Silhouettes

We are heading to the beach in a few weeks and I really would like to get a few silhouette pictures of the kids on the beach at sunset. I have never attempted this before so I decided I better start practicing. The other night Avery and I held our hands up high in the evening sky and I shot away. They were not too bad, but not as crisp as I would like for them to be...maybe I should do it a little earlier in the evening, maybe I should use a tripod, maybe bring my ISO down a little (I think it was set to 1600 for these)...anyone out there have any tips?

Avery's 4 1/2 Birthday Party

For those of you that do not know, Avery was born Christmas Day. To top it all off that was the same day as my due date...what were the chances?!? Anyhow, she is so proud to have her birthday the same day as Jesus and Mamaw Earline, but it does make it difficult to have a birthday party around then. Since we didn't want overshadow Christmas with her birthday and vice-versa (and to make it easier on everyone) we decided to have half birthday parties. It works our really well and I am so happy that our friends and family go along with it. Thank you guys so much! You have no idea what it means to Jason and I!

Usually we have her party around June 25, but this year has been a little busy so we pushed it back to July. Avery decided that she wanted a Fancy Nancy Birthday Party. She loves Fancy Nancy and to anyone out there with little girls, I highly recommend the Fancy Nancy books. They are too cute! Avery had a blast at her party and LOVED all of her presents, but I think most of all she LOVED playing with all her friends. I can't believe in just a few short months I am going to have a five year old!

Avery decked out in her Fancy Nancy dress up clothes!

Grabbing for candy after the pinata busted

Avery and Oakley's birthday present from Mommy and Daddy. It was a HUGE hit at the party!

Chaz playing cornhole!

The boys playing bocce

Oaks shirt speaks only the truth!

Opening presents

Singing Happy Birthday

My Mom's Flowers

My Mom has the most beautiful flowers at her house. She has such a green thumb... unfortunately I did not seem to received that gene. She kept all the ferns from mine and Jason's wedding and they were amazing throughout the 5 years she had them. When we moved into our new house she sent two of them over to go on my front porch. Needless to say it just took one summer for me to kill them. I am hoping that maybe my green thumb will come with age! The older I get the better I will be at growing plants right?!? I would love to have beautiful flower beds and perfect landscaping around my house, but until then here are some pictures of all the beautiful flowers at my Mom's house. Most of these are just straight out of the camera shots.












My most favorite place in the world (besides our own home and farm) is the creek on my parents farm. It is so peaceful and beautiful there and it is the best place to go and relax. This is a sign that some good friends of my parents made so that they could put it up at the entrance of the creek.