I cant believe my little boy is turning 3! He doesn't have a baby face anymore but I guess he will always be my baby. Super strong willed and independent, he keeps me busy. We went out this morning for some just for fun photos:

 

 

Don't you grow up too fast! Please slow down :)

We had a bday party at childcare this afternoon + I made cupcakes and we sang happy birthday at home, and he got some Ben Ten toys + a big Ben Ten themed bday party is planned for Sunday.  Oh, It is the start of the birthday season on our house, now there is hubby on the first of December, Matty on 15th, mine on the 17th and with baby Jesus on the 25th, that's a lot of celebrating :) (and a lot of work)

See you back on Sunday with the new Pencil Lines sketch and free template.

xoxo

I have another AMAZING photography class giveaway by my dear friend Katrina Kennedy. It is called YOUR KIDS: CAPTURED THROUGH THE LENS, and it will run from Oct 12 - Oct 29. Here is Katrina's explanation on it:

Love photos of other people’s children? Do you wonder how they possibly capture their kids in such great ways? In six lessons we will explore methods to capture your children’s photos in creative ways and minimize the headaches you may have experienced in the past. We will cover ways to engage your children in the process and techniques to use your camera more effectively.
Learn practical techniques for capturing your kids from experienced guest photographers who just happen to be moms! Class includes their images and pointers for working with kids of all ages, including the speedy toddler, the uncooperative teen, and many other child archetypes you probably know well.

You can read more specific detail on the course website here.

Now, who wants a free pass to this class???? Leave a comment on this post and you might be starting the course this Monday :) Winners will be announced Sunday!

ready? set? comment!

 

UPDATE: sorry, comments closed!

Hello!!!!! We came back on Wednesday! I still have visitors at home so that is why I haven't been around much. But just wanted to start sharing a couple of things before they stack up :)

Firstly some highlights of our vacation that had highs and lows. The boys weren't interested in shows and the COLD water in the parks, but they loved the characters:

  

After lunch they managed to get in the water:

At night we had a fire show, I played with the camera!

Matty got an allergic reaction to God knows what, we think it was the smoke from the fire show. He got really puffy eyes and the next day we went to Sea World, you can still see how it is a little swollen and how he doesn't look like he was having fun:

'

but there were some good times:

As you can see from the above picture, after lunch his eyes were much better.

Next day we went to Movie World and it was by far the kids' favourite day. Matty just LOVED the Scooby Doo ride, he went twice, Lucas was very disappointed he could not go and I stayed outside with him.

   

 

Throughout the day Mateus asthma was playing up, I was giving him the puffer almost every hour, it went through the night and one hour after he finally slept he woke up screaming he could not breath. We called the ambulance and went to the hospital. Luckily we stayed there less than one hour because as soon as he was given steroids he got better. We gave him the medication for the next 3 days and he was fine, phew.

The last 4 days had rain forecast so we didn't plan anything far from the hotel, the first day I just stayed in the room with Matty to make sure he was ok, and the other two we enjoyed the hotel facilities. On the Monday night me, hubby and the in-laws went to Draculas. I loved it, it is hard to describe, it was my second time there and I have to say is something people should do if they plan to go anywhere near the Gold Coast. If your English is good you will get the jokes and the night will be complete, but just the music is worth it :) It was also the very first time the kids stayed with a baby sitter. I was a bit stressful but hassle free experience and the boys had no problem with it :) might be doing it again some time hehehe

I could share some more photos of our way back and the time we spent in Brisbane but this post is way too image heavy already and, you know me, there will be scrapbook pages with the photos :)

(it is also 4AM and I am done LOL)

See you tomorrow with a COOL giveaway :)

Yes, you heard right, GIVEAWAY. My dear friend Katrina, who also happens to be an exceptional photographer is now offering a photography class and has generously provided me with the amazing opportunity to give away a free pass to her class, all you have to do is leave a note in this post and I will be drawing a random winner tomorrow!

Here are the details if you are not sure what I am talking about:

YOUR LIFE: CAPTURED THROUGH THE LENS with Katrina Kennedy
Sept 1 to September 18
6 lessons + 3 videos posted on Tuesdays & Fridays for 3 weeks.

You crop and compose your scrapbook pages, how about exploring the same techniques with your camera? Learn to see through your viewfinder the photo you want on your page and take control of the buttons and knobs on your camera for results you love. Class includes weekly videos, live chat, forum support, and 6 written lessons. In each lesson you'll explore:

*How to use a composition method
* Buttons and Knobs – demystify your camera’s features (point and shoot & dSLR)
* Putting It Into Practice – how to use your camera’s features
* On Assignment – practical step by step instructions for capturing photos
Practice, ask, share, & learn:
In addition to written lessons that you may download and print, you'll improve your photography skills through interaction with Katrina and other participants in the private class forum, sharing your photos in the private class gallery, and participation in live chats. The class covers techniques useable by both dSLR and point & shoot users.

You guys know how much I love photography and I think this is an amazing opportunity to start getting things right first up instead of spending hours (like I do) editing out your mistakes. I am taking this class, who will join me?

