{Entered} Hands - I Heart Faces

A while back, when I first started following (also read: before becoming addicted to) Pinterest I pinned this adorable photo of a baby's hands that I just loved. I finally got to do my version of this a few weeks ago when I got to photograph newborn Baby C.  As soon as I saw what the theme of the week was going to be this week at www.iheartfaces.com I knew exactly the photograph I would submit and here it is:

 Have a great day & be sure to swing by the photo challenge & take a peek at the other hands being showcased this week.

{Local Events} Montague Balloon Fair

This past weekend was the Montague Rotary Balloon Fair. It's one of our favorite local events. We make it a point to attend every year, it's like a little family tradition for the past 6 years. Normally we do an early morning, watch the balloons go up, do breakfast (usually at my mom's), just hang out for a bit until the parade that runs downtown.
This year it was pretty much the same except I left my husband home alone to gather up the kids & head into Montague & I was with my aunt and grandpa. My favorite part of the morning is when the sun starts breaking over the hills & casting it's beautiful orange-y glow on everything. The other thing special for this year was that we built a float for Amanda Pratt Photography & entered the parade. It was a super fun thing for the kids. Our float was a prize winner as well.

The ascension starts of with a single balloon, carrying the American flag as the national anthem is sung.

 Then it's mass chaos of filling balloons, fans & people.

The kids graciously (errr, more like forced) posed for a quick photo together.

This year it seemed the wind was drifting a different direction & I could get Mt Shasta in the photos without doing too much traveling from the launch site.

Here is our float in all of it's before/after the parade, windy Montague afternoon glory.

Have a great day!

{Entered} Just a Touch of Sun - I Heart Faces

I'm doing something a little different this week for Monday Minute (which I realize, I've been horrible about posting, in fact that whole schedule of things I've got marked on the calender...yea, slacking!!).

I'm entering the I {Heart} Faces weekly photo challenge.  The theme this week is A Touch of Sun.

This photo was entered into the I Heart Faces photo challenge – www.iheartfaces.com

{Monday Minute}

Happy August 1st!!! Really!?! It's August already, seriously, where does the time go? In 23 days my 1st baby will be starting preschool, oh, my goodness. It's our first official "summertime" break & it's quickly coming to an end.
We had some crazy storms roll through yesterday afternoon/evening. The aftermath was some gorgeous coloring in the clouds and this little "Hole in the Floor of Heaven".

The colors in this are just like they were in the sky, nothing edited in, no funny business. It's amazing the things that are painted in our skies.
Have a great Monday.

{Monday Minute} Splash of Summer

It's been a while since I've done the Monday Minute, so tonight, here goes a little Splash of Summer, summer colors, summer rains, summer skies, I love almost everything about summer, except the super hot.

We had some unusually cool days & some extra rain this month... it was lovely. 

I've been working on a little project for me as well, getting the kids out & about as much as possible & just taking a few minutes to shoot some photos for me. Here are a few of summers beautiful blooms & bugs (& my first ever butterfly close up capture).
 

And it wouldn't be summer without the bluest of blue skies & some white puffy clouds surrounding the beautiful mountain we are so blessed to live in the shadows of.

Hope you had a great Monday. Ours was fabulous. Hoping that I will get back on a regular blogging schedule.

{Monday Minute} Wedding Edition

After months of planning & lots of prep, my cousin is finally married.  It was a gorgeous day, she was a STUNNING bride.  I wasn't the actual even photographer, sort of hard to be in 2 places at once, but here are a few image I did manage to capture on Saturday (Richie got to man the camera for a bit ).

Since I wasn't the photographer, who was so fabulous & wonderful to watch, I didn't take anything except my 50mm lens & the camera body. No flash. No zooms. Just plain & simple.

Happy Monday!!

Just a Minute Monday

I thought this would be a fun little post to have once a month or so, we'll see how it works out. Writing a post in less than 1 minute.

I'm excited to see what the rest of this month has in store for me. So far there's been some growth!! Yay, for focus!

Here is a photo that I took in-between moving locations on Saturday afternoon. On our way from lakeside to the entrance we came across a herd of deer, not just any herd though...it was 6 bucks. 

This was my favorite capture. Enjoy!

A Sunshiney January Monday

Does that sound as odd to you as it does me?!  Goodness this weather is so lovely & more than welcome to stay, but alas, I know it won't. I'm pretty sure that every winter we get this tiny glimmer of spring, and it comes crashing down accompanied by snow & rain & wind. Ekkk, the wind & cold.

But in the mean time, I'm just going to pretend like it's here to stay & enjoy every degree and ray of sunshine.

On to a little miscellaneous Monday rambling.

We picked up the girls' birthday present yesterday and they are already smitten with him.

 

I've got to pick up a few things for him while I'm in town today, after my proofing session.  He's a sweet old guy for sure. 

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Speaking of the proofing session, isn't this such a great photo of these two?! 

Can't wait to see which ones they choose. 

And with that I'm off to get things accomplished today.

Another Monday

Another week just flew right by.  Things are pretty much the same around here.  Now that the holidays are over, I'm onto birthday party planning & trying to stay sane in this house, with these children.  Thankfully the last couple of days it has been sunny. Optimistically sunny, yet freezing cold.  Saturday was the first day we'd seen the sun in almost a week, boy was that a welcome sight!!

  

 The silhouette of Black Butte, about 25 miles or so from home. I just love when the sun breaks out of the clouds & we can actaully see some of the gorgeous scenery around here.

The children all have cabin fever & are pretty much climbing the walls on a daily....no more like hourly basis! 

 Grace's just preparing herself for the look of time behind bars. I'm pretty sure she's planning on going there beginning in Kindergarten. Oy!

Brody's newest favorite game is Peek-a-Boo. He really likes putting himself under blankets & popping back out to see who's watching.

That's about it here as we're prepping & planning for the arrival of the girls' birthday present in the next few days (which will require a post all it's own).

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Don't forget to book your session in January for a huge savings. Sessions for the rest of this month are only $75.00*.  

Finally a post for Monday

I finally, actually just now thought of Mondays theme for posting.

Misc Mondays
T's 10- on Tuesday or --- ??
Wordy-Wordless Wednesdays
T's 10 - on Thursdays --??
Food Fridays
Scrap with Me Saturdays
Sundays ??

WooHoo for progress, yes we celebrate the little things around here (even snack time is a big deal--tea party).

So far I've spent nap time catching up on blog posts from the weekend. This post will catch me up to date, 9 posts for August.

It's fair week so things might get a little wonky on the blog, or I could be super organized & get some posts ready early...lol. Like that's going to happen. ;)

Happy Monday, we've had a little bit of a busy one so far. Brody had his 4 1/2 month check up, he's growing like an average boy should. Weighing today at 14 pounds 6 oz & measuring 25 inches long. He had to get shots today, which he did NOT love & he's spending the afternoon grumpy & restless.

Now off to entertain my little herd for a while. Leave me a comment letting me know what you'd like to see here on Tuesdays/Thursdays/Sundays. If I chose your idea, I'll send you a little something special. :)