11.06.09

A little photo shoot with Miles. Lincoln and I were both trying to get him to smile, but this is what we got. I wonder if the tongue was directed at his mother or older brother?

aperture 4.5

exposure 1/60

iso speed 800

focal length 24 mm

11.05.09

Every time we visit the Seattle Center our conversation eventually leads to "We really need to come here more often". It is such a beautiful community gathering place with so much to see and do. One of our favorite places to sit and visit is near the International Fountain. Although too cold to dodge the water on this visit, we'll be back again next summer.

aperture 4.0

exposure 1/60

iso speed 400

focal length 25 mm

11.04.09

Who is that peeking through the autumn leaves at the Seattle Center?

aperture 3.5

exposure 1/800

iso speed 400

focal length 18 mm

11.03.09

The Day of the Dead celebration at the Seattle Center was a free event, hosted by Taller Mexicano para la Cultura y las Artes. The event had arts and crafts booths, live music and dancing, and activities for adults and children alike. One of the art activities was sugar skull decorating as illustrated by the creative abundance below.

aperture 4.5

exposure 1/13

iso speed 800

focal length 24 mm

11.02.09

A skull as part of a private alter honoring a deceased, one of the many traditions celebrating the life of someone remembered on Dia de los Muertos.

aperture 5.6

exposure 1/13

iso speed 800

focal length 55 mm

11.01.09

Today we took the kids to Dia de los Muertos at the Seattle Center. After spending our honeymoon and Lincoln's first vacation in Mexico we have a strong fondness for the country and its traditions. The couple below was extremely friendly and amenable to having their picture taken.

aperture 4.5

exposure 1/2

iso speed 800

focal length 30 mm

10.31.09

I love to dress the family as a theme while the kids are still young and I get to decide what they wear. Last year were were the circus and this year the ranch. My first family portrait. Happy Halloween!

aperture 6.3

exposure 1/30

iso speed 400

focal length 33 mm

10.30.09

Lincoln and I out for an afternoon walk while Miles spends time with his grandmother. We had so much fun splashing in the puddles and finding the most brilliant leaves, and as much he loves his little brother, I think he enjoyed the time just the two of us.

aperture 4.5

exposure 1/200

iso speed 400

focal length 24 mm

10.29.09

As I have posted in the past, I love to bake and take every opportunity I can to make treats for others. Below are chai tea cupcakes, for Derek's classroom's Halloween celebration, bewitched with spooky skull and creepy spider rings, a sorceress' secret concoction!

aperture 5.0

exposure 1/30

iso speed 800

focal length 41 mm

10.28.09

Fruit of the season.

aperture 4.5

exposure 1/250

iso speed 400

focal length 18 mm

10.27.09

There is something that I absolutely love about summer blooming flowers, once they have lost all of their petals and the bud and stem have turned black. I once brought one of my most dear friends a bouquet of Black Eyed Susans, which had turned completely black, to a Halloween party she was hosting. I thought it was beautiful. Echinacea below.

aperture 4.0

exposure 1/320

iso speed 400

focal length 28 mm

10.26.09

Have you ever seen a more cute cow? Along with my parents, and my sister and her family, we took the boys to the zoo for the Pumpkin Prowl. An annual event at the zoo, large sections are transformed into huge pumpkin patches and spooky displays, and trick or treating all along the way. Here Lincoln is impressed at his loot while trying to figure out the whole business of trick or treating.

aperture 5.6

exposure 1/15

iso speed 800

focal length 18 mm

10.25.09

The finished carvings from last night's party. Derek's are the spooky skull on the far right and the goofy eyes in the middle. Unfortunately no submission from me this year: too busy chasing toddlers!

aperture 4.5

exposure 1/6

iso speed 1600

focal length 20 mm

10.24.09

Pumpkin carving is one of my and Derek's favorite holiday traditions. Below Lincoln is pretty excited about the "guts" while Anna decides if she wants to help clean out the inside.

aperture 3.5

exposure 1/20

iso speed 800

focal length 18 mm

10.23.09

Playing the bongos 2 feet from your head. Because that is what brothers are for.

aperture 4.5

exposure 1/100

iso speed 400

focal length 18 mm

10.22.09

A small example of the brilliant foliage we did see at the nursery. Happy birthday, Mom!

aperture 5.6

exposure 1/125

iso speed 400

focal length 55 mm

10.21.09

This was pretty much my view of Linc as we walked around the nursery - off and running!

aperture 4.5

exposure 1/500

iso speed 400

focal length 28 mm

10.20.09

This afternoon I took Lincoln and Miles to a nearby nursery so I could photograph the spectacular foliage, but honesty this guy was much more interesting. Here I caught him in a rare moment of calm, and tried, unsuccessfully, to get a "Cheese" out of him.

aperture 10.0

exposure 1/200

iso speed 400

focal length 18 mm

10.19.09

Someone is starting to get his older brother's big blue eyes.

aperture 4.5

exposure 1/80

iso speed 800

focal length 23 mm

10.18.09

Unfortunately it's not very obvious in this picture, but the foliage on these trees fades from brilliant red on the first tree in the foreground to warm, bright yellow on the last tree. My mother-in-law was the first to notice these trees and told me about the photographic opportunity.

aperture 5.0

exposure 1/80

iso speed 400

focal length 30 mm

10.17.09

One of the parts of speech that Lincoln is still mastering is the personal pronoun. Instead of saying things like "I want juice" he will say "My want juice". And "I go to Grandma and Grandpa's" is expressed as "My go to Grandma and Grandpa's". Below he is "My swing really high, Mommy!".

aperture 18.0

exposure 1/100

iso speed 200

focal length 55 mm