::photo class::

I just finished up my photo class last night.

Here are the photos I turned in...

Assignment 1: a photo that tells a story...

The photo is of picker weeds that are all over around

our house, and Chloe's flat tire on her bike.

Assignment 2: Self Portrait
This one was really difficult! I had to set up my shot with a tripod, and after it was focused and ready, I had to set the timer and go jump in. I came out blurry in some (because it was focused without me in the shot) and not in others. Some of them I wasn't in the spot I thought I was going to be. I was a little afraid to do too close up of a shot, cause, well, it's a SELF portrait, and who likes looking at close ups of themselves??

Assignment 3: Depth of Field
I chose to do shallow depth of field because I just think it makes for a more interesting shot. I can't claim the idea with the leaves on the wood. The shot is a variation of one I saw on Flickr. I changed it a bit to make it my own, but I have to give credit where credit is due.

I love color, and really enjoyed playing with the color in these photos.

Amber paid me a HUGE compliment on my train tracks photo. She said she'd hang it in her son's room if she had it because his room is trains and those same colors. I told her she can have it if she wants it, but that she had to put my name on it somehere so i can feel a little famous and be able to say I have photo hanging in someone's house ;)

Assignment 4: Rule of Thirds and Our City Is...
One photo could've been assigned to each half of this assignment, but I think that both follow both halves of this assignment (does that even make sense??).

The "Our City Is" part I think applies to both because we are so lucky here to have so many local fruit stands and fruit orchards around here and so easily accessible.

The rule of thirds half applies to each too beacuse both pictures are divided in that way (I think).

At least that's what I tried to do.

I love photography! And I love it more and more everytime I pick up my camera. I sometimes get frustrated with it, but I feel like I'm learning, so that makes me want to keep doing it. I feel like I learned a TON from this class, and I'm really sad it's over! I've still got a lot to learn, but I'm excited to practice and learn it.

I really appreciate Amber and all her efforts to teach us some of what she knows.

I hope someday I can be just like her ;)

::to infinity...::

Portie loves Buzz Lightyear.

he puts on his costume everyday.

we read Toy Story books every night.

he & Chloe play Toy Story.

he watches the movies everyday

he tells us "I'm not Pohteh, I'm Buzz!"

he calls Coopie Little Buzz.

he got really mad when Chloe told him Buzz is bossy.

he always stops me when I say "to infinityyy" ... "stop it! only Buzz says that!"

So when we saw these at the store, he had to have them...

...and he HAS to wear them every night...

...and he HAS to jump around his room and

do flips off his bed before he goes to sleep...

...and he thinks his dada should get some "Zihg" (Zurg) jammies.

How funny would that be??

::grandma & papa kitty::

We did have plans to do some yard work, clean out the garage, maybe build some shelves in there, but once we (and by "we", I mean Matt) saw what college games were on today, we decided the Saturday might be better spent watching football.

When I was on the phone with Mom this morning, we discovered since they didn't have any too important plans either, we ought to spend our Saturday together.

The kids were so excited.

We don't see Grandma & Papa too often, so it's exciting when we do, especially when they come to our house!

So, Papa (a HUGE college football fan) and Matt watched the games together.

We heard all kinds raucous noise from downstairs.

We cooked.

Grandma and the rest of us non-football watchers made lunch and some dessert.

The kids love to cook with her.

They're so "helpful"

We played outside too.

Chloe showed us how she can do back handsprings on the trampoline and ride her new scooter. Portie drew us some "pickchahs," rode his new "chwuck" and did some spinny firetruck jumps on the trampoline, and also got tackled by Papa a little.

Then they had to go home.

We never leave eachother without

waving and yelling "byeeeeeeee"

about a million times until the car is out of sight.

We're glad they came up. We miss them. We wish they lived closer.

Love you guys

:)

::Coop's 'do::

This is a 'do only a mother could love...

Isn't he cuuute?? We love his crazy baby hair! It's always a little nuts, it never stays where we put it, and it never looks the same.

It's crazy in the front, kinda curly in the back...

what do ya think...

cut it??

