Take a Bite out of Summer with Silly Watermelon Pics

I was browsing through some old photos on my computer and came across a series of shots from Summer 2008. Claire had realized her love of watermelon, and I realized my love of ridiculously huge props for kiddie photography.

Slice up a HUGE piece of watermelon and have your camera handy for the hilarious photo op.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have just been invited to a tea party in my daughter's kiddie pool.

Through Her Eyes

                                                      
I wrote shortly after Christmas about Claire’s excitement after receiving a digital camera for Christmas from her Aunt Nikki and Uncle Matt. I finally got around to taking a look at what she’s been photographing and I laughed out loud at many of the images and marveled over the beauty of the “everyday” she captured. I’d like to think I was looking through her eyes at things that are important to her: family, friends, animals, her special toys and favorite places in our home…

I'm glimpsing happiness as she smooshed her face close to ours to fill her camera’s frame, excitement as she stalked her grandparents’ kitties, pride in a stack of clean dishes after lunch...

Three Years Old?! Tomorrow?!

Wow. Time flies!

Does this kiddo look suddenly older, or is it just me?

I know Claire looks half asleep in this photo but there is something about it I like! Maybe it’s the color or the way she’s flaring her nostrils like her Daddy, heehee!

McManda’s Wedding

I had a few titles floating around in my head for this post -

“And the boys wore watermelon” a quip at Amanda’s color choice, she called it watermelon and I dubbed PINK (in all caps, shouted…loudly)

“For the Facebook Phobic” a poke at my friend Lauren who can’t seem to bring herself to join the fun but is desperate to see my slave labor tablescapes.

“Flower girl” Ok, not creative but Claire WAS the flower girl and seeing how she is the focus of the blog it works…right?

But alas it’s after midnight and a late afternoon coffee (bad idea!) has kept me wide awake, well that and the fact that I’m finally back online (!) after a storm knocked my phone and internet out (my lifeline!) and I have about 30 million things I want to read and catch up on.

But here I am dropping off a few favorite photos to share with you all with an untitled post because I just can’t think of anything catchy and clever this late at night.

I’m used to photographing wee-folk, but here’s a go at some wedding photography:

Aunt McManda smooching her new hubby DJ, note Claire’s headband hanging out in my bouquet – I didn’t notice that until just now!

Hello Photoshop, you are my friend indeed. I fully intend to blur out the groom’s eyes. Who kisses with their eyes open (let alone stares at the camera during a smooch?) You’re a freak DJ but I love ya anyway.

Ooh! A baby picture, how did that sneak in here? My sweet niece Jessica (or Jessa as Claire calls her) who snoozed through most of the reception.

View Full Album

View Full Album

Yes, the centerpieces were all hand made – on site, by yours truly and a few good friends of the bride. And no, we did not get much sleep the days leading up to wedding. We had to set the tables, and with a ton of dried orchids leftover, came up with the GORGEOUS place settings you can see in the second album. A stroke of genius I tell you! Look out Martha, I’m eyeing your job.

In Daddy’s Arms

January Photos

Eye See You!

Snowfall Reaction

I was outside trying to get a photo of Claire to put on the Christmas card and just had to share her reaction to the snowflakes that were falling:


sorry to the folks on Facebook who are seeing this twice, but I can never remember who is on FB and who reads the blog - you'll just have to settle for a double dose of cuteness - and I'll throw in a view from another angle. It's funny how a quick camera rotation (or photographer body contortion in this case) makes all the difference, I like the top picture much better, Claire's eyes are lit up so nicely- what about you, a favorite?

My Little Tree-Hugger!

Claire and I have been busy with end of season garden maintenance, we’ve repotted oodles of plants, brought in the rosemary to overwinter (fingers crossed) and we’ve started a nice compost pile (by we’ve I mean that I did the work and Claire dumped water and shouted at the birds). Come spring, I’m hoping for some “brown gold” enrich my veggie beds.

It hasn’t been all work and no play though! Last week, we spent the day at a local farm with our chapter of the Holistic Mom’s Network. Claire had a blast feeding all the animals, getting lost in the corn maize (get it? maze – maize?!) and decorating a pumpkin. Claire even took her first ride on a horse! Check out the album below, we had a great time!

View Full Album

Jump! Splash! Play!

I’ve sadly packed away the bathing suits, towels and beach toys but Claire seems to have found another body of water to enjoy:

Love those boots Kelly – thanks again! Nothing makes for happy kid portraits more then being covered in mud – here’s my favorite photo from today (and one in black and white for you, Grandma Caca).

Happy Halloween!

Phew! I have five minutes to make it before November 1st rolls on in - HAPPY HALLOWEEN!



We had a great Halloween with our little fairy (or ballerina if she had her wings off) and spent the day celebrating with friends and enjoying tons of sweets. Mmmmmmm....

My personal favorite photo is of Claire and Daddy playing outside together, but there are tons of cute ones in the slideshow!



Enjoy the slideshow!

Happy Birthday USA!

Don't these little splatters look just like fireworks? We used our patriotic marker colors to create a Happy Fourth card for our bloggy friends - enjoy! We'll be spending the day swimming (hopefully the weather will hold out) and gorging on BBQ goodies like watermelon. We had a little watermelon appetizer today, Claire's favorite fruit.


Some more goofy watermelon pictures below or here in the Picasa Album - like the HUMONGOUS slice? Heehee...this is a photo worth framing ;-)

The Not-So Itsy Bitsy Spider

What do you get after a solid 2 weeks of rain and the sun peeks out from behind the clouds for just a second? A shutterbug crazed Mom ready to take new photos of her toddler. We started of with some great pictures just playing in the grass. Then I got this brilliant idea to sit Claire on the bench in front of the blooming catmint. I took off the cushion and found THIS:



I'm all about leaving bugs and creepy crawlies to their own devices outdoors, it is THEIR home afterall. But that spider was HUGE and scary. I could see it looking at Claire's plump little thighs (with all it's million eight eyes and giant fangs) so I relocated it to a nice grassy spot behind the shed. I'm sure it will find lots of delicious treats back their to eat. This reminds me of another picture I took last summer: reasons to carefully check clothespins before hanging your laundry out.

Disturbingly enough, Claire took one look at the spider and said "Ray, Ray yums!" whilst licking her own chops (or sweater, see below). You may remember Claire's affinity for insect protein in the past...but I think Claire must have figured out the secret to Ray's "roundness" - he's eating the giant spiders that make it into the house!

Enjoy the photos below, I'll stop being gross now :-) Claire is pointing to her boo-boo on her toe in many of the photos or playing "piggies." Isn't she cute? :-)

Fashion Sense...or lack thereof

Sometimes it's great to be a toddler...enough said.

Happy New Year!

One of my many resolutions is to post more to Claire's blog. I've been slacking a bit according to the aunties!

        

So here's a photo from the Christmas card session, I wound up going with the hooded sweater as you can see here. But I didn't want this photo to get lost - I just love the sun shining on her hair and the catch-lights in her eyes!

Have a happy and healthy 2009 from all of us :-)

PS - I hope YOUR resolution has something to do with commenting more on the blog, especially <ahem!> Grandma Caca who finally has a new laptop!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We're up in Boston celebrating the holiday with Aunt Nikki and Uncle Matt! Here are a few pictures to enjoy. How Claire has changed in a year - check out this post.