Family 2009

I hope everyone had a wonderful and safe holiday! The Norton family had a wonderful and low key Christmas.

As the holiday is winding down, I can't help but think of how lucky I am. It's been another challenging year for the books (metaphoric and literally speaking). It's also been filled with joy, rediscovery, friendships both new and old, and family. Thank you to all of you for your love and support!

2010 will be a year of change for our family, downsizing homes and simplifying our lifestyle, hopefully new job prospects, college, and a smooth transition for the kids. As exciting as all that sounds it's all a bit scary and overwhelming right now. We know in the end we are making positive steps for our future.

Happy Holidays

Just a few photos before the festivities.

Emma's 9th Birthday Party

Emma's birthday party was a blast. Couple things I learned A) this was a ton of work. B) My favorite decoration came at the last minute after not being able to find tissue paper pom poms at any party stores. I ended up making my own and I love them! Martha Stewart has instructions on her website "Tissue Paper Pom Poms or floral pom pom". C) My best finds were at the thrift store. I found a Williams Sonoma Tea pot for 4.99, silver candlestick holder, and vintage hats for the girls to wear.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

Traditions

The holidays hold a special place in my heart. I confess my tree went up the week of Thanksgiving. The kids did the first round of decorations and yesterday I did "reorg" so to speak, and pulled out the fragile ornaments. For these photos my kit lens (which never gets used), iso 100, f18, ss 6 seconds, tripod and timer.

Good kinda of busy

This time of year always keeps me on my toes. 2 birthdays right smack in the middle of the holidays and hosting parties. It's a good kinda of busy.

I've wanted to spend some more time playing in LR3. My mission was to get a better grasp on the brush tool. Not sure that I've managed to do so, but it's been fun and frustrating all in one!

Birthday invite

This is my throw it together invite for Emma's birthday party.
So here's what I have so far. I'm loving the colors, just feeling it's too busy. I purchased the digi kit from 2peas "Sweet Vintage Charm". I'm hoping by morning after stepping away it will have grown on me.

More light play

Here's few more with my light and soft box. For the photo of Tyler, I dragged the setup to him. As usual he didn't cooperate much, but it was worth a try. I apparently misplaced one of my sync cords so I have no way to trigger my Alien bee other than using my 580ex speedlight. I ended up bouncing the speedlight on the opposite wall of where my softbox was facing. I still didn't get the catchlights I was looking for, I just went for it as is, since he was cooperating for only a few seconds! I've seriously considered buying a baby doll with big glossy eyes so I can practice on!

Playing around with my Alien Bee and softbox

I picked up a gently used soft box from another fellow Pea (thanks Celeste). These are my first attempts playing around. No clue as to what I'm doing, but having fun trying!

Btw, I'm so irritated with my blog layout. Any suggestions on another layout/template from blogger? I enjoy being able to have large photos. I like simple and clean. At some point I will add a header of my own. Once I go down that road I would like to give the whole blog a facelift.

Princess Tyler

At 5 years old he doesn't see the potential of these photos. He sure does look pretty!

Positive thoughts

This week marks the 2 yr anniversary when we found out my brother had testicular cancer. Thankfully it was detected early on and removed. But what makes this all so different is, well, he is different. Scott has Down's Syndrome. The best way for me to describe his mental age/ability is, he's a 5 yr old trapped in a 38 yr old mans body.

Anyway a few photos that make me smile (taken when we lived in Sparks, Nv). Scotts standing in the pool because he wanted to be included in the pool fun with his niece and nephews.

This week we await his 18 month post scans and blood work. Thinking positive thoughts for another cancer free scan!

Life is crazy, but life is good

These photos are from the pumpkin patch a few weeks ago. As I finally have a spare moment to sit down and take a peek, my heart is warmed with joy and love as I go through these images. It was an amazing day and I'm thankful for all our blessings!

Photo wall

I've always admired tastefully done photo gallery walls. (sorry, small photos tonight)

This is our inherited furniture and craigslist finds. Some day I'll have my choice of something a bit more sophisticated and clean lines, til then we have a great spot for homework and plenty of forgiveness with distressed look :).

I've had all the frames and pics ready for quite some time, just never got up the nerve to put them up. At some point (if we ever get to it) our intent was to put a craftsman wainscoting on the bottom of the walls. I've placed the photos to allow for that in the event we ever get to it. I'm not sure if repeating 2 more frames on the left and right would be too much for the room. For now I can noodle on this every time I pass by.

The last photo is my inspiration photo found off the web "decorpad" site.

We recently had our family photos done (by Lauren) so you know I'll be replacing the pics in these frames to display our latest beautiful shots!

Btw, I used the craft paper to cut down to the size of my frames and made a fake wall using tape. I've seen it done but never done it myself. Awesome way to hang multiple photos without making lots of unnecessary holes!

