Latest photos

Some time ago, Livvy asked me if I would take her photo in a Petti shirt in

my friends back yard. We finally got it done Monday
I think they turned out pretty sweet. Left click on them for a better view.

Feeling pretty and looking kind of Urban...

WHEE !!

Gotta love this little brother


Love you too, Sis

Such cute siblings

Last Tuesday, I was able to take another little trip with my son, Brian. He had an overnight in San Diego, and there were open seats on the flight right after the one he was working, so I got on, and met him there and we headed off to the San Diego Zoo. I enjoyed the photographic opportunities there, and we laughed so much, and just had a wonderful day.

Leaving to CA, I had a 45 minute wait at the gate, and seated right across from me were about a dozen Marines right out of basic training. They looked so sharp in their crisp new uniforms. They were checking one another for anything amiss in their dress etc. I got all teared up thinking about their mothers, sending sons off to the unknown. When it was time to board, I was standing right next to them, and I took the opportunity to thank them, and noticed that many others did as well. Across the terminal from the Marines, were a row of pay phones and there were 7 Elders, and one sister missionary all saying goodbye to their families. I am so grateful for all of these incredible young people....protecting our country and keeping us safe, and the others for giving of their time to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ around the world.

Here are a few pictures from the zoo. These may look like ordinary snapshots, but they were an acomplishment for me, because I took all of them with manual settings. I learned a lot. At one point,we took a break for lunch at a little sandwich place in the Zoo. It was really good.

The Flamingos were the first exhibit right inside the gate. They are so pretty. Later in the day when we came back, they were being fed by hand, because, right along side of them were probaby over a hundred wild Mallard Ducks

One of several zebras in a herd.

The Elephants were eating and so they were not real close to us. Icaught this through the bars with a zoom lens.


This inquisitive bird stood over three feet tall, and he was very interested
in my camera

The Merecat exhibit was large. We learned that they will take turns standing watch, on this tall rock that is their look out point. He was very studious about his responsibility, turning his head almost all the way around while he watched everything he could see.

A mother Giraffe with her baby.

The Giant Panda eats 66 lbs of fresh Bamboo every day. We were lucky enough to see them at feeding time when they are out and active. I like this shot because she looks like she is playing the flute

Very serious business this eating is....

This is a large male Silverback Gorilla.

The park has a lot of these places where you can get yourself into the action by sticking your head into the scene for a photo

I forgot what kind of apes these are, but they were a cute little couple, just relaxing together

Beautiful flowers were everywhere. This one was about 8 or 9 inches across

When we left the zoo, we walked into another part of Balboa Park. I like the reflection in the water here

We ended the day playing on the beach for a little while. I really love this silouette of Brian

We were up very early to catch our flights. Mine left at 6:30 AM. This photo is of the sunrise from the window of the plane. That is not water, but clouds in the foreground.

More Photo Play

I continue to learn a lot lately. One of the most fun things is the post processing. I used to think that you just needed a great camera, and then snap away, and you'd get these amazing pictures right off the camera. NOT! There is soooo much to understand and get right in the first place, and then there's the touching up afterwards. It is addicting. I am not understandig much of the Photoshop yet, but I have learned a few things and it is a lot of fun. Plus, I am learning to work with the fixed focal length lens. I am very accustomed to a zoom lens, so this is a lot different, and I have struggled to get the focus right. I LOVE it when something comes out so nice in the end though. Left click to see these full sized, so you can appreciate the details.....

The photo above is a sweet little baby in my ward. Almost everything imaginable was wrong with this picture, but it cleaned up pretty good...still a little bright. I finally figured out how to get the clean background though, without a break between back and floor, so it is a huge step in the right direction

Rory is often my model while I play with the focus on the lens. This one turned out well. She doesn't stand still for a second, so it is a challenge. Sometimes she makes faces at me and poses herself so cute. Other times she sees the camera and just takes off running. She was watching the dogs here.

Cute little Livvy! She has become quite the little poser! I have so many cute ones of her, it is hard to choose from them all. This one needed a few touchups, but I think it turned out pretty perfect.

August favorites

I am trying to improve my photography skills. I will keep making updates here to track my progress. I am learning more every day. The biggest thing I have learned so far, is that there is no end to what I need to know! If you left click on any photo, you can see it larger for the details, like the chocolate around Lance's mouth. :-) I will post some photoshop progress as I learn it also. I am starting an online course on Thursday. Can hardly wait.

This is my favorite shot from the Sandy Balloon Festival.

I LOVE the light coming around the balloon. They were actually takng it down because the wind made it unsafe to send them up. When the sun came up over the mountain top, I ran across the field to catch the sun at the right angle

Danielle at Gardner Village. I like the warm glow to her skin. The yellow building reflected back onto her, giving her this pretty creamy look

Livvy in the backyard.

Here is Cam taking a break from rolling down the hill. Can anyone tell where boys get all that energy? Especially this one!

Lance rolling in the grass. Is he cute, or what??? Our family is so blessed to finally have these two sweet little boys, and another little boy to join us soon.

Heidi and the girls at Gardner Village

Cessna in the evening sun in the backyard

Cessna in the grass

My New Baby

Here she is....her name is Canon EOS 50 D. Does having a 50 D make me a great photographer? NO!!! It makes me the owner of a Canon 50 D. That's all. However..... I am determined to get there. I am studying and practicing every day. Family members and a few friends will be my Guinea pigs. I want to post several photos each week so I can document how far I have come. I have a TON to learn. Mastering this camera is a HUGE learning curve. Photoshop has to come in here somewhere too. I believe that you can teach an old dog new tricks though, and that also goes for old women. This purchase represents three years of savings. I want to make it all worth it.....I'm off on an adventure! So here we go!!

