Eli's Work

As a photographer who now knows what they are doing and I feel like I can actually truly call myself that now, I tend to point out things I notice in pictures that is just not correct. Anthony I am sure gets annoyed when I see something and say, "Oh no! They really did not do that?!?" Selective color being one, blurry picture, oversaturation, pole sticking out of the back of the head, heavy vignettes, writing on the picture etc. I could go on. I really have been there and know it has taken me a lot of work to get where I am plus I have a lot more to go. I know every person starting out probably goes through those things so it is normal. I personally have done my fair share of selective coloring to last a lifetime! It  is just hard to see now when I know it is really not good. All that to say, a few weeks ago I posted about Eli and his photography ventures. You can read it here. 

 

Well, the camera has been put away for a few weeks other than the occassional, "Mom can I have my camera?" I give it to him probably totally not paying attention only to move it back to its spot later in the day. Well this past Sunday Eli got his camera out as I had been taking a few pictures of Ari. The next thing I hear is, "Mom! DAD! Lilliana! You need to come upstairs right now so I can take pictures! You need to come up now! You are going to smile and cooperate. Do you understand?!?! Mom, Dad lets go! Get upstairs in the bed and cooperate!" Now when he is saying this I know exactly where he hears this! It is from me when we do our monthly picture that can be seen here. I honestly just had to laugh. So we were good sports and head upstairs to get our picture taken.

 

Unfortunately they were blurry but I give the kid full credit for it especially while he is taking the pictures he says, "Just a few more and if you are good when we are done daddy will drive us to the store to get a donut!" HAHAHA Yes I bribe them with a donut everytime. Most of the time it works but sometimes it does not. Personally I think he was just trying to get donuts but hey he knows the drill. The life of a kid whose mom is a photographer.

 

 

Here are some of the photos from that morning. I was hoping they would be our Embrace the Camera  photo for the week. Sadly they did not turn out so I grabbed one from the phone but they were cute. He is trying and I love that he loves to take pictures.

 



Embrace the Camera

 

 

 

While we were up there he had to stop taking pictures because his memory card was full so I thought I would download the rest of his pictures. Anthony and I loved looking through these. We laughed so hard. It was weird to us what he found important but it was cute! Oh and the flash is the most important. The kid loves to blast anybody with the flash. BEWARE OF THE FLASH!!

 

 



Those marks are his leg were important he said

At least the laundry basket is empty

 

When I saw the picture above in camera I thought it was pretty good. He got creative and took it through the strap. Then I downloaded it and realized it was not him at all. It was Lilliana. He is on the floor playing with Ari.

 

 

 

 

 

Poor Grandma got blasted with the flash a lot!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Random Legs are a nice touch to the dirty stained carpet that hopefully gets replaced soon!

 

 

 



He wanted us to make funny faces. We obliged!



 

 

By far this next picture is my favorite from this set of his pictures. I like it because I know exactly what he was trying to do. It may not have succeded but I love that he pays attention to how and when I take pictures and tries them himself.

 



 

 

They may not be technically right or compositioned well but he is 3 and my heart is filled with joy that he loves doing what I love! I love the fact he is interested. I hope to continue to grow that interest and teach him until one day he is good too. It is like watching a child learn to draw. It just gets better and better with age.

Life goes too fast

NEW GOAL>>>>>>>>>>>>>> NOT LETTING PERSONAL PICTURES PILE UP ON THE COMPUTER!!!!!!

 

 

 

Yikes just when I thought I had it all together Anthony got laid off and life got crazy again. This is going to sound horrible and really it is not. I get in a groove with the kids, the house, work, etc. Then Anthony is home for a couple days and messes with it. It is purely becuase I can be a little more relaxed and not go go go! So I was doing good and then he was laid off for a week and life has just gotten all out of wack again. I LOVE that I am working! I also LOVE that my business is growing and I have been busy with other people's photos. I do love that. I have promised myself in this venture my kids and their photos would not be left behind. I would not be so busy editing I could not enjoy them. Sadly I feel a little like that has happened this week. So I sat down and made a few changes and even if Anthony is home he is going with our schedule. My blogging has been lacking severely and I MISS IT!! It is important for me to keep and remember these memories. I am running on little sleep and forget things easily, but I do not want to forget my kids at this amazing age they are at. Life goes by so quickly I want to cherish every moment with them even if at times they drive me crazy!