::rite of passage::

Chloe got her first pair of heels
aka "noisy shoes"

We went shopping today to find her some knee high brown boots to wear over some jeans and with some skirts and things, but couldnt really find any we/I liked (all anybody had was black-what the heck???), and happend to turn around and find these little beauties...

Her little face lit right up.

She fell in LOVE with them.

I've been there...how could I say no??

So, of course, she spent the rest of the afternoon twirling around on the kitchen tile in her "noisy shoes"

"I love the sound they make. They're like mom shoes! They're like real mom, noisy shoes! I didn't know they had mom shoes in my size! I love my mom shoes! Maybe we can go find some for you in your size, and we can wear them on the same day; wouldn't that be cute? They look just like yours! Can I wear my mom shoes to school?"

::dads & donuts::

Today was "dad's & donuts" day at Chloe's school...

...but Matt couldn't make it.

**She acted kind of "eh" about it all week, so we didn't push it and he didn't make any plans to take off work for it today, then yesterday she decided she wanted him to go, but it was a "working friday" and it was too late and too hard to take the day off--especially after the Tuesday they just had).**

So they had their own "dads & donuts" at home

...and {I think} it was a great alternative.

It was quiet, cozy, and sweet :)

::a "chilly" day::

It was kind of a chilly day today...

...so we had some chilli.

::happy happy birthday, Chloe dear::

Chloe turned 6 (6!!) this weekend!

I still can't even believe I have a 6-year-old! It sounds so much older than 5 don't you think?

>>fRiEnDs PaRtY<<

We decided, since we're 6 and in school, and have lots of cute little friends, that we needed a friends party. I was a little nervous about it since it was our first one. Were the kids going to like it? Was it going to be fun? Were they going to think it was dumb? Was anybody going to come?

Well, all but one little girl came, and it was SO fun! It was a princess themed party (a shocker, I know), and all the little girls wore princess dresses. I have to say it was just dang cute.

We made princess clipboards with princess paper and some mod podge. The girls got some princess coloring book printouts and some crayons to take home with it. They turned out pretty cute.

Then they played a "put the princess in her window" (a variation of "pin the tail on the donkey") game and did a pinata in the garage.
They all loved those games.
They had so much fun with the pinata.
There was somethin' fun about watchin' such dainty princesses smack that pinata and then dive on the floor of the garage and fight over the candy.

Portie got in a few whacks too...

Then they did presents (she got a Snow White doll, a princess blanket, & a Littlest Pet Shop set). She loves ALL of her presents. The girls had cake and ice cream and played together for a bit until their moms took them home. It was such a fun party!! Chloe loved it!

>>FaMiLy DaY<<

Saturday was her actual birthday, so we took her out to eat. She loves Wingers, so we went there. I wanted to go to Cheesecake factory, but it wasn't my birthday ( :) )

>>FaMiLy PaRtY<<

We had our family party on Sunday afternoon after conference (actually the official time was after the Cowboys game)

Chloe wore her Snow White outfit which is also her Halloween costume this year, so Portie wanted to wear his cosutme too. He's Buzz.

Our house gets a little small with both sides of the family over at once, but we love it that way. It's fun for us and for the kids on their birthdays. We love all of our family, and it's fun to all get together.

She got a few presents

She got TONS of awesome presents! We love them all! We played late last night, and all afternoon today. We even called a best friend over today to help us play with all of these awesome toys! We are so grateful to have such wonderful, sweet, generous, thoughtful family who love her so much and know Chloe so well to get her such great things. She knows who each gift is from, and truly loves each one.

Thank you!

Then we had some cake...

After almost everyone left we gave her our little gift. It was a girly little Razor scooter.
She loves it! She rode it all around the kitchen last night and rode it over to Brianna's house to "pick her up" to come play today, and she took it up to Grandma & Papa's house tonight.
"And it can fold up and fit in the car!!"

It was a great birthday. She was telling me how much fun she had and how much she loves her birthday, and then she started telling me about what she wanted at her next birthday party...when she turns seven!!

::6 years ago today...::

...we met this little beauty...

...and our life has never been the same.

::happy fall, y'all::

This is what I saw out my kitchen window yesterday...

(snow SNOW! in the mountains (and these are just little mountains) on the 30th of September)