Make something pretty

With working all summer and trying to get in some fun family time, I have not had a chance to art journal in awhile.  I am the type of person that has to be doing something all of the time and it is during the Spring and Summer that I am constantly going.  When the dust settles and the kids get back into the routine of school I tend to get down.  I go from 60 to 0 and it leaves me feeling a little empty.  A wise friend once told me that Fall and Winter was God's way of telling his children to rest and I have to agree.  Rest to me doesn't necessarily mean not doing anything.  It just means don't do as much and do things that feed your soul.  So, I sat down at my craft table Saturday and decided to journal.  I grabbed my water soluble crayons and some magazines.  I turned my thinking brain off and just started putting down color.  I then took some of my magazines and cut out images that drew my attention.  I didn't think about where things should go or what I wanted the page to look like.  I just slapped stuff on that made me feel happy inside.  About an hour and a half later I had this:

I actually like it a lot.  I mean it's not the best thing I have ever done, but it makes me smile and that is why I love to art journal.  It doesn't matter if others like it or if it even makes sense.  It feeds that creative side of me.
So, if you are feeling worn down or just blah, grab some crayons, paper, and glue and go make something pretty.  I promise you will feel so much better!

Impromptu Photoshoot

The other night Addison and I were in the play room watching television.  It was the weekend so we didn't have to go to bed early.  Avery walked in and asked if Addison wanted to take some pictures.  Addison jumped at the chance, since she adores her sister and will do just about anything to spend time with her.  They quickly ran off to Avery's room and shut the door.  I went back to my t.v. show.

Probably 48 hours or dateline.  (I can't get enough of those true life mystery shows!)

About 45 minutes later they emerged from her room and fell right back into being couch potatoes with their mom.  I was so into my show, I didn't even stop to ask to see what they had done.
 (Photo shoots with Avery are the norm around our household.)
It wasn't until later, when Avery showed me the pictures from that quick, impromptu photo shoot, that I realized what a magical connection my girls have with each other.  The way that Avery was able to catch the spirit of her sister with just a camera, low lighting, and a teddy bear literally took my breath away.

Maybe I'm just another mother sporting a large pair of "Mommy Goggles", but I really think believe she has a gift.  She has a way of capturing not only a nice portrait of someone, but the very essence of who they are.

This one brought tears to my eyes.  Addison is almost eleven and this year she has really sprouted her wings.  She is becoming such a confident young lady, but yet she still clings to the safety of childhood.
I don't think this could have been captured any better!

Freshman Orientation

I can't believe that summer is almost over!  When you work full-time, I think it goes by even faster.  We didn't go out of town this summer, but we did do a little "staycationing".  We went to Kemah Boardwalk one weekend.  Avery's cheer coach went with us and we had a blast!  Then we also took a day and went down to Galveston Beach.  The girls really had a great time and the beach was much nicer than I had remembered.
With the start of school being a week away, the cheerleaders at Avery's high school had to perform at the Freshman orientation.  This was one of the first major events Avery has cheered for and I was very excited to get to go see her in action.  Of course, the moment I pulled out the camera with the telephoto lens her face turned from happy, excited to Oh my gosh, total humiliation.  As if I was the only parent with a camera!  Please!
Anyway, she quickly got over it and was able to help get the crowd going.

Their mascot is a lobo, which is a spanish wolf.  Who knew?  They actually have two mascots this year, so there is a girl lobo and a boy lobo.  Very cute!

The whole purpose of the pep rally was to introduce the in-coming freshman to several of the different activities they can become involved with at Langham Creek High School.  The athletics department spoke briefly and they also had the ROTC program perform.  It was really neat.

Even though Avery was exhausted from last week's cheer camp, she did a great job performing for the pep rally.  Of course, I'm a little biased, but she is a great little cheerleader!!!

Man, I love that kid!

A Hidden Talent

My oldest daughter, Avery, will be a Junior in High School this year.  She has always enjoyed taking pictures, but it was during her Photography class last year that she really caught the "bug".  Her Photography teacher praised her and told her that she had a natural talent, but, of course, Avery didn't believe her.  These are the first pictures she took with her 35 mm SLR.

This her friend Sierra

An old monument in Dallas

This is one of my favorites!

She then started setting up photo shoots with her sister.  Let me tell you....she had to really beg to get her sister to model for her.  Texas summers are brutal and we spend most of our time indoors or at the pool!  This one was inspired by Ralph Lauren.

She fell in love with the fashion side of photography and has spent her summer setting up shoots.  Here's one she did with her friend, Sierra.

Addison was the assistant in this one.  She ran the "misting machine"! AKA the water hose.

Avery was quickly blowing through her money getting the film developed,  so she borrowed her grandfather's DSLR and did a photo shoot with one of my friend's daughter.  This gave her so much more to work with and she didn't have to spend money to get the pictures!  These are some of the best ones:

Talk about a trooper!  This sweet little girl was so hot, but she never complained!  She was a perfect little model.  Avery is now completely hooked.  She wants to get her degree in photography and a minor in business.  I know that whatever she sets her mind to, she will succeed!