POTW 4 & 5

So, I missed a week of POTW. I didn't even take my camera out. I really enjoyed just living life and not having to take pictures and document everything. BUT.... I do still want to practice using my camera, AND I love having the every-day memories captured from W's childhood.   Since I skipped last week, I'm including a handful of pictures from this past week. 

The weather in Houston has been beautiful, and we are taking full advantage.  So... PictureS of the Week 4 & 5 are all "play" pictures. Over a month out from my photography class and my technique is really fading. The first picture below isn't even in focus - anywhere.  BUT... this is me trying. 

Philip & William driving Cars at the Park. This picture is worth 1,000 words to describe our lives right now!

William's first outing in the Power Wheels, after abruptly deciding that he is not scared of it any more.  

Philip finding William at hide & seek. William hides behind this big rock every time!

William shows his newest Car (Rip K.) to one of the horses (Nebraska) we feed carrots to. 

POTW 3

Things I want to remember about this POTW:

• William picked out the shirt he is wearing because orange is his FAVORITE color
• He and I were having an outdoor picnic, eating apples and learning letters
• After he had taken a few bites of his apple, he said, "Look, Mom! It looks like Lightning McQueen!"  That boy always has Cars on the brain.

I'm still not good enough to be able to get my camera to do exactly what I want it to do AND be able to capture the fleeting moments I want to capture. But, this practice is helping me. And, since I am taking my camera with me more, I am able to get more pictures of our "every day" lives. I know I'll be glad I have them. 

POTW 2

About this week's POTW
I think this picture captures the magic of our ordinary days.  Nearly every afternoon, William and I go outside to play with neighbors.  All the kids come out and bring with them an assortment of snacks, scooters, skateboards, rip sticks, roller blades, balls, chalk, and helmets. William adores all of the 'big kids', and he and I always stay and play as long as we can - before dinner has to be made. These two girls were taking a snack break and watching the other kids play in the street. I don't know that the picture is "photographically good" - I just know that it captures a feeling about William's child hood that I really want to remember.

ISO 100; 50 mm; f/2; 1/2000

Picture of the Week (POTW)

Why POTW?
I attended a photography workshop today, led by the talented Laura Veno, and I am inspired to take better (and more) pictures!  As soon as I got home, I started practicing some of the things I learned. Laura suggested a blog that has some great ideas for weekly pictures to take, which inspired me to commit to taking my very own Picture of the Week - POTW.  I'm doing this for two reasons: 1) so that I will keep learning and practicing new skills and 2) to have some accountability and regularity for documenting our family's life on days other than Halloween, Christmas and beach vacation.

About this week's POTW
I'm still about as amateur as it gets, so I knew I needed a still subject and good light to practice with. I also knew that I wanted to be better about capturing the special "little" things that make up my whole world right now, but often never make it into a picture. What better than Cars?! William wants to play cars 24 hours a day.  Not just any cars - Disney Cars. And his favorite? Lightning McQueen.  I love how this picture focuses on McQueen, and how the other cars are still visible in the back ground. William, Philip and I know every single Car's name... even when they are blurred!

ISO 800; 50mm; f/2.5; 1/30

Halloween

William as Buddy the TRex from Dinosaur Train

I love the tail!

William's class on Halloween

William & his friend Trick or Treating

Here are some snapshots from our Halloween this year. William really loved Trick or Treating and had so much fun wearing his Buddy the T-Rex costume!

Thanks for Voting...

... The Diamond Blackfan Anemia Foundation made it into the top 11 and won $100,000 from Chase!!!

I know James Thomas' family appreciates your vote... and your prayers!  

Please Read and Vote Online Today or Tomorrow...

Our sweet friend James Thomas needs your help:

James Thomas and his family are dear friends of ours through church. He is William's age and was born with Diamond Blackfan Anemia. He received blood transfusions every 3 weeks until he was 15 months old. He was hospitalized several times and had 3 surgeries by 18 months. Now he survives on daily steroids and monthly trips to Texas Children's Hospital. And... you might never know it because he is such a joyful, happy little boy!  You have the chance to help James Thomas, and hopefully find a cure, by helping the Diamond Blackfan Anemia Foundation. They have been blessed with an amazing opportunity to raise money through Chase Community Giving. 

This is where you come in: by clicking on the links below to vote for the Diamond Blackfan Anemia Foundation, you can help the Foundation win $100,000 from Chase. Only the top 11 groups will win the money, and the Diamond Blackfan Anemia Foundation is currently in 12th place. Voting closes at midnight tomorrow, so please take a second to vote through Facebook or Chase (if you are an account holder). I just voted through my FaceBook AND Chase log in, and it took less than 3 minutes. You can see the links below. 

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