Best photo

Since I didn't get a lot of feedback on the photos in the previous post, I submitted 7 of my photos, instead of the normal 3 the instructor wants. At the beginning of each class, she shows the photos each person sent (some of the class members didn't send any) and the class comments on them and chooses the favorite for each photographer. With mine, they were split between four, with the top two being the favorites and the second two close contenders.

This one led their eye to the beach, and to most of them, it looked like he had the pole in his hand. It's actually firmly "planted" at the beach.

They liked this one for the lines and also the mood created by my using "burlesque" when I edited it.

It was the light breaking through that captured their eye on this one.

This one had stronger lines, and they liked the black and white effect.

It's hard for me to judge. I thought some of the photos the others had taken were outstanding. Some of them looked really professional.

The homework for next week is night shots of any kind. Most of them are planning to shoot the unusual moon tomorrow, but I am not. I am going to go with light painting. She didn't cover it that much, but I did it in another class with her a couple of years ago. I just need to find those photo to get the exposure times and such.

I have some updates, but it's hard to know how much to say in an open blog. Some people want to know what it's really like to parent adopted children (or even birth children with issues) while others just want the happy stuff.

We were going to go to St. George Island tomorrow (no school due to teacher work day) and climb the lighthouse, but two of the children have had behaviors lately that tell me we need to wait on that trip.

If my night photos come out well, I'll post them.

Photo Class Assignment

I started intermediate photography Monday night. We talked about light and lines. Our homework was to take pictures with lines that lead the eye, and to take picture with unusual, strong, or interesting light.

I wish I could afford a much better camera, but I am working with a Nikon 5500. I thought it would take a higher quality photo, but oh well. The pictures below are the kids' favorites. I did edit them for stronger colors.

I don't know which to send as my homework. She puts them up on a large screen for everyone to critique.

What do you think?

 Counting the fence as lines

 Thinking the lines of the chair in these

It was cloudy, so not a very bright sunset

Top Ten: Favorite Games

Sometimes in circle time we pick a top ten topic and write a list in our yearly notebook. Our first top ten list this year goes along with the question I asked a couple of posts back. Board Games. It's really hard to pick. Sometimes how fun a game is depends on who you are playing it with it. And there are some I played growing up that I don't play anymore for no real reason.

I won't share everyone's Top Ten List, but I'll put the top two favorites.

Kayla: Rummikub, Freestyle Apples to Apples

Kaleb: King of Tokyo, Tsuro (Ty just got this one for Christmas, and we played it for the first time this week. )

Jasmine: Escape the Curse of the Jungle, Tsuro

Escape is a co op game where you have to work together to escape and survive.

Tyler: King of Tokyo, too many tied for second place

Ty is the one who finds most of the new games. He watches videos about games and learns about new ones he wants to try. Lately He discovered King of  Tokyo, Get Bit, Roll for It and Tsuro this way.

Me: 

I have a hard time choosing two favorites. On one hand, I love children's games and can't wait until River and Winter are old enough to play games. Candy Land and Shoots and ladder will be the first ones.

But the games I choose most often now are:

• Rummikub
• Roll for It (another of Ty's Christmas presents)
• Yahtzee
• Dominoes
• Battleship (I played it tonight literally for the first time in about twenty years)
• Boggle
• Catch Phrase
• Tsuro
• Apples to Apples(If I'm in the mood and we have the right group)
• Sorry
• Princess UNO

I haven't played Scattegories since I got married, so that's almost 30 years. It requires a lot of people to make it fun.

Ricks' favorites are Rummikub and Yahtzz

Your turn! What are your top two, or top ten, board games? And does your list change by who you are with?

Help Me Choose part 2

Last post I asked you to help choose the best photos of Kayla. Your favorites were 6 and 10 with 4 being a close second.

Here are the photos of Jasmine. Please help me choose the best ones.

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Please leave a comment with your favorites.

Help me choose

I did a photo shoot with two of the girls. I need a good photo of both. I'll be taking more later, because I actually need to make a composite, but I need help deciding what should be included.

I'll do Kayla this post, and Jasmine next post.

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Just for fun

Another one just for fun

Love these, but no one else can be in the picture. One of these three might go on my wall though.

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 Please leave your 2 or 3 favorites in the comment section.