Wordless Wednesday - PE

We have found the best Homeschool P.E. class this year. Three mornings a week we head to Meyer Fitness for a dynamic, fun-filled adventure. Kids from ages 4-12 race, climb, chase, swing, balance, throw, dive, bounce, and and twist themselves to their hearts' content (there's a separate class for older kids too). Coaches Bill and Lauren Meyer are the most positive, encouraging, patient and creative mentors I have found in all of our homeschool activities. Their love for the kids and genuine passion for fitness and fun shine through every day. Starting our days this way has really helped my kids to be more positive and ready to focus on their school work.

 When I was a kid, we did some calisthenics, then played dodge ball, kick ball, softball and ran track in PE. This class is so much more lively and interesting. The kids help plan many of the activities and problem solve, collaborate and put their creative minds and negotiating skills to the test.

We also participate in organized sports, which the kids enjoy, but I could not be more thankful for the awesome activities at Meyer Fitness.

What do your kids do for fun and fitness?

Weekly Photo Feedback

Hooray! Time for another Photo Feedback!  Join Kim at Mom Tried It and link up your picture of the week for some kindly feedback from other participants. It is so helpful to have some input from an unbiased audience!  I am really learning a lot through this weekly linky and through providing feedback to other photographers as well.  You can link up a photo through Friday, so grab a pic and join in!

Here's my SOOC:

I didn't note my editing steps, but as I recall I straightened, cropped, adjusted the WB and exposure, added a little fill light in LR and then opened in PS adding PW's Boost and CoffeeShop's Eye Bright and sharpened for the web. 

My settings: ISO 2200 55-300 mm f/4.5-5.6 lens at 105 mm and f 4.8 SS 1/1250 I took this photo in December and I have no idea why I had the ISO so high outdoors and the shutter speed is overkill. Clearly I didn't know what I was doing, lol. Knowing now how to change those things, I would reduce the SS to lower the ISO. As I recall, it was an overcast day but not dark, and this was taken mid-morning.

I'd love to hear your feedback. Thanks for stopping by!

 

I Clicked It Up a Notch in February

Wow, where did February go?! Is that Spring I hear calling? The happy chirping of the birds and the jonquils in bloom tell me it's not far away. Yea! Since February is coming to a close it's time to reflect on this month's photography and submit a favorite shot to Click It Up A Notch's link up. To find out more visit Courtney's blog here. If you love photography and don't already subscribe to her feed, I can tell you she offers great tips and tons of inspiration for all things photography!

 So, this month was kind of up and down for me. I learned quite a bit through my Clickin' Moms course, but also felt like things began to fall apart a bit. At the beginning of the month I really felt like my focus was getting better, then as I tried to pull all the things I've been working on together for a shot...manual exposure, spot focus, creative composition, etc. I felt like I was all over the place. I did learn that when I take time to plan out a shot, set it up and think through my settings, I can pretty consistently get what I'm looking for in a shot. But, when I'm chasing toddlers and kids through changing light situations and varying backgrounds it's a whole different story!

 I do feel like I'm learning each day and making progress slowly, but surely and for that I'm thankful. I participated in several weekly challenges, and tried some new things with fruit bubbles and water drops and I  got in front of the camera more (which I'm really not very comfortable with).

I have learned more about manual shooting and post processing in Lightroom this month and I'm looking forward to pushing deeper into those areas in March. I really hope I can start to pull it all together more consistently and begin to hone in on my personal style.

My favorite shot from February is this one of my youngest. I love her expression and the light in her eyes. I am blessed to have such a beautiful subject to work with ;)

How have you Clicked It Up a Notch this month?

Project 366 Rewind - Week 8 - Love

Last week we enjoyed some fresh air and a couple of gorgeous warm days.

  Swinging in the back yard.

 Walking the line at PE class. 

I chased my little shutter bug with the lens.

We made some super sloppy, but oh so delicious! bacon, avocado and tomato sandwiches for dinner.

And I set up and impromptu shoot with the kiddos. This one's for the prompt: Love. Also my entry for favorite photo of February ;)

It was a fun week, and I am soooo looking forward to more Spring weather and all those flowers that will soon be popping up.


What have you been up to?

Simple Things Sunday #12 - Photo Play

Kids and photography, my two favorite things!  Add in a cuppa joe and I'm one happy girl ;)

I'm linking up today with Rebecca at Simple As That. She is one sweet and creative mama and she takes gorgeous photos. Stop by and say hello or add your post to her Simple Things Sunday linky.

Sunday Scavenger Hunt Week 8

Hey, look at that! I made it to the Hunt early. Who'da thunk it? This week was fun. I took lots of pics, and threw most of them away, ha ha. But, I managed to capture a few of the prompts, and opted for one from the archives. Here they are:

 Crossed:

A Glimpse:

Handwritten (taken about a month ago):

Bliss (I figured this was fitting since my middle name is Bliss, 

and I'm happiest spending time with my kids):

Gray:

Thanks for stopping by! Your comments make my day. Seriously.  ;)

 

Shoot. Edit. Submit February 24th

Here's my submission for favorite photo of the week. I followed Little Miss around the deck the other morning trying to capture her in the morning light.

Poetic Winter Challenge - Calm

It's the fourth week of the Poetic Winter Photography challenge already. I don't have anything spectacular to share. In fact, I've been pretty disappointed with my photography lately. I feel like the more I learn, the worse I get, lol. Perhaps I am just developing a better eye and therefore I can discern how badly I sometimes do things. I have been studying and practicing, only to find I'm coming up short. At any rate, I have been frustrated and feeling less than inspired. So, I only have a few images to share for this challenge.  Hopefully I'll find my mojo soon.

"A smile is the beginning of peace."

                                                                      - Mother Teresa 

"Love the moment and the energy of that moment will spread

    beyond all boundaries into blissful, peaceful happiness."

-Anonymous

“You are the sky. Everything else – it’s just the weather.” 

― Pema Chodron

"When we are present in each moment, the past gently rolls up behind us 
and the future slowly unravels before us."                                                                        

-Richard Levy

Thank you to the lovely ladies who host this fun challenge! They always inspire me. And I appreciate each and everyone of you who visits. I hope you have a beautiful weekend!