Project 365 - Day 179. Whatever Makes You Happy | Delafield Children's Photography

Today was ALL about Photoshop!  I made my first boudoir album and WOW if it doesn't look great!  I don't toot my own horn often but I must admit that I'm very proud of this and SOOOO wish I could share it with everyone!  Unfortunately, you're just going to have to trust me.   

I just finished getting it uploaded to the online gallery for my client to see and then was about to go into my late night photo-panic when I realized...HEY...I took THREE pictures today on my iPhone.   So, yippee!  I don't have to panic after all.

Here's my little wonder-girl who (at 20 months) can now count to 10!  NO IDEA who taught her that but I'm very proud.  Anyway...she has a ton of personality and really loves a lot of things.  One of them is umbrella's.  I can't explain it but she's a Huge fan.  

So, here she is hanging out in the car with her Thomas Umbrella.   

Just another day with the Johnsen's.

Project 365 - Day 178. To Each Her Own - A Sneak Peek | Delafield Children's Photography

You may remember this family...they've been blogged before here.

Today we were after an outdoor family shoot.  I think they are a GREAT example of What To Wear to a family portrait session!   Mom wanted to keep it casual (which I love) and went for personality.  The older daughter is all about horses and the younger daughter chose her favorite dress.  Mom and Dad wore stuff that matched but are also something you would catch them wearing on a Sunday afternoon.   I think they look fantastic!

Thanks, Kathi!  Lots more great ones to come....

Project 365 - Day 173. Homemade Textures | Delafield Children's Photography

So, when I started my hunt today (ok...tonight) for a photo....I had an idea!  I have pretty wild granite countertops.  They came with the house and wouldn't be my first choice but I don't hate them enough to change them either.  And today I found they have an additional purpose.....texture!

What's a texture?   A texture is an overlay on a photo that gives it a different look....generally an edgy, urban look.  Here....let me show you:

Here is a before picture I took last week:

And here is my photo of the day, my countertops:

And here's the textured outcome.   What do you think?

Kinda fun...I like this look for teens.  Fun to play with anyway!

Project 365 - Day 172. iFamily | Delafield Children's Photography

We bought our Mac last fall and we've quickly become an avid and devoted iFamily.  We now have an iPod, an iTouch, an iPhone and, as of this past weekend, iTV.  Lilly loves to listen to music and do learning apps on her iTouch and even Clare (age 3) can navigate all around, play games, listen to music, watch videos...   Heck, even Emma says "iPot."  

Have you seen those Apple bumper stickers on cars these days?  Well, we don't have one (yet) but every time we see them, Rob and I have a good chuckle imagining a car driving around with a Microsoft symbol on it.  Nah....don't think we'll be seeing that one.

Project 365 - Day 156 Bookworms | Delafield Children's Photographer

Books are such a great thing.  I love to read but approach them in fast or famine style.  I'm definitely not a buyer of new books though...well, I'll buy travel or coffee table books but not novels or kids books.  I'm a huge fan of libraries and book swaps and if I am going to buy books, it's likely going to be from a garage sale.     Even more than I love to read, I love to watch my kids read.  Anytime they select a book and sit down to spend time with it by choice, my heart warms.  Silly but true.   Emma has just started to do this.  She carries about 6 books, one by one, over to a big chair ("seat"), drags herself up onto it, and will sit for a pretty long time flipping through her books.  (sigh)

Project 365 - Day 154. Playdate | Delafield Childrens Photographer

Today we had a friend of Clare's over from school.  We also had her mommy and her adorable sister who I've been eyeing up as a model for my new hats for some time now!

We had a nice visit, a good lunch, and of course, some very sweet pictures....

Thanks for coming to play, girls!!!

Project 365 - Day 153. Transitions | Delafield Childrens Photographer

This is going to be a tough week (or two).  I'm working on transitioning Emma from two naps to one.  Yesterday went awesome and I thought....gosh, that was easy.   Well, I was wrong.  Today was a bit rough and I had one very tired little lady on my hands.   I had to finally put her to bed at 5:30 tonight because she just wouldn't consider doing anything else.   Poor girl.   Fingers crossed that poor mom doesn't have to get up with her at 5:30 tomorrow morning.....

