I ♥ Faces Contest, Week 16 :: Reflection

Oh, you  know the routine...a new week dawns, a new challenge is presented by iHeartFaces, and I cannot resist joining in. I do have to say, this week's theme of "Reflection" was rather tough for me. I wanted to think outside the box so I thought of a silver mixing bowl, sunglasses, water droplets, car windows, but nothing worked. Finally, I got one I liked!

Click the button below and head over to see what other talented photographers, beginners and professionals alike, came up with for this creative challenge!

As a Friday Fix-it contributor, I cannot be considered for a win, but I can be considered a true fan of this site!

Picture Parade

Moments like this reaffirm my belief that all pictures have value. My daughter gathered these two frames off a bookcase, lined them up and said she was having a picture parade. She just sat and gazed at the image of herself with her dada.

Onion Rings :: A Personal Account

Perhaps, if I weren't pregnant and this baby wasn't DEMANDING onion rings, I wouldn't have wolfed them down without an interesting picture of the rings spilling from the garishly colored orange and white Whataburger container. But I am pregnant. And this baby NEEDS onion rings. And I have to continue my analysis of the best onion rings around.

Here are my findings thus far: 

1. I need to move to a state that does not support Sonic and Whataburger. I know such states exist. They are called "Places North of the Mason-Dixon." Too far to walk. Too far to drive with a two year old and a cat.

2. I prefer the thicker cut of the onion at Sonic but the batter at Whataburger. I love, love salty. Sonic's batter is sweeter.

3. I have not hit upon the perfect onion ring. My quest continues. My quest better end soon. I am not supposed to gain all 25-30 pounds in the first trimester...

Flowers and Friends :: Killeen Children's Photographer

The bluebonnet gets an unprecedented amount of acclaim, but Texas has many other lovely wildflowers, which you can easily see if you spend a lot of time looking at your feet. Karyn and I met up in a field of such tiny, colorful, beautiful wildflowers and let the kids romp while we photographed. However, when cute little ones are around, it is imposible to focus solely on nature. I had to take some of this fellow, especially when he was hamming it up for the camera!

Waxing Smiles, Waning Light :: Killeen Family Photographer

How better to spend a fine spring evening than with three adorable, energetic boys and their parents? They had a great time frolicking in the field of bluebonnets, wrestling, running and playing. Between the fun, I caught some great smiles from everyone. Enjoy your peek!

You know, boys will be boys. How could I not show these gems?! Maybe not the "prettiest" pictures, but the most true to life!

I ♥ Faces Contest, Week 15 :: Self Portrait

This week at iHeartFaces is a quick lesson in how to humiliate yourself publicly. Is this how I want to start my week?! Why yes, it is, because I love iHeartFaces, I am the judge this week (What? They let me be a judge?!) and it is really fun to finally see everyone who has been participating these many weeks.

Since I am the judge and I can't possibly win this week, I didn't find it necessary to adhere so strictly to the rules. Which is why you can only see my mouth. But you can see my TWO children.

You don't see TWO? Well, the first one poking my stomach is well known around this site, as she is used frequently for my entries. The other one is a bit shy and won't really make his/her debut until late October. You know, it can be hard to find newborns to do sessions with, so I just took my business into my own hands and made my own newborn. The wait is the hardest part...

Get on over to iHeartFaces and show us YOUR face this week!

Judge Julie

What an honor for me to be selected as the Guest Judge over at iHeartFaces! 

The week's theme is Self Portraits, with both a children's category and an adult's category. Obviously, the photographer has to be in the picture, holding the camera. No tripods allowed. I think it will be really fun to see the creativity of everyone and simply, just to SEE everyone! Putting faces with names, if you will. Do not be intimidated to enter, as this is a wonderful site with so many people supporting and encouraging one another in their love of photography.

Oh, and if you have ever wanted to ask me a question, now is the time to seize the moment. Click HERE and fire away! I will try to answer everyone, in between real life and photo sessions.

