14 Vacationers

Luau

On our second last night we headed to a Luau.    Great food,  great dancing and lots of big smiles. 

Pipeline Pro Surfing

We took an adventure yesterday.   Taking the bus around the east coast of Hawaii.    Had some great fun at almost deserted beaches and playing in the huge waves at Pipeline.   Watched some surfing,  enjoyed the sun,  saw shrimp and pineapple farming (no pictures as the bus windows were pretty dirty and we didn't stop there),   and people watched on the bus.  

Chinatown in Hawaii

Worship the Sun

Safe and sound and enjoying Friends

We arrived safe and sound and are so excited to be with all our Australian Friends.     We have missed these people.    The last photo just makes me smile so.  All the little ones just enjoying each other.    

Old Massey Ferguson Combine

Driving around and found this combine in an old log shed.    One for my dad.

Fog

So this is what today looked like.   We woke up to fog and it stayed all day.    This was taken at 3pm.    And I doubt that it will change as evening sets in.  

Tobogganing Birthday Party

Okay this is a birthday party that you would not have had the experience of attending in Australia.     Especially in January!!!    A birthday party outside in the snow,  hurling down very steep hills on a bit of plastic and then having a hotdog over the outdoor fire.   Presents,  cake and a bit of air while going over some snow jumps.   Lots of smiles and oohhs  when everyone did wipe outs. 

Getting outside with the camera

This past week I have had a very large to do list for upcoming birthday parties and adventures.    So as soon as I drop the girls off I'm in that car going.   Owen hasn't really enjoyed this but he was dealing pretty good.  (and stopping at McD's to get pancakes doesn't hurt!)   In between the running around it has been very sunny with blue skies peaking out some days     So I have made a point of getting photos on these days too.    Hard photos to take.   Photos where it's minus 10 and your fingers don't want to be exposed for too long,  snow pants to keep warm and comfy,   and blankets and toys in the car to keep Owen happy while mommy is running outside around the car!!     Lying on my stomach pointing the camera at the sun so I can get some ice reflecting,   getting light to do different things.    Anything to make my photos different!!!  Don't know if it is working but I have been happy this week and my mind has been thinking.  I'm even dreaming taking photos.

Birthday for #2

So Hannah turned 7.   Had a great day at school.   Well why not when you are the centre of attention!! There was cupcakes,   skating and a party after school with lots of sugar,   presents,   and cake and ice cream.    

Snowing Again

More snow and Hannah is ever so excited to have it on her birthday as well as skating today.    Brought cupcakes to school and party after school.    Busy day ahead and ever so fun to drive on the roads right now.    Thank god for 4WD!!!

Pondering....

my love for which photo to post.   I have gone from no photos taken to tonnes and I don't know which one to put up.   Ones that apply today or from a few days ago.   Oh well.    Here's to pondering some more.  

A few nights ago

while talking to my husband.   I stopped in mid sentence and squealed like a little girl and raced to the door.    Leaving my husband staring at me in disbelief.     Snow!!!    Large fluffy flakes that I had been wanting to capture for the last two mornings but at the moment those flakes were falling I was driving kids to school.    No sooner then I had dropped them off it would stop.    So I was in heaven to be able to get a chance to take photos of the snow coming down heavy.   Takes some work to get the shutter speed right and with the night adds more difficulty.  

Decorations packed up but celebrating with palm trees isn't over

Winter Wonderland

It has been great packing snow for the last few nights.     So we have been heading outside for a play in the snow before bed.  

Let the snowball fight begin........

Strap on the Skates

it's skating time at the schools.    Ciara was the first to start off the girls skating time the school has each year.    Hannah is next week on her birthday!!!    What a gift to have the afternoon off from school to go skating.  

Ahhhhhhhhh.....

I've realized that I haven't taken a single photo in January.    Waiting for more computer stuff to store more photos because we are at our limit even downsizing.   And everytime there is a great light or interesting moment.   I am running kids to school or somewhere so I don't have the time to just stop and do what I want to do.     Ahhhhhhh.....!!!   So I'll leave you with a shot from Guelph.   Hopefully I can get back on the wagon today or tomorrow or for sure Saturday morning.  

Nothing like a good Teddy Bear

When I was home in November one of my brother's friends from high school asked if I would take photos of them.    Yeah someone that would let me practice.    Instead of me asking and getting turned down or timing was off.      So I learned a lot.   What to do what not to do.    Would have like another day to try so that my nervousness was gone and I could go back and retry some of the areas I felt weak in.     Needless to say it was fun and a great learning experience.    And there is nothing like a good Teddy Bear shot to ease little ones being shy with you.   They love looking at their toys on camera.   

Time

As you can guess this isn't taken today.    A snow storm has blown in here and it is white everywhere right now.    So I was going through my small collection of photos taken to get me through for a bit and well they weren't speaking to me.     So instead I went through some old stuff.    I find if I look at stuff right away I don't like the photos very much but if I look at them in a week or in this case about 6 months I go oh...... I like that one.    So here's some warmth to your day and one I just like the look of.   The list of photos I want to try is sitting by my bedside table from last nights brain storm.   Now to get a sweater on and maybe try a few.  

Still Clinging

This loan leaf is still clinging on to the tree.     There isn't much snow here and the weather isn't terribly cold.    Weird weather for sure.     Weird photography weather here as well.   I don't feel like getting out.   Reading lots of extremely well know photographers blogs about being more then just like everyone else.   Striving to be 10% like everyone else or  be safe and be 80% like everyone else.    So makes me stop and question.    I want to do this but do I want to just be like everyone else?    So I am really thinking about how to be different, how to  make my  photos look different.     So get these kids back to school and start pushing myself out of the box.    Get technically on track again.   No blown out photos.   Lighting right.    Then creative,  unique something that gets people pausing more then just looking at the shot and seeing it somewhere else. 
My 2011 goal. 

Creative Juices Flowing

I haven't really picked up the camera in a few days.    I had asked some people to give me names of three things so I could try and get creative with some shots.   So my first person said cupcakes, snowballs and coffee cup.      Here it is probably like a thousand other photos you've seen.   My poor snowball is more like a snow chunk as it was so mild that things had melted and re frozen. 

Holidays are over

2011 has started.    The holidays are over.   Overeating,  up to late.   Now it's back to getting the kids into there school routine so Tuesday isn't ugly.    So I will leave you with one of my favourite holiday shots.   Christmas always gives me an image of a angelic blond girl around the tree.    And this one fits the bill.     Angelic little ones for a moment before the over stimulation, candy,  up to late monsters arrive and then we are back to normal.   Happy 2011 Everyone.