My little Valentine

This year I decided it would be fun to make Lucy's Valentines rather than buy them. 

Last weekend was cold and snowy, so I decided to play around with some indoor shots.

I set up a make-shift indoor studio. 

Here's just a sampling of some ideas for Lucy's Valentines cards.

 These Christmas socks are now Valentines socks.  :)

This one cracks me up...it's so Lucy!  :)

Because everyone loves a before and after...

Lucy got a new do yesterday!

10 inches to Locks of Love!

Baby it's cold outside

It has been snowy, foggy and COLD here.

We haven't gotten out much.

Yesterday, the sun was out and I wanted to take Lucy out for some Valentine photos.

Well, Lucy was not in a photographing mood...

So, I asked Olivia and Capucine if they wanted to go out and take some photos.

I have found this fun little private road, right in my neighborhood and I knew it would be a great place to catch some wintery pics.

 Sweet Capucine

She is always smiling.  

 Sun!

 Capucine was laughing at me...

I was telling her to strike a pose.  

She's not entirely comfortable in front of my camera, but she will be before she returns home.  :)

Nothing like a pink chair and a photo shoot in the middle of the road.

I'm sure people driving by thought we were crazy.  :)

Flying Crepes

Last weekend, Capucine made us crepes!

They were delicious!

We made a crepe bar with blueberries, powdered sugar, Nutella, etc.

Everyone came up with their own concoction.

Here she is tossing a crepe into the air and catching it in the pan.

Capucines hobby is cooking...

I can't wait to see what else she makes for us.  :)

Low-Light

This months assignment for my photography class is "low-light"

I can't begin to tell you how excited I am to be able to take good indoor photos.  

The winters here are long and gray....

and being able to take fun indoor shots, just may get me through. 

I took this the other night of Lucy and Jack.  

 I have many more indoor photo ideas and I'm currently setting up a mini studio in our basement. 

Stay tuned for more indoor photos coming soon. 

My theme for 2013

I don't really believe in new years resolutions, but I do have a "theme" for 2013.

It's just three words.... "do one better"  

Earlier this morning, I was out shoveling the driveway (we received about 3 inches of snow overnight).  

Our next door neighbors have a lovely snow blower and they like to plow the sidewalk right up to the lamppost that marks where their property ends and ours begins. 

I have always noticed that even though it would take just a few extra steps to push their snow blower through to clear the rest of the sidewalk, they do not.  Like I said, right to the property line and not an inch more.  

I think it's symbolic of how we go through our lives, sometimes we don't want to go or give an inch more, especially when we are not required to.   

Well, this morning I was out before my neighbors and as I looked at the sidewalk, I decided "do one better" and I shoveled all the way to their drive.  It's a matter of 4-5 feet and didn't require much effort.  

It's a small act, but it felt great!  

The neighbors may not even notice or care, but that's okay.  I did for me, not for them.  :)

I couldn't post without a photo...

I had a low-light assignment for my photography class and I took this last night. 

This current class is really pushing me to try new things. 

This isn't a typical look for me, but I like how it turned out. 

Speaking of "doing one better"....

this is my Lucy working SO hard on her homework.

Lucy amazes me with her "can do" attitude!

Bonjour!!!

Bonjour!

Our exchange student, Capucine arrived Saturday.

We were so excited to finally meet her.

Capucine ended up traveling 28 hours from Brussels to Spokane.

She had to stay overnight at Chicago, O'Hare. 

I was so worried for her and anxious for her safe arrival.  

Luckily, she made it to Spokane the next morning. 

Here is Capucine at the airport with the welcome sign the kids made for her.

 We spent the rest of the weekend getting to know Capucine.

She is a delightful young woman and her English is very good.

She brought us wonderful gifts from France.  

My favorite is the Belgium truffles....Oh my!

She shared a photo of her Grandparents house in the south of France.

It is amazing!

She said we should come visit and she would take us there.

I said, "yes, call Grandma and tell her the American's are coming."  :)

It is a photographers dream!!!

Here is beautiful, sweet Capucine on her 1st day of school.

I was able to capture this before the kids left this morning. 

I think she was a little nervous, but I know she will enjoy her day.

I can't wait to hear all about it. 

New Year and photo catch up

Happy New Year!

We have been busy enjoying some down time.  

I love the week between Christmas and New Years...we spend most of days in our pjs.

I have had time to organize a few things and catch up on some reading. 

The kids have been busy playing with friends and some of their Christmas goodies.

It seems the only photos I've taken lately are with my phone.  

These are all iphone photos...

 We took a drive last weekend and I was able to capture this wintery scene.

I absolutely LOVE this street.

It's beautiful every season.

 Jeff with Daisy aka "our furry baby"

 A new year isn't complete without a new look...

Lucy and Jack are getting new glasses and these are the ones they've chosen.
We will be able to pick them up next week.

So cute!

I've been preparing our guest room.  We have a special visitor arriving on Friday night and staying with us through March.

We are SUPER excited!!! 

Looking forward to an awesome 2013!!!

Happy New Year!