Christmas Pictures/ Bokeh Style

I saw this super cool tutorial here and REALLY wanted to try to get some cool Christmas bokeh pictures of my kids and home. Basically, the lights get super blurry and make a beautiful background.   These are not photoshop alterations at all.  All it took was my camera, 50mm lens, and one piece of black card stock.  I made a homemade filter in a matter of a few minutes and then got to the fun part- taking pictures!!  Not only was it super easy, it has been so fun to play around with!!!  I love learning new techniques!  And this one makes my Christmas decorations look even lovelier than in real life. ;)

   This was just playing around with some of my  
                                            Christmas decorations.

 And on to my babies:

My little stud muffin:

 This is sooo Chase:

Ok... so how could we not be in love with this face?  You wanna smooch her too, dontcha? :)

 Note to self:  You take what you get, and don't throw a fit.  :)

I loved how this one turned out.  These were my beautiful Christmas gifts from Wade.  A pink opal ring, and this vintage looking perfume bottle that I fell in love with in Lake Tahoe and he snuck back and bought when I wasn't looking.  He is too good to me sometimes. :)

Before you take down the tree, I highly suggest you give this technique a try.  You won't regret it!

Visit with Santa

 Every year at my brother in law's dental office, Santa comes to visit.  It is a lot of fun!  They feed us great food, give the kids all a gift, and take pictures with Santa.  Here are a few pictures I shot while we  were there. 

 I love Chase's happy face in this picture.  He is so funny!

 Livvy, on the other hand, wasn't too sure about Santa.  Or at least sitting in his lap.

Santa was tickling Livvy's cheek, trying to get a smile.  He was frozen still.  But later in the night, she did warm up to him enough to run and tell him that she'd like a Dora scooter for Christmas.

Rebecca & Kailer

I took some newborn photos once before and thought I could never do it again.  It was so hard!!!  Then my neice, Rebecca, asked me to take some of her new baby.  I was nervous, for sure!  But I told her I would try.  The day started out a little frustrating when my good light fell over and broke, but as soon as Rebecca and Kailer came, it was just pure bliss.  He was sooooo good and sweet!  He slept so well, even when I was kissing on him the whole time.  This was seriously one of the funnest photo shoots I've ever done.  I definitely need some better lighting still, but now I think photographing newborns is soooo fun!  It totally helped with how beautiful they are and how much I love them.  I was 12 when Rebecca was a baby and I was her primary babysitter.  She always reached for me when I was around.  Now she has her own baby and lives right down the road from me.  Hopefully, I can spend enough time with Kailer so that he will reach for me too when he sees me.  :) I just love him so much already.  My favorite.  I think they look so beautiful in this photo. 

Talk About A Winter Wonderland!

We woke up to this this morning- and CANCELLED school!  I didn't know they Ever did that here!  But that is ok with us!  I think we will stay in our jammies most of the day !

Thankfully my sweet husband is working hard to clear all of our walks and driveway so we aren't snowed in too long!

The Real Meaning of Christmas- Must see!

This is so cute!  My little kids watched this with the biggest smiles on their faces!  I love that!

Reflections 2010

I posted this photo back in the summertime right after Sommer took it.  Well, then she entered it into her school's reflection contest.  We were so excited when she won a trophy/

Award of Merit for her photograph.  She was honored in front of the whole school.  ;)

                     The theme was, "Together We Can..."  
Her title was, "Together We Can Respect Our Flag and Country."

Way to Go Sommer~Shine!

Christina's wedding

I'm quite behind but I finally posted some more of Christina's wedding photos HERE.  It's been so fun seeing them so happy and in love and getting to help capture some of these memories. I am so proud of her good choices too!