Shoot and Edit - self portrait

This week's theme is couples/self-portrait.  The last thing I ever want to do is take a picture of myself.  I'm always behind the camera and I'm happy that way.  To get a self portrait I had to be so close to the camera which is even more uncomfortable for me.  Bags under eyes, pregnancy mask spots that won't go away, wrinkles creases...  I thought I'd give this a try before I took the kids to church yesterday morning while my husband was out of town and couldn't make fun of me for taking pictures of myself.  lol

Here's my SOOC...

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

I took a couple weeks off from doing the Scavenger Hunt but decided to pick it back up this week.  It's been super busy around here but I was able to capture all new photos except one.  I couldn't get an interesting sky picture so I pulled out a neat one I took while we were trick-or-treating.

Everyday 

we play in the sand!

Blurred

waiting for the garden to grow...

Furry

Our chocolate lab, Sadie

Capture the sky

Halloween night

 Life

My favorite shot for this week's SH!  Wylie, just minutes after she was born!  I got to capture it all for my sweet friend!

Shoot and Edit - Pink Edited

I have been busy editing pictures of this precious baby all week.  I can hardly wait to go visit her tomorrow and then again next week to try and take pictures of her.  I edited my picture and had it ready to post and then I read Ashley's blog this afternoon so thought I'd hold off and try her tutorial also.  I had tried the Mini Fusion action earlier in the week but couldn't quite figure it out and then last night I found the directions.  Amazing what a little reading does!  Anyways,  here are my edits this week...

SOOC

ACR

PSE8 edits

Edit 1 - ran a PW action (not sure which one)

Edit 2 - PW black and white action

Edit 3 - This is the one I edited today following Ashley's steps.  I ran the Mini Fusion and Florida (randomly downloaded and added it last night) and then added a PW action (maybe Warmer, not sure)

This tutorial was very helpful!  I'm really learning a lot from this!  It's a great resource to come back to also.

For more:

Just some recent outside pictures

We've finally had some nice weather.  The kids have been enjoying playing outside (but it was starting to rain so we're in right now).  Monday was President's Day and Ella played with the neighbors outside from 10am-6pm.  She got sun brunt in February!

On Valentine's Day the kids got to open a little package that arrived from California.  In it was a movie with some ring pops.  They played a little longer outside enjoying their ring pop but then had to come in and watch their new movie.  I think they've watched it quite a few times already.  Thanks Papa MO.

A new movie!

B reading his card

Showing off his muscles

Ella reading (actually reading, not pretending) her card

On Sunday morning we were playing out back before all the Crawford family got here to celebrate Chris' birthday.  Bennett is quite the sporto.  He is happiest when he is playing something that involves a ball, be it football, basketball, golf or baseball.  I do not mean t-ball; I'm talking the real deal.  We throw him a real baseball and he swings and hits half the time.  He swings left handed and throws right handed.

ready to play

Swing!

He hit it!

Congratulatory hug from sister!

Game over...Grandma and Pop Pop are here

Isn't he adorable!

Shoot and Edit - Pink

Little Wylie (my best friend's daughter) made it just in time for this week's Shoot and Edit.  However, my daughter is really the one wearing pink.  It was so dark in the hospital room and I was having a hard time yesterday getting all my settings to cooperate.  I'll really have to step it up this week! :)

We are totally in love with this baby!  My daughter has asked for me to have another (but only a girl because she has a brother) and is a baby holding pro!  We're not having more.

SOOC:

For more pink photos go on over to:

Shoot and Edit - love/romance Edited

Earlier this week I shared a photo I took on Sunday of my best friend and her husband who are expecting their first baby, a girl.  She's due this Saturday and I can't wait to be there and meet her little princess.  You see, I get to be in the delivery room and photograph the precious moments their baby makes her debut.  I'm so honored she has asked me to be in there with her!  I just hope everything works out and I have someone to watch my kiddos when she goes into labor!!  On to my edits...

After reading Ashley's post I decided to watch the video tutorial on Grant's Curves Action.  I thought I'd try editing it one more time using the curves action and then I applied Mud Pies action.  I don't remember which action I used on the Final above but I think I like it better.

*If anyone has any delivery room photo op tips please feel free to leave them in the comments!!

What Ella says...

This week Ella has said a couple cute things AND I have actually remembered them!  I thought I should write them up and share them before I forget them...

While driving home from school on Monday:
Ella: "God created it to be a beautiful day today!"
Me: "Yes, he sure did."
Ella: "I just had a really good idea."
I think she meant thought.  It was so cute and innocent.

The other night the kids were playing out back with Chris after dinner and I was cleaning up the kitchen (but I could hear them).
Ella: "Look daddy the moon isn't cut in half!"

Last night at the dinner table:
Chris: "Ella you are really growing up to be a big girl but you'll always be my baby girl."
Ella: "I'll always be your baby girl."
Me: "Awww, that was so sweet."
Ella: "I heard that from Alex on Wizards of Waverly."
Me: "Oh, nice."

And, since every post needs a photo here's one from Sunday.  I was actually taking pictures of Brooke and John but Ella tagged along and I took a few of her also.

Shoot and Edit - love/romance

I'm back for another week of Shoot and Edit.  This week the theme is Love/Romance.  On Sunday I took some maternity photos of my best friend and her husband.  She's 39 weeks pregnant and she looks and feels great!  Nothing says "love" more than a couple expecting their first baby!!  I didn't tell her I was using one of these...hope she doesn't mind. :)

Here's my SOOC...

Shoot and Edit - Hearts Edited

I couldn't decide which photo to edit this week so I went ahead and did both!  They were so different I wanted to see what I could come up with.

First, I edited the heart in the snow.  This is the first time I had played around with texture.  My five year old daughter was standing here when I was playing with the textures and she kept saying, "Ewwwww" to almost every one I applied.  However, she liked the one I ended up with so she helped this week. :)

For the marshmallows I ran my regular edits in PSE8 and then I wanted to cover up the table to make the  heart pop.  I ran Coffee Shop's Moody Pop action and it really did the trick for me.  I am happy with the outcome.

To see more edits from Shoot and Edit this week hop on over to Ashley's blog: