Lilly the Ladybug

When is a costume not just a costume? When you name her Lilly and she gets to sleep in your bed with you and have tea parties. It's awesome being 4.

All Hallows Weekend

We had a fun busy weekend including a Halloween party with great friends (and stayed out way, way too late), Harry Potter movies and popcorn, making paper monsters with ShiShi, jack o' lanterns with daddy (they each selected a face) and generally eating treats and hanging out. I feel like we just eat more and more treats earlier and earlier each year (instead of less)...but that's a topic for another conversation!

The kids picked what they wanted to be this year and I decided we weren't going crazy buying expensive costumes. We have a lot of dress up options already around the house and I love the simple, yet effective approach! I also love how the boys decided to be skeleton twins. They make me laugh.

We've really had a great time reading books and decorating all month long. And I'm about done. Just a little trick or treating and then the Candy Man and it's a wrap. whew!
Happy Spooky Tricky Treaty Halloween!

Halloweenie

There's just something about Halloween that makes me feel good. I don't like horror films or being scared and I don't even care that much about the treats. Something about the darkness and the moodiness makes me happy. And dressing up. Maybe it's just a contrast to the lightness and sunshine. Maybe I'm a closet goth. Ha. Anyway, it's always a good reason to have a little photo shoot. With my darling Drama Queen.

And a few more...SoSmitten!

True Beauty?

This has been on my mind for a while. As someone who edits a lot of photos I spend a good amount of time looking at faces. And to be honest, altering them. I don't think in a bad way. And I generally really love the faces I spend time with. Even the faces I don't know very well, as they become familiar to me over time.

But I have to be honest here. I can't resist smoothing out a wrinkle here and there, or evening out some unflattering shadows. I try not to really alter the character and integrity of the face, but don't we all want to look like we're well rested and having a really great day???
As I get older, I am also a lot more aware of the images I see in the media. I have more and more appreciation/admiration/envy for those women especially, my age and older with tight skin and firm jawlines.
If I had the resources to apply those million dollar potions and elixers of youth or a fancy dermatologist, I'd be right on it! Of course there are a lot of factors that go into it and I'm not suggesting plastic surgery or anything, but a good night's sleep and eating vegetables will only do so much. Know what I'm sayin'???

Turns out I do have a magic weapon in my possession - PHOTOSHOP! And I'm not afraid to use it. ha!
The other day I posted a photo on FB and I felt a little guilty. Like I should include a disclaimer of sorts. Along the lines of...if you see me at the grocery store and I look more wrinkled and my roots are growing out and I have a zit on my chin, please don't gasp in horror!
On the other hand, if we are judging ourselves based on images we see all around us, shouldn't we have some of the same advantages?

To be fair, none of those folks in magazines or movies look glamorous all the time either. Some of them are still beautiful without the 'make-over', but then aren't we all?
My point is, I guess, that there is a certain reality we all face (pun intended) and there is another reality that is also a matter of lighting and make-up and yes, even Photo Shop. We've all seen those 'shocking' photos of stars without make-up. Just normal faces.
And don't we deserve to feel beautiful and wonderful and glamorous if we want to? Without feeling guilty. ahem...

I've been checking out the work of this amazing Australian photographer, Sue Bryce. Check out the before and after. See what I mean!

I love the idea of transformation. I love the notion of making people look great. Especially women. I think the transformation is powerful. In my images I try to find a 'natural' looking balance. But it would be fun to play around with more 'glamorized' images.

So tell me what you think. Too much? Not real? We all have the potential for glamor? Does it mean anything to you? Would you feel great or fake? Is natural always better? More honest? How much is too much? Or would you go for it?

Indian Summer 2011

These trees and fields are so beautiful every time I pass by them this fall, I couldn't resist a few pics. And yes it took some bribery. And some gum. But so worth it!

Sweet Georgia

Check out more Sweet Georgia at SoSmitten

Mansilla Family

I know I've been a terrible blogger lately. Here are some fun new photos! And I have about a million more family photos from the summer just waiting for me to edit them...ahem...
In the meantime, let's be friends again and check these out!

SoSmitten

Duncan Family

Sweet family. Oh how I love the colors of summer!

SoSmitten

Sneak Peek Sister

Amazing shoot!

Canada Day

We had a great day of celebrating in our neighborhood! We started by decorating bikes and then a big parade with all the kids riding around with the fire engine bringing up the rear. Bouncy castles, balloons, face painting, dancing, food, and a new skate park were all part of the celebrations.
The kids were most excited about the balloon man. They kept going back when their animals would pop in the grass.
My favorite part was the native dancing. The invited everyone to join in at the end for a group dance. It was so fun (with ShiShi and The Babe).

Later that night we all headed back to the park for fireworks. I have to say that I've never been closer to fireworks before! It's pretty exciting. And loud!
It was nice to have so many festivities right in our community. A great celebration. Happy Birthday Canada!

Meanwhile, Back At The Ranch...

Animals and mud. A great time was had by all!
I think cows are funny.
The Bug is a horse whisperer. He has a kinship with animals and bugs. Ha.
It was a special place to spend some time.

A Girl and Her Horse

When you have a beautiful girl with a fantastic dress AND a horse you have to take pictures...YES! I think it's a rule actually. Although we couldn't fit it all in on the day of her grad, so we planned it for a few weeks later. I'm so glad we did.
(the kids had a great time too, even in wind and the mud...or maybe because of? anywhoo, I got some great pics of them too, for another post ;)

Go take a peek at more/bw at SoSmitten!

Kimberly Graduation

Congratulations Kimmy! we love you
sosmitten

Happy Father's Day

As I've mentioned before last year wasn't the easiest for my family. My mom went into the hospital (with an undetermined illness) a couple of weeks before my Dad went in to have thyroid cancer surgery. He spent most of the year in the hospital either for his own issues, or trying to take care of my mom.
He has been a fine example of courage and determination. Even when things seemed to be at their worst, my Dad never gave up. It was not easy. My Dad can do hard things.

Thanks Dad, for your faith and perseverance. Thanks for doing all you could do. Thanks for being an example of love for all of us.

And to my husband, thanks for loving our kids so fiercely.

Happy Father's Day!

More On Mothers

This post/poem over at Soule Mama is so beautiful I had to pass it along...

Look Who's 4!

The day before her birthday we were at Kimmy's grad and Nana had a birthday cake surprise. YUM. And fun with cousins and family.

Then the next day was a quiet celebration with us and Auntie Shi Shi. Babe requested cheesy noodles (KD) for dinner and we had banana bread cake/muffins with nutella and strawberries on top. As usual, she really preferred her ice cream, but who can complain?

Happy Birthday Babe!