 

 

 



Bath Time fun! We spike Lilliana's hair every time we have bath well Eli requested it and a picture. He is very fickle about when I can take his pictures so I was taking full advantage of this moment.

 

The many faces of Ari.....he dominates the picture taking these days. He has to have his turn and well the other two are not so thrilled with picture takeing so he gets to endure the Nikon torture. I mean I know it is similar every time but I just LOVE all of his little faces.

 

 

 

 

Oh Ari is our late night tag along. He may sleep all night once we get him to bed but he thinks it is grand to be up until 10, 11, 12 at night. So while I may be getting a 7 hour stretch I am up way later than I would like! He is nice and happy while up though. He is sooo smiley and sooo vocal. He just talks to us and coos and loves to be tickled. He also is holding his head up so well lately.

 

 

 

 

Miss Lilliana is growing like a weed and talking so much these days. She also has the absolute most amazing curls!!

 

 

 

Her favorite word is "NO!" It was her favorite before she could talk as she would shake her head "no" all the time. Now instead of just "No, " it is "no, no, no, no" very fast and bossy like. She is a little boss. I am not sure who she gets that from?! Ahem....no comments from my family!

 

 

 

 

Eli is doing amazing as of late. I am so proud of him! He is so responsible and so good. School is going amazing and he still looks forward to it every day. He does not enjoy writing his letters so much. He told me the other day "Mom, this is exasperating!" I told him well that is good. It means you are using your brain and learning. Other than that he enjoys it. Some things I have learned. I have to be more patient with him and writing. I also don't need to be such a perfectionist. I was so worried he was having the perfect handwriting I had to step back and realize he needs to learn coordination first and worry about the fine detail later as he is only three. Since I have backed off a little he is doing so much better. The best part in all of this is we have not missed one day of school so far. I am proud of myself as I was worried things might come up but it has been a priority and we have started on time every day. The thing I am most proud of is the fact he has learned 3 verses in 3 weeks. He is a sponge and usually after the first day has it memorized. Tonight at dinner we drilled him again and he knew all three. I am one proud mom. At this point if he does not remember his letters that is just fine with me. I don't care because he is hiding God's Word in his heart.

A few things we have to work on with him is playing with other children. He does well at daycare but not so well at public places with kids he does not know. The couple times I have taken him to work and he has been able to go to PLAY next door he has been a bit rough and not used the nicest of words so we are working on that.

 

 

 

He lives to be outside and play in his sandbox.

 

 

We have been busy getting things ready for fall like cleaning gutters, taking the air conditioners out of the windows, vucumming spider webs, etc. We also have enjoyed some fun things like teaching the kids to play the Wii. We don't really play that much anymore but thought it would be fun to let them play and they loved it.

 

 

 

 

We also were able to enjoy a visit from Heather and her family. Eli and Hailey her oldest are the same age. Ari and her youngest Laila are about 2 months apart. Her oldest Nathan and Lilliana are different ages. She is an amazing friend and I look forward to her moving closer to us!

 

 

 

 

We also have taught the kids how to play Duck Duck Goose and Hide and Seek. We have played Duck Duck Goose several times before bed and they love it. The hide and seek is so funny to watch them play too. Lilliana is a riot and Eli always tells us whear he is hiding.

 

 

 

It is getting chillier and I love the fall sunlight for pictures. We have taken a couple trips to the park before the snow and cold weather deter us from going. The kids love it. Lilliana let me take lots of pictures of her!

 

 

 

 

We are busy but it is good! It is good to have 3 little Blessings and a wonderful husband to make life busy and good!