Tree Play -- Day 269

Today I took the girls to the park. We had a fun time playing hide and seek on the playground, climbing around and sliding down slides and fireman poles. We also enjoyed a picnic lunch of Quesadillas, chips, sour cream, grapes and Oreos. Here the girls were playing peekaboo around a little tree. :) 

Photo details: Canon EOS Digital Rebel, Exposure time 1/ sec, Aperture f/, ISO , Focal Length .0 mm.

Little Mommy -- Day 263

Emelyn will one day grow up to be a great mommy. She loves her dolls. She has so many, but manages to remember all their names and take care of most of them. :) Sometimes her least favorites get left in the toy box. Sometime I'll have to count how many dolls she has in the house. Half of them are technically Ellise's dolls, but Emelyn is the better mommy and Ellise makes a great aunt. :)
Left to right the baby's names are Elizabeth, Noah, Annie, Abbie and Ashley and Emelyn is holding Olivia. 

Photo details: Canon EOS Digital Rebel, Exposure time 1/ sec, Aperture f/, ISO , Focal Length .0 mm.

Dancing in the Flowers -- Day 261

This photo wasn't my favorite from today's photo shoot as far as quality goes, but I chose it for it's portrayal of the joys of childhood. Emelyn and Ellise were picking flowers and throwing them into the air. They were having so much fun and this is the only shot I got of their action. :)

Photo details: Canon EOS Digital Rebel, Exposure time 1/ sec, Aperture f/, ISO , Focal Length .0 mm.

Emelyn Red and Yellow -- Day 255

I took Emelyn and Ellise down to the "Barren Lands" (the unfinished part of their neighborhood.) for a photo shoot. The yellow flowers have bloomed and this is the third year I've taken their pictures there. :) I wanted to post one of them together, but I didn't really like how any of the together pictures turned out. The sun was bright, so there were squinty eyes. It was best to let them look down. :)

Photo details: Canon EOS Digital Rebel, Exposure time 1/ sec, Aperture f/, ISO , Focal Length .0 mm.

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A Chat on the Phone -- Day 221

I needed a photo of an apron for my Alphabet Project and Emelyn and Ellise agreed to pose for me. :) This isn't the "apron" photo, but I really liked this one. :) She was chatting way on her barbie phone. The great thing about having a twin is that you always have someone to be on the other end. :D

Photo details: Canon EOS Digital Rebel, Exposure time 1/60 sec, Aperture f/4.5, ISO 100, Focal Length 35.0 mm.

Checking the Mail -- Day 178

Some days I take several kinds photos and can't decide which one to post. :) Today I got photos of Em and El, shot a corn field on my way home from work, and two bluebirds perched outside on the electric line. I chose to post Emelyn getting the mail, because I love pictures of little kids doing everyday things that adults would think are boring, but making it look so fun. :)

Photo details: Canon EOS Digital Rebel, Exposure time 1/400 sec, Aperture f/8, ISO 100, Focal Length 119.0 mm

Baby "Beans" -- Day 170

About a month ago Camryn, Emelyn, Ellise and I took a walk and found a puddle of tadpoles. We collected a bunch of them so we could watch them grow and this is a photo of the only one who grew legs. I added water to the tadpole habitat several times, but regretfully I forgot over the weekend and by the time I remembered this morning, all the tadpoles were dried up. :( Of course their puddle dried up weeks ago, so I guess they lived longer than they would have. :) Anyway this lone little guy was lucky enough to survive the drought since he had already acquired his legs, but sadly he also died today, shortly after taking this photo. I don't know why, maybe he was handled to much? We buried him in the flower garden next to a pink petunia. After he died, Camryn promptly named him "Beans" after the bullfrog who died in the 2003 movie version of Cheaper By the Dozen.

Photo details: Canon EOS Digital Rebel, Exposure time 1/250 sec, Aperture f/8, ISO 100, Focal Length 55.0 mm.

Muddy Fingers -- Day 123 -- Winner of Viewer's Choice Poll

I've mentioned that my girls like to play in the mud, and today we played in the mud again. :) This time it was with rolling pins and cookie cutters on the driveway. Fun times!

Photo details: Canon EOS Digital Rebel, Exposure time 1/250 sec, Aperture f/8, ISO 100, Focal Length 46.0 mm.

Water Hose -- Day 107 -- Winner of Viewer's Choice Poll

Today I took 60+ photos and had a hard time choosing only one for the blog. :) This one is one of my favorites though. :) I was taking photos for an alphabet project I'm doing and this is my W is for Water picture. :) Emelyn  and Ellise were more than happy when I asked them for help with the water hose. :) Here Emelyn has the hose and Ellise was running in circles around her trying not to get wet. Haha! They both ended up wet, but I got my shot, before they were too soaked. :)
I was very happy to have my 70-300mm lens. I never could have gotten a shot like this without it. The camera would have been soaked. :)

Photo details: Canon EOS Digital Rebel, Exposure time 1/1000 sec, Aperture f/5.6, ISO 100, Focal Length 168.0 mm.

Muddy Buddies -- Day 86

I took the girls on a picnic down at "The Barren Lands" (an undeveloped part of their neighborhood)." We strategically made our way across the muddy valley where the rain waters flow and picnicked next to the "Swamp" as we listened to the frogs chirping their mating calls. After eating, the girls threw rocks into the water and both managed to be covered in mud by the time we headed home. This time I let them run to their hearts content through the muddy valley while I again strategically  made my way to the other side (If I'd had an extra pair of clothes and rubber shoes I'd have been in it with them in a heart beat. :)) Ellise took off across and soon found herself stuck in the mud to her ankles. She could have gotten out, but was worried about her Dora the Explorer shoes. I sent Emelyn across the mud to rescue her while I switched lens's on my camera, so I could get a closer shot. :) By the time I made it over there (after taking a few photos) both girls were stuck in the mud and I told them to not worry about their shoes. They pulled their feet out and then their shoes. They then enjoyed a barefoot romp and washed their shoes in the shallow puddles. :) Great fun was had by all and two little girls got a bath when we got home. :D

Photo details: Canon EOS Digital Rebel, Exposure time 1/400 sec, Aperture f/7.1, ISO 100, Focal Length 135.0 mm.

Baking Day -- Day 52

Emelyn, Ellise and I made cookies today. The girls loved it!

Photo details: Canon EOS Digital Rebel, Exposure time 1/10 sec, Aperture f/5.6, ISO 100, Focal Length 55.0 mm, Taken in RAW, Processed with Digital Photo Professional.

Sister Dance -- Day 51

I wasn't planning for this to be my photo for today, but when I got home and uploaded my pictures, I really liked how it turned out. The girls were dancing on the bed to a song about shakin' hands. :) I grabbed the camera, put it on full auto and snapped 7 photos. This goes to show that Auto and a pop-up flash are worth using sometimes. I wish I hadn't cut off Ellise's foot, but I would have missed the shot if I'd been too concerned about composition. :D

Photo details: Canon EOS Digital Rebel, Exposure time 1/60 sec, Aperture f/5.0, ISO 400, Focal Length 42.0 mm, Processed with Digital Photo Professional.

Two Cute -- Day 31

I dressed them in brown and teal and couldn't resist taking their photos. :) I set up my own studio in the play room using footstools and a fuzzy blanket and enlisted the "help" of a little brown, stuffed puppy to entertain them. I think this has been one of my favorite shoots with Emelyn and Ellise.

(Photo details: Canon EOS Digital Rebel, Exposure time 1/60 sec, Aperture f/5.6, ISO 100, Focal Length
49.0 mm, Taken in RAW, Processed with Digital Photo Professional.