....aaaaand we're back!

I don't know what the problem was, but Blogger did NOT want to let me log in to my account.  I didn't even have the option to, I could never get to the sign on screen for my blog since Mother's Day! 

Lame to the Max.

Since I was thoroughly really T.O'ed (that's Ticked Off - which is pretty serious), I have lined up a really super cool neato blog with someone else.  So stay tuned for that! 

In the meantime, I have been playing, playing and playing some more with my camera gear.  I've got some new techniques, some new lighting and even a new camera bag all of which I adore.  (The bag seriously, I've never been in love with an inanimate object so deeply before.  Well, aside from my Kitchen Aid, obviously)

Here is a sneak peek of what I've been up to:

There was camping (We went to Wenatchee Confluence.  Fun!)

 

I played with some new lighting equipment - and people who were willing to get in a tree.  :)

And had a SUPER fun session taking pictures of my friend's (Tonya - BFF shout out!)  92 year old mother, Miss Evelyn - who wanted to get down on the ground to pose for me.  I adore her.

I hope to share more of these sessions when my other non-lame blog gets up and running...  Stay tuned!

Three Years

I lost my mom 3 years ago.  I had a child 3 years ago.  I will never forget my first Mother's day without a mother, and yet at the same time, as a mother.  Words can't express the mixed emotions I felt - pride, longing, happiness, grief, but there was plenty of love.  Always love.

Love has been the one constant my entire life.  My mother was the single most nurturing, loving and caring person I have ever known.  She had three children, one boy, two girls.  She loved each of them with such passion - pure, raw, selfless love.  She knew no other way.  Mom often joked about what she would do to the poor soul who even looked funny at one of her kids - the funny part is, we all knew it was true.  She had more protection instinct than a mama Grizzly bear, driven from love.  Mom kissed my boo-boos, she wiped away my tears, she made special desserts for special occasions and she taught me compassion.  She taught me what it meant to treat others how I wanted to be treated, the golden rule.  She taught me manners, she taught me respect, she taught me all the qualities that she possessed and I grew into the respectful, mindful, considerate adult I am today - just as she was.

Mom was unconditionally proud of me.  She raised me the best she knew how and I was a remarkable individual in her eyes.  She always told me how proud she was, how much she loved me and it never went unappreciated.  There were times I felt silly and almost uncomfortable when she would go on, but I would give almost anything to hear her words again today.  She made me feel special.

It's been 3 years without Mom.  I have a family of my own now - one I am so grateful she got to meet before passing away.   It wasn't long after I had my daughter Kayla when Mom passed away - I truly believe things happen for a reason and I know deep down Mom was meant to see that I was happy before she left this world.  She was meant to see her only granddaughter and know that her legacy would live on.

I have alot to live up to as a Mom.  My mom set that bar pretty high, but it is a bar I intend to reach, she raised me well enough to know that there is no other way - just love.

Happy Mother's Day Mom.  I love you, I miss you more than words can say and I hope you knew that I was - and always will be - every bit as proud of you as you were of me. 

 

 

Swimming

Well, we started swimming lessons for Kayla.  The excitement level prior to arrival was palpable....  the excitement level after we got dressed to go home, well...  it wasn't quite the same.

See, our daughter is a little bit of a chicken with most things - and that's okay!  Alot of things in this world is scary, like dunking your head under water.

She really had to warm up to the idea of even getting into the pool, she really contemplated it.

 

And after a little bit of coaxing and "it's okay"s, she finally got in... and promptly turned around to get out

 

But after a little more coaxing and "it's okay"s and "wee!" and "it's fun!"s, she started to loosen up and enjoy it a bit (as long as her head didn't go under that water)

 

Her favorite part was the kicking

 

She didn't really care for the "torpedo" part much since that involved getting the water near your face holes

 

BUT she survived and lives for another day of swimming lessons.  We'll see.  I'm not so sure she'll be as ready and excited to go as she was the first time (not knowing that drowning was an option), but we'll see.  I ask her if she wants to go again and at first it was NO, but the next morning I got the occasional yes, so there may be hope yet.  :)

(Technical neato factoid - this pool was the darkest room ever, it was little therapy pool in another room than the main pool, and they didn't have any lighting on whatsoever, just what was leftover/available from the main pool windows.  It was really dark - so all of these pictures were taken at ISO 2000.  Can you even believe that?  TWO THOUSAND.  *swoon*  I am in love.  These are all straight out of the camera - there is some noise, very little, and that exposure is wonderful considering how dark it was.  It is so nice to have the ability to shoot in even super dark situations.  Wee!!)