wyatt's birthday.

Swords.
Giant axes.
Shields.
(All rubber and soft of course)

Then from across the forest we heard, "Behold we return home from battle."

"Wyatt was triumphant, and was crowned king!"



"Welcome Home, We honor thee with a fantastic feast!"

A birthday feast.

Lincoln made chicken in a fancy foil oven grill thingy he made. It was perfect, no-- it was amazing.

I made my brother Brad's dutch oven potatoes!

Could you have a better birthday? I think not.

Birthday cake in an Orange.

Thank you Rileigh for this amazing idea!


Hollow out some oranges.

Fill 2/3 full with chocolate cake batter.

Place on the "orange lid" and wrap tightly with foil.

We put ours on the grill right above some hot coals.

I don't know how long? We checked them twice. (Unwrappwed and used a toothpick.)

One birthday candle and a song.

Then we gave them a swirl of whipped cream and ate them up.

These were delicious and amazing --with just a hint of orange flavor.

Wyatt is 8!!

This weekend was an ADVENTURE!

It was all about celebrating WYATT!
He wanted to go camping, and that is what we did.

First, this Mom has to sob about how big her boy is getting. I just can't believe he is eight. How has so much time passed? I remember my 9 lb. baby boy being put in my arms for the first time, I remember it like it was yesterday. He is so amazing. I love to talk to him, even when it is about video games! He is genuinely a GOOD boy.


Scroll through some photos that I love from his 8 years.

More about camping soon!

Cherry Blossoms

I need your opinion....

Which one of these images do you like the best? I am entering another photography exhibit, and I think I may use one of these.

one

two

(Click to see larger, and see if you can find the heart.)

three

four

five




Thanks!

(A few of them look a little cool....(blue) ignore that. I'll warm them up. =)

Apple picnic

I loved this day.

My new favorite angle....just put the camera in the grass! I love the way it turns out.