 

 

UPDATE: Sorry this giveway is closed, comments are closed now! Check back soon for the lucky winner!

Hi, my first maternity session led to a first newborn session :) Meet baby K:

 

 

 

 

Doesn't even look like the same baby on all the photos :) The light was, once again, NOT good, it was very cloud and I don't have any lighting equipment, so I had to fix it all during editing. In some photos the colors got so bad after fixing the light that I had to convert them to black and white but I love the result! and mom and dad are also happy, now they want a family session :)

Have a great weekend!

(no pun intended or reference to my last kit, hehehe)

You must be wondering why I have stopped posting photos. Well, I haven't totally stopped taking them but it has been hard to get out and about with the kids in the current weather. The weekend before last it was ok go, and we did go out for some exercise and I finally got the camera out.

 

Lucas was having a great time, he just loves being out and about. Matty on the other hand decided to be Mister Drama, complained the whole that it was too hard, his legs were hurting, blah blah blah, well, with camera in hand I don't stop, I still took photos of his "bad mood"

 

it doesn't last long though

and on the way back he was a happy chappy (well, it was downhill so he didn't even have to pedal!)

(first four photos and last photo edited with Itty Bitty Actions)

No hybrid feature this week, I think I might have to start having them every other week as I am torn between lots of different projects :)

Hope everything is good on your end because here... it's crazy good, hehe

xoxo

My very good friend P., who has put up with me taking photos of her little girl and publishing it all over the world (Butterfly Album in the Aug'08 issue of DAM), has allowed me to take some photos of her pregnant self. We waited for days for the weather to improve and finally booked a time two weeks ago when at least the forecast was favourable. It wasn't the best day for lighting, it was cold so we couldn't really stay outside for long and my house is no studio so we didn't have much room to manoeuvre. But she was a good sport and sat and stood up and giggled and I am somewhat happy with the result. Well, the model is gorgeous, so I could not get it too wrong, right? Here are some of my favourites:

(photos edited with IttyBittyActions - Sweet set by Jinky Art)

Thanks P.!!!! You are the best! (and thanks for letting me post them here too!!)

... I enjoyed it... way more than I expected. I enjoyed editing the photos too (I think that is my favourite part). So it raises the question... should I do this for a living?

Thanks for stopping by!

I know most of my readers are in the US and in the middle of summer, but it is Winter here, COLD winter. My last month's photos? are Autumn photos. I am going to save some of them for later, but here are some of my favourites this month:

Lucas loooves the moon, he is always looking for it.

 

Just after we got back from our trip to Brazil I noticed that Autumn was at its peak and I was going to miss out. So I grabbed Mateus one day after school and let him play with the leaves while I photographed to my heart's content (I swear the trees look like they were on fire... the photos don't do Autumn justice in here!!).

 

awww my sun flare (and my cheeky boys LOL)!

 

check Mateus' fingers on this one LOL isn't he too young for that?

Now some home shots (since we have been at home so often with this weather!).

Lucas has been VERY attached to Mac, they are together non stop. Mac has become an inside dog since we came back from Brazil. It is too cold outside and I don't to keep her outside if she is allowed to come in all the time. If she is coming in so she should stay in so she is clean! She has been VERY good up until now, she is very clever and rarely has an "accident" inside but she started to get interested in the kids toys now that it has been a while and she is started to get bored with her own toys. She chewed on a couple already. It is good to teach the kids not to leave their toys in the floor though...

(ugh, look at the carpet next to Lucas, meals area + carpet + children = not a good combo)

My boys at home sick and just so tired:

and lastly, the state of the living room that week we spent home:

that was like a minute after I had organized everything and tried to settle the boys down with a movie... it does get worse than that if you put toys in the equation, but that is supposed to be the TV room which is clean and organized at all times (quite different from the family room). 

Talking about being home sick... we are sick again... just me and Lucas this time, but still, it sucks a bit. Hoping to get out of that cycle... I want to go see the snow. I have a feeling the kids will LOVE it.

Sorry for the long and image heavy post, it just built up and up and I still have loads more photos I wanted to share. I did a photoshoot last week that I REALLY want to share, it was with a friend who is pregnant, and I like the results of this first attempt at a maternity shot. But I wanted to share my photos before so, next time :)

*** Edit to add: from the sun flare photo down, all photos edited with Jinky Art's Sweet Photoshop Actions. The first 4 photos just had a little boost of light, shade and color in Lightroom.

My boys and Isabella:

Look at the little pout :) I don't think she likes being smothered by her cousins :)

Needless to say it was great to play with the camera and these little models! Even though it was a dark cloudy day, these are precious to me!

No scrapping yet, too busy playing with the photos, these were edited using Jinky Art's IttyBitty Actions - Sweet set. Talking about Jinky Art, congratulations to Barb Uil for her new baby girl:)

See you soon!

My niece and Godchild: Isabella

 

(you can click on images for a little larger versions! the reductions get so blurry)

I'll be back soon with more :)