My Cowgirl :)

Wow, Christmas came & gone already! Here's Maddie enjoying one of her favorite presents, a cowgirl hat from one of her favorite Aunties :) She wore it just about all day Christmas day & every day since!



Must take more pictures of her wearing this! LOL, she's just too cute...& has recently taken to running away from me every time my camera comes out :P  She was kind enough the other day to a least smile for me.

Jumpy!

Well, if you've ever seen the children's cartoon Curious George you'd know the silly squirrel named *Jumpy.* Ever since the kids were little we started calling our little neighborhood squirrel Jumpy! He's quite the clever little squirrel, as he's been spotted on several occasions rummaging through our garbage. & at times, we've seen him enjoying an entire cookie, a slice of pizza, & even once was covered entirely in green frosting...from a cake left over from of Maddie's Birthday parties...most recently he was seen on our backyard deck enjoying a Snickers bar (around Halloween perhaps).

Yesterday, however I suppose he decided to go the more healthy route, maybe he's dieting gearing up for the upcoming holiday season.


Boy that must be one heavy banana!


Not to worry, he can manage it!







Gee all done already? I think he's on to me.

Reason for the Season...

Reason for the Season..hmmm, to me, it's simply watching my little one's face as she takes in the moment as she sits by the fire place.  It's these moments that make the Christmas Season special, watching it through their eyes. Oh the innocence! I could truly spend all day just taking pictures of their faces & expressions as they experience the little things in life.


She was absolutely mesmerized, & literally sat by the fireplace all afternoon...this was after setting up & playing with our train set for the holidays. To me, there's no better way than to spend a Sunday afternoon during this Season :)

Choo-Choo!

Ti's the season to put up the trains! These are for you Dad...What a bitter sweet moment knowing that I won't be able to share these with him. It was one of his many loves, that was to play with his trains at Christmas time. This was something that he & Jason would always enjoy together this time of year.

My Muse

Of couse...my Maddie...



What else can I say, she looks at me like this, & I MUST photograph her...call it a hobby, call it an obsession...I think I simply want to capture that *face*...how is it, that this face can evoke so many feelings in me?! Silly girl.

Come Rejoice!

After the death of my Father last month...it's been quite the roller coaster ride of emotions for my family to endure. With him being in the hospital being gravely ill...till him passing away...all through this my little sister had to deal with the stresses of expecting her first baby. 

Well, I'm happy to announce the birth of her healthy 7 lb baby boy!  I am so grateful to have witnessed him coming into this world, it will be a moment that I will always hold dear.  I'm still over the moon with glee just thinking about it.  & oh the minute that little man was put into his mother's arms, love at first sight for sure! I'm absolutely gleaming with pride for my baby sister...she's always been super special to me & to think that she's now a mother herself just renders me speechless.  She & my Brother-in-law will be, already are fabulous parents!

& wow, to think up till now Maddie's been the *baby* of the family, & she's 5 1/2! She's a giant next to my little nephew, holy cow, how quickly they grow! Speaking of which, Jason's going to be 8 this January. My oh my every day that goes by I feel like I have to take a step back & enjoy their childhood...Life just has a funny way by taking me by surprise sometimes going by much faster than I think.

I'm so very grateful that our whole family has something now to rejoice about this Christmas.  He truly is an angel sent from above  :)

Tree Trimming!

Yay! Finally got our tree last night!

Wow the kiddies posed for a picture, aren't they sweet? The past couple of years I've just sent Darling husband out for the tree, so the the kids were just over the moon with excitement helping to choose one :)




This little Angel has been the top for our tree, ever since John & I were dating. He had been staying at his Grandfather's house at the time, & we had gotten a little Christmas tree for his room. This was the angel. & she'll remain at the top of each & every Christmas tree, each & every year :)

You Capture

*Sweet*
A day like any other , there's nothing sweeter to me than Maddie & I crafting...although I have to say that she's the crafty one not I. I'm seriously envious of all those who are crafty....Anyway, every afternoon, until Jason gets out of school Maddie & I usually sit down for an afternoon of crafts, drawing, coloring & all things *girly* :)


So on today's agenda, she decided that we needed another Christmas decoration in the house...so she proceeded to find as much white construction paper that she could muster up and well. Hum, can you imagine, what she could possibly be making?


Working very hard I must say, with absolutely no help from Mommy. Just as well, gives me a moment to take some snap shots!


Final product, well, what do you know, it's a snowman :)


& last but not least, must share a shot of our very lovely & organized all purpose work station...aka kitchen table.

These truly are the moments I love capturing the most...because after all it's the memories that you're capturing.  & I'll always remember these afternoons with my little girl.  I'll cherish them now, while she's still in only half day kindergarten.  I don't know what I'm going to do next year without her.  My little girl is growing up.

Black & White Wednesday!

Wow, I can't believe it, 2 days in a row with photo challenges! I hadn't done a B&W Wednesday in quite some time & have forgotten how much fun it is to play around with black & whites!



After converting quite a few shots, I've forgotten how hard it is to pick a good one, there were a lot that just simply looked better color. So, here's a snapshot of Maddie from springtime, that when converted just  seemed to *pop*!

Check out The Long Road to China for more awesome B&W conversions :)

Zoom zoom!

It's Shutter Love Tuesdays at the Trendy Treehouse today...here's my take on the topic *zoom zoom!*



This was a very cool hood ornament of an classic Chevy...not sure of the model though. There was a car show at a recent trip to a harvest festival this fall :)

Scavenger Hunt!

