6.21.2012

we're back!

Hi friends! We just got back from my parents' cabin in Branson and I barely took a single picture! We had a family reunion with nearly 35 people, and the only day I took pictures was on our first day at the lake. We also went to Silver Dollar City, White Water, we had a family dinner one night and a cookout the next, we played baseball and flew kites, we had a birthday party for Drew, a top shot shooting competition, ATV riding... the list goes on. So even though taking pictures was a big fat fail, the trip was a big fat success because instead of worrying about capturing the moment I was living IN IT... and we all had a blast!!

Even though my big camera took a break for the week, I wish I would have thought in advance to do a iPhone collage of photos. With a collage in mind, I would have captured a better variety of shots: wildflowers along side of the road, the steep rocks and cliffs, buildings and hotels damaged from a tornado that went through the town in February, my cranberry colored toenails in new lavender flip flops dangling in the pool, you get the idea. I did a collage with the iPhone shots from our Florida trip, and they turned out to be some of my favorite snapshots ever. Definitely a lesson learned. I will put more thought into it next time! :-)

Here are just a few random iPhone shots...



Before I share some shots from our day at the lake, may I pause to give myself a shout-out here? If you follow me on Instagram, you might remember that I've recently gone crazy over friendship bracelets. I never learned to make them when I was 12, and now... (an unspecified number of years later)... I have! Livia's bracelets have been on for weeks and woe to the person that tries to remove one. See below.

TT was a little slow to get her sea legs and made this face the entire time. ;-)


She felt much better in the arms of her favoritest cousin (although it should be noted that riding 55mph with daddy on a wave runner didn't seem to phase her in the slightest).






If you're wondering what's up with all the shots of the people in the boat vs. shots of the skiers... that's a lens issue. I took my 24-70mm instead of my 70-200mm. I definitely didn't want to switch lenses in the boat, and I thought if I took my zoom lens, I wouldn't be able to back up enough to get shots of anyone sitting in the boat. Not sure I made the right decision! Anyway, see how small the skiers are in the background? That's why I didn't post any of those. Little tiny people skiing + the crazy glare on the lake didn't look pretty. Thank goodness we have it on video (especially Collin doing 360's on the knee board)! :-)


I think our tornado almost fell asleep here - lol! :-)


This is one of my very favorite shots of the day. We love our cousins!



Also, If you're wondering why I post so many pictures of Livia and not very many of my boys... believe me, it's breaking my heart! The biggest reason is simple geography: TT is with me all the time. The boys have only been out of school a couple weeks and they're involved in every sport and activity on the planet. Not only that, it's easy to throw a dress on a 3 year old girl and make her look cute. It's a bit more challenging for me to get good (natural) shots of my boys. They're always more than cooperative, but at 7 and 10 they don't have that natural inhibition in front of the camera that a younger child has. Tween boys don't frolic, prance or twirl. ;-) But no excuses!! I must do better!

It's good to be home and back into a routine again. Hope you're having a great week & thanks for stopping by! xo

18 comments:

Discovery School at First Baptist Heath said...

what a fun trip.... and perfectly captured.. so proud of you for living in the minute...


one more week til I hit Lincoln.....

hello gorgeous said...

welcome back gorgeous! glad you had a fabulous time LIVING it! There will be others for you to capture, I am sure....

Hope there's not too much laundry to catch up on! ha!

hugs

hello gorgeous xxx

p.s. would be nice to get a glimpse of your gorgeous boys...but I "get" the throwing on a dress thing, having 3 boys myself! ;o)

Liza B. Gonzalez said...

Hi Bonnie, these are great. I'm so glad that you didn't take thecamera out and actually ENJOYED the vacation!!! As much as we like to see what you do, the best part is knowing that you are loving and loving. 😊

As far as taking pics of the boys, here's a tip. Get them outside with the equipment of the sport dujour and let them show you what they got. My son loves that!

Toodles.

Adeena said...

