park play

she will always be my first

Exposure Time: 1/320 sec
Exposure Program: Manual
ISO Speed Rating: 320
Lens Aperture: f/2.2
Lens: 35mm (focal length equivalent 56mm on my crop factor camera)
6:06pm:  The sun is setting behind her.  The light in her eyes is the reflected light from the sky behind me.  I am trying to learn from the exposure info of my photos and others.  If it helps you, I'll post this info from time to time. :) Just let me know...

a girl & her swing

Dad fixed her caterpillar swing last weekend. She can't get enough pushing. Sweet girl wanted to swing forever which worked out great because I wanted to talk on the phone. Win, win.

rest time

I have been trying to include more "story" in my pictures. It is very common for me to get too close with my camera and miss details that tell story. I love that this photo includes her book, her favorite blanket, and her bunny/body pillow (that is dressed up in sister's top). This photo is a treasure for me.

At 7 years old, you can not call it naptime. But there will be rest time in my house...for mom! On our home school days, our big girls have quiet time in their rooms for about an hour after lunch. I get an hour to recharge.

a favorite from today

the birthday date

My husband has plenty of pressure around my birthday.  It's the day after Valentine's (today actually).  There always has to be some thought put into the birthday/Valentine's plans.  I don't ever expect amazing plans, but I would be lying if I didn't say I like them!

Last Friday we had our sweet date.  It had a grand start because we had kids dropped off by early afternoon.  Sweet!  And at the start of our venture he handed me an envelope...looked like this...

There were 4 envelopes total.  I chose tea @ the Steeping Room, an Italian restaurant downtown, a drink at a coffee shop (where we had our first date), and movie at home.  Perfect.

My guy with his cookie.  He likes chocolate.  And he (surprisingly) liked the tea we drank too.

Here he is handing me another envelope.  Doesn't my birthday cupcake look good?

When we went to the Steeping Room, I convinced him to take me into Anthropologie (he said okay if we go in the Apple Store :).  In Anthropologie he picked up this book and checked out the chapter titled, "How to Woo with Flair."  I told him he didn't need the book. ;)

I can't wait to share what my bday present was!  But that's for another post.

I went to her Valentine's program at school today. It was a sweet performance, but my favorite part was the look on her face as she ran to give me this at the end. She is a loving little girl and I adore being on the receiving end. :)