Long time gone...

So, I'm back. Or trying to be. It's kind of funny that I haven't been posting on here now that I am constantly taking classes on photography and taking more pictures than ever. 

 My goal is to add a picture every day for a year. A 365. It's gonna be tough, and I am sure some of my photos will not be great, but it a neat way to try and document our lives, using my pictures to tell the story, rather than my feeble attempts at using words. Definitely not a strong point of mine. Here are my Monday and Tuesday, (even though they're from October and November is my "official" start date.)

October 29, 2012

October 30, 2012

Catch up/Shooting 101

I am so behind on the blog, and it's so funny, because I am completely obsessed  in love with photography, and I feel I have so many pretty pictures to share. Maybe it's because I have so many, that I get overwhelmed. I will be doing some very condensed recaps of the last few months.

I know I shared a post once about clickinmoms.com earlier. I adore the website for teaching me so many new things about photography. I signed up for their 4 week course, called Shooting 101, which started at the end of May. It teaches you how to really use your camera, which I thought I knew, but I learned much more and it has helped me be so much more consistent with my exposure. These are a few of my favorite images from the class. I know much more about editing and how to make the images better, but I honestly don't have time to go back and fix these. They will be a great example of my progress as I go along, right?

An Obsession

I got my new camera in August, and I had been having fun with it, trying to figure everything out. I have been trying to use it in Manual mode since November, and I was gradually learning a little at a time. But ever since I was able to take the wedding photos for Jack and Zuly, I have been obsessed. I'm reading every bit of information I can find on it. I could read photography forums all day long if the kids would let me. If I'm not doing that, all I want to do is be out shooting something, trying new things that I have read about.

I am having such a blast, and really loving some of the pictures I have taken, that I'm sure I will just have random posts of pictures of my pretty babies. I am so excited to have found such a fun, interesting hobby. It's fun to be stretching and growing and learning again. I missed that, although I hadn't even realized until now.

I know the format of some of these is the same, but the layout was free and I don't want to spend the money yet on fancier ones right now. All I need now is to get Sienna to be willing to just go out and let me take a bunch of pictures of her too!

Montana

I was very lucky to be able to attend one of my best friends' wedding in Montana on June 5th. Spencer was attending Youth Conference in Kona while I was there, so we helped my Mom come and watch the kids for the day and a half we would both be gone. Denise and I met while we were room-mates right after High Schoo, right before Spencer and I got marriedl. I am so fortunate to have her in my life because we have an amazing friendship and I don't know what I would do without her. We call each other 'sister' because there truly is no other word to describe our friendship.

Right after I flew in I was also able to visit with Shanna, my step-sister, who I hadn't seen in about 6 years. It was amazing getting to talk with her again in person after all that time and catch up. I am so grateful for it. The trip was a whirlwind, with almost no time to do anything besides attend the wedding, but I am happy I was able to be there for Denise's special day. I don't have many pictures of her and Shawn together, but he is amazing and treats her the way she deserves. I am so happy for her.

Me and Shanna in Wolf Creek

Denise and the Matrons of Honor

Old School friends/bridesmaids

I got to give the toast, which just means I made myself and Denise cry

Denise and Tyse

I thought it was cute how the little girls stood and watched them dancing.

Philly trip

How to condense this amazing trip! I had the awesome opportunity to go to Philadelphia for 10 days to help care for my sister-in-law's children after she had her 4th c-section at the end of April. I cannot even begin to express how much I was helped on this trip, which I know sounds weird since I went there to help. I feel so much closer to Jeff, Janell, their beautiful kids, and I am so grateful that they let me come to serve them. Janell is a fantastic mother and even with all the chaos and the hard times, she was amazing and made me want to be more like her. I came back a better person because of this trip and I can never thank them enough (THANK YOU!!!)

I was able to see Ethan at a t-ball game, we went to the Philadelphia Zoo, watched the kids dance around, cut some hair, (which I especially love to do since Jeff was living with us when I first went to hair school and he was one of my first guinea pigs) and snuggle a yummy, adorable baby boy. I am thankful for having this amazing family in our lives. Love ya Gregerson Gang!!

Mr. E's game

Cutting Hay-bay's hair

Naked popsicle fun on a very hot day

Jeff and the gorgeous Baby Chase

Dancing around to some awesome tunes

At the Zoo

We're missing Brookie because she was sleeping. She reminded me so much of Mad!

Surfing

Warning: there are a million pictures of me, from the back. Sorry!

There will be more pictures of our trip, but while we were up on the North Shore (Princeville), I decided to take a surfing lesson. I have tried stand-up paddle boarding which is awesome, but I had really been dying to try surfing. There is a company right by our favorite place at Hanalei and I kept seeing a bunch of people out in the water. It was a pretty calm day, just enough surf to be perfect to learn on. I broke down and got the lesson and it was honestly one of the coolest things I have ever done! I cannot wait until I get another chance to get out and practice. Luckily the bay closest to us tends to have great beginner waves.

Pretty much all the pictures Spencer took of me were from the back, so obviously not the most attractive pictures. But, I work out, I am strong and I got up on the first try, and pretty much never had a hard time after. The board was really big, which helps, but the teacher said I should start practicing with a smaller board, because he thought I could do it. Now the searching on Craigslist for the right board begins...

Paddling out

Talking about how to watch the water and see what it is doing

Starting to paddle before the wave

Getting up

I wish I had some pictures of me standing up more, but I am glad Spencer took the pictures so I have something to document this awesome learning experience.