Some summer fun

I am seriously enjoying my second photography class I'm taking this summer.  In pushing past my comfort zone, Lisa has really challenged me to THINK about my shots before I take them.  She has even forced me out of my house and yard!  That's sayin' a lot for this homebody!  So this week I found myself searching around for interesting places to shoot.

Since we have been spending a few afternoons each week at the library, I thought it would be a good idea to take my big girl camera with me.  And as I type this post, I realized I never downloaded some of the other images I snagged there this week.  Oops.  (I'll have to do that.)  

Anyway, on this particular day the summer program included a dance performance with birds and a few animals. It was very... interesting.  I really wasn't planning on shooting the performance (or anything at the library that day; I had my camera with me to shoot afterwards.) But I couldn't resist snagging a few photos of the kids with some of the performers.  

Here is Madeline with a mouse...please disregard the fact that the focus is waaaay off.  I was quick to snap it because I was afraid she was going to drop that little critter!  She surprised me though.

She was so completely taken with using my iPhone to photograph some of the birds and the rabbit.  Oh, that poor rabbit.  She chased him every where!

Caleb was brave enough to let a Macaw perch on his arm.  I'm kicking myself that the bird isn't in focus also, but I had my ISO cranked up so much already that I didn't want to stop down on my aperture any more.

Being that we arrived pretty close to the start of the program, we had to find parking elsewhere.  That meant parking at our local supermarket...way down at the other end from the entrance.  Upon returning to the car after the program, I stopped in my tracks.  

me: "Hey kids, why don't you sit down right there and enjoy all those animal books you just checked out at the library?"

kids: "Okay."

For Madeline: giraffes

For Caleb: octopuses and whales, though he's looking at a human body book here

In my continued search for interesting places to shoot, I thought I would drag the kids down to the beach, since the weather proved to be ideal for shooting there that day.  I had the kids come home for a quick "wardrobe" change because their clothing didn't scream beautiful beach photo attire.

They were thrilled to throw shells back in the ocean and dig in the sand.

After a little bit of fun and getting sand all up their arms, it was time to hit the showers and wash off before climbing back in the car.  My eyes just about popped out of my head when I spotted this mural on the bathroom wall.

Yep.  He's my treasure!

Caleb was a great sport about snapping a few more photos; Madeline, not so much.

This weekend we will be helping little Joshua celebrate his first birthday.  Can you believe this little guy is already one years old?  It seems like just yesterday that he joined our family.  How quickly time flies!

To see some more fabulous photos, stop by Lisa's blog!

Have a great weekend!!!