Class Assignments

Last week's photography class assignment was silhouettes, backlighting, & sun flares.

I really thought Xandra would once again be my go-to girl...

But she just wasn't feeling it.

So, I managed to catch the one I figured I'd have the most trouble with... Milo!

And I got him a couple times! 

Awesome!!

50mm, ISO 100, f16, SS100
Oh man! I love those pouty lips!!

That's not to say that Xandra didn't get her fair share of pictures taken...

And this week's assignment...

The dreaded self-portrait.

Look all you want to at this...

It will probably not happen again for a very, very, very long time!

And moving on!

My girly is really maturing right before my eyes.

Ugh!

So bittersweet!!

Finally, this wasn't really an assignment for the class

But I couldn't help but take some more pictures around my town again.

This the reflection of a church in a puddle in the parking lot

And the front of the church
So beautiful!

I completed my first week back to school. 

{big ole sigh!}

I have (ultrasound) scan lab 3 days a week for now (getting ready to head out to clinicals next month)

I have had more ultrasound gel on my body than I ever wanted

While I enjoy scanning & discovering the human body in new ways

I HATE that gel!!

The kiddos are both doing great in their schools.

Xandra has leaped from barely being able to remember her "sight" words assigned last year,

to writing full sentences that we can actually read & understand!! 

I'm so proud!!

And Milo's teachers are amazed with him on a daily basis.

The first day back, his teacher (who was also Xandra's preschool teacher) confessed that she had pulled her co-teacher over to re-think their curriculum for the year - 

They wanted to tweak things based on Milo's abilities.

Well, that same day, they were showing the kids how to string beads.

Milo didn't need or want any help at all.

He was all over that project & completed it with no problems!

That's when Miss A threw up her hands & told the other teacher "Never mind! No tweaking necessary!!"

That's my boy!

My only complaint about Milo right now is the way he works with markers.

He put the lid of the marker under his short arm & tries to aim the marker into it to close it.

Unfortunately, his shirts pay the price daily. 

Not one day has he come home without a large, dark marker stain on his shirt sleeve & side.

Yesterday, it had even bled through the shirt onto his skin. 

But if that's the worst thing I have to complain about...

I'll take it!! 

I sincerely hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday weekend!! 

My plan is to do as little as possible - except for that pesky homework...

Check out some other great blogs!!

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday {My Town}

I've mentioned before that I'm currently taking the incredible Ms. Lisa's photography class.

Our homework last week was to take pictures without people in them.

Say WHAT??!!!

But all my pictures have people- my kids!!!

So I set out to find something else to take pictures of.

I discovered that I'm very drawn to architecture, when/if my kiddos are unavailable to me as a subject.

An old building in our small downtown area that is scheduled for demolition soon.

We have a very small downtown area.

Very small.

But, a number of years ago, an incredible artist was hired to paint some murals on the sides of some old buildings.

They are incredible! 

I've always loved them, and I finally captured them.

These definitely don't fall into "artistic photography," but I still like them.

And finally, per a recent post, an addition to my current obsession with the sunset.

IG {Fav Foto Friday}

I have not had my big-girl camera with me too much this week - "Bad Mama!" (as Milo now likes to say)!
So here are some InstaGram pics I've taken over the last couple weeks.

I've been slightly obsessed with sunsets (& one sunrise) the last few weeks.
My mom *loved* beautiful skies.
I guess she passed it on to me.
Every time I see it, I think of her, and know that she would appreciate it.

This one is just too cute not to put in here.
He'll probably be very upset with me one day for publishing this.
Oh well.
Potty training is not going as well as I'd like...
He sort of understands it, but is still totally cool with going in the diaper.
It's usually after the fact that he wants to go "try."

A certain little girl discovered a loose tooth this week.
So the tooth fairy has been busy making a special box for her tooth to go in when it finally comes out.
Although Xandra loves the box... she is petrified of that tooth actually coming out.
She will not let a soul near her mouth right now- not even to brush teeth (I usually just do a quick once-over when she's done anyway, just to make sure she got everything... but no more).
She barely lets me look in her mouth, even with my hands completely behind my back & promises that I will NOT touch.
The adult tooth has already broken through, and is trying its darndest to push that little tooth out.
I imagine we only have another week or so before it comes out, though I don't know for sure just how loose it is (see note above about the no touching!).