This is one of my favorite shots taken at the Huntsville Botanical Garden's Aquatic Garden this past weekend (photo taken 11/2/13). I could've stayed there all day photographing everything.
Category Archives: photography
Halloween 2013: Family Costume
When Coraline declared she was going as Cinderella for Halloween, Rich wondered how we could turn that into a family costume like we did last year. I suggested going as the Ugly Stepsisters Anastasia (Rich) and Drizella (me). Rich went trick-or-treating with us dressed like this. Which is why he should win Father of the Year.
Of course the star of our family costume was our very own princess, Coraline.
Filed under coraline, personal, photography
Photoblogging: Cinderella
For Halloween 2013 Coraline went as Cinderella. Which is not surprising because lately she is all princess, all the time. This might now be my favorite new photo of her.
Filed under coraline, personal, photoblogging, photography
Photoblogging: Bouquet
This bouquet was waiting for Coraline and I when we got home Monday night. With 100% certainty, Coraline declared, "It's from my godCaren mommy." She was right -- her godmother had indeed sent this beautiful bouquet and a lovely condolence note about the passing of Grandma Lee.
Filed under personal, photoblogging, photography
Photoblogging: Angry Face
I asked Coraline to show me her angry face, which first made an appearance last Wednesday (7/3/13). I see this as a somewhat frightening glimpse of the headstrong teenager she is going to be. God help Rich and I. (Photo taken 7/5/13)
Filed under coraline, personal, photoblogging, photography
Photoblogging: Arches & Pendants
After Rich's birthday brunch on Sunday, we walked around downtown and ended up at the Old Courthouse. I loved the arches in this particular alcove. And they might not look like it, but those pendant lights are enormous. (taken 2/24/13)
Filed under photoblogging, photography
Photoblogging: A Chilly Day in the Park
While in Columbus last week, Rich, Coraline, our friend Chris, and I did a bit of sightseeing and ended up in the lovely Topiary Park near where Rich and Chris used to live while in college. Here are a few shots from that cold, windy, fun day (2/11/13). I can’t wait to see it in warmer weather when everything is in bloom.
The plaque describing Georges Seurat's famous painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte
A shot of the park mirroring the image etched on the plaque
The reeds along the shore of the partially frozen lake
Coraline stands on the "magic" square to the left of the plaque, which supposedly provides the best view of the park as depicted on the plaque. She would have run around all day there if we'd let her.
Filed under coraline, photoblogging, photography, travel
Cousins!
Song Lyric of the Day:
Ev’ryone can see we’re together / As we walk on by / (FLY!) and we fly just like birds of a feather / I won’t tell no lie / (ALL!) all of the people around us they say / Can they be that close / Just let me state for the record / We’re giving love in a family dose
Sister Sledge / “We Are Family“
On Saturday we celebrated my niece Miranda’s first birthday party. We met at Build-a-Bear, where Coraline surprised everyone by not choosing Hello Kitty but instead choosing a pink snowflake-covered bear Rich and I, in a stroke of genius, named Snowflake since Coraline wouldn’t commit to a name for the birth certificate (and yes, I took the opportunity to remind Mom about this again). After Build-a-Bear, the kids hitched a ride on the train that runs around the mall, making Coraline’s day because she LOVES riding that train.
We then adjourned to Chili’s for lunch to be followed by birthday cake, which Coraline and her big cousins Elliott and Stephen all wanted as their main course. Like that was going to happen. And then, by the grace of God and my family — who helped do the wrangling — I got a picture of all five cousins together. Sure, they weren’t all looking right at the camera at the same time, but I got a shot of all five of them. Together. In one photo with five takes. Finally.
The kids had a blast spending time together this weekend, and I love seeing my baby girl having so much fun with my other babies. For all intents and purposes, these kids are each other’s best friends. I hope they know how lucky they are to be close enough to get to see their cousins as often as they do, something my sisters and I were not as fortunate to enjoy growing up. They’re lucky, lucky kids.
***
Here are a few shots from Saturday’s festivities. You can see all the photos here.
Coraline's bear gets stuffed
Coraline squeezes her eyes shut tight while holding her bear's heart in her hands and wishing good wishes for her. I love that she looks like she's praying.
Birthday girl Miranda, who has a little cold, fell asleep waiting for lunch. It looks like she's saying grace.
Miranda gets her sugar rush on
Clockwise: Coraline, Stephen, Elliott, Sabrina, Miranda. This was the fifth shot I got of all of them. They were so over it by then.
Filed under coraline, family, personal, photography
Photoblogging: Princess Coraline
A couple weeks ago on my day working from home, my schedule opened up enough that I told Coraline we could go visit her poppa at work over lunch. She surprised — and thrilled — me when she said, “I want to dress like a princess for Poppa.” We chose the beautiful black-and-white polka-dot dress (and matching sunglasses) her Titi K gave her for Christmas, white tights, and Coraline’s black sequined slip-on shoes. I styled her hair (as best I could) in a top-knot, which Coraline deemed worthy of calling “princess hair.” She couldn’t wait to grab one of her tiaras out of her toy bin, reminding me that princesses wear crowns. She had to look extra special for her dad, of course. She then melted my heart when I finished putting the tiara on her hair and looked at me and said, “I’m beautiful!” Yes you are, sweetie. Yes you are.
Caleb inspects Coraline, who he thinks looks like a princess every day.
Princess Coraline races down the hall after getting all gussied up.
Coraline beams at the thought of her poppa seeing her all dressed up.
Coraline hooks her stroller over her arm, ready to go at last. Because of course Baby Miranda went with us.
Filed under coraline, personal, photoblogging, photography
Photoblogging: Tiger Baby
My cute, cuddly tiger spent most of last night vomiting, so I thought I'd post a pic of her that will cheer her up when she sees it today (taken 9/9/12).
Filed under coraline, photoblogging, photography
