So last Tuesday morning I woke up to clouds. Grey skies. Sprinkles. Utter dreariness. The kind of days I absolutely {love} but rarely find out here in the desert. Other than my friends and family, the weather is what I miss the most about Kansas! The seasons…the spring rains, the clouds, pretty much all of it!
Anyway, I wasn’t feeling the best when I got up that morning {that is the day the flu hit me!!}, but I had to take Huntler to school anyway, so afterwards I took my favorite girl out to try a new location I had been eyeing! Shooting in the sun is basically something photographers try to avoid at all costs {harsh shadows, squinted eyes…you get the idea} so the fact that I had this cloudy morning to work with just HAD to be taken advantage of…impending puking or not!
We had SO much fun! I guess the hundreds of times I had driven by I had been so distracted by the white picket fence and the flagstone that I hadn’t even noticed the trees!! Citrus trees. They are all over in these parts…orange, lemon and lime. I think there is some big law against picking the fruit though? Not sure…I don’t make a habit of scoping out the best citrus trees in a two mile radius!!
Anyway, I could tell that I was getting some keepers right off the bat! Miss Gentry didn’t do exactly what I had in mind, but I have really learned to just go with whatever. Once upon a time I would try to force the kids into doing exactly what I wanted and standing exactly where I wanted them to stand, but that is ridiculous!! No one wants albums full of posed shots with grumpy faces!! So now I just follow their lead…
And here is where Gentry took me last week!
These first two I had in mind…but I was hoping to get some eye contact!
I so love the composition on this one!! I am really drawn to the creative angles {if you hadn’t noticed!!}.
I think I forgot to finish processing this next one!! You’ll have to forgive me…the exterminator showed up and I was sickly!!
One of my faves from the day!!
Drama…there is already always drama with this one. She is my shadow pretty much all day, every day. If I try to do laundry or heaven forbid go to the bathroom alone, it is a catastrophe!
I accidentally cut her little bum out on this one but her face is cute!!
Initially this was my favorite one, but now I am just not so sure for some reason!
The gatherer…
Hurry up Mom! Let’s get these loaded up and out of here!!
Moving along. I need some more help!! {By the way, thanks for all the ideas for Gentry for Christmas…we ended up getting her some of the new Tinkerbell figurines and toys. We looked at all the “My Little Pony” stuff, the princesses, “The Littlest Pet Shop,” and all the other girly stuff but just weren’t loving it. Then we saw the Tinkerbell array and found a few things in there!}
Anyway…for all you teachers or former teachers out there and all you mamas who have already had to do the whole teacher present thing…I need your advice!! We need to get something for Huntler’s teacher but I just don’t know what. Something creative. Something usable. Something neat. Any ideas? I don’t mind making bits and pieces of it or buying it. Whatever. I just need some ideas and fast!!
Another fun post coming tomorrow!! I’ve been tagged a couple of times and have lots more to share!! But now I must get onto my photography forum. I have been out of the loop for over a week now…I am never going to catch up! AHHH!!!
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by Bethany
I love the last picture. So innocent and beautiful! Hope you are feeling better. Being sick is no fun!
I’ll add my two cents here, since I was a teacher for 13 years.
Let’s see . . . first of all, what NOT to buy:
1. Coffee cups/mugs (I could serve coffee to the entire state of NC with all of the mugs that I’ve received over the years!)
2. Cheesy Christmas ornaments (I’ve received my share of these, I can assure you, and they almost never matched any of my decor.)
Now, what TO buy:
1. Gift card to a favorite restaurant — love that!
2. Some sort of personalized gift (I saw a company the other day that takes a photo and silk screens it onto a tote bag — teachers always need bags)
3. Chocolate is always good.
4. I received a pretty scarf one year and still wear it.
Just some ideas. Hope they help.
I was also a teacher and COMPLETELY agree on the coffee mugs! No mugs! I also received 15,000 different knick knack/decor items that would have something about teaching/love to teach/#1 teacher. You get the idea. Some of my favorite gifts were a tote bag monogrammed with my initials in my college colors, gift cards to mall, movies, blockbuster, Pier One, a southern living home candle holder, a cookbook from my home town, and a decorative cross made by someone local. Hope you get some ideas. Brandy Breedlove
She’s too cute! Love her hair bows -did you make them?
Bethany, I also was a preschool teacher and agree with what has been said about the mugs and holiday decor. I found the best gifts were yes gift cards, but also think about the teacher not as a teacher but a person and what they like to do on their own time. I found that a lot of my parents scrapped and sewed like I did and they remembered that with giving supplies or gift cards to a specific neat store in the area. My best suggestions is get to know them a little on a personal note. We can really appreciate the right gift so good luck!
Great pictures, Bethany! I love the close-up of her sweet little face. What a great spot you found
I hope everyone is feeling better at your house. Justin had it last weekend and poor little Barrett has been throwing up for the last two days. It’s so sad. I’ve just got a little bit of a stuffy nose and headaches, so I hope I don’t get it too bad!
An altered clipboard is always a fun idea for a teacher. You can get plain ones at Wal-Mart, then just cover them with patterned paper, ribbons, pockets, etc. You can even tie a pencil or pen on. This is fun to personalize to match their room theme and even put their name on it. You might be able to see some inspiration at http://www.twopeasinabucket.com
Good luck~you’ll come up with something great!