Little Ballerina Faith...

Here is a "sneak peek" of my little ballerina, Faith I took before we headed off to her BIG ballet recital last weekend. I think she looks just breathtakingly beautiful and she did a amazing job performing her big number...the "Dream Ballet" routine too (Her Dad and I were so proud of her!). I have lots of pictures to edit and all and am working on them, but for now I thought I would post this perfectly posed one of my sweet little dancer; daughter all dressed and ready to go to her show! Many, Many more coming soon.

Melinda

The "B" Bunch...

So, our good friends...the "B" bunch have gone away for the summer and we are missing them so as I am working on editing Faith's ballet recital pictures today, I came across these of T & E so I thought I would edit them and post them here on my blog for Lisa to see and know we are thinking of them and want them to get their butts home soon! ;)

Hugs,
Melinda & The Girl's (and Brian)

Happy Birthday Milan!

Here are a few more pictures I finally got edited for and of Milan (Faith's friend) and his family and friends from his fun birthday party...Enjoy! :)

Have a super weekend everyone,
Melinda

P.S. Malu- I am sending them all to you in an album for you to share with your friends and family and order prints that you want or whatever.

Grace got her ears pierced...

I had to share a couple of shots I took of Baby Grace earlier today. She had her 4 month Doctor visit this last week and her pediatrician gave her 4 shots (OUCH!) and also pierced her ears, since Big Sister Faith had her ears done at 2 months (Yes, I am a mean mom). She did great and was such a little trooper and Faith was such a sweet sister hugging her and trying to comfort her- it was precious. Grace bounced back by the next day- she is a tough lil' thing! Oh, and her Dr. also said she is getting 2 teeth in already- YIKES! She does everything early it seems as Faith was 8-10 months before she got teeth. Anyways- everyone is good and I just wanted to post these sweet shots I took today of her. Tomorrow is Faith's BIG Ballet recital so I will be posting lots of those pictures of Faith in the next few days...always TRYING to keep things 50/50 with both my girl's!

Have a great night,
Melinda

Miss Carolyn all grown up!!

It seems like just yesterday when I was playing with Carolyn in her pool as I was her nanny since she was 2 months old all through her elm. school years while I was in college and now she watches my daughters...crazy how life goes-so cool! She is such a wonderful girl and has grown into a beautiful young women now- WOWZA! Here are a couple pictures I just had to share with her and her family as well as my family and friends as I have watched her grown up all her life and it is such a joy to see what a great person she is and has grown up to be. We Love you Carolyn!

Oh, BTW- these pics are of her as she was about to go to her first "Ball" formal dance with her first boyfriend...isn't she stunning!? FOR SURE!

XOXO,
Melinda (Faith,Grace & Brian)

Gracie is 4 months old now...

Look at my little Baby Grace here in this iphone (I can't wait to get the NEW iphone July 11th) pic I snapped yesterday (had to tweek it a bit in PS but it looks pretty good-minus the catchlights), I just love the sweet expression she had on her face so I had to post it today as she is now four months old...I really can't believe it! Sad how fast our babies grow up. But look at those "baby blues", I wonder if her eyes will stay blue or turn green like her Dad's- guess we will see!?

Just a quick share for the day.

Enjoy,
Melinda

Happy Father's Day!

My sweet daughter Faith made this beautiful father's Day creation for her Dad for "Dad's night" at preschool last week and I just LOVE it. I had to photograph it so I could share it here for Father's Day.

Have a GREAT day to ALL you father's out there!

Melinda

First Friends...

WOW...two posts from me in the same day- that is a first for sure!

Okay, so taking a little break from my "action" shots and wanted to share this photo of my dear daughter and her first real little girl-friend. Sad thing is, after they became close friends- Miss L has to move down to Southern California. We are so sad but at least it is just an 8-10 hour drive and I am sure we will stay in contact with her and her family. As preschool ends tomorrow I am feeling mixed emotions, very proud and happy that Faith will be starting Kindergarten in the fall BUT at the same time, sad to see her growing up so darn fast! And, also sad to say "GoodBye" to her friend. We will miss you Miss L. But we know you will be happy and we will think of you often and cherish the times the girl's spent together (sniff,sniff).

Here is one of the pictures I took of the two of them together...

Do you remember your first Girl-friend? I sure do, we still stay in contact in fact. Friends are such a JOY to have in our lives.

Sorry for the sappy post but I am sad to see my lil' girl growing up too fast and her friend moving away too.

Melinda

P.S. We will miss you "mac" from "cheese" (I call them mac 'n cheese, as they always eat it when they have playdates at our house).

Milan's Party...more action shots!

This has been a crazy busy wild week with it being Faith's last week of school and ALL the activities that go with that! SO glad summer is just a week (less than that) away now...Yipeeeeeee! :)

Okay, so here are a few more shots I converted this morning and edited from Faith's friend "Milan's" Birthday party (I am trying to get them all done asap Malu) as I took lots of fun shots and want to share them with Milan's mom and all the kids and parents at the fun party while also adding it to my "action" lesson! So, here are a few more and I really do have tons more coming and also lots of my girl's together in action and new ones I just took with some friends this week playing at my friend Lisa's house in the pool/spa (FUN DAY-THX) so I will try and share those next week...

Happy ALMOST summer everyone,
Melinda

More action shots...

Here are a few more action shots I converted from RAW and played with a bit in PS last night. Isn't that little girl just a sweetie. And I love that shot of Faith's friend; "E"...he was showing off for Faith (and me) and balancing on the bars for us and I loved the expresstion on his face as he was concentrating.

Oh, and tomorrow I have some FUN ones of both MY girl's in "action".........stay tuned!

Happy Friday,
Melinda

Ready-Set-ACTION!!

Here is a photo I (yes, me-myself) took this last weekend at Faith's friends birthday party.

I am quite proud of this shot (many more to come too!) as I am practicing my "action" shots this next few weeks so I am going to post a lot of action shots of my girl's and their friends. I have given myself a "lesson" to do lots of action shots and work hard on practicing converting my RAW images to photoshop.

This shot above is the first of my fun week of playing with action and raw images.

Always HUGE thanks to my mentor and friend Sarah for everything she has and is teaching me!

Enjoy,
Melinda

My Angel's eyes...

Phew...it has been a loooooonnnnnnggggg day and now that the crazy, hectic day is winding down, I sit here on the couch looking at BOTH my beautiful daughter's fast asleep in dreamland. Faith asleep on the other part of the couch snuggled up in her blanket and looking so beautiful and Baby Grace sleeping in her papasan baby seat also snuggled in her little blanket just as precious as can be. I LOVE moments like this, quiet and peaceful (these days they are very rare in my life!). As wild as it gets at times, I would not change it for the world! I love my life and adore my daughters with all my heart as well as my fantastic, supportive husband Brian. Life is beautiful! My daughters look so sweet right now. Oh, I LOVE them when they are awake and bright eyed and ready to go! But, I have to admit that I enjoy this moment of quiet when I can reflect on how happy I am and how lucky I am.

So, now about the fabulous photo above taken by Sarah (thanks for letting me share) a few weeks ago of my two little darlings. I LOVE how the first thing you see when you look at this stunning capture is my girl's eyes- both of them, one brown and one blue, as they both have piercing eyes...I must say, I have two gorgeous girls!!!!

Have a nice night,
Melinda