{yes, she does have a black eye.  She crashed into the headboard on my bed the other night while doing her gymnastics.}

Project 365 - Day 146. Picnic Pics | Delafield Children's Photographer

Today was Clare's last day of preschool for the year.  She's pretty disappointed, I must say.  Poor girl is stuck at home with me every day now.  :-)

To celebrate the end of year, All God's Children had a family picnic at the start of class.  It was beautiful out and a nice time.  Unfortunately, not great pics of my own kids today but I did have a bit of fun with a couple of the other little beauties sitting next to us....

Project 365 - Day 135. Sneak Peek of my new BFF | Delafield Children's Photography

I'm off for a date night but wanted to post a quick sneak peek of my FIRST BFF!!!    I had a great time playing with you, Z, and am so happy that I'll be lining your families home with more beautiful photos of you and your big sister!   Thanks for everything, Laura!   Enjoy your sneak peek!

Project 365 - Day 132. Blossoms | Delafield Family Photography

Back on a cold morning in early December, Corey and Lilly boarded the bus and Clare asked me, "Why can't I go to school?"   I started to answer that it was because she was 2 and too young when I recalled hearing that the preschool Corey and Lilly went to was now accepting younger kids.  A half hour later I was on the phone with the Director and the next Monday she was a student at All God's Children Preschool.

We were both very excited.  When Corey and Lilly were young, we had lots of activities and playgroups.  Clare and Emma didn't have that.  Clare really didn't know any kids her own age and rarely interacted with kids aside from her brother and sisters.  I was quite nervous to send her off but she's really loved every minute of it.  She's still a bit shy there but has come into her own A LOT!  I love to peek in at her in her classroom when she doesn't know I'm there.  Next week she'll be doing her first school performance and I can't wait!!  Lilly was the star of the show when she did the same spring sing 3 years ago and, as witnessed last week, she still loves the spotlight.  I can't wait to see how Clare's personality shines through.  Regardless, I know that sending her there has been a blessing in so many ways and watching her blossom is definitely one of them.

Project 365 - Day 128. Screen OD | Delafield Childrens Photography

Seriously...can a kid OD on screen time???   We have quite strict rules about how long they get to watch TV each day and they're only allowed to play with the Wii and DS on weekends.   But holy crap did Corey get a lot of catch up in today!!!  Granted it was an ugly day outside but that boy was on his Wii for several hours straight...breaking only when I insisted on a potty break or food.  Then when we ventured out to dinner, the DS was in hand.   If he wasn't such a smart and social boy the rest of the week I'd be pretty darned worry about him.

Delafield Children's Photography | Project 365 - Day 120. Sick Baby

My babe had a fever all yesterday and through the night.  It broke this morning but Emma still wasn't herself today.  She spent most of the day moaning and clinging to me.   By the end of the day she was perking up so hopefully we're over the hump.  I hate to see any of my kiddo's like this.

Project 365 - Day 114. Best Birthday Party Ever | Delafield Children's Photography

Lilly went to a birthday party today.  Let me clarify that....she went to "the best birthday party ever" today. It was at Kid-Do's (a kid's hair salon) and she got her hair, nails, and make-up done.  Sounds like a great day for any girl!  It was quite surprising to see all the Red and Blue hair when I arrived to pick her up.  :-)  They all looked great and had a blast!   Happy Birthday, Grace!!

Here's a REALLY QUICK little video I did of the few shots I got during cake eating and of Lilly afterwards.  Enjoy!

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

Project 365 - Day 113. Budding Artists | Delafield Children's Photography

I'm headed out to my photography seminar so just have a quick minute but wanted to share a couple pictures from today's outing to Gymboree.   This time for Family Art.   Emma is amazing.  I swear she follows instruction better than some three year olds I've seen.  She's just eating it up and, once again, it was great bonding time.

Happy Friday!

Project 365 - Day 111. Helping Hands | Delafield Family Photography

Rob is heading down to South Carolina tomorrow for 3 full days of sun, golf, friends, drinking and no kids.  Yeah...I'm more than a bit jealous.  He must be having a tinge of hubby guilt too since he came home early to replace my brake pads that have been making noise for a couple months now.

