2010 July | I Should Be Folding Laundry

Archive for July 2010 – Page 3

You Capture – Vehicles

Thursday, July 15th, 2010

By Beth

Pardon my tardiness, I have a vehicle-sized headache and three children that are requiring truckloads of attention, so getting You Capture up has been a real challenge. But luckily, Eli is sleeping and Anna and Noah are keeping themselves busy by drawing pictures of pizza (they take after their mother).

Did you have a great week photographing vehicles? I hope so!

Here are my two shots.

We had seventy-five billion rocks delivered yesterday. When I see this picture I think of back-breaking work, sweating to death in 95 degree weather and dollar signs being dropped onto our drive away.

Oh and also beautiful landscaping. Yes, mostly that.

vehicle

ISO 100 | F2.0 | ss 1/1250

And then I was sitting at a stop light the other day, I saw two vehicles sitting, I grabbed my camera, set my settings, took a picture and then got honked at. Geeze, some people have NO PATIENCE. Can’t a girl take a photo of two random trucks at a busy intersection in peace?

vehicles

ISO 100 | F2.0 | ss 1/4000

Now it’s your turn to share!

But first -

1. Anyone can join in on the challenge at anytime.
2. Please make sure the photos you use were taken for the challenge, meaning do not search your archives for an appropriate photo. The goal of You Capture is to get you out taking photos each week!
3. Use YOUR photos.
4. When linking up, only link to your You Capture blog post, not your main blog URL. (incorrect links will be deleted.)

{more You Capture info can be found here.}

YouCapture_300x150

Black & white. (any photo, just processed in black & white! Remember, you can find free editing programs over at Picasa and Picnik.)

Happy Capturing!

Categories: you capture.

Elijah

Tuesday, July 13th, 2010

By Beth

Eli wanted me to stop and tell you “hello!”

Except he didn’t really say that, that would be weird.

and awesome.

But mostly weird.

He’s been such a wonderful baby, essentially he slept until 10:30 this morning with two teeny, tiny feedings thrown in at at 4:40 and 7:30 am, so he pretty much could ask for a new car today and I’d probably get him one. Except not, because I have fourteen dollars in my checking account.

Anyway. Just a quick hello to tell you that I need to take a break from a few things and I’m afraid blogging is one of them. I may pop in to share some photos with you, after all, I am taking another photography workshop and need to take many photos, so why not share, but I won’t be writing until next week.

You Capture will continue as scheduled this week and also, I’ve blogged over here.

Maybe this is a good time to open up my comments for any questions you may have for me? I can’t answer all of them (or maybe I can? who knows?) Either way, ask away and I’ll answer on my blog when I’m back.

Oh and here’s Elijah as of this morning.

He’s such an amazing little baby.

teeny tiny boy

Categories: Being a Mama, stupid crap

Enough

Monday, July 12th, 2010

By Beth

Yesterday was one of those days where everything was good. It wasn’t always easy, but everything was good.

Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more.
If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.
–Oprah Winfrey

I’m grateful for the summer food on our table.

summer corn

cherries on my windowsill

My kids. Their hearts are so full of life that it rubs off on us.

because they're cubs fans

Anna

I’m thankful for summer shoes on clearance at Target in July.

happy feet

Not pictured: prayer at church, peanut butter ice cream cones at our local ice cream parlor, kid-sized swimming pools, neighbors who can bake, family car rides in the country, a clean bedroom, sitting on the floor with the kids, tickle parties and a husband who gets it.

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it. -William Arthur Ward

Categories: Family, Friendly

Friday Morning Coffee

Friday, July 9th, 2010

By Beth

Hi friends.

I just finished my bowl of Raisin Bran, I’m drinking my coffee out of my favorite red cup. Anna has chosen Raisin Bran today over Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Capn’ Crunch and Cookie Crisp. Noah is eating Capn’ Crunch. They are both eating a bowl of fresh fruit – cantaloupe, pineapple and bananas.

I love fruit this time of year. It’s so FRESH and CHEAP. I feel like all I do is cut fruit but I don’t care because it’s so FRESH and CHEAP.

What’s Eli doing? He’s asleep. It feels so weird to have him not near me. (I’m expecting his cries any second, however.) These past few days have been pretty difficult. Not just because Eli has been pretty fussy but in general I can’t seem to juggle all of the demands of being a Mom, a wife, a homeowner AND try to start my own business and be a good friend. Sister. Daughter.

I have a lot I want to say but I’m going to just not. Sometimes things don’t need to be said. We’ve been trying to teach that to Anna lately … just because you are thinking something, doesn’t mean you need to say it out loud.

So, that’s where I’m at with my frustrations with my life right now. I just need more time in my day. (don’t we all?) I need more time to myself. (don’t we all?) I just want to juggle it all and be graceful and positive and friendly during the process. (don’t we all?)

Anyway… in an effort to combat all that is troubling my heart right now, I’m going to share GOOD things with you.

First, my photo shoot with Megan went really well. She’s a wonderful soul – I can’t wait to photograph their baby boy when he makes his arrival into this world. Here are two of my favorite shots from our shoot:

Second, we’ve had two super fun play dates at parks with my best friends this week. Can you imagine? Hanging out with your best friends during the day while your kids play together? Feeling so fortunate about that.

{Love & Clay}

Elijah & Bianca

{Bianca & Elijah}

{Tommy, Bianca & Clay}

The rest of the kids just ran around the entire time we were at the park.

Third, today we get to have a little, tiny mini family reunion with my sister and her kids from Michigan, my sister-in-law and her three kids from Colorado and my parents. We are having lunch at our favorite restaurant. This makes my heart happy.

I need to (re)focus on making my heart happy because that makes me a better Mom, wife, homeowner, friend, sister and daughter.

I hope your heart has extra happy this weekend.

Eli is waking up.

Perfect timing.

Categories: Friday Morning Coffee

You Capture – America

Wednesday, July 7th, 2010

By Beth

(or any country!) There are no words to describe my love for the Fourth of July. I have to say that it gets a lot of love from me because it’s in July. We celebrated and celebrated and celebrated. It was a good (and exhausting) weekend.

Here are my shots. I had big visions of taking photos of farms and cornfields and our downtown areas which scream America! to me but I was apparently too busy eating s’mores and wiping watermelon juice off of my floors to make time to do that. Next time, right?

Anna collected flags at the parade. I finally had to tell her to stop once I pictured them scattered all over my house. They are currently scattered all over my house.

flag collecting