Fall Fun at Applewood Orchard

Wow! It has been a while since I blogged. Lots to catch up on, but those are for another day...

Well, now that Haley is down to one nap/day it is SO much easier to do fun family activities since we don't have to try to squeeze them in during a 2-hour window that also included lunch. What did we do to celebrate this new freedom? We took Haley to Applewood Orchard for apple picking, hay rides, a corn maze, pumpkin picking and more.

We really had a lot of fun and got a HUGE bag of Honeycrisp Apples, too!

I was really impressed with all the free and low-cost things they had to do at the farm, too. Tractor rides...

the corn maze...

and finally, our little pumpkin picked out her own pumpkin! 

A good time had by all!

June Photo a Day 17-25

Again, here is the next week of the #FMSPhotoADay for June! One more little set to post soon to finish off the month! I've stared the July photos - too fun!

Day 17 {centered} My roses in the front garden FINALLY started to bloom!

Day 18 {street}

Day 19 {currently reading} A Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling...love reading books on my iPad Mini, especially on the patio!

Day 20{cute} 'Nuff Said

Day 21 {lunchtime} Good to the last bite! It was a bowl of broccoli salad!

Day 22 {enjoying life} Her favorite place to be...on Daddy's shoulders!

Day 23 {last} The last moments before going to bed on a beautiful Sunday evening.

Day 24 {negative space}

Day 25 {sharp} Again, featuring my roses!

Enjoy! Hope everyone has a very happy and safe Independence Day tomorrow!

July Photo A Day Challenge

Here is the latest list from FatMumSlim Photo a Day Challenge and it starts TOMORROW. I've had a great time with the June challenge (will post the last 2 sets of photos soon) and can't wait to tackle this one!

June Photo a Day 10-16

As promised, here is the next week of the #FMSPhotoADay for June! 

Day 10 {you!) Selfie! LOL!

Day 11 {something funny} Oh, that smile!

Day 12 {11 o'clock} A.M. Working...

Day 13 {kitchen} We remodeled almost 4 years ago (great to have a brother-in-law who is a contractor) and I still LOVE LOVE LOVE it!

Day 14 {texture} Tired Wally after swimming at the park. 

Day 15 {from above} My lovely flower pot in the front garden.

Day 16 {family} Celebrating Father's Day on the deck!

Committing

OK. I've been a bad blogger and it is time to get back on track. Not only will this help me with my blogging, but it will help me practice photography - one of my new found passions. :)

So, here goes. I'm going to do the FatMumSlim Photo a Day Challenge starting TOMORROW. The June list looks pretty fun and will be just what I need to revive my blog. I am committing to posting at least once/week!



Thanks to Laura for the inspiration! Your May pics were awesome!

My Little Valentine

Just for fun, Haley and I did a little Valentine's Day photo shoot this weekend. Isn't she cute? She is just over 5 months now and doing more and more each day! <3

Photo Bomb

photobomb (verb) - to drop in a photo unexpectedly right before it is taken.

My nephew (3) is a master photobomber and he doesn't even know it. :) I can't wait for years of photos like these:

Shaped Bokeh

Even since I started using Pinterest, I wanted to try this- shaped bokeh! Now that I have such a cute little model (who can't run away yet) I thought it was the perfect opportunity to give it a go! I followed the directions in the link above, practiced a little before setting up my shot (discovered that the closer you are to your subject and the further your subject is from your background, the bigger the effect - thanks, Laura) and poof! Snowflakes in my Christmas tree!

It helps to have an awesome assistant, too!

PS - This is also my submission for this month's Rock the Shot contest! www.rocktheshotforum.com

13 Weeks Old!

I can't believe Haley is 13 weeks old already. Here is her most recent rocking chair photo! She has grown so much (although she is STILL in newborn clothes!).

More photos to come!

How Time Flies

Haley and I are both named after my Great Great Aunt Mae and I just happened to receive her childhood rocking chair when I was little. I am super excited to be able to use it each month to show how much Haley has grown. Of course, with her being so little I had to wait a little longer than I wanted to start this project, but here are her first two pictures. MANY more to come! I love it!

At Haley's 4 week appointment she was a whopping 5 pounds 10 ounces, so at 6 weeks she was probably close to 6 1/2 pounds. :)

At Haley's 2 month appointment she was 7 pounds, 5 ounces (the size I thought she would be when she was born!) and has grown almost 3 inches!

I just love watching her grow and learn. It is so fun to see her progress and see her little look of concentration as she is trying to figure out new things. Being a mom is the best!

Backing Up...Bump Pics!

BEFORE Haley Mae came along, my good friend Laura over at Laura Shaleen Photography took beautiful maternity photos of both me and my sister. I wanted to share a few of them...so great!

Thanks again, Laura!!