1st Grade!

Last week I officially became the mother of a 1st grader.... Where in the heck did that come from! How is he already 6? How is he already an elementary school pro?

I had this lovely idea of how the morning would go when we had our first day of school this year. I imagined sweet smiling faces. Unmistakeable excitement for the new experiences that 1st grade would bring. I imagined nervous giggles and lots of picture perfect photos to remember this morning for a lifetime....

That, my friends, was pure delusion.

Instead I was met with anger, frustration, screams of "Mom, I don't want to get up! It's too early," and the oh so lovely.... "I'm not going to school and you can't make me!"

Yep.

Oh, I forgot to mention that at one point I had to drag my oldest two out from under the bed.....

DRAG THEM!

Yeah.....

So my sweet, smiley pictures turned into a whole lot of this....

And I have to say.... That is, by far, the BEST first day of school picture I saw all morning. Facebook friends, eat your hearts out!

After we got on the road, and the sugar of the morning's breakfasts started kicking in.... Attitudes improved. Excitement grew.

Before too long I was able to get some of the photos I imagined getting.

This was technically not Brady's 1st day of school since he has gone off and on all summer, but since it had been about a month due to vacation we made it his ceremonial 1st day of school as well!

Complete with new backpack!

he is getting so big...

And then, since he was finally in better spirits, I found a serene spot on the way to drop Mason off and pulled over for the pictures I envisioned. And I got them.

With the printable I made especially for the day. I wish I would have made the blue a little darker, but it is too late now! In person it is very visible, but in the photos it didn't hold up. Lesson Learned!

And our ceremonial 1st day of school treat.

I am so proud of my boys. They are growing and changing everyday.

Another lesson learned.... The first day of 1st grade is just as emotional as the first day of kindergarten.

It will get easier won't it????



Hurricane Isaac!

So after 2 days of being cooped up in the house due to the absolutely LOVELY Hurricane Isaac, we are finally free!

Amazingly enough, the weather today is worse than it has been for the past 2 days. Nice.

During our hurricane days, other than eating our weight in snacks, we entertained ourselves with a little photography...

Without further adieu... Hurricane Photo Shoot!

New Paths

When my husband gifted me my camera a few years ago.... I never knew it would open up a whole new world for me.

I've always been a photography lover. Attempting to manipulate my little Kodak point and shoot to get these amazing shots I saw in my mind was something I had done for as long as I can remember. I dreamed of the day that I would find the man of my dreams and he would surprise me a few weeks before Christmas with a camera that my little Kodak camera wished it was..... Ok, maybe the dream wasn't THAT specific, but you get the just of it.

From the first MOMENT I snapped a picture with my Nikon, I knew. That was it. That was my dream. That was my calling. That was what I NEEDED to be doing with my life.

I feel it. I breathe it.

Photography gets me all excited about everything. It's like looking at the world with new eyes!

Now, I know that I am no professional. I haven't had formal training and I in NO WAY imply that I have mastered all of the amazing things that my camera can accomplish.

But I need to. I want to. I CRAVE knowing more.

With that said, I have started looking into photography classes at our local university. I need this. Not only to better my photography, but for my soul. Have you ever did something and thought... "I could do this for the rest of my life. This was meant for me?" I have. I still do.

What solidified my thoughts on furthering my hobby?

I attended a wedding this weekend. The photographer, I am sure, got some lovely shots. But.... I kept seeing the most touching and lovely candid shots that she was missing. While the bridal party posed itself (with no direction.... that's another topic that bothered me) she stood there. Sour face. Sour attitude. Pointed and shot the undirected shots before moving on. Loving touching moments of hugs and laughter seemed to go unnoticed.

She gathered no grandparents for photos. Barely gathered parents for photos. And offered no variation in any angle.

Honestly, she looked aggravated to be there. Like... Well, like she was working.

I don't feel that way when I am taking pictures. I don't feel that way at all. I get excited for different shots. And capturing special moments. And soaking up the gloriously happy moments that come when a group of people are gathered for a once in a lifetime moment.

Seeing their photographer in action.... Or lack of action... Did it for me.

I NEED this. I need to start doing what I love. If not for me to enjoy, but to share in capturing others enjoyment for them to treasure.

So, photography classes..... Here I come.

New life path..... I'm ready for you.