My Boy!

My boy...

Jack rarely lets me take his photo.

My girls are all about getting in front of my camera, but Jack avoids it.

I had a photo assignment last week.. "close up, raw, unfiltered"

I knew I wanted to capture Jack for this assignment.

It didn't take too much convincing, especially when I told him he didn't even have to smile. :)

I did have a small window of opportunity... after a sleep-over and before heading to the lake with a friend. 

I took this in my office at about 11:00am.  I have 3 beautiful floor to ceiling windows and the lighting is perfect.  This allowed me to capture those great catchlights in his eyes.

I did minimal processing and converted it to what I call "dirty black and white" 

I added noise to give it more of a film look.

I love my boy, his witty personality makes me laugh everyday.

She's off...

Olivia left for China yesterday morning!

This is a photo of her and I taken at the airpot.

I cannot tell you how excited I am for Olivia to travel to China for two weeks and serve in 6 different orphanages!

Not to mention, this is a perfect chance for her to use and improve on her 5 plus years of studying Mandarin.

I already miss her like crazy and I know these next two weeks are going to seem like two months. 

Olivia is also going to be able to meet our new exchange student who arrives the end of August.

How cool is that?   

I know this trip will leave a permanent marker on Olivia's heart. 

I cannot wait to hear all about it and see photos!

Jeff and I are passionate about raising our kids to have hearts for others and to think globally, despite the nay-sayers!  

I have a feeling.... this is just the beginning! 

Go Livs! 

Solo

 Jack had a solo again this year in the school choir concert.

He sang Benjamin Calypso from Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat. 

You may remember this post from last year... when Jack was Mr Morton from Schoolhouse Rock. 

This year he told us himself, we didn't have to hear about it through the grapevine.  :)

He did awesome!  

Right when his group came out to start, the microphones stopped working... he had to grab a handheld mic, but it didn't phase him... the show must go on.  

I'm so proud of my boy and his love of performing! 

I can't wait to see what he does next year!

Prom

 Here's a few before prom photos from last weekend. 

 Group shot smiling...

  Group shot with the "model pout"

Wordless Wednesday

Butterflies...

 Olivia and I went out to take some photos for my latest assignment... Magical/Mystical. 

I knew right away I wanted to try something with butterflies.

It took some time and patience, but I think I finally got how add png files into photoshop.

Here's a few of my favorites...