After several weeks of not having anytime to devote to hunting...finally was able to put together a new shot for each item this week.. woohoo...go me :P


In my home

One of my favorite corners of my home...our family room downstairs, warm & cozy :) & of course Maddie's got to work her way into my scavenger hunt somehow :P


Sweet treat

My weakness...dark chocolate :)


Time

Our snowman count down calendar to Christmas... No better way for the kiddies to keep track of how much time is left to the big day!

It's beginning to look a lot like...

Well like Christmas of course!
I know, this doesn't have anything to do with the "meaning" of Christmas...but I have to say,  each year, when December rolls around, for the past, I would say, maybe 7 years, the Bumble has always been the first decoration to make an appearance. So, here you have it, once he's out, it's definitely *starting to look a lot like Christmas!*

Every day

Coffee, of course a necessity for my *every day*.

Have a great week!

Next week's items:
1.Holiday Colors
2.Winter/Holiday Icon
3.A Tree
4.Quiet
5.Your Favorite Color

Items for hunt

Will make an attempt this week's scavenger hunt! Although, what day is today, Friday?  Good luck to me, lol.

In my home
It's beginning to look a lot like...
Sweet treat
Time
Every day

Some oldies...

I've been going through some pics from the beginning of this year. I stumbled across a few of Maddie that I don't think I've blogged before...so, here you have them :)







I remember taking these shortly after getting my DSLR for my birthday in February...I just couldn't wait to start shooting this sweet face.  & am so glad this is turning into a hobby/obsession, because seriously she's growing up sooo fast!  There's a lot of times that I think my picture taking can be just a little bit excessive, but seriously, after going through just a years worth of pics, these kids have changed and grown up so so much.

Christmas cards...mission completion!

After several attempts, here's the shot we chose :) We tried on Saturday but Maddie wasn't having it...tried again yesterday, and finally got a shot that they are both looking at the camera..phew, didn't think it was going to happen there for a while!



I simply can not believe how grown up they are...where has the time gone? Not babies anymore, not toddlers anymore...one grown up little boy, and a one little lady. They have their moments for sure, but they truly could not love each other anymore than they do.



And one for fun...this of course was the very last shot taken. Sillies!

Test shot

I'm so behind schedule this year...I just the other day started my Christmas shopping.  & just now am trying to determine where the heck to have these kids pictures taken for this years Christmas card photo :P

Here's a snapshot of Maddie...I'm thinking downstairs next to the sliding glass door where there's plenty of sunlight.  Gotta think of a better backdrop though, something Christmasy perhaps, must think of something soon, I'm running out of time!



Notice the blankie...not the first time she's been photographed with it...LOL :D

My Little Pilgrim

Well, here's Maddie during her Kindergarten Thanksgiving party...being a Pilgrim of course! They sang songs for us and enjoyed a little party time afterwords.



Grandma is so proud of her little girl :)



and so is Daddy!



Here she is singing her songs, that I finally got to hear.  After several days of her telling me, "no Mommy, I can not share my songs, it has to be a surprise!"

I'll miss you more than you'll ever know...

I'm blogging now...as the kids are at school, and for the first time since September 24th, the day of my Dad's surgery, I don't have anywhere to go to visit him...He's gone.  He's gone now, & I have no where to go to see him.  He passed on Monday November 15th, peacefully in his sleep.  He had cancer and he just never recovered.  He tried so hard, but I could see him slowly slipping away with each week that went by.  I feel so empty inside right now.  There is so much in my soul that I can credit him for, he was truly my Kindred Spirit.  & I'm going to miss him more than words can express.  He gave me my love for music, my love for drawing, my love for animals, my love for photography.  It was the simple things in life that I can appreciate and know that he would always relate to.  There was never a pretty flower or a tall tree that he would pass up and not notice. All that is good and pure in me came from him, it's that feeling in my heart that tells me so.  He was such a unique, quiet man with the capacity to love more than I've ever seen in a person.  He cherished his grand kids and spoke of my mom as if she were an angel.  & during his last days, when he couldn't even speak, lay there staring at my mom and me as if he was laying his eyes on us for the last time.  The day before he passed, he saw my Jason with a tear in his eye and I knew then this was the last time we would see his precious brown eyes.

Although I'll miss him terribly, each time I look at my kids I will think of him & know that he will live each day through them. Rest in peace sweet Daddy.

Trick-or-Treat!

Another Halloween gone by! & What a lovely sunny day we had :) We've made it tradition to go to my parent's house so that the kiddies can go trick-or-treating in Grandma's neighborhood. Even though Pop-Pop is still in the hospital, we just couldn't break tradition... As they've always spent Halloween at Grandma's house.


Who is that behind the dark mask? Jason of course, 7 1/2 and still very into Star Wars.


& Here's my *Pretty Kitty* Notice the pink fluffiness. The moment she saw this costume, she was sold.


& Rosie of course loves to join the party, but where is your costume silly Rosie!


Sweet Bina & Maddie, the best of cousins, the best of friends :)

Scavenger Hunt

Where did this week go?

Our Town

Our Town's...Target of course!


Something Vintage

Vintage Teddy...found him laying in an antique shop, literally a pile of junk. This shop was somewhere in the middle of PA, an old barn filled with stuff! He sits each night on my night stand, I've had him now, for about 12 years, he's truly a treasure to me :)


Dress Up

Pretty Kitty :)



Chocolate

Ummm, chocolate sundae :D

Complete fail at Tilt-Shift Photography

Have a great week!





Next week's items:

1.Boo!
2.Black
3.Texture
4.Wet
5.Language