You can enter from Monday morning until Tuesday evening at 9 pm CST. Don't miss out on the fun!

Baby Blues in the Bluebonnets :: Harker Heights Children's Photographer

I found myself back in the beautiful field of flowers last night with this wonderful, blue eyed family. The promise of ice cream for good behavior worked like a charm and my job was made very easy. Besides, these cuties really were just having a fun time together.

Enjoy the peek!

Bluebonnet Buddies :: Killeen Children's Photographer

Two boys and a little lady. Huge field of flowers. Guaranteed smiles.

I ♥ Faces Contest, Week 14 :: Killeen Children's Photographer

iHeartFaces is celebrating Easter and Spring pictures this week, kids only. And, there is a special AMATEURS ONLY contests! Click the button below and check it all out:

::CHILD ENTRY::

For those that read my previous post (HERE), you will know there was no egg hunt with beautifully colored eggs. Seems the Easter Bunny just can't get his act together. And the pictures from the indoor hunt at 7 am for plastic eggs are not display worthy. So the Easter theme missed me. 

But Spring...I can do Spring! The Texas Bluebonnets are out in force now. After burning through a tank of gas exploring the highways and byways of Central Texas, I found a huge patch, away from the road, without power lines running through it, a mere 5 miles from home. It took some bribery, coercing and cajoling to get this picture, but I got it and that is all that counts:

As a Friday Fix-It contributor, I cannot be considered for a win, but I love to share in the spirit and fun of the competition.

Happy, Colorful Easter!

Craziest thing. The Easter Bunny brought hard boiled eggs and a dye kit. He did manage to hide plastic candy filled eggs and leave a very full Easter Basket for my daughter. But I guess with layoffs, he just can't get the chicks to dye their eggs beforehand. So we did it ourselves this afternoon. I love the colors of the egg dye...I wish the eggs were deeper in color...a two year old does not understand the virtue of letting the eggs soak...

Inks Lake State Park :: Burnet, Texas

We had a day with nothing on the agenda. Right now, that is very rare. My husband asked if I would like to do anything. He has to know by now that the answer will usually have something to do with driving around, looking for interesting scenes that I can photograph. And he indulges these fancies of mine. I am a lucky gal.

We loaded the car with snacks, DVDs, the child and my camera and journeyed westward. In Texas, we could have journeyed westward for 8 hours and still found ourselves within the borders of this great state. We set our sites a bit nearer and found our way to Inks Lake State Park, near Burnet, Texas. The area where we stopped led to a hiking trail with a gentle upward slope, easy enough for our two year old to tackle but still entertaining for everyone. Seize the opportunity and make the most of our temperate spring weather. Summer will be here with its 100 degree heat before you know it!

I ♥ Faces Contest, Week 13 :: Harker Heights Children's Photographer

iHeartFaces is already on their thirteenth week of sharing the joy of photographing faces! So hard to believe.  Click the link above or the button below to enter your own picture. As a Fix It Friday contributor, I cannot be considered for a win, but I do love to participate!

This week we celebrate good friends. And I can think of no better friends than my daughter and Karyn's son. From the time they met when they were both just over the age of one, they have hit it off and remain buddies. I think the relationship escalated though, as my daughter made a dinner time declaration that she and her beau were wed in preschool a week or two ago...

For my adult entry, I thought it would be fun if Karyn and I could take a picture simultaneously, then each post the view from our respective camera. She was game. The three kids were not. She came over this morning to let the kids play and we attempted, about 59 times, to get this picture without anyone else in there. As you can see, that was impossible! But the out takes are hysterical and who better to do this with than a great friend? (Click HERE to see Karyn's picture.)

Beautified :: Killeen Children's Photographer

Headbands become belts. Barrettes are pulled out and discarded. Ponytails are despised. Unruly hair ruled the roost around here until we took charge of my daughter's appearance and marched her to the beauty salon. $15 later, our child again looks presentable and very cute with her trimmed curls.