Moving…

Hi all! I apologize for the lack of posts the past few months; I’ve actually started a new blog. I had been interested in participating in a collaborative blog with three fellow photographers, and knowing I won’t be able to keep up with two blogs, I have moved my personal posts to this new one. I wanted to get it up and going before I invited you to take a peek; now there are plenty of things to read and pictures to see. With summer vacation right around the corner, I will be posting quite a bit, catching up fully on what has been going on around here, so I hope you will check in frequently.

 

This is the final post for this site. Here is the link to the new site… https://lightandlenses4blog.wordpress.com               (I’m not sure why the hyperlink in song showing; please copy and paste.)

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Leaving with one last image…

xoxo,  Julie

 

He is… and She is…

He is applying for scholarships.

She is rocking her bike.

She’s Home

Elsa, Lauren’s first American Girl doll, was admitted to the American Girl Hospital last month to repair her hand from when Wrigley was a tiny puppy and bit it. She arrived home (in the mail) on Saturday, complete with hospital gown, hospital bracelet and a new hairstyle (apparently, the AG hospital has a salon!). Lauren’s expression was one of genuine love. It’s so easy to forget being a child, when one’s dolls, etc. are so much apart of one’s world, that real emotions are involved.

Thanksgiving LEGOS

One of several ‘Looking Back at 2015’

Another LEGO set conquered by Miss L!

Embracing a blurry photo…added a ‘radial blur’ effect in Photoshop

Elements for a more intentional artistic look.

 

 

Our 4th Annual Black Friday Shopping Trip

Maybe I’ve said this here before…I NEVER thought I would go ‘Black Friday’ shopping…but you know what they say about never say never…

Shaw and I have gone shopping late on Thanksgiving night, arriving home in the wee hours of the following Friday morning for four years now. He’s probably the only person who could have ever talked me into doing this. Some years we’ve found great deals and other years, not so much, but we’ve made the occasion a fun time regardless of how many bags we ended up bringing home. This year, I just had to take a few pictures (and I do mean a FEW, since he asked me to put my camera away while still in the first store) because this might have been our last Black Friday shopping trip…Who knows what next year will bring, since he will be away at college. I do know that if he asks me to go, I will probably not turn him down.  : )

 

Seven

She is seven. It is a magical age. She is a magical kid.

 

 

Birthday Tea Party

We celebrated Lauren’s birthday at a newish place in town, The Cupcakery, and the theme was tea party. The food was delicious (If you are local, stop in…you won’t regret it!), and the girls had a fun afternoon. (Early December)

 

 

Invitations

This week (and maybe next), we’re looking back at unseen images from 2015 (in no particular order)…Happy New Year to all of you, and as always, thanks for checking in on us. xoxo

Lauren created these awesome invitations for her birthday party, which was in early December.

She is such a great artist. We try to incorporate the creative process into as many aspects of her life as possible.

Nashville

Ah, to be able to wear a jacket in December…something I usually only dream of due to being a Floridian. We have wanted the kids to see the change of seasons and experience some ‘somewhat wintery’ temperatures for awhile now, so we headed up to Nashville, TN for a few days earlier in the week. It was a really wonderful getaway.

Ice skating in downtown Nashville

The Johnny Cash museum (very interesting)

The Frist art museum, with a special section for kids to

do hands-on art projects (awesome!)

 

Best of all was visiting with our long time friend, Mat Gaskins, whom we haven’t seen in 15 years.

 

 

Homecoming Dance