My New Hobby

For anyone who may be interested, I've started another blog for my new hobby. It's http://anewhobby.blogspot.com I've decided to make this one more of a journal-type blog so I can still write my memories and post the everyday happenings in the life of Cassie. My new hobby blog will be just that. All about my recently found photography interest. Stop by for a little visit if you wish.

Why do I blog?

I've been tagged. Why do I blog, you ask? When I was first contemplating starting a blog it was going to be a place where I could vent some heavy duty frustrations. A place where I could rant and rave about all that was causing me to be stressed out, irritable and down right pissed off. But as I was writing that first post about whatever was stressing me at the time I decided that wouldn't necessarily be a good thing for me to do. The last thing I needed was a place to retreat to and wallow in self-loathing misery. So instead I blog because it's my happy place. I like the colors, I like the pictures and I like to read stories that help me remember the good parts of my life. So there you go. My blog is my happy place. So... I would like to know why Jen Lamb Kim Allfrey and Melanie blog. You're it ladies.

So long, Farewell....

Alveiderzanerninersomethingorother good bye. 1- I obviously can't spell in a foreign language or probably pronounce it. 2 - I probably don't even know the right words to that song. I just make up what I want to.

ANYWAY, I've been practicing again for my photography class. This time was at a farewell party for my brother-in-law's family as they moved to California.

This is Miss Mylee. She's the oldest of the crew and such a big help to her mom and dad with her little brother and sisters. Which also makes her a huge help to me when Alyssa is thrown into the mix. She's always happy to play with her and makes sure she's taken care of. We love little Mylee.
This is Brooks. He has the coolest shade of eyes I've ever seen. I wish you could see them better in this picture. He's usually making sure his sisters won't turn out too wimpy.
I just could not resist posting this picture! This is Mia and Annika. I think going left to right...

Mia...?

Annika...?
(Seriously, I should know my own nieces by now shouldn't I? I thought I had it down, and I do in person. But in pictures? For all I know, I could have the same baby twice! Mel, you'll have to let me know if I got them right. If not... sorry. I'll fix it!)
Back to Mia and Annika. They were born about 6 weeks after Alyssa. They are such sweet little ones, and such good little friends. It's hilarious to watch them and Alyssa all play together. Three little rug rats racing all over the place. We have to keep a close eye on them, that's for sure. We're going to have to head west to visit them so the girls can stay close little buddies. And I say, WE are going to have to go visit THEM because they are now living closer to Mickey Mouse than we are... :) Take care you guys, we're going to miss you!

Cute Little Girl Hair

As I was looking through some past posts on my lovely blog, I realized that there is only one post of Alyssa with her hair done! How ridiculous is that? I really do comb the kid's hair! Almost daily even! People probably think I just let her run around like a little grunge muffin. Sad. Not to mention, if this thing is still around in 13 years, she will most likely FREAK OUT knowing that I would dare post pictures of her on the internet without looking glamorous. So, here she is. I managed to take some pictures before she ripped her piggy tails out.

Meet Evan

This is my nephew, Evan. I have bazillions of pictures of this kid, but all of them are either of the back of his head or just one giant blur running away. Since he was actually holding still for me, I took advantage of it.

He came up to swim with Alyssa yesterday. They are FINALLY getting to be good little friends. Evan liked Alyssa just fine until she started moving around. Then he didn't know what to think about her! Alyssa, of course, as soon as she figured out how to push his buttons, did just that. She will stand right in front of the tv so he can't watch. In turn he'll try to get in front of her on his hands and knees and try to push her over with his head. It's quite hilarious to watch. But alas, they are starting to get along. I've decided it's much better that way.

(p.s., Evan LOVES his binkie, which is totally fine. But today it happened to be a pink one, so his mommy preferred black and whites picutres.)

I know, I have issues.

Allow me to begin by saying, I know it's ridiculous, but it's just how I am. I have been known to buy clothes for Alyssa based on the fact that I either have or will have scrapbook paper to match it. Also I have purchased scrapbook paper based on outfits that she already has. (I learned this habit from my dear Aunt Tammy.) I have been "taught" that it's important for the pictures to match the layout. Hence when we've gone to the zoo, we wear clothes that will match our surroundings, browns, reds, blues, you get it. Everything matches.
That's part 1.



Now for part 2.
I have been looking for these shoes for Alyssa all summer long and FINALLY found them in a size small enough to fit her itty-bitty foot. I was absolutely THRILLED that I found them. So because I was so ecstatic about my purchase, and Tim didn't quite give the reaction that I needed when I showed him, I had to take and show them to Tammy. And you'll never guess what she had.... A 2 page layout in Pink, Purple and Teal! AND we were going to be doing it the next day at our scrapbook club!!! Can my life get any better than this!?! The only thing I needed to have fabulous pictures to match the layout was something teal-ish in color...



Need I say more?

The Friendly Little Syrup Bottle

You may ask yourself "Why is she posting about a bottle of syrup?" Well, let me just tell the significance this bottle of syrup has had on my life. Life, as I know it, will never be the same. At least not the picture taking aspect of my life. And all thanks to this bottle of syrup (and my fab photog teacher, of course).

I have wanted to be able to take a picture with a blurry background FOREVER. And LOOK! I DID IT!!! ON THE LITTLE BOTTLE OF SYRUP!!!! Isn't it great!?!?! Now, to the more technically trained photographer, you may be thinking "oh honey, you have so far to go." But I'm sayin' "Look at those crisp, in focus lines on that bottle and the fuzzy stuff in the back! WAHOO!!! I did it!" I admit, I threw out all the other picture taking guidelines out the window because I was simply focusing on the fuzzy background/in focus object. But seriously, I'm proud of my little accomplishment! Stay tuned for more to come....