sparkler magic

Every kid should hold a sparkler at least once in his life....

Yesterday on the 4th we were gone from morning 'till night hanging with good friends and eating our way through the day. The weather was beautiful, perfect for a water balloon fight and hanging out on the front lawn. We ended the day with some sparklers that I had purchased at an out-of-town firework stand.

Street works are completely illegal in our part of the state so it makes me sad that my kids have not been raised to experience the once-a-year agonizing wait for the fall of darkness on the 4th, when their father and uncle would drag out the boxes of fireworks to set off in the street. (I always felt that the sun set slower than usual on Independence Day. Anybody else feel that way?)

I am having to create a new kind of 4th memory, so yes, I broke the law, and splurged for some sparklers. I feel quite confident in posting these pictures even though my brother works for the state law enforcement. It's not that he wouldn't turn me in because I am his sister, it's because--ahem, cough cough--he knows what he was doing in his front yard at the same exact time we were lighting our sparklers. If you get my drift? Ok, that's all I am going to say about that.

So anyway, back to the sparklers...

Honestly, night photography is an art form at which I am not very skilled. But my Picture Inspiration assignment this week was to "dig in" and explore another art form, have some fun, get a little messy. I think I was a little broad with my interpretation of this assignment but I went with it. I have always wanted to try some night photography so I decided to make this my "dig in" moment. I discovered how fun it was to play with the settings to see what I could create. It was also fun to watch the kids "dig in" and explore what they could do with their sparklers. They wrote their names in the air, twirled and danced. Here's Bean writing her name on the street...

I learned a little bit in the process of having fun. I learned how to work with my shutter speed, and follow the light and work in darkness, which is tricky. It was a successful "dig in" moment for me.

And a super fun way to end Independence Day.

A happy belated 4th to you all. Hope it was a fun one.
t

too much fun

Oh geez, I have a weekend hang-over.
I could seriously curl up in a hole and not come out for a long while. My introverted self is screaming for a hammock on the beach, a place where I could rest and stare off into space.

I know I am wiped because it is a rare moment when I do not want to be picking up my camera or working on photos, but today is such a day. I have already sentenced my kids to their rooms, taken away their tv privileges (due to...we're-home-today-and-we-have-"nothing"-to-do-so-we-are-going-to-bicker), and dealt with the drama of Bean burning her finger on a hot glue gun (that I let her use because she was banished from the tv and she wanted to get crafty). I am regretting the "no tv" edict and am seriously considering a nap, which I never ever take, so that says a lot. It is about now that I wish I drank coffee.

Well then, aren't I just a happy camper this bright Monday morning? Aren't you glad you stopped by?

So I am going to share a couple of photos from yesterday and then I am going to go rest.  This pretty much sums up how I feel...

Though his "hmmph" was from the fact that my son kept popping water balloons over his head. 

The kids were very excited about their "Pop-its". 

Jr. "works" for the 4th. Much tamer and much quieter.

My beautiful Bean in her festive finest.

Seeing her in her braids and ribbons just about pulls me out of my funky mood.

Love her.

Happy Happy Monday!
xoxo