Walking in a Winter Wonderland

 Our official christmas card photo, my teenager does not want to participate this year, not worth the battle!  So little Myah agreed on the first snowy day to oblige mommy in a few photos. 

 I had found the snowy crown in Wisconsin last month and knew it would be perfect for photos with her dark hair. 

 Walking in our neighborhood.

 This cracks me up!

The Time Has Come....

 Using some actions that I purchased ages ago. I finally figured out how to use them!

 I bought this gorgeous sweater for her two years ago, she finally fits into it!  It is a size 2, I think not!!!

 She loves wearing glasses that aren't hers. She does not need them, she just wanted them for the photo!

 These were taken in my garage with my backdrop I just ran a little sharpening on it.

 I have wanted to take a photo of her in this outfit before she outgrows it!  This is sooc.

 This is sooc too!

 I had to recreate this photo that I first saw on Sara Anthony's site.

No editing done on this one either. 

Now that my children are in school full time I am finally diving into my photography.  I have all of the equipment, software, etc, that I need, actually I am over my head in things I don't know how to use.  For the past 4 years I have had some sort of family crisis's to deal with and I never felt creative enough.  People would call me for an appointment and I always felt like I just wasn't good enough.  Ever since I turned 40 I decided to find myself, discover my talents and gifts, whatever they may be.  I love to take photos and I have since I was a little girl, however I know very little about the whole process.  I just have and eye and that is just about it.  Yesterday I decided that I was going to get out my camera and a few lenses, use the pretty backdrops that I have, bribe my beautiful little girl with candy so she will model for me, and just DO it!!! I have so much to learn, my head just spins, but I just love taking photos and that is what motivates me to better my self. I have been taking photos for customers lately and wanted some of my own little doll before her baby teeth fall out and she outgrows my favorite sweaters.   I thought I would share just a few that I took yesterday, I made myself shoot in manual and RAW all day, some habits are really hard to break!  I know I have a long ways to go!! But I enjoy doing it so that is all that matters right?? 

Expect the Unexpected

Unexpected:  Coming without warning; unforeseen  definition from American Heritage Dictionary

Unexpected.  Another word for surprise, I really dislike surprises. However I do like things that are unexpected. Most of the time.  I especially like them when it is something like a gorgeous sunflower field in full bloom on your way to a birthday party and your little girl is dressed in her cute little house on the prairie dress.  And she is a willing participant.  I just let her be as the cars were whizzing by us.  I LOVE sunflowers, I wish I could have them in my home every day, I was so excited when we just drove up on this beautiful field of sunshine on a gloomy day.  They all had their own personality, some were droopy like they were pouting, it was kind of comical. 

What a treasure to find alongside a busy road.  Somewhere that I would have never expected it to be.

Of course my little one loved running in the fields, she also loved the mint in her mouth!

What a sight,  sunflowers as far as I could see, it was like they were bowing their heads down to me as to say "hello your majesty!"

Sweet sweet child, skipping in the sunflowers

I took this one from inside my car window, I just happened to look behind me and there was this barn.  Unexpectedly.

So many things are coming at me so fast lately, I am trying to stay organized and prepared, just to keep up in case anything unexpected comes up.  And it did.  And right around that time, when I was dealing with something I prayed I never had to, I found this in my garden.  Several of them.  I knew I had not planted them there, how did they get there?  What are they???  Then one day Myah happened to be standing nearby when I was admiring the new growth, she said, "oh,momma, I planted them, me and Annabelle, she dug the dirt and planted the seed and I watered them."  How precious!!! It really caught me speechless.  She was so proud.  And would you believe the other day we finally got a glimpse of what type of crop she was growing. 

Get this......

My favorite tiny white gourd pumpkins!  God has a way of sending the unexpected our way just when we need it the most. 
As I type this I am listening to the Mr. talk to a nurse, she is on the phone getting the information she needs for Dayton's surgery tomorrow morning.  Unexpectedly, we went to the surgeons  office on Friday and she wants the plate and screws out, something is causing an infection of some sort and he has a golf ball sized lump on the lower part of his scar.  So here we go again.  I would appreciate any prayers you can send his way.  If there is anything I know for certain it is to expect the unexpected.