The quotes in the frames were from Pottery Barn a few years ago. Brilliant idea...but you could totally do it yourself for a fraction of the cost!

Daylilly

Next to photography, gardening is my next favorite passion. This is a daylilly from our front garden. It was taken a few months back. As I learn new techniques editing it's always fun to try a fresh perspective on an old photo.

I used the Topaz Adjust Equalize filter on this, it's noisy but I like it. The gray blue background is the sidewalk. My next goal is to start learning marco. No clue where to start, but I'd like to give my kids a much needed break.

Mothers love

It's amazing how a hug, some gentle kisses, and a band-aid can make it all better. Photo taken with my 50mm 1.8, f1.8, 1/100 iso800

Pumpkin Patch

Our second trip to the patch was a huge success! We did the patch 3 weeks prior and got a little sidetracked with all the fun activities. This time we managed to bring home pumpkins, kettle corn, cinnamon licorice and caramel corn munch. Fun times, only I won't be able to sit down with our photos til later this week.

I'm making good on my word. Orientation and registration is next week for college. I'm very excited but also very nervous about juggling school and family.

I seriously dislike skin tones!!!!

Snapshot of Tyler this morning.

My goodness, I get so irritated editing skin tones, once I get one cast removed, then the hair looks bad...I finally gave up on this one. I'm about ready to turn it black and white. This is a sad confession but I'm sure more than half of my photos rarely get edited cuz I get so frustrated with skin tones. While I've been brushing up on selective color adjustment layers, I'm having a hard time getting the hang of it.

The lighting in this room at this time of day is less than stellar, I dragged out the flash. I bounced off the window...not sure at the time why I bounced off the window (my intent was to bounce off another wall) but here's the result. Settings...f2.8, 1/250, iso 200 and flash was on manual (1/4, I didn't meter either).

I could use some cc on the skin tones and editing. I'm at a loss! First photo is sooc, and a sharpen for web.

After stepping away and looking at my edited version, I see green and yellow,and I think I added to much saturation back. When I pull those colors back, I end up with too much magenta or too washed out looking.

Making it all better

Tyler was home sick today. I was really on the fence stay home or send him to school with that nasty cough. Since he was up most of the night with cough and dry heaves, I decided I'd just play it safe. I know I wouldn't want other kids coughing on my healthy kid.

Of course come noon, he's bouncing off the walls. I stop by McDonalds and pick up a happy meal. Of course it wasn't about the food, it was all about the Toy inside the happy meal. As you can see from the photos he's quite happy with his new toy. Yes after 2 weeks I still have my backdrop paper in our family room. This time I had to use flash, bounced off ceiling and reflecter to the Tylers right. Settings for storyboard photos f3.5, 1/160 iso 250, 2nd photo f2.8,1/160,iso 400

Burning bush from our backyard. Took the photo a few days ago and the leaves have just about blown off. Dusted off the 70-200mm, f4, 1/160, iso 400

Learning to read

A normal everyday moment captured on film (or pixels rather). I feel blessed in so many ways, despite life's curve balls, I am humbled each and everyday.

Work in progress

It's a Friday night, nothing else to do...except purge out some old files on the computer. I stumbled across this photo of Tony and myself from 1999. I definite reminder as to how much I've changed and how far I've come over the last 11 yrs. There are very few photos of myself in the home, and my FAT photos, well, I've made sure no one will find them!

#1 was taken when my little guy was about 7 months old. Some will say "well that doesn't count, you just had a baby". Sure I had a baby 7 months prior, but that doesn't account for the 20+lbs I had on me before I was pregnant.

12 yrs ago I had a wake up call from my physician and decided it was time to change my lifestyle. High blood pressure, PCOS, infertility, and a history of diabetes on both sides, I needed to make some serious changes. As I changed my diet, incorporated regular exercise, the weight finally started to come off very slowly. After 18 months of trying to conceive. I was pregnant (still overweight, but happily pregnant).

It's been a slow process over the years, and naturally it ebbs and flows. The truth is I've struggled with my weight all of my adult life. Even though I've struggled, I haven't given up. I'll never be a person thats able to stay thin without trying. In order to maintain, I have to work at it by staying "plugged in". I will always have to watch my food (journal), and exercise. It's been a hard reality, but once I accepted it, I've been able to maintain longer and even break my plateaus to get closer to my goals.

I'm healthy now, healthier than I've ever been. I feel fantastic and that's what matters most. My body is not perfect and I'm okay with that. I may not meet societies "skinny", but I WILL reach my "skinny" goal weight/size. Gone from a size 14/16 to a 6.

I'm a work in progress.

BTW, Friends, please don't ever let me do that to my hair again!!!!

Piggies

I had my backdrop equipment out today for some passport photos. I decided I might as well play since it's not getting used these days. Natural light coming from 2 large windows one to the south and one east window. I used my reflector to the right of the kids. Ran the coffeeshop vintage over both images. Oh, I almost forgot to introduce...Hershey and Alex.