FAMILY OUTING 2009

Another family outing has come and gone. This one makes four we have done. Cherry Hill in 2006, Lava hot Springs in 2007, Bear Lake 2008, and now for 2009, was the camping trip up American Fork Canyon. We had such a great time. Thanks to Jeff and Heather for the planning this year. No thanks to Skywest for taking Jeff away, except for Saturday night. We were happy that his family could be with us for at least few hours. Heather’s friend, Anneka, came up with them. She was an exchange student with their family years ago, and is happy to come again to America for two weeks. She is fun and happy , and we enjoyed having her come up with them. The kids had a ball with the "Bendaroos" and everyone enjoyed Brian playing his accordion. Braden danced on the table. There was lots of laughing going on.

Another funny moment was when for the very first time, I saw Randy with a camera in his hands. Not only that, but acting as a true photographer, he laid down on his back under the picnic table to catch a shot of a beautiful butterfly. It was only after this laborious task, that he discovered the butterfly was actually a magnet stuck under the table!

This is Rory Saturday night all delighted because she made a "bug"

(I have given up getting these pictures in order, so enjoy them in Random order)

Canoe fun on Sat afternoon

Saturday night around the fire

Cameron helping me make the lemonade for saturday night's dinner. He counted out all 32 scoops of powder to make the two gallons. Such a good helper!

I loved watching Livvy develop her relationship with her Uncle Randy. He had two of his dogs up there, and she was able to help with them. She walked Coda around on a leash and practiced giving him commands. Since she has an allergy to dogs, it was especially fun for her to be able to enjoy them outdoors, (with the help of her allergy meds).

Dan, Becca, and Livvy enjoying dinner Saturday night

A new use for grapes! Silly girls!

Rory, gathering pinecones

Rory and uncle Brian

Cam and Lance roasting marshmallows....are they just the cutest little boys or what?

Livvy with her butterfly that is almost finished. She wanted a picture to give to Cessna

Brian, and Braden helped all of the little children make glasses. Cam looks so cool!








Lance looks so grown up in his

bendaroo glasses

Braden in his glasses and then he got up on the table and danced to Brian's lively accordion music

















Braden with his Bendaroo drawing











Brian playing accordion while we all enjoyed the fun atmosphere around the camp fire

A funny moment between brothers, Randy, and Jeff


Livvy with her finished butterfly



The kids Lance, Cam and Cessna enjoying their private little accordion concert


Rory and Cameron, early Sunday morning at the water tap


Saturday afternoon game of Chess between Cam and Brian



Sunday morning breakfast on the grill......breakfast burritoes...YUM!





Braden and Livvy having some fun with packing peanuts. These are fun. Just dampen them, and they stick together to make all kinds of things





Or, you can eat them, as Randy did....or just stick them on your tongue as we see demonstrated here with Danielle and Cheri






Rory bonded even more with her Aunt Cheri. Cheri sang "The Wheels on The Bus" so many times while she lifted Rory high in the air.
Rory also went off on a lot of "owl hunts" with Grandpa. She was Whoo-whooing and looking for owls the entire time we camped.

Braden giving Cessna a little ride on his shoulders



Becca relaxing Sunday night by the fire

Becca, Danny, sleeping Cameron, and Livvy ......roasting a glob of "stuck together " marshmollows that mostly melted. Funny things!

There are many happy memories of this years trip. I loved talking and playing games with family around the campfire at nights. The beautiful area we were in was so peaceful without cell phones, doorbells or any other interruptions. I especially loved Sunday morning. I was the first one up, and I got pictures of 5 deer who came right through the camp. The Blue jays were flying from tree to tree, and little humming birds were right next to me. It was nice, out there in nature, to have a little while to ponder the blessings I have received and think about my family that I love so much.

One of the deer looking right at me

Strolling along enjoying the beautiful scenery

Ryan and Becky right before we started the walk through Cascade Sprngs

Randy's family on the walk

Our nature walk through Cascade Springs on Sunday, was beautiful. It was good family time. It was a little bit warm outside, and I was tired. Ralph and Brian had brought up the generator and an air conditioner which Brian set up on a table by my lounge chair. So, there, outside in natures wonderland, I had the at home comforts of air conditioning. Some others were anxious to take over my spot as soon as I got up. Brian took a photo of this funny set-up but he is out of town and I cannot get it right now.

Ralph and I just before he took out tent down.

Sunday night after Randy’s family and Becky’s family left, it was only Ralph and I with Brian, and Dan and Becca and the kids. We stayed up until midnight talking around the fire pit. Ralph found a dead TREE to keep the fire going.
3:45 Monday morning we were all awakened with animals fighting near our tent. We do not know what they were. One was screeching and one was growling, and that is all we know. We had breakfast, and cleaned up camp, and then Dan and Becca’s kids, Livvy and Cameron, enjoyed 4-wheeler rides with their Daddy and Grandpa.

Danny with the kids Monday morning

Goodbye empty campground :(

This is the lake as we left the area where we camped
It was kind of sad leaving the campground............everyone wished it had been longer. We are all anxious to hear what Brian will plan for 2010.