I'm grateful though.  So grateful that I decided to make it my photo of the day.  But then I went out to the garage to find something even better....Corey getting a lesson on tire removal, jacks, wrenches.  He looked so cute with his little greasy hands.

Lucky me...a hubby who can fix my car AND take advantage of a teaching moment.  Love that.  Love him.  A little less so because he'll be having a better weekend than me but still quite a bit.  :-)

Project 365 - Day 104. Bedtime Quality Time | Delafield Children's Photography

I brought my camera up to Lilly's room for her book time tonight.  She cracks me up.  She was SO worried at the beginning of the school year that she would never learn to read and she still claims that she doesn't know how.  Meanwhile, she reads GREAT and I couldn't be more proud of her.  Tonight she read her nightly "baggie book" to me but also a book she wrote today about Clare's birthday.   It was very sweet.   Oh...and aren't her PJ's great??   Grandma gave Clare and Lilly those for their birthdays....they're from Vietnam and beautiful!   

Corey has been trading his book time for lego-time the past couple of evenings.   He goes in phases with his interest in lego's but apparently he's "on" at the moment.   He really wanted me to take picture too after he knew I'd been in taking Lilly's picture.  And, of course, I was more than happy to oblige.   Anytime, baby.  Anytime!

Project 365 - Day 102. Kindergarten Kicks | Delafield Children's Photography

Because of the little girls, I rarely get to spend time with any of the kids at school.  I feel bad about it and wish I could be there more but it's just one of those things I've learned to accept.

Today both Clare and Lilly had their birthday celebrations at school so I ran around a bit crazy all day but managed to be there for each of their mini-parties.  At Lilly's, I even managed to get the camera out.  

There's no doubt about it...Kindergarten is awesome.  Even better when you have the super-cool Mrs. Atilano as your teacher!  And even better when it's your birthday...Lilly felt like a rock star!

  

Project 365 - Day 99. Big Girl Glitter | Delafield Children's Photography

My oldest daughter, Lilly, is turning 6 on Sunday.  It'll be pretty low-key because of just getting back from Orlando.  Earlier this week she decided that she wanted to celebrate her birthday by getting her ears pierced.  She's thought about it before but always decided against it.  This time she seemed really set on her decision.

We went today and she was so brave.   Not without tears, but brave.  Her tears only lasted about a minute though and then she walked around the store excited about all the earrings she'll get to wear one day.   I was very proud of her.  Not for getting her ears pierced, but for making a big girl decision all on her own and sticking to it.

She looks very sweet with her sparkly daisy earrings.  Sweet and grown up.  (sigh.)

Project 365 - Day 98. Sweet Dreams | Delafield Children's Photography

It feels good to be home.  Back to my wonderful bed.  Back to my MAC and uploading "real"photos versus iPhone imitations.  Back to my blog.    Yes...it's good to be home.

I'll post a catch up of some vacation shots when I get time to breathe but for now a quick shot for today.

This is NOT the shot I had in mind but it was a hectic day and the significance is still there.   The plan when we bought this house when I was pregnant with Emma was that Emma and Clare would share a room and I bought these cute banners for each of them in anticipation.  In the early days, I decided life would be easier to keep Emma downstairs with us so our office became her bedroom.   I've tried several times to shift her upstairs but never with any joy.  It seems Emma likes her own space.  

Our Florida vacation and 8 days away from the office/bedroom seemed like a good breaking point for that attachment so I've been putting her in her crib in the shared bedroom upstairs since.  Sadly, my usually smiley girl looked like this when I went in to get her.   I guess she's still adjusting.

This is how she always sleeps...one pacifier (aka "dummy") in her mouth and one in each hand.   :-)

Project 365 - Day 88. Topsy Turvy | Delafield Children's Photography

The last several days have been very hectic.  I had big plans for today but things got turned upside down when I got called for an unexpected Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep Session last night, then woke with a migraine that hasn't ceased and a puking daughter.

As I completed my checklist today, I passed this statue.   It's part of a little series at the entrance to a subdivision near me (a very Shi-Shi neighborhood) and I've always liked it.  It was one of the few thins that made me smile today so I stopped, turned around, and went back to take some quick pictures of it.   And I tried to remember to smile while things are topsy turvy...just like this guy.