An Afternoon at the Creek

It feels like it has been weeks since we have had sunshine.  And it probably has.  So much of our winter has been consumed with grey skies and inches upon inches of rain.  I'm just thankful it isn't snow.  This afternoon we headed out on a walk.  Just the three of us and a foot long pencil.

Such a gorgeous day to be out and the temps weren't too chilly.

It was later in the day and with all the trees, it might as well have been sunset by the creek.  Chloe just loves to dig in the dirt.

And the boy just loves to throw rocks.

It became a game.

Throw the rock fast and see how quickly Momma could focus on the splash and snap a shot.

It tested my tracking and reflexes.

Especially using just my 50mm lens.

I was pretty pleased with myself.  Owen thought it was pretty cool to see the splashes on my LCD screen after each snap of the shutter.

I even got a few of the stones he threw, although there isn't much focus on the stone.

He wanted me to photograph more stones being thrown and the splashes.  

The arms got raised when I didn't follow the stones or splashes and continued to just photograph him.

Chloe played in the dirt the entire hour at the creek.

Perhaps she will be a master gardener when she grows up.

For as much rain as we have gotten over the last few weeks (and even the day before this walk), it was surprisingly NOT very muddy.

I love watching these two work together.  They can play so nicely and be such good friends.

And I loved the light coming in through the trees.

They were working together to build a hole that would hold a small tree upright.

But it was time to go before they could get it to stand up on its own.  Momma was getting cold.

The boy was having fun dancing around me.  

He thought he was funny, not standing still enough for me to really get a good shot of him.

He was moving fast.

I loved listening to his giggles.

Then we finally got up the hill and on the trail back home.  Owen high-tailed it out ahead of us.

More awesome sunlight coming in and covering us.  Chloe was being sweet and turned around to wait for me.

And give me one of her goofy grins.

And so, for an afternoon, we forgot this was the middle of winter.  We enjoyed each other's company and temps in the mid 60s.

Owen Races to Evan's Birthday Party

Evan's parents threw him a surprise party for his 9th birthday.  We surprised Owen with it, so he had no idea he was invited until the day before or where it was until we pulled into the parking lot of Andretti Speedway.  Evan was surprised and Owen was thrilled to see his friend.  So much so that he had to lift Evan right off the ground.

The Three Musketeers.  Owen, Lou and Evan.

Owen had quite the blue tongue after eating birthday cake.

He was excited about racing in a gokart by himself.

So.  Very.  Excited.

Bunny ears are quite popular around here.

Once Owen was in a gokart, his feet didn't reach the pedals.  So he had to switch to a two-seater and ride shotgun to his Momma.  He giggled the whole way around the race track.  And giggled louder as our helmets knocked together going around curves.

After racing around the track, the kids were given cards to play arcade games.  Owen used up the majority of his card on games like the claw where you use a joystick to move the claw before it drops and feebly attempts to pick up oversized toys.

As we walked out to our car through the parking lot, the tears started and didn't stop for some time.  The boy said he didn't have any fun.  None.  He could have fooled me.  I think he was a bit tired from a full day and over-stimulated from the raceway.

Kendama Party

We received an invite to a Kendama Party at the Learning Express store at Northpoint Mall and headed over there immediately after the kids' Karate Pizza Party (because they each earned over a dozen Life Skills Stripes before the last belt testing).  The store was an absolute zoo with kids, kendamas and their parents everywhere.  It was hard to get into the room where the kendama party was being held.  Owen was a bit overwhelmed by the crowd, but Chloe had no problem pushing her way into the room and straight to the middle of the action to watch the Kendama Master (Dave) at work.  A store employee noticed me standing outside with Owen and offered to take us in through a backdoor.  She gave us a cool DVD, stickers and an extra string for free, which made Owen really happy.  These were all prizes being given away inside with a raffle, but Owen hadn't gotten a ticket for it.  At the end, the store had all the kids gather behind the Kendama Master Dave for pictures.  Dave is the Asian guy with dreadlocks down to his butt wearing a hat in the front row.  He was cool.  He had a California accent and was awesome with the kids.

See?  Chloe is always at the center of the action.  She was giving Dave some bunny ears.

That's it, kids.  Hold up your kendamas to show them off!

After photographs, Dave, the Kendama Master signed the kids' kendamas.  You can see Owen's head watching his kendama get signed.

He didn't even look up as he walked away.  Owensk was so mesmerized by the autograph on his kendama.  Pretty cool, dude.

Kelley's Photography Trip to Miami

I flew to Miami with the hopes of ditching my little bout with bronchitis, finding warmer temps and being inspired.  I got the latter of the three and really, I think that was probably the most important and rewarding.  For a four day weekend, I was surrounded by five other women just as passionate about their families and photography as I am.  I packed light with only one little suitcase and my 50mm lens and started shooting the sunrise over Atlanta shortly after take off.

We were on the go non-stop, carrying heavy bags of gear and step ladders with us.

We were all photographers and the subjects, depending upon the time, location and vantage point.  And depending upon the time, location and vantage point, I learned more about how uncomfortable it can be being the primary focus and how to help alleviate that awkwardness.

We photographed sunsets.

And birds.

Architecture and fancy malls adorned with girls in short skirts and furry boots carrying their dogs in purses.

We photographed night and day.  Without any flashes (although I had brought mine along).

Did I say we photographed birds?

There was dancing and laughter.

And art in the Fairchild gardens.  Chihuly's work makes me swoon.  If only because I would love to work on this scale, but my torches limit me to work smaller than a child's fist.

I photographed lunches other than my own.

And was thankful when I returned home and was welcomed by smiling faces belonging to both strangers and my family.

My home is slowly being put back together, floors are getting mopped and my cough is disappearing as Atlanta reaches for the 60s this weekend.  A wedding has been added to my schedule in May 2012.  Life is good.