"Tween boys don't frolic, prance or twirl."

XD That made me laugh!! So, so true. :D

Yay for a fun vacay! And for friendship bracelets. It kills me that they are back in style. ;)

Jaymi said...

these pictures are so fun! And as I get sea sick easily, I usually have the same look on my face on boats as TT!

SarahinSC said...

You're right! Tween boys don't frolic, prance or twirl! It doesn't make for exciting pictures!

I LOVE making friendship bracelets too! I can't believe you didn't make them as child. I remember staying awake until the middle of the night to finish a bracelet. Glad you've found the fun!

Unknown said...

Wonderful photos! Glad TT finally got sea legs!!! Welcome home!

Love you :-D

Natalie said...

Super pictures! I just adore your iphone snaps. Truly! Silver Dollar City is so much fun and it sounds like you had a wonderful time.

Kristal said...

Sounds like you had a great time. I couldn't have NOT taken my camera though. I love it too much...

Jessica Griz said...

Yes! I always get shots of the baby because she cooperates ;) and she is always with me. I was just feeling bad about that too!

So glad you had a great time. I love the lake shots. So fun!

penandview said...

So glad you had a wonderful time. I loved seeing your instagram photos. I hear you on the boat lens issue. I've been there too. Quite a tough decision.
And thank you for your recent emails. You always have a a way of making a girl feel special.
Oh, and my son is 12. The prancing is OVER friend. It will never return.

Naomi said...

Welcome back! Love your IG photos and your collage. Glad you had a lovely time!

Anonymous said...

Looks like you all had a fantastic time! Glad you made it home safely and enjoyed the vacation!!

karren said...

Thank you for visiting my blog. I love your photos, and the dialog too, especially about the boys and why they are not in as many photos! LOL. I totally get it. I have four sons and two daughters, and the lopsidedness goes on with the grandkids in the oposite direction. 8 granddaughters, and 4 grandsons. I always get more photos of the girls. I love your Branson collage. I was in Branson for a national clogging competition a few years ago with my daughter. We were in Silver Dollar City for about three days. I still remember the sights and sounds and smells...the bluegrass music , the kettle corn, and the wonderful dishes they came up with in the huge kettles. I want to go back. Good for you enjoying the time with family instead of recording every little thing. We all need to do more of that!

Gina Kleinworth said...

Okay- first, I love the pics. What an awesome time! I love spending time out on the water.

Second- hearing you talk about the lens, ahhh- this is what plagues me when we go someplace. I want to bring the camera- but I obviously want it in my handbag because really- am I going to carry a camera bag & my handbag into every place we go??!! I think not. I don't want the gear left in the car either. So I usually choose the 50mm 1.4 because then I know I can get proper light in a restaurant or something & it's relatively light- but then I'm stuck. I would love to have a wider angle for tight booths but once we leave- I would really like more flexibility. I'm thinking I want a zoom with a wide range & at least a f/2.0 for these times. Now I just need to find one & convince the hubs that I need yet another lens after getting 2 just about a month ago. :)

Laughter & Love Notes Photography | Blog said...

We went to Branson a few weeks ago with my husband's family. I didnt get that many photos there either... but I did get a few (not so great quality ones) photos on my (crappy) cell phone at Silver Dollar City and some better ones at the Butterfly Palace. Kiera climbed the coconut tree outside all the way to the top... big deal for her... probably not so much for your crazy little flyer! We didn't get any from White Water though when we went back to Branson the day after we got home. We are supposed to go camping on Table Rock in July. Your vacations always look like so much more fun than mine. Great shots! (If I had an iPhone... I would probably go nuts with the camera!!)

Tenille said...

I have been slacking at blog creeping ;) Looks like you had a great time!!! Great snaps!!

Michelle R said...

iphone, big girl camera, p&s - whatever! you rock your images because you're capturing memories!!! and what fun ones you are!!! :)

Glad you had so much fun!!
xoxo