Supermoon Shots

Last weekend the kids and I packed up the Jeep and set out for a little nighttime fun - gazing at the supermoon.  We brought the telescope, which took me a good thirty minutes to figure out how to focus the darn thing so the kids could see the moon through it.  And after a couple of turns each, the kids were done, their interest waning.  The clouds rolled in and they ditched the telescope for the glow sticks.

For me, shooting the SUPERMOON was a great learning experience.  Learning - as in, the moon really does travel quite fast believe it or not, and if your shutter speed is not set to a quick capture, you'll end up with oblong shaped glow - instead of a perfectly symmetrical sphere.  Which was also part of the problem with the telescope - the moon was moving too quickly and I couldn't keep up with it.  Haha!

My longest lens is only 135mm and I knew I wasn't going to be able to capture some of the amazingly detailed images taken with something much more ideal - like 400mm or greater .  But, I knew there were still many different and creative ways I could give a try... and, here's a variety of my favorite captures.

Happy Thursday!
XOXO - Jess

I {heart} Glow Sticks

The kids and I loaded up with the telescope, tripod, camera, sugary treats, some glow sticks and set out into the desert in the Jeep for an evening of SUPER MOON watching.  There were many clouds in the east periodically dampering our moon gazing, so we decided to have a little fun with the glow sticks.  We experimented with several exposure settings and countless designs and patterns... I honestly didn't know what the heck I was doing, we were just winging it.  The kids had a blast!

I'll be sharing some of my SUPERMOON captures later in the week.
XOXO - Jess

Monkey Boy Gives Himself a Haircut

 Such concentration.

After two long and sometimes painful years for this controlling mother, he's finally decided to go back to his old buzz cut.  Whew!

oh, I love it!
XOXO - Jess

The Lions That Wouldn't

Thursday evening we were treated to Buggy's performance in "The Lions That Wouldn't" with her summer theatre group at the Joyner-Green Valley Library.  I video recorded a couple of scenes in the performance, but didn't take pictures.  I know I can do both at the same time but I would have spent the entire time working the electronics instead of watching the performance, and I already don't like being 'one of those' people with the camera the whole time.  Awhile back (at one of Buggy's orchestra concerts) I realized that it's far better to sit back and enjoy the show as it's happening, and to let the "after show" shots with friends and costumes will be enough documentation.  Anyhow, she did jump ahead in her lines a couple of times and then started giggling with the other lion in the last scene... but it still went well and we are proud of her eagerness to jump right in and try new things.  The kids ALL worked really hard and did a wonderful job!  And kudos to Sara for her first time teaching a children's theatre workshop, she also did a wonderful job.
XOXO
-Jessica

Best Diving Board Moves, Ever...

The kids were going through all the images of them playing at the pool and started coming up with funny titles for all their sweet diving moves.  Some of them are not ideally in focus, but fun none-the-less.  Enjoy!
XOXO - Jessica

Luau At The Pool

I took the kids to a Hearts Apart Luau on base over the weekend and as you can see, we had a great time dressing up, swimming, playing games and sampling the cuisine.

Dancers from the Polynesian Heritage came and put on an entertaining show while we enjoyed some pulled pork and rice.  

 My long-legged mini-me had a go at some limbo - and won first place.  Then somehow I got talked into doing the adult limbo competition.  Buggy took over my camera and snapped about three hundred pictures of me.  She must have been my good luck charm because I also won first prize.

Buggy, self-named the hula-hoop queen.  I had to kindly ask her to drop her hoop so the other girl could win... or we would have been there all night... homegirl could go at it for hours.  Besides, she'd already won the limbo, so it was the nice thing to do.  She was a great sport about it and afterwards one of the directors gave her a hula hoop to take home. 

The kids talked me into letting them jump off the diving board... and that's where we spent the rest of the evening.

XOXO - Jess

Friends + Photography

My friend Kiara, of Ikcibuz Photography took these pictures of me last month while out on a little 'photography adventure.'  You can see some of the images I did for her on this Spanish Sky Photography blog post: Young & Talented.  See her website here: www.ikcibuzphotography.zenfolio.com. 

I kind of wish I'd worn something a little more 'flattering' and a little less 'functional'... guess I'm more of a 'functional' kinda gal.
Have a great week!
XOXO - Jess

He literally laid by the laundry room door like that for hours... and I couldn't quite figure out why until I opened the door and remembered I'd bought the dogs bones earlier that morning.  How he even knew they were in there I'll never know... maybe he could smell them.  But I thought his desperation was comical.  Later that evening I sent them outside to enjoy their colossal beef bones.

I video recorded Daisy (and if I can figure out how to post it, I will).  She wanted in the house and every time I opened the door she'd run to get her bone.  I kept telling her it couldn't come in... yet she continued with that silly dog-grin on her face - trying to bring the bone inside.  She could barely lift the thing ...it probably weighs as much as her big fat head.

Happy Monday!!!
XOXO - Jessica

We love you!!!!!

To the best daddy in the world... We LOVE YOU!!!
XOXO

Practicing Her Part

Buggy's been diligently studying her lines for her first theatre performance next week.

I'll share images from the 'big night' soon!
XOXO - Jess

National Flag Day

This is our flag - waving in the welcomed breeze this afternoon. 

I had to snap a shot of those clouds because they are the first we've seen in weeks.  The temperature has been triple digit degrees for three straight weeks... we cannot wait for monsoon season to come!

Happy Friday and Flag Day!
XOXO - Jessica

My Vibrant Hibiscus

Amazing, isn't it?  I am so proud of myself for being able to grow such vibrant and flourishing plants in my garden this summer.  I still have far to go, but I'll take every small win I can get.  Maybe tomorrow I'll share pictures of the limes that are just about ready to pick off the tree.  One thing I will not be sharing is the poor thorny palm tree that I've had to replant at least five times... it is not doing so well thanks to Daisy.

XOXO - Jess

Our First Two Weeks of Summer

sunburns. card games. good books. video games. nutella.  building forts. guero canelo's. pool time. friends. big messes. no bedtime. ice cream. rides in the jeep. life is good!

XOXO - Jessica