Settings from left to right f3.5, 1/100, iso 400. F4, 1/125, iso 400

Front Porch

The kids have been excited to decorate the front porch for weeks. I have to remind myself that "holiday decorating" is big event for the kids. After a few days of procrastinating, I/we finally found some motivation and patience to finish the job.

Our sweet neighbor stopped by tonight and says to me "Nice set up, Julie". Now how cute is that from a 9 yr old? Photo taken on a tripod. Not really lovin the photo but love the twinkle in pumpkins eye! I used my kit lens18-55, settings iso 200, f22, 30sec.

Macro, I'm intrigued but have no clue where to start. I don't even know what kind of lens you would use, tripod or not. I remember struggling to get this sharp. 28-75mm. F2.8, 1/1000, iso250

Pumpkin Patch

Would you believe we went to the pumpkin patch and didn't pick out one pumpkin? How can that be? It was our first time at Biringer Farms in Everett (or maybe it's Marysville). There was so much fun stuff for the kids to do we couldn't be bothered with picking pumpkins!

Btw, the whole outing consisted of action shots. Not only will my kids no longer pose for me, they now find it amusing to run and hide from me! Oh well, it was a great time for all!

On a side note, Andrew is very self conscious of his teeth so he rarely gives a teeth smile. With my mommy goggles on, the photos of him smiling with teeth have to be some of my all time favorites! Not to mention that's him really being himself.

In search of color

The leaves are just starting to turn, some are farther along in the process than others. I brought my camera along to the bus stop in search of some vibrant color this morning.


I used the Topaz Adjustment on all 3 images. First photo is from Fort Worden. I did a very low opacity on 1&2 photos. The #3 photo of a water, it's too heavy on the processing for my taste, but it was fun example. I'm anxious to play with it more to find a happy medium!

Thank you

I wanted to thank all you wonderful gals from 2peas. Thanks for the encouraging words on returning back to school. I'm very excited about going back and photography will always be here for me.

I decided to download the trial vs of Topaz Adjust 3. Can I just say, how much I love it! Not sure how it would work on people. Here's a before and after. These are from our Boston trip in May.

Fall color and a few more from Port Townsend

One from Port Gamble and one from our backyard the other day.

Seasons Change

Just like the seasons of the year, we all experience different seasons in our lives. It could be our own personal journeys, different times as parents, relationships with friends/family and our spouses. I'm in a new season.
In my mid twenties, all I wanted was to become a mom, I did that. In my 30's I've loved being a mom and did my share of diapers and sleepless nights. My babies aren't babies anymore and I've always dreamt that I would go back to college and finish my degree. I've tried several times over the course of the last 6 yrs to return to college, but with young children we decided it would be best to wait until they were all in school. This fall marked a major milestone for our family, all 3 kids in school. I've hit my mark and now it's time.
I am going back to college {gulp} at 35 years of age!
My field of choice is dental hygiene. Glamorous, No. But it will provide a nice supplemental income while still maintaining part time employement and full time mom. I dig cleaning teeth, routine, monotonous, and gross, so I'm pretty excited.
I'm a little bummed that many of my college classes have since expired. I have the next year slotted out to complete my prerequisites for the hygiene program.
As for my passion for photography, it will still remain just that a passion and hobby. I've waivered on the idea of going pro for years. I've realized over the last year, while I love to take photos, I don't want to make it a career at this time. For me doing it for money, makes it a J-O-B and it's not fun anymore. The business side just doesn't interest me at this juncture (and the business side, is HUGE).
And now for the photo of the day...(I haven't had time to edit any of my recent photos, so here's two from the summer) First one taken on our 14th wedding anniversary by our 5 yr old, second one Edmonds Beach.

Playroom

The playroom is a love/hate relationship for me. This photo was taken after I spent hours finding weird smelly, indescribable objects in corners of cabinets and under the sofa! Uneventful photos today.

Petti

It's a tough gig modeling! These are from a few weeks back. It was hot, she was tired and I found a nice shaded spot with some nice light.

I'm working on so many things, watch the light, make sure it's in focus, don't amputate the girl, then I get stuck on how to compose the image. I keep telling myself "patience grasshopper, patience". Settings as follows 28-75mm 2.8, 50mm focal lenght, f7.1, 1/500, iso 800 (dang no idea why so high).

Ferry Ride

I can remember as a child how exciting it was to ride on the ferry. As an adult that pretty much hasn't changed...only now as an adult we have to pay the $45 to ride.

It was a quiet ride for the most part, from the intense faces below you can see the kids were engrossed in a good movie for the first part of our day trip.

First photo taken with the 70-200mm, I love the dof on that one, but looks a tad soft. Settings... f4, 1/400 iso 160. Focal